Musical Chairs

I used this game to review the names of the disciples, but it could be used for the full armor of God, the fruit of the Spirit, the Ten Commandments, or the books of the Bible.

Play a game of musical chairs. When one person is left standing, he has a chance to save himself by naming one of the disciples. Post correct answers to take it out of play. This prevents the same name from being said over and over. The game ends when all 12 disciples have been named or there is one person left.

Cumbered About Much

Scripture Reference: Luke 10:38-41

A lesson about the better part.

Cast:
OZZIE – an excitable little monster
SQUIGGLY – Ozzie’s pet worm
MR.MIKE – the teacher who sets her straight

Props:
Work SFX
Bible map

(MR. MIKE is on stage.)

MR. MIKE: Today we are going to study the story of Mary and Martha.

(OZZIE and SQUIGGLY enter.)

OZZIE: Hi,. Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: Hi, Ozzie. Hi, Squiggly.

OZZIE: Whatha doin’?

MR. MIKE: I was just telling the kids about Mary and Martha.

OZZIE: Are they your sisters?

MR. MIKE: They’re women in the Bible.

OZZIE: Your sisters are in the Bible?!? Did you hear that, Squiggly? Mr. Mike’s sisters are famous!

MR. MIKE: No, they aren’t my sisters. They are sisters, and they are in the Bible.

OZZIE: Oh. Do you mind if Squiggly and I listen, too?

MR. MIKE: No, not at all.

(While MR. MIKE talks, OZZIE keeps leaving and sounds of work can be heard. SQUIGGLY stays on stage the whole time.)

MR. MIKE: Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, which is a small town east of Jerusalem on the south-eastern slop of the Mount of Olives. Here. (shows on map)Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus, who is not in today’s story, but we will meet him later on.In today’s story, Jesus and his disciples come to the sisters’ house. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to him teach. This would have been quite controversial at the time, because that meant she was in the position of a disciple. In the first century, a woman was not usually accepted by a teacher as a disciple. This is a sign of Jesus’ love and his desire to have all people come to him.In the meantime, Martha is distracted, because she’s so busy trying to get everything ready for Jesus and the disciples. She wasn’t paying any attention, just like… OZZIE!

OZZIE: Huh?

MR. MIKE: What are you doing?

OZZIE: Multi-tasking.

MR. MIKE: Multi-tasking?

OZZIE: Yes, sir. I’m listening to you and getting some work done.

MR. MIKE: Really? So what have I been talking about?

OZZIE: Talking about? Um… Your sisters who live in, um, Ankeny had uh party for their friends, er uh, Jesse and Thaddeus.

MR. MIKE: Wow!

OZZIE: See. I told you I was paying attention.

MR. MIKE: No, you got everything wrong.

OZZIE: Everything?

MR. MIKE: Everything.

OZZIE: Really?

MR. MIKE: Really.

OZZIE: Oh, nerts.

MR. MIKE: I guess we’ll just call you Martha.

OZZIE: No, my name is Ozzie. I thought we’d met before.

MR. MIKE: We have. I mean you were acting like Martha in the story and working instead of paying attention.

OZZIE: So work is bad?

MR. MIKE: No, not at all. But being busy doesn’t take the place of paying attention to what’s important.

OZZIE: Sorry about that, Mr. Mike. I’ll pay better attention next time.

MR. MIKE: That’s a good fellow.

OZZIE: C’mon, Squiggly, it’s time to go. (exits)

(SQUIGGLY stays on stage.)

MR. MIKE: Squiggly, I really appreciate you paying attention today, but I think it’s time for you to go.

SQUIGGLY: (snores)

(OZZIE enters and nudges SQUIGGLY. OZZIE and SQUIGGLY exit.)

MR. MIKE: SQUIGGLY!

D.B.’s Choice

Scripture Reference: John 2:1-11

A lesson about Jesus is greater.

Cast:
D.B. – a good albeit not very bright bunny
MISS REBECCA – the teacher who sets her straight

Props:
None

(MISS REBECCA begins on stage when D.B. enters.)

D.B.: Miss Rebecca, I need your help.

MISS REBECCA: What’s up, D.B.?

D.B.: I have a special carrot…

MISS REBECCA: You have a special carrot?

D.B.: Yes, and its name is Burt.

MISS REBECCA: You named your carrot?

D.B.: It would not be very special if it did not have a name.

MISS REBECCA: I suppose not. Do you name all of your vegetables?

D.B.: Of course not. That would just be silly.

MISS REBECCA: Well, except you named…

D.B.: Imagine naming a rutabaga.

MISS REBECCA: I suppose not…

D.B.: People would think I was some sort of weirdo.

MISS REBECCA: Maybe, but…

D.B.: Naming vegetables. How ridikalus.

MISS REBECCA: You’re right. Sorry. So what is your dilemma?

D.B.: I do not have a dilemma, but I do have a situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive.

MISS REBECCA: Okay. And it involves your carrot Burt?

D.B.: Yes, I have had Burt for a very long time, and my father wants me to get rid of him.

MISS REBECCA: How long have you had Burt?

D.B.: Ever since I was a kit.

MISS REBECCA: That’s a long time.

D.B.: It is. And he has changed over the years.

MISS REBECCA: How so?

D.B.: He has gotten kinda squishy.

MISS REBECCA: Uh-huh.

D.B.: And wrinkly.

MISS REBECCA: Yeah.

D.B.: And gray.

MISS REBECCA: Ew! I can’t imagine why your dad would want you to get rid of that.

D.B.: I know. He said if I throw it away, he would give me a new carrot made of metal.

MISS REBECCA: So let me get this straight. If you get rid of your nasty, old, shriveled-up carrot, your dad will give you one made of metal that will never go bad?

D.B.: That is correct.

MISS REBECCA: And why are having trouble making a choice?

D.B.: I know the new carrot is nice and shiny and will never get wrinkly and gray, but I have had Burt for so very long.

MISS REBECCA: And can you do anything with Burt?

D.B.: Not really. I think he is starting to melt. Whenever I pick him up he is all wet and gooey.

MISS REBECCA: And how does it smell?

D.B.: I did not want to say anything, but he is not smelling so good.

MISS REBECCA: So the only reason you’re keeping your old carrot is because you’ve had it for a long time?

D.B.: I suppose you are correct.

MISS REBECCA: Doesn’t it make sense to trade your gooey, stinky carrot for something better?

D.B.: When you put it that way, I guess it is not really a very hard decision.

MISS REBECCA: Not really.

D.B.: I think I will name my new extra-special carrot Grace.

MISS REBECCA: That sounds like an outstanding idea.

D.B.: Thanks, Miss Rebecca.

MISS REBECCA: You’re welcome, D.B.

D.B.: Bye, Miss Rebecca.

MISS REBECCA: Bye, D.B.

The Bible Is Our Standard

Supplies: paper, pencils/pens, scissors, Bible

Verse(s): Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13, Proverbs 20:10

Goal: Today we studied Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan. Not only did Jesus use Scriptures as a shield against Satan's temptation, he used them as a standard to measure the devil's words. This was especially true when the devil (mis)quoted scripture.

Set-up/Introduction: Have the kids trace one of their feet on a piece of paper and cut it out. Depending on the number of kids, this could be done individually or in groups.

Activity: Have each person or group measure the length of the room with the foot they cut out and record their findings. (The teacher might want to do this also to provide a bigger contrast.)

Ask why the differences in measurements? Did we all measure in feet?

This is how people use to measure: A foot was a man's foot, hands for measuring horses, a span was the width of a man's outstretched hand, a cubit (Latin for "elbow") was the distance from the elbow to the finger tips, and yard is the distance from the fingers to the nose or the waist measurement of a man. Obviously, these are going to vary from person to person.

"It finally occurred to people to establish a 'standard yard' and never mind what your own measurements are. According to tradition, a standard yard was originally adjusted to the length of the fingertips of King Henry I of England to his nose. (And the standard foot is suppose to be based on the foot of Charlemagne.)
"Naturally, the King of England can't travel from village to village measuring out lengths of cloth from his nose to his fingertips. Instead a stick is held up against him and marks are made at this nose and his fingertips. The distance between the marks is a standard yard."

In Washington they have the Bureau of Standards. They have weights and measuring sticks that represent the standard for knowing what a pound, a foot, etc. are. These are kept in a special climate-controlled environment to keep them from changing. A true standard had to be unchanging and based on something reliable.

As you can see it is important to have a standard or an authority we all use for measuring. Without a standard we don't get the same answer, and none of us got the right answer. In fact Proverbs 20:10 says, "Differing weights and differing measures- the Lord detests them both."

Conclusion: The same is true for our faith. When it is based on ourselves or others, it is going to be constantly changing. It has to based on something permanent and eternal, or we don't have a standard.

The standard cannot be "the man in the mirror" or our feelings any more that the standard for measuring a yard is the distance from each person's nose to his fingertips. The standard must be objective and universal.

The first definition of authority seems to be a pretty good one: a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support. An example would be that I use the Bible as an authority. If I hear or read something, I test it against what the Bible says. If it is in agreement, I believe it. If it is not, I do not. The Bible is the standard against which I test ideas. That standard we use as Christians is the Word of God as revealed through the Bible.

Jesus tells the story of the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on shifting sand. I fear you are building your house on shifting sand. The only solid ground we have is God, "our Rock and our Redeemer", and the Bible is His love letter to us telling us all we need to live and know Him.

Source: Some facts were taken from Asimov on Numbers by Isaac Asimov

The Devil’s Vegetable

Scripture Reference: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

A lesson about temptation and God’s way.

Cast:
OZZIE – an excitable little monster
MR. MIKE – the teacher who sets her straight

Props:
None

(MR. MIKE begins on stage when OZZIE enters.)

OZZIE: (enters yelling and waving arms in a Taz-like fashion)

MR. MIKE: Ozzie?

OZZIE: (continues)

MR. MIKE: OZZIE!

OZZIE: Oh. Hi, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: What on Earth are you doing?

OZZIE: I’m just standing here talking to you.

MR. MIKE: No, what was with all the yelling and flailing?

OZZIE: Oh, that. The devil was trying to tempt me, so I was trying to scare him off.

MR. MIKE: That’s certainly a unique method.

OZZIE: I hope it works better than the other things I’ve tried.

MR. MIKE: Like what?

OZZIE: Running really fast, standing really still, wearing camouflage, hiding in the closet, turning the radio up real loud, eating chocolate, pulling the covers over my head, eating chocolate…

MR. MIKE: You said eating chocolate twice.

OZZIE: I really like eating chocolate. I’ve tried bug spray, a fire extinguisher, deodorant, Brussels sprouts…

MR. MIKE: Brussels sprouts?

OZZIE: Yeah, I hate Brussels sprouts. I thought the devil might hate them too, and they’d scare him off.

MR. MIKE: And did that work?

OZZIE: Not so much. (stage whisper) I think the devil likes Brussels Sprouts.

MR. MIKE: Did any of those things work?

OZZIE: Not really, but I have this idea for a catapult.

MR. MIKE: I think you’re going about this all wrong.

OZZIE: So I should just give in to the temptation?

MR. MIKE: That’s not what I meant.

OZZIE: When the little devil and the little angel come sit on my shoulders, I should just flick the little angel away and do what the little devil tell me to do?

MR. MIKE: Not at all. You should always resist the devil. It’s your ammunition that’s all wrong.

OZZIE: But I’m too young to buy bullets.

MR. MIKE: No, I mean you need to use your Bible.

OZZIE: Ah! Like one of those really big King James Bibles. I can just whack him upside his head.

MR. MIKE: No, Ozzie! I mean you can hide God’s Word in your heart. When you know what the Bible says and practice your memory verses, you have what you need to tell right from wrong and the truth from a lie.

OZZIE: Oh. Is that why you have a memory verse every week?

MR. MIKE: Exactly.

OZZIE: Well, then I better get going.

MR. MIKE: To work on your memory verse?

OZZIE: No. I built a giant mousetrap to catch the devil, and I used my pet worm Squiggly for bait. (exits)

MR. MIKE: Ozzie!