This will be a three week lesson series designed to look at some of the very basic concepts a child will need to know in order to make a decision to accept Christ. This is Constructing a Christian Life. (It will hopefully provide some background to the Easter program which will stress the life and death of Jesus and its significance to us.)

 

Props

This theme includes anything to do with construction. The puppets were dressed in painting clothes, hard hats, goggles, tool belts, aprons, plaid shirts etc. Signs were constructed. Things were made out of wood. Signs for safety decorated the puppet stage. It was intended to look as though they were on site. Tools were scattered around. Anything along this line would be appropriate.

Lesson #3 - Gifts and Talents

The Christian life begins with obedience to God. We will stress the fact that the Bible contains the rules God wants us to obey in our lives. We want to emphasize the fact that we should follow these guidelines because God knows what will work best for us.

This is the third in the series and it introduces the topic of individual gifts and talents. We know God and obey Him. We communicate with God through prayer. God has given each of us abilities so that we can share his message and help others. We can use all of our interests and talents for God.

Opening

The video was used again in the final week. It might be an idea to design a skit for this time slot. Another possibility is a puppet song about building.

Rules

Review the rules each session.

Prayer

It might be a good idea to ask the children if they have any concerns that they want to pray for. This is a teaching moment in which they can learn to bring any and all concerns to Jesus.

Singing

Even in an indoor program the singing time can be exciting and high energy. Dividing the group in half can set up a fun environment for competition.

Games

Spoon Game

Select one girl and one boy. Have the first contestant sit on the floor and balance a spoon on the bridge of their nose. The contestant must stand up and sit down as many times as they can without dropping the spoon. The winner is the child that can do this the most in one minute.

Tongue Twister

Pick two or more kids. Each kid is timed to see how many times they can repeat the tongue twister in one minute. e.g. "Fresh flesh of fresh fried fish".

Memory Verse

This verse is taught through interaction between the puppet and a leader. The puppet is a construction worker. "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor 10:31. Verses are on bricks. There are blanks to fill in the right bricks and build the verse.

Object Lesson - Zoo Construction Zone

"The Zoo Zone"

Theme Music: (Low echoing voice) "Welcome to the Zoo Zone The Zoo Construction Zone! Let's welcome everybody's favourite Construction workers... Jim and Hal:

Jim: Hi everybody, welcome to The Zoo Zone. This week we have a guest in the Zoo Construction Zone, hey Hal.

Hal: That's right Jim.

Jim: Did our guest show up yet?

Hal: Yes, as a matter of fact he did.

Jim: Ok, Hal, I'll introduce him... let's welcome Harvey a professional construction worker.  (grunts) Harvey: Hi Jim, Hi Hal.

Hal: Hi Harvey, tell us about what you do.

Harvey: Well, to be honest guys I do a little of everything.

Jim: Like What?

Harvey: Well, Jim, I work on sky scrapers. I also work on homes. I mix concrete and I do some drywall.

Jim: That's all cool stuff.

Harvey: That stuff is fun but my favourite is carpentry. I like hammering and working with wood.

Jim: Wow, I'd like that too!

Hal: How do you feel when you build something and it turns out really nice?

Harvey: Well, you know guys, I do everything for God.

Jim: What?

Harvey: It's true Jim. I work really hard at my job and that pleases God. It makes him very happy when we do our best. He isn't so worried about how it turns out. God just wants us to try our hardest for him.

Hal: So we can please God too, if we do our best in The Zoo Construction Zone.

Harvey: That's right. Whatever it is that you do you can do your best for God.

Jim: That's cool. When we work hard that pleases God. We should remember that. Well join us next time in The Zoo Zone.

Story

Doing our Best for God

This story is acted out using puppets.

characters: Franklin, Phoebe, Ann and Julie

Franklin, Ann , Phoebe and Julie were all in the same grade at school. In fact they were all in the same class. They had the same teacher. One day just before classes ended their teacher was giving out the homework. The teacher told them that they would be studying buildings in the next week. She asked them to go home and make a building in their city and bring it in the next day.

On the way out the door the teacher handed each of them the supplies that they would be using to build. So when they walked home after the bell went, they talked about what buildings they were going to make. Phoebe was very excited, "I am going to make my house", she decided. Ann said, "I think I'll make a model of the corner store right by my house." Then Julie joined in, "I am going to build a great building like a mall." Franklin looked at the others. He wasn't sure what to build. He felt kind of silly not knowing what to make. He hoped they wouldn't notice. He quickly said goodbye to the girls and went home.

He thought and thought but still couldn't think of anything to make. Franklin was getting a little discouraged. Finally, he thought of something.

After supper he went to work. Ann and Julie and Phoebe were out playing because they had finished all of their work. Franklin wanted to go out with them but he had to keep working. He worked all the way till bedtime but had to get up early before school to finish. Franklin put his project in a bag and went to school.

When they arrived at school and sat down, the teacher asked the class to take out their projects. Ann showed her project to the class. Phoebe showed her project and so did Julie. Finally, it was Franklin's turn. Franklin was a little nervous. Slowly, he took his project out of the bag. When the other kids saw it they began to giggle. Phoebe and Ann just laughed right out loud. Franklin's feelings were hurt. He had tried his hardest. He had worked real hard and done his very best. Julie spoke up, " You really shouldn't be laughing at Franklin's work. He always does the best he can. Sometimes things might not look exactly like you would have done it but it still pleases God. God doesn't really care if we are not as good at building things as some other people. It pleases God more when we do our best and we do it for him."

Dismissal

The children are given treats after prayer. They exit according to the order they came in.

Copyright 1996, Bread of Life Ministries