Story Idea: Map Challenge and Bible Reading!

To introduce the lesson:

- Before the lesson, download and print a few copies of the town map challenge

- Split the kids into teams in different parts of the room and give each team a map and pen

- Stand in the centre of the room and call out increasingly difficult map questions

- The first team to work it out and send a team member to tell you the right answer scores a point

Questions could be:

- Show me where The Big Mower is

- How many shopping cart symbols are there? (3)

- What street is the police station on? (Beerwah Parade)

- How many times do you have to turn left when driving from the library to Mill dog park? (1)

- Draw a line showing how to drive from the library to the police station

- If you're driving from the library to the police station and pass the resource recovery centre, did you take a wrong turn? (Yes)

- If you're driving to Aldi from Glasshouse Christian College and you pass Swim Fit, have you taken a wrong turn (No)

- You're trying to drive from Coolamon Cres to Phipps St and you are currently on Parkside Dr - have you taken a wrong turn? (Yes)

Discuss using the following questions:

- Why are maps helpful?

They help us know where things are and how to get from one place to another

- Can maps tell us when we have taken a wrong turn/gone on the wrong path?

Yes

- How would we know we've taken a wrong turn?

We are not in the place the map says we should be

- If you get really lost and can't work out where you are, what can you do?

Ask someone for directions!

Have the kids read Hebrews 4:12-16

Quiz Questions:

1. Where do we find God's words?

- In the Bible

2. What happens when something or somebody is active and alive?

- It moves and does things

3. What do you think it means that God's word is active and alive?

- It has the power to do things - to teach us and change us

4. What is God's word sharper than?

- A double-edged sword

5. It says God's word divides and judges our thoughts and attitudes, what do you think that means?

- It shows us whether what we are thinking and doing is Godly or not

6. How can we use the Bible to tell whether we are living how God wants us to?

- The Bible tells us how God wants us to live - we can measure our lives by this to see if we match up

7. Is it possible for any of us to be perfect and Godly 100% of the time?

- No

8. Can anything we do be hidden from God?

- No

9. So the Bible helps us see that we've all done the wrong thing, and then it says we should come before God's throne of grace... what is - God's grace (Hint - He made it possible by Jesus dying!)?

- God forgiving us, even though we don't deserve it

10. When we come to God, what will he give us?

- Forgiveness and help

11. It can be helpful to think of the Bible like a map, can you think of some ways that it's like a map?

- Shows us God's plans and directions for life

- Shows us when we are on the wrong track or lost

- Helps us get back on the right track

- We can ask for help from God when we are lost

Game Idea: Lighthouses!

- Spread a series of obstacles - 'islands' (marker cones or cushions work well) across the play area

- Have the kids pair up

- One partner should be blindfolded and stand at the start of the play area and the other should stand at the end

- The seeing partner should call out directions to guide their blindfolded partner through the sea without hitting the islands

- To make it more interesting, have the pairs race - touching an islands means you must start again, and the first team across wins!

Remind the kids that the Bible is like our guide map for life from God- just like we listen to our partner instead of the other teams, we should listen to the Bible over what the world (TV, friends etc.) tell us! The Bible helps us know what God wants us to do, when we are heading astray and how to get back on track - by asking God for forgiveness and help!

Activity Idea: Make a Maze

You will need: Masking tape or chalk & toy cars

- Split the group into small groups (2-4 kids each group)

- Give each group an area to create a maze using masking tape on carpet or chalk on pavement (you can pre-define the area for each group with square of tape/chalk)

- Once each group has finished, have them rotate to try and work out the other groups mazes by driving a toy car around them!

Remind the kids that life can be like a maze - a bit confusing! God created us and knows what's best for us - God's word is like a map that helps us know what His plan is. It also helps us know when we are on the wrong track and encourages us to ask for God's grace and help when we are lost!

Prayer Idea: Pass the Bible!

- Have kids sit in a circle and pass around a Bible

- As they hold the Bible, encourage them to thank God for something about the Bible (eg. teaches us, helps us know God's plan, helps us know that we fall short and need God, helps us know more about God, helps us know we can pray to God etc.)