Kindness Counts

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Kindness Counts /Luke 16:19-31

Bible Truth: By Being kind, we live life the way God intended for us

“Are you ready for the Joy of Discovery? Unlock the Bible Truth: It’s an adventure in the Game, a revelation in the Bible, and it will transform your Life. Let’s take one step closer to becoming a Champion for Eternity!”

In the Game: “ Our Friends were kind to us by getting us out of jail”
In the Bible: “The rich man was not kind to Lazarus”
In Your Life: “God wants us to be kind to everyone and help those in need”

 

1 GAME EXPERIENCE: Grab the Rock

“Boys & girls, let’s play a game and have fun!“

(Supplies needed rolled up socks or pieces of cloths to make soft balls)
1. Divide into two teams.
2. Divide the play area into two sides.
3. Place at least 4 rolled up socks (making a soft ball) on each side of the play area.
4. Players grab sock and throw at players from the other team. If a player is hit, they go to jail.
5. Important: A player from your own team can throw a sock to you while you are in jail, if
you catch it, you are set free from jail and can rejoin the game.

 

2 BIBLE DISCOVERIES: Gospel & Truth – Luke 16:19-31

“Boys & girls, listen carefully. Can you uncover today’s powerful Bible Discovery? Ready?”
THE CIRCUMSTANCE: (Luke 16: 19-31
Before we start today, I have a question for you. If we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our savior, what will happen when we die? Let a few children give their answers. Those are good answers. Yes, you are right, when we die we will go to heaven and live there forever, with everyone else who has accepted Jesus. Children, why have we have been talking a lot about Jesus’ parables in our stories? Let a few children shout out their answers. Good answers. The main reason is, that is how Jesus taught the people who came to him to learn, and we want to teach the way Jesus taught. Raise your hands if you like to listen to stories. Today we like to listen to stories, as well as the people did when Jesus taught them. There are two men in our stories today a rich man, and a very, very, poor person named Lazarus. Today our story is called “The Rich Man and Lazarus”.

THE CHOICE:  ( Luke 16:19-24)
The first man is RICH. We don’t know his name. He lived in a beautiful home with the best of furniture. The rich man was also dressed in purple. Boys and girls, do you have any clothing that has purple in it? If you are wearing it today stand up. Everyone give a clap for them, now you can sit down. During the time of this bible story, only the very wealthiest people could afford purple, and fine linen every day. The rich man only ate the best foods, nothing was too good for him. He enjoyed being rich and having the best of everything. He was very proud to be rich, but his heart was hard towards the suffering people. He didn’t have any compassion for anyone. The second man is Lazarus. He is a poor man, but the bible tells us his name. I wonder why a poor man’s name was given, and the rich man wasn’t important enough to give his name? The poor man, Lazarus, begged the rich man for some food, even some leftovers from his dinner, but the rich man would
not give him anything. Do you think the rich man should have given Lazarus some food and helped him? Shout out YES! Did the rich man make a good choice by not sharing? Shout out NO! Bad Choice, Bad Choice. Not only was Lazarus hungry, but he also had painful sores all over his body and the Dogs came and licked them. Oh, how hungry he was, and how he longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table, but the rich man said no, no. Every day the rich man went past poor Lazarus laying there near his gate in the dirt, and he did nothing to help him. One day Lazarus died, and he was carried by the angels to Abraham side, where he was happy and healthy. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and then saw Abraham and Lazarus a far off. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in the flame. Who was Father Abraham? He was called the father of the Jewish people. God called Abraham and his descendants, which means their children, and their children to show all people the way to God. That is why all of the Jews called him father out of respect.

THE CONSEQUENCE: (Luke 16:24-31)
Children this is a happy part for Lazarus who loved God and a sad part for the rich man who didn’t love God and didn’t have compassion for others. The reason we know he didn’t love God was, he didn’t have compassion or love for others in need. Did the Rich man love God and show compassion? Shout out No! Bad Choices, Bad Choices. Abraham replied, Remember, in your life you had good things. Lazarus had a sad life. but he loved God. Now Lazarus is happy and you are in pain. There is too much space between where you are, and where we are, we cannot come to you and you cannot come to us. Children the rich man is still wanting Lazarus to wait upon him and get him some water. Now the rich man is starting to think about his family as he shouts to Abraham with another request, “I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my family for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not come to this place of torment.” Close your eyes for a few moments can you just see the pain in Abrahams eyes, I can almost see a tear going down his checks, no one would like to see someone in pain. But it, was the rich man’s bad choice to turn away and follow his own desires. Abraham answered the rich man, “Your family must listen to the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. If they do not believe them, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. Sadly, there was no second chance for the rich man.  When death comes knocking on our door, there is only one thing that matters, and that is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Salvation is free Christ gives it freely to all who ask. We must remember, things like money and glory, power and good things in life do not remain forever. They are nice to have, but they will only give us happiness temporary, and will not last forever. Only happiness and salvation through Jesus Christ will last forever. Matthew 16:26; “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” We need to be kind to those who are less fortunate. Kindness counts. Our story today has to do with trusting in the wrong things.

3 LIFE CONNECTIONS: Connecting Jesus to Every Child

(1) Bible Truth Planted in MY HEART, Growing MY ATTITUDE

POWER WORDS:Matthew 16:26; “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”

(2) Bible Truth Rooted in MY MIND, Leading MY CHOICES

POWER QUESTIONS:

Game Questions

  • How was the game played?
  • What parts of the game were easy for you? What parts were challenging?
  • How did you feel when someone got you out of jail?
  • Could you do anything to get yourself out of jail? (no I had to wait until my team mate threw me a sock)
    Boys & girls, that sounds a lot like what we just discovered in the Bible!” 

Bible Questions:

  • Circumstance: Where did the history take place, and who was there?
  • Choice: What important decision did [name] have to make?
    Was it a good choice or a bad choice, and why do you think [name] made that choice?
  • Is bravery like a hat we wear, or is it something found inside us? What do you think it means when the Bible says, “God looks at the heart”?
  • Why was David so brave? Think… (David was brave because David knew God was with him)
  • Consequence: What happened because of [name]’s choice?

Life Questions:

  • Circumstance: When have you (today or in the future) been in a similar situation as [name] in the Bible history?
  • Choice: What would you do if you were in [name]’s situation? Have you ever faced a
  • similar decision? What did you choose?
  • What did the rich man ask for after he died?
  • Ask the children to share some of the good things in their life or problems they have. If they wish to pass just say “I love Jesus” Encourage the children to listen to each other and then pray for each person as they share. To make sure all children get to answer start from right to left letting each child have a voice.
    Boys & girls, we should always make the right choice that will please God, let us tell God what is in our hearts right now.”

(3) Bible Truth Today Committed in MY SOUL, Inspiring MY ACTIONS

POWER PRAYER: Repeat After Me “Dear Jesus, remind me of all the joy and peace that is in heaven, for those that love you. Please, help me to tell everyone I know about your great love and the sacrifice you paid on the cross for everyone. Who can I tell today?
“***Boys & girls, let’s be still and quiet, open your heart to hear God’s whisper.***”
(Coach, wait at least 14 seconds, allowing God to connect to every child)
Jesus, please give me the courage to obey and share this truth with them.

Ask the children what is their favorite worship song and then sing several worship songs with Strong & Powerful Worship Motions
(Click here for worship songs
“GameLife Strong & Powerful Worship Motions”)

Now, remember to share this truth,
practice this truth, and bring a friend back with you! Boys and girls, let’s go out as the
“Champions for Eternity” that God expects us to become!

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