We can be God’s Heroes! Week 10 - Elementary

Jesus - Week 10
“Jesus is our Hero!”
Wow! I cannot believe we are here at the end of the summer! Stop and think a minute about all of the heroes we’ve learned about so far. Who was your favorite? Who do you think you’re most like? What would you like to do as a hero for God? It’s important to think about what we can do for God, but even MORE important to remember what God has done for us.

That’s why we are learning this week that Jesus is our hero! Without Jesus, we would not be able to have a real relationship with God. We would not have forgiveness for our sins. We would not have hope of eternal life. Jesus is our hero because He is the reason that we live! We all make mistakes and do things we shouldn’t (this is called sin). Our sin separates us from God because God is so, so good! But when Jesus came to earth, died on the cross, and rose again….He forgave ALL OF OUR SINS! For me, for you, for anyone who believes in Him! And THAT is being a REAL super hero! Jesus saved us all, so let’s shout it out...Jesus is our hero!!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Activity
Read John 20. (the whole chapter)

Response Activity
Jesus died for us so that we can live in Heaven with Him and have a relationship with God, our Father!

Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and be in charge of your life? Ask a grown up to help pray and invite Jesus to cleanse you and begin a relationship with Him!

Memory Verse Activity
Show off your verse!
This is the last week! Show off by saying the verse, singing our memory verse song, or presenting the verse in some special way to your family! Record yourself doing this and share it below!

Game
Option 1 - Throw Away Your Sins
Crumple up a bunch of paper balls and place them in even numbers on each side of the playing area. When the game begins, each team member tries to throw as many of their paper balls to the other team’s side, while the other team is throwing them back. These paper balls represent our sin, we can never get rid of it all in our own power, but Jesus died to take away all of our sin!

2 - Jesus burial cloths
Just like you read in verses 6 and 7, Jesus had been wrapped in burial cloths. You get to either have someone wrap you, or you wrap them, in toilet paper! See how fast you can wrap their whole body!

Service Project
1 - Wash the Dirt Away
Jesus washed our sins away when He rose from the grave, so now you get to wash the DIRT away to help someone out! You could wash dishes, the car, your sibling’s laundry, a favorite toy, the possibilities are endless!

2 - Share the Love
Jesus came to the earth and died for us because He loves each of us SO MUCH. Take some time this week to make a card, write a letter, make a FaceTime call, or go tell someone how much you love them and why.

Thank you for coming on an adventure exploring heroes of the faith with us this summer!
Celebrate with your family the last day of SuperHero Camp!

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 9 - Elementary

Paul - Week 9
“God’s heroes have perseverance!”

Wow... I can’t believe it’s already week 9 of our SuperHero Training Camp! Which hero has been your favorite so far?

This week we’re learning about a hero you’ve probably heard about before... Paul! Do you remember him? He started out as Saul and he was actually one of the people who was persecuting (that means being really mean to, punishing, or hurting) the early Christians. Then, through a miraculous moment that you’ll see in this week’s video, he met Jesus and became Paul the apostle! We’re focusing this week on Paul’s perseverance because God’s heroes have perseverance!

Perseverance means you keep on doing something, even when it’s hard. Paul had many, many trials in his life: shipwrecks, snake bites, jail time and more, but no matter what happened, he just kept on going to do God’s work. We’ll have hard times in our lives too, but we can keep going with the strength of Jesus to help us because God’s heroes have perseverance!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-33.

Response Activity
Paul had some very hard times in his life. He had times where he probably wanted to quit and give up. Have you ever had a time like that? Think about something in your life right now that you need to have perseverance in.

Say this to God:
● God, please give me the strength to persevere in this difficult situation.
● God, show me the next step you want me to take.

Memory Verse Activity
Hot or Cold
Write the words of the memory verse for older kids, or phrases of the memory verse for younger kids, on index cards. Hide the index cards and help your child find them by playing “Hot or Cold.” The closer they get to a card, you say warmer, and as they get further away you say cooler. Once they’ve found all the cards, have them put them in correct verse order. Hint: make sure you remember how many cards there are!

Game
1 - Lead the Blind
Make a maze in your house, or a path outside in your yard. Lead someone through the maze who has their eyes closed or blind folded. This teaches perseverance through trying something difficult. Paul was also blinded during his conversion, and had to be led into Damascus!

2 - Perseverance Race
Make a race involving 3 different activities that challenge your perseverance. Those might include an egg in spoon race, ring toss, beanbag toss, crab walk, etc.

Service Project
1 - Letters of Love
During this Corona Virus time, many elderly people in nursing homes haven’t been able to have visitors and have had to persevere through a difficult time. Write them a letter of encouragement and hope! (Just like Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in the scripture you read this week!)

2 - Painted Rocks
Help someone else persevere through a difficult time by painting rocks with messages of hope and joy! Leave these happy rocks in different places around the community to bring a smile to someone’s face.

Come back next week for the final revealing of our last superhero of the summer!!!

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 8 - Elementary

Peter - Week 8
“God’s heroes have faith!”
Peter was one of Jesus’s twelve disciples. One night, Jesus wanted to spend some time alone in prayer so he told his disciples to go on ahead of him and take the boat to the other side of the lake. Later, the disciples were caught in a storm and looked over and saw Jesus walking towards them on the water! The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost. Then Peter did something brave and amazing, because of his faith in Jesus! (Check it out in the scripture reading for this week!)

We’ll read Peter’s story to help us understand that God’s heroes have faith! When we walk with God, we will still walk through hard, scary, or difficult situations. But when we have Jesus inside of us, we know that He will always be there to help us! So let’s get ready for week 8...God’s heroes have faith!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Read Matthew 14:22-33.

Response Activity
Peter had strong faith when he stepped out of the boat, but it weakened when he saw the waves. Like Peter, we all need to exercise our faith muscles to have the strong faith Jesus wants us to have. Think about something going on right now that seems scary. Ask God to help you to rely on Jesus’ strength all the time, especially in hard or scary times.

Memory Verse Activity
Toss Across
Toss or roll a ball to one player. Have that player say the first word of the verse before tossing or rolling the ball to someone else, who then says the next word, and so on. Continue until you complete the verse. If the ball is dropped, start over again. Time how long it takes to finish the verse; and try to beat the time!

Game
Options 1 - Backyard Ocean!
Fold the large plastic sheet over itself one time to create a pocket. Tape all of the open edges leaving just a hole for the hose to fit. Fill with water then play on top! You can even act out the Bible story!

2 - Walk on Water Race!
Make foot cutouts out of paper and tape to the floor as a path. Do this again so they are side by side. Now race across only stepping on the cutouts and see who can get to the other side the fastest!

Service Project
1 - Hope In Action Food Drive
Right before Jesus walked on water and called Peter out of the boat, He had taught and fed the 5000 (see Matthew 14:13-21). Our church also helps provide food for people who need it. This week, visit the food pantry website to see what items are needed and then drop them off at the COH campus closest to you.

2 - Spread faith and joy
Think about someone in your life who might be going through a hard time. Write them a card or a letter encouraging them to keep their faith in God! You might want to include your favorite Bible verse to encourage them.

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 7 - Elementary

Nehemiah - Week 7
“God’s heroes have hope!”

This week we are learning about Nehemiah! Nehemiah lived in a land called Susa and was a special helper to the King. One day, he heard about his people in Jerusalem and the trouble they were in. All of the walls of Jerusalem were broken which meant that the city was not protected! Nehemiah prayed to God that he would be able to help his people.

You’ll read in the book of Nehemiah how God answered his prayer, and how Nehemiah had hope, even when things were tough. He went through many trials and scary situations but never stopped having hope that the walls would be rebuilt. So we’re learning this week that God’s heroes have hope! We can have hope because we know that our God will never leave us.

We know that He will ALWAYS love us and that He wants to use us to bring His kingdom here to this Earth! Ready for the week? Let’s hear you say it... God’s heroes have hope!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Activity
Read Nehemiah Chapter 2. (the whole chapter)

Response Activity
Nehemiah had hope that he would be able to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, even when he kept encountering so many tough times, obstacles, and setbacks! Think about something in your life right now that feels hard or discouraging. Talk to God about that and ask Him, “How can I have hope in this?” Ask Him to give you the hope that comes from Him!

Memory Verse Activity
Word Wipe Out
Write the whole memory verse on a dry erase board or chalkboard. Say the whole verse together, then erase one word or phrase and say it again. Keep going until the whole thing is erased. (Alternate: write the verse on a piece of paper and cross out a word with sharpie each time so you can’t see it).

Game
Options 1 - Build a wall relay!
Using legos, blocks, or other building materials, race to build your wall as fast as you can! Put all of the building materials at one end of your racecourse, then take turns grabbing a block and running to the end to start building a wall. If you have teams - first team to build their wall wins! If you’re playing on your own, time yourself and try to beat your own time!

2 - Cup stacking/wall building
Gather all of your cups and prepare to build the Jerusalem city walls using only cups! How high can you go without the walls collapsing??

Service Project

1 - Neighborhood Clean-Up
Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem so his city would be strong. He was very proud of his land and wanted to take great care of it! With an adult’s permission, take a walk and do a neighborhood clean-up, picking up any garbage or litter that you see to show that you are taking great care of your land like Nehemiah.

2 - Spread Hope
Nehemiah brought hope to the people in Jerusalem. Make some cards to send to kids in hospitals across the United States to spread the hope that you have! Please read the guidelines carefully for specific directions.

Come back next week for another exciting adventure with a new hero of the faith!!!

Supplies:
Plastic cups or dixie cups, whatever you have at home but they should all be the same size

Supplies:
Printer
Paper
Something to write with

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 6 - Elementary

Esther - Week 6
“God’s heroes have power!”

Wow! You’re halfway through Super Hero Training Camp! Way to go! This week you’ll be learning about Esther. She was a Jewish girl who was chosen to be the wife of King Xerxes.

King Xerxes was not Jewish and did not know God. Many people in his government did not like the Jewish people and wanted to harm them. Esther’s Uncle Mordecai encouraged her to be brave and to use her power to talk to the King and save her people. 

God’s heroes have power! and we need to use it in ways that help others, not just ourselves. Esther did not grow up as someone with power, but when God gave it to her, she used it in a way that pleased Him! Let’s say it nice and loud together…. God’s heroes have power!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

When Esther became queen, there was a high ranking official named Haman who did not like the Jews and had a plan to destroy them. (Remember that Esther was Jewish!) Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who had raised Esther, learned about this plan and he went to her to ask for help.

Read what happened in chapter 4 of Esther. (Younger kids - just read verses 13 and 14)
Queen Esther used her power and went to King Xerxes to request that her life and the lives of her people would be spared (Esther 7:3-4 and 8:5-6). The king issued these decrees!

Read what happened in Esther 9:1-4. The Jewish people were saved because Esther used her power!

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 5 - Elementary

Week 5 - David
“God’s heroes have heart!”

This week we’re learning about David! David’s many adventures are written about often in scripture and he is called a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14). We can learn many lessons from David’s life, the way he followed God and the psalms that he wrote, but this week we’re learning that God’s heroes have heart! David found himself in a tricky situation with King Saul and he chose mercy and forgiveness, showing his heart for God. David can teach us to have heart, too! Even when we have been treated unfairly, we can show our heart and have mercy and forgiveness for everyone around us. Ready to train? Say it as loud as you can...God’s heroes have heart!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
★ A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

David’s life is written about in many places in scripture. For this week, read the story of when David offered King Saul mercy: Read 1 Samuel 24.

Response Activity
David wrote many psalms (poems or songs) to God. This week, take some time to talk to God. Then write a prayer or psalm to God just like David did. For examples of Psalms look at some in the Bible, like Psalm 23 (one of the most well-known Psalms). Psalm 23 is also adapted in The Jesus Storybook Bible, for younger kids.

Memory Verse Activity
Building Block Verse
Write or type the Bible verse onto a sheet of paper. Cut the verse into individual words and tape each word to a building block. (Duploes or Mega-Blocks work great!) Mix the words. Repeat the verse several times with your child. Then, challenge your child to use the building blocks to build a wall or shape, while getting the Bible verse words in the correct order.

Game
1 - Mended Heart Race
David had to forgive Saul for how he treated them. For this game, cut out different colored hearts out of paper. Then cut or tear the hearts in half. Scatter them around the room or backyard and have a race to see how quickly you can find them and tape them back together! Each time you grab one side of a heart say “I’m Sorry” and each time you grab the other side of the heart say “I forgive you”. If playing with 2 or more people then each team can be a certain color heart and race each other!

2 - Bingo
Download and print the David Bingo (https://drive.google.com/…/1528CwwFWfL7xPQnJqL5rV1icSu…/view). The last page will be what you cut out and draw from a hat or other container. Make sure you have something to mark the squares on your Bingo sheet, like a coin or marker. Have fun playing!!!

Service Project
1 - Prayer Pail
Create a prayer pail and ask people for their prayer requests. Write them on a popsicle stick and pray for each and every prayer request throughout the week!

2 - Giving Mercy
When someone this week does something that you do not like or is mean to you, give them mercy! This means, you are not mean back, but instead let them know that you still love and respect them.

Congratulations! You completed week 5 David Challenge! Come back next week for the unveiling of the next superhero!!!!

Supplies:
Bingo sheet(s) and Pictures
Scissors
Hat or something to draw pictures out of
Something to mark squares in Bingo!

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 4 - Elementary

Week 4 - Deborah
“God’s heroes have wisdom!”

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
★ A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Deborah was an important Judge for the Israelites in a time when not many women were leaders! She used her wisdom to lead Israel. Read about a few of her adventures here.

Read Judges Chapter 4:1-10 (For older kids - if you decide to read the whole chapter, be prepared for how Jael kills Sisera in verse 21)

Judges 5 is Deborah’s song of how God delivered them. Read verses 1-7. See how God sent rain and an earthquake?

Response Activity
Deborah would always talk to God before making a decision or giving someone advice. You can do that too! Pray to God and ask for His help with your decisions this week!

Memory Verse Activity- Memory Verse Mix-Up
Write your memory verse word by word on note cards (one word or phrase on each card), then mix them up and try to put it back in the right order!

Game
When Deborah went with Barak to attack the enemy army, the Lord threw Sisera and his chariots into a panic with an earthquake and lots of rain! Many of the soldiers got stuck in the mud! Try these fun games to act out the scene.

1- Stuck in the Mud
For Stuck in the Mud, one person is it and is trying to tag the others. Those who get tagged pretend to melt into the “mud”. You can be saved by someone on your team tagging you before you completely melt.

2 - Chutes and Ladders
The battling armies probably took a few steps forward, then many steps back, just like in the game of Chutes and Ladders! Try making your own life-size game with chalk on your driveway, or play the board game if you have it!

Service Project
1 - Helping Hand
Just like Deborah helped Barak when he asked for help, you can help someone who asks you for help!

2 - Remind People about God
Deborah was a Judge, she reminded the Israelite people about who God was. Make a few reminders for your family about how much God loves them and give them to them, hang them around the house, or slip them in secret spots for them to discover.

Congratulations! You completed week 4 Deborah Challenge! Come back next week for the unveiling of the next superhero!!!!

Supplies:
3+ Players
Space to run around

Supplies:
2+ players
Chutes and Ladders game -OR-
Chalk and paper to make a large die to roll.

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 3 - Elementary

Week 3 - Samuel
“God’s heroes have purpose!”

It’s week 3! Are you feeling more like a superhero for God yet? This week we will learn about Samuel. Samuel has many important ‘superhero’ deeds in scripture, but this week we’ll read and learn about how he heard God call him at a young age..maybe as old as you are now!

God had a special purpose for him, just like He does for you! God’s heroes have purpose! Samuel heard God’s voice and God shared with Samuel what his purpose in life would be. We’ll be thinking a lot this week about listening and being quiet to hear God’s voice. That’s the best way to figure out your purpose, and ALL of us have a special mission from God. Say it nice and loud...God’s heroes have purpose!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
★ A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Read 1 Samuel Chapter 3 (the whole chapter).

Response Activity
We have to listen to God to know what our purpose is in this life. Find a quiet spot in your house or outside in your yard. Ask God to speak to you and teach you to hear His voice. Remember, you probably won’t hear His voice out loud, but you will learn to recognize it in your heart if you keep asking and practicing. Take quiet time each day this week and ask God to speak to you.

Memory Verse Activity Verse Puzzler
Write or type the memory verse on a piece of paper, then cut out the pieces like a puzzle to mix up and put back together.

Game
1 - What do I hear?
Close your eyes while someone makes noises with different things around the house. See if you can identify what it is that makes each noise.

2 - How well do you listen?
Print the worksheet (https://s18670.pcdn.co/…/2…/10/5-minute-directions-quiz.pdf… ) and see who can complete it the fastest!

Service Project
1 - Samuel Bed Making
Make your bed at least 3 times this week! Bonus points if you make the bed for someone else who lives in your house!

2 - Listening Ears
Pick someone to talk to. Then practice listening really well to what they say. See if you can remember everything that they said in the conversation because you were listening so well!

3- Family Listening Time
Take turns taking time asking God how he sees each member and you family. Listen to what he says and share it with the members of your family!

Congratulations! You completed week 3 Samuel Challenge! Come back next week for the unlocking of the next super hero!!!!

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 2 - Elementary

Rahab
“God’s heroes have courage!”

Welcome to Superhero Training Camp Week 2! This week we will be learning about Rahab. You may never have heard of Rahab before, but she is in the lineage of Jesus (that means she was one of his great-great-great-great-great and lots more greats- grandmothers!).

She was courageous and helped God’s people even before she knew exactly who God was. She had heard stories of God’s power and how He was helping the Israelites, so she decided to be courageous and help them because God’s heroes have courage! Her actions saved the Israelite spies and allowed them to capture the city of Jericho. When you read her story and do the other activities, think about how you can have courage for God. Ready? Let’s say it together...God’s heroes have courage!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
★ A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Read Joshua, Chapter 2. (Parents - be prepared with the naming of Rahab’s profession in verse 1)

Response Activity
Rahab had courage in a scary situation and God blessed her!
Be quiet and ask God how He wants you to have courage. What is happening in your life right now that requires you to be courageous? Ask God to give you the courage you need.

Memory Verse Activity
Make a poster of the memory verse that you can hang somewhere for the whole summer to help you memorize it! Practice saying it with your eyes closed and see what you remember.

Game
1 - Find the Spy
Just as Rahab hid the spies, hide an object in a cup. Mix up the cup with several others for someone to find the one with the spy.

2 - Hide and Seek
Play a game of hide and seek. The person/people hiding are the spies and the seeker/s are the guards.

Service Project
1 - Encourage
Write a note or tell someone on the phone something encouraging. This is your chance to show your courage by encouraging others.

2 - Helping Hand
Just as Rahab helped the spies, help someone in your house. Whether it is helping a sibling with something or a parent with something around the house.

Congratulations! You completed the week 2 Rahab Challenge!
Come back next week for the unlocking of the next superhero!!!!

We can be God’s Heroes! Week 1 - Elementary

Welcome to Superhero Training Camp! This summer we will learn all about different heroes of the Bible. You may have heard about some of them, and some may be new to you! We’ll learn a little bit about what they did, and about a trait we see in their lives.

We’ll be working on developing these traits in ourselves throughout the summer so that we can be God’s heroes. This week, we’ll be reading in Hebrews about many of God’s heroes. Sometimes we call this part of scripture the “Hall of Faith.”

These are ordinary people that God used in big ways. God wants to use you -- and me -- and everyone in this world to bring His kingdom to this earth. He wants to let everyone on earth know how much He loves them! So, do you accept this mission? Are you ready to train to be a superhero for God? Say it loud…. We can be God’s Heroes! Let’s get started!

Memory Verse for the Summer - Hebrews 12:1 NIRV
★ A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Read Hebrews 11:1 - 40

Response Activity Try adding your family’s story into Hebrews 11. Fill in the blanks:
By faith, the ____________family…… (add in what God has done and what you want to see God do.)

Thank God for how he has been active in your family so far and ask God to continue to lead your family by His heart in the future.

Memory Verse Activity
Look up the memory verse and mark it in your Bible: Hebrews 12:1.

Activities
1 - Super Duper Obstacle Course
Hone your superhero skills on a tricky obstacle course.
https://playtivities.com/obstacle-courses-for-kids/

2 - Super Hero X-Ray Vision
Reach your hands in the mystery bags and use your X-Ray vision to ‘see’ what’s in the bag!
http://www.familyvolley.com/…/family-fun-friday-mystery-bag…

Service Project
1 - Super Hero Letter
Write a letter to someone in your life telling them why they are a superhero to you! Thank them for all they’ve done for you.

2 - Superhero Chalk the Walk
Go decorate someone’s driveway or sidewalk as a surprise and write a little note about why you think they are ‘super!’

Congratulations on completing week 1 of Superhero Training! See you next week and we will dig into our first hero!!!

Active Faith - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then do the family activity and end by discussing the questions provided. Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Main Point - Faith isn’t passive—it’s active. God calls us to live out our faith and share it

Key Verse Deuteronomy 31:7-8 CEB
...Moses called Joshua and... said to him: “Be strong and fearless because you are the one who will lead this people to the land the Lord swore to their ancestors to give to them... But the Lord is the one who is marching before you! He is the one who will be with you! He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you…

Parent/Child Discussion
1. Have you ever shared your faith with someone else? If so, talk about it. What happened? If not, how do you think you would? What would you say?
2. What are some ways people can know you’re a Christian without you telling them? How do you live out your faith?
3. Do you think it’s scary to share your faith? Why or why not?
4. Read Deuteronomy 31:7-8 CEB together. What’s happening in this verse? How can this verse apply to your life?
5. Who is someone in your life that needs to hear about God? How can you share your faith with them?
6. What are some other ways to practice sharing your faith?

Family Activity - The Whisper Challenge
This activity helps students practice sharing what they know is true.
Activity Objective
Use lip-reading skills to repeat a phrase spoken to you.
Instructions:
1. Choose one person to be it and have them put on the headphones.
3. Test to see if they can hear you by whispering, “Can you hear me?” If they can’t, you’re good to start. If they can, have the rest of your family start humming in the background until they can’t hear you.
4. Whisper a phrase from the Whisper Challenge List below. Whisper loudly enough so that the rest of the students can hear you and be in on the fun!
5. The person with the headphones must try to repeat what you’re saying by reading your lips.
6. Continue until they get the phrase right or until they’ve made about 10 guesses.
7. Tell the person the phrase if they couldn’t figure it out.
8. Choose someone else to play and continue with the next phrase on the list.
9. Play as long as time allows. Feel free to make up your own phrase to whisper, too.
Whisper Challenge List
I ate your sister’s pancakes.
We will do anything short of sin.
Look at all those chickens.
You moved my cheese.
The cow jumped over the moon.
Let’s get fast food.
I stepped on a Corn Flake—now I’m a cereal killer.
Bob ate a sandwich under a hungry tree.
Duck, duck, goose!
Welcome to Loop.
Whoever finds God, finds life.
Luke, I am your father.
She’s living her best life.

*YouVersion Bible Reading Plan That Goes with Series- How To Strengthen Your Faith

Firm Faith - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then do the family activity and end by discussing the questions provided. Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Main Point: Be confident in your faith no matter what happens in your life or what people say.

Key Verse: James 1:2-4 NLT ... when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Parent/Child Discussion:
1. Talk about a time when someone disagreed with you. What was the disagreement about? Did you stay firm in what you believed? What happened?
2. Read James 1:2-4 NLT together. What does this verse mean to you?
3. Have you ever had your faith in God challenged or tested? If so, talk about what happened. If not, how do you think you’d handle it?
4. What are some ways you might respond if someone challenges you about your faith? (Be sure to
encourage both grace and truth.)
5. What are some things you can do this week to grow and strengthen your faith?
6. Continue to pray together as a family that God would continue to grow and strengthen your faith.

Family Activity - Stand Firm:
This activity helps illustrate standing firm when your faith is tested.
Activity Objective
Withstand your partner’s pushing without moving your feet.
Instructions:
1. Find a partner and stand facing each other, feet together, with your toes about one foot apart.
2. Have everyone raise their hands and touch their palms together.
3. When you say, “Go!” everyone try and push against one another’s palms to try to push their partner off balance.
4. If a partner moves their feet, they’re out!
5. Each pair will have three rounds. Best two out of three, wins!
6. Winners play one another tournament style until there’s one final winner.
7. Celebrate the final winner and applaud their ability to stand their ground—literally!
8. Explain: This activity is kind of like our faith. Sometimes, people will push you or life will test you. And if your faith isn’t strong, you might fall over. But, if you build a strong faith and ask God for His help, you’ll be able to stand firm in your faith.

*YouVersion Bible Reading Plan That Goes with Series- How To Strengthen Your Faith

Witness 2: Journey Into Faith Week 2 - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then discuss the questions provided and finish up with a fun family activity. Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Key Verse
Matthew 17:20 CEB
“Because you have little faith,” he said. “I assure you that
if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say
to this mountain, ‘Go from here to there,’ and it will go.
There will be nothing that you can’t do.”

Parent/Child Discussion
1. Talk about a time when you accomplished something big, but you knew it wasn’t you—it was God working through you.
2. Read Matthew 17:20 CEB together. What do you think this verse means? What does it tell us about faith?
3. Do you believe God can and will use you for great things? Why or why not?
4. What’s one area of your life where you have a hard time having faith in God? Why do you think that is?
5. What’s one thing you can do to start building your faith in God?
6. Pray and ask God to enlarge all of your family’s faith in Him.

Family Activity - Gideon’s Army
This activity helps illustrate the Bible story of when God eliminated most of Gideon’s army.
Activity Objective
Be the last person to properly do an action as commanded—but only if Simon says.
Instructions:
1. Choose someone to be Simon.
2. Everyone get where you can see Simon.
3. Simon will call out an action for everyone to do. Everyone must keep doing this action until Simon says the next action.
4. Everyone only do the action if Simon says, “Simon says …” If someone does an action for which Simon didn’t say, “Simon says …” then they are out!
5. When someone gets out, they will sit at the edge of the room and cheer for the rest of the students.
6. Keep Simon’s commands coming quickly to make the activity more fun.
7. Use the Simon Says Command Ideas List below for ideas or make up your own. Play as long as you want, choosing a new Simon each round. You can mix up which ones say “Simon says” to keep the element of surprise going.
Simon Says Command Ideas:
Simon says swing your arms.
Simon says wave your hands.
Simon says pat your head.
Simon says laugh out loud.
Stop. (You might get a lot out on this one!)
Simon says play air guitar.
Simon says play air drums.
Simon says lick your elbow.
Simon says sit down.
OK, stand up now. (You might get some more out!)
Simon says make a scared face.
Simon says make a happy face.
Simon says jump up and down.
Now, spin around! (Might get more out!)
Simon says stick out your tongue.
Put your tongue back in your mouth. (Tricky!)
Simon says flex your muscles.
Simon says touch your knees.
Simon says touch your shoulders.
Simon says touch your knees.
Simon says touch your shoulders.
Simon says touch your knees.
Touch your shoulders. (Might get more out!)
Simon says start dancing.
Simon says start dabbing.
Simon says do the chicken dance.
Simon says put your arms in the air.
Simon says wave your arms.
OK, you can put them down now. (Might get more out!)

•YouVersion Bible Reading Plan That Goes with Series- How To Strengthen Your Faith

Witness 2: Journey Into Faith Week 1 - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then discuss the questions provided and finish up with a fun family activity. Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Key Verse
Hebrews 11:1 NCV
Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.

Parent/Child Discussion
1. Talk about a time when you were really hoping for something. Why were you hoping for it so much?
2. What’s your definition of the word “faith”?
3. Read Hebrews 11:1 NCV. What does this verse tell us about faith?
4. What are some examples of things we’re sure of, even if we can’t see them? (i.e. gravity, our hearts pumping, that a million dollars exists in the world, etc.)
5. How do you feel about your faith in God? Do you have a little faith, no faith, or a lot of faith? Why?
6. What would it look like to live with a strong faith in God? How can you start building your faith?
7. Pray together as a family that God would strengthen your faith (entrustment in Him) in Him.

Family Activity- Blind Faith
This activity helps illustrate how faith is being certain of what we can’t see.
Activity Objective- Be the first blindfolded partners to find each other.
You’ll Need- Blindfolds (1 per every other student)
Instructions:
1. Find a partner. Stand across the room from them.
2. Put blindfolds on the partner on the left side of the room.
3. Mix up the order the un-blindfolded people are standing in.
4. When you say, “Go!” the un-blindfolded students call out to their blindfolded partners.
5. Have the blindfolded person listen as carefully as they can to pick out their partner’s voice and walk across the room to them. (Running or shoving gets you disqualified!)
6. The first partners to reunite are the winners!
7. Ask: How does this game remind you of faith? When we follow Jesus, we can’t always “see” what’s next. But, we can always listen to His voice and trust that He is leading us to the right place!
8. Play as many times as you want, switching partners and the person being blindfolded.

•YouVersion Bible Reading Plan That Goes with Series- How To Strengthen Your Faith

Life of Worship Week 3 - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then do the family activity and end by discussing the questions provided. Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Key Verse
Matthew 22:37-38 NIV
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest commandment.”

Family Activity- Open Up!
A Note of Worship
A tangible way for students to worship God for what He’s doing in them and in their lives.
Activity Objective
Design a postcard that shows what God is doing in your life right now or worships Him for the way He made you.
Instructions:
Say: Today, we’re learning that we can open up and worship God anytime, anywhere! Let’s worship Him right now by uncovering the treasure He’s placed in our lives and worshiping Him with it and because of it!
1. Give each family member a postcard (or piece of paper) and crayons.
2. Draw on the front of the postcard or paper.
Ideas for drawing:
• Draw the best thing God is doing in your life right now.
• Draw some ways you can honor God with your attitude, actions, and words.
• Draw something you think God has made you good at–that you want to use to worship Him.
• Draw an abstract design that shows how amazing and beautiful God is.
3. Then write a note of thanks and worship to God on the back of the postcard.
4. Place your postcards somewhere that will remind you to worship God, and write more thanks to God on it throughout the week.

Parent/Child Discussion
1. What stood out to you the most from the message? What’s one thing you learned?
2. Sometimes we think of worship as something we “go to” instead of something that we take with us
wherever we go and whatever we do. Why do you think it’s easy to make that mistake?
3. How can you use what God’s doing in your life right now to worship Him? (Think of how the woman in the Bible story you heard about today poured out her expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet to worship Him.)
4. Read Matthew 22:37-38. Why do you think Jesus said that loving God was the greatest commandment?
5. Pray together. Pray that your family would discover what God is doing in them, what God has placed in them, and what God wants to do through them. Pray they would spend their lives worshiping God!

YouVersion Bible Reading Plan That Goes with Series- Live a Life of Worship

Life of Worship Week 2 - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then do the family activity and end by discussion the questions provided! Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Key Verse

Matthew 22:37-38 NIV

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest commandment.”

Family Activity- Fill in the Letter

A fun way to show the absurd amount of time and affection we can give to things other than God.

You’ll Need: a pen or pencil & the activity sheet found at www.heartlandchurchonline/kids

Say: Let’s play a game to make a story about how silly it can be when we give the majority of our

time, thoughts, and energy to something besides what God is asking us to focus on.

1. Keep the Priorities activity sheet close to yourself.

2. Ask your family to give you a word that matches the words in parentheses below the first blank in the story. (Don’t miss the first blank—it’s in the title!)

3. Example: (verb that ends in -ing) your family might say “running.” You write “running” in the blank above it.

4. Continue writing the words your family offer in each blank until they’re all filled in.

5. Be sure to allow all family members to participate if they’d like to.

6. Read your silly letter and laugh about how ridiculous it would be to spend ALL your time every day focused on an inanimate object.

Parent/Child Discussion

1. What stood out to you the most from the message? What’s one thing you learned?

2. Today, we wrote a letter to an inanimate object! If you had to write a letter to the thing you spend the most time with, what would it be? A computer, TV, football, iPad, something else?

3. Do you know anyone who you would say “living to worship God” is the most important thing in their life? If yes, what shows you they live for God?

4. Read Matthew 22:37-38. What do these verses teach about how much of your time God wants?

5. How can you remember to make God a part of everything you do? (Hint: Thanking Him often is a great way to start!)

6. How can you tell if something besides God is starting to become the most important thing in your life? Idea: If things are distracting you from God instead of reminding you to worship God, they’re becoming more important than God to you.

7. Pray together. Pray that your family would make God the center of their lives. Pray that you would all use the unique ways God made each of you to honor God and cause others to worship God, too!

*YouVersion Bible Reading Plan That Goes with Series- Live a Life of Worship

Life of Worship Week 1 - Elementary

Gather your family together and watch the video. Then talk through the discussion question, wrapping up with a fun family activity! Throughout the week go through the YouVersion devotional together to keep reinforcing the importance of living a life of worship in everything we do!

Key Verse
Matthew 22:37-38 NIV
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest commandment.”

Parent/Child Discussion
1. What stood out to you the most from the message? What’s one thing you learned?

2. Read Matthew 22:37-38. This Bible verse is what worshiping God is all about. Which is harder for you to do: worship God with your heart and soul or worship God with your mind? (Hint: Heart and soul have more to do with your emotions toward God. Mind has more to do with your thoughts about God and following Him.)

3. How can you worship God with your whole heart, soul, and mind? What would that look like in your life at home, school, playing sports, practicing music lessons, or whatever else you do?

4. How could your attitude toward others and yourself change when you worship God with everything you have?

5. Pray together. Pray that your child would begin to understand that worshiping God isn’t something they do once a week at church online or in when we are in the building. Pray they would begin to use their entire life as an act of worship.

Family Activity
1. As a family, stand in a circle.

2. Place Trade Places activity supplement in the center of the circle.

3. One person volunteers to stand in the middle. Say: We’re going to play a game to show how there are tons of ways to get up and worship God!

4. The person in the middle of the circle says one way they like to worship God. Note: They can use ideas from the Trade Places activity supplement. Example: “I can play an instrument to worship God.”

5. Anyone in the circle who agrees with that statement (including the person in the middle) has to trade places with someone else in the circle. Note: Encourage each other to trade places if they already DO enjoy the act of worship the person in the middle stated. AND, have them trade places if they think it sounds like a way they might like to TRY to worship God.

6. If no one agrees, the person in the middle must choose another way to worship God.

7. The person who can’t trade places fast enough with anyone around the circle now has to stand in the middle of the circle. If the person who originally was in the center can’t trade places into the circle fast enough—you guessed it—they’re stuck in the center
again!

8. Repeat steps 4-7 for as long as you want to play!

*YouVersion Bible Reading Plan- Live a Life of Worship

Using Your Inner Critic - Elementary

This Sunday we are looking at how to control your inner critic. This is going to be a fun one to do together as a family! After watching the video use the script below to have a fun time of learning how to keep our minds stayed on Him!

Key Verse- Philippians 4:8 NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Parent/Child Discussion Questions

1. What stood out to you the most from the message? What’s one thing you learned?

2. Why do you think it’s hard to control your inner critic?

3. Read Philippians 4:8 NIV. How could the truth from this verse help you face your inner critic? You can remind your inner thoughts to stop focusing on your mistakes.

4. What is one trash-thought you wish your inner critic would stop saying to you? How can you fight that trash with God’s truth? Ideas: Memorize Bible verses, learn what God really thinks about you by reading the Bible, ask a trusted adult what God’s truth is that would fight the hurtful thoughts you have, write God’s truth out and hang it where you’ll see it often, etc.

5. When do you notice your inner critic getting louder? Examples: when you make a mistake, when you’re at school, when you’re meeting someone new, etc.

6. How does God show His love to you? How can you allow God’s love to be louder in your heart and mind than your inner critic’s voice?

Pray together. Pray that each of your family members would focus on God’s truth instead of the trash their inner critic loves to throw around their minds.

Family Activity- Truth or Trash?

1. Say: We are going to cut Truth or Trash cards apart so we can play a game to remember the truth God says about us—not the harsh lies our inner critic sometimes tells us.

2. Give each family member a Truth or Trash activity sheet and a paper bag.

3. Place markers, pens or pencils, and scissors where your family can access them.

4. Each family member writes their name on the bag, cut the cards along the dotted lines, and put the cards with writing on them into their bag. Have everyone set aside the blank cards.

5. Say: Now, let’s play! If the card is a truth to keep in your heart, say “truth” and show me a thumbs up. If it’s a lie, say “trash” and show me a thumbs down.

6. Use one family member’s bag to pick a card and read it out loud.

7. Each person answers when it’s your turn. You read the back of the card out loud to show the correct answer and learn God’s truth.

8. Say: Your bag is full of some truth to believe—and some lies that belong in the trash. Now, I want everyone to write your own Truth or Trash card with something that you either know is true and want to keep strong in your mind, or something that you know is trash, but you struggle to get rid of.

9. Have your family members write their own statements on one of their blank cards, choosing either a truth they need to hold onto in their mind or a trash-thought they know they need to get rid of.

10. Use the Truth or Trash activity supplement to help your family to find a Scripture that either confirms the truth or proves the trash-value of what they wrote so they can add it to the back of their card.

Easter Monday - Elementary

Jesus Appeared to the Disciples Luke 24; John 20
Story Point: Jesus appeared to His friends.

Family Discussion Questions:
1. At least 500 people said they saw Jesus after His resurrection. Why do you think we can believe their testimonies? Guide kids to consider the reliability of a testimony when it is verified by multiple people. Point out the risk of early believers who claimed to see Jesus alive; many were persecuted or killed. Emphasize that we believe the Bible is completely true, but we also believe by faith that Jesus is alive. (Read Ps. 66:16.)
2. Why do you think some people doubt that Jesus is the Messiah? Lead kids to recognize that many people want physical proof of something in order to believe. Jesus said that those who have not seen and yet believe are blessed. Faith is a gift from God. When we doubt, we can pray and ask God to help us believe. (Read John 20:29.)
3. What is our mission as believers? Prompt kids to conclude that our mission as believers is to make disciples of all nations by the power of the Spirit (Read Matt. 28:19-20.)
4. Spend some time as a family asking Jesus to reveal Himself to each one of you. Good questions to ask Him are: Who do you want to show me about you, God? What do you want to show me about myself?

Family Activities:
1) Pick a family in your neighborhood to being praying for and intentionally showing God’s love to. You could invite them over for dinner, take them cookies, call and ask how there day is going, help them with yard work, etc.
2) Read aloud Luke 24:1-9.
You'll need:
• cupcakes
• a trick candle that relights

Light the candle and talk about how Jesus came to be the light of the world. Just a few days ago, it looked to the disciples like the light had been blown out.
Blow out the candle and wait in silence while the flame is gone. When the flame comes back, celebrate with the cupcakes!

Point out that nothing can ever snuff out Jesus, the light of the world. Have a party celebrating Jesus’ life and all He’s done for us!

Thank you for celebrating Easter week with us!!! Continue to look for ways to talk about Jesus and Him living through your family in everyday life. We recommend using our How to Follow Jesus a Family guide resource to help you facilitate conversations with your kids about their relationship with Jesus. There's activities and a video from Pastor Dave to help lead you child in relationship with Jesus. It can be found here.

Resurrection Sunday - Elementary

Jesus Has Risen & The Emmaus Disciples- Luke 24
Story Point: Jesus taught that all the Scriptures point to Him.

Family Discussion Questions:
1. How do you think the disciples felt when they finally realized the person they saw was Jesus? Remind kids that the disciples knew Jesus had died and had heard that He had been resurrected. They were amazed at the report that Jesus was alive. When they recognized Jesus and saw that everything they heard was true, they got up and went to tell the other disciples. (Read Luke 24:31-32.)
2. What Old Testament stories can you think of that remind us of Jesus? Use the story of Jonah as an example. (Read Matt. 12:40-41.)
3. What can we do when we read something in the Bible that we don’t understand? Remind kids that when Jesus met with the disciples, Jesus taught that all the Scriptures point to Him. He opened the disciples’ eyes so they realized who He was. When we don’t understand something about God, we can pray and ask God to open our eyes and help us understand. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding. God also gives us other people and resources to help us see what is true about God and about ourselves. (Read 2 Tim. 3:16-17.)

Family Activities: Closed-eye drawings
Give each kid a piece of paper. Provide pencils or crayons.
Guide kids to fold their paper in half. Kids will draw on one half of the paper at a time. Blindfold kids or instruct them to close their eyes. Explain that they will follow your instructions to draw a picture. Give the following commands, pausing after each one for kids to draw.
1. Draw an oval.
2. Draw the letter T inside the oval.
3. Draw the letter V on top of the oval.
4. Add three short lines on the outside of each side of the oval.

Guide kids to take off their blindfolds or open their eyes. Compare their drawings. They should slightly resemble six-legged bugs with antennae. Now repeat the commands, allowing them to draw with their eyes open. Compare their drawings with the first drawings. If time allows, turn over the paper and play again with your own instructions.

SAY • Your pictures are so much clearer when your eyes
were opened! When Jesus met with the disciples,
Jesus taught that all the Scriptures point to Him.
He opened their eyes so they realized who He was. When we don’t understand something about God, we can pray and ask God to open our eyes and help us understand.