Against Us Or For Us Group
Group Activities

Interactive Group Activities

by Carol Williams & Charles Kirkpatrick

Sermon Title: "Against Us or For Us?"

scripture Reading: Mark 9:38-41

POPCORN AND PEANUTS: Divide the children into 2 teams and let them stand across from each other -- several feet apart. The children can begin throwing popcorn at each other, one by one. After a couple of throws, have the teams step ONE step closer to the other team and throw more popcorn. Continue to slower step closer and closer until no one drops any popcorn. Let children know that when they are close to each other and work together, everything is better, as they'll find out in today's lesson. The children can continue to play the game once again but throwing peanuts to each other from far away and then moving closer.

CATCH AND KEEP: One or two children can try to tag and catch another of the classmates as everyone runs around a designated area. If a child is tagged, then they too will run to tag someone else. Each time a child tags (catches) another player, they'll shout out loud, "YOU ARE FOR US". Soon everyone will be FOR US and together and everyone will be on the SAME SIDE!

FINDING GOOD THINGS: Tell children that through out today's class time, they are to watch and look for someone doing good things, as well as the teacher! Encourage children to think of something GOOD to do that someone else may notice. Every time someone shouts out something good that someone did -- the teacher can draw a HAPPY FACE on the chalkboard and see how many happy faces are there when classtime is over.

JESUS TEAM SHIRT: Provide each child with an inexpensive plain t-shirt. The children can use fabric paints or gel pens, to write JESUS' TEAM.. or MEMBER OF JESUS' TEAM, etc.

JESUS TEAM PIN: Children can be given card stock colorful paper or markers to decorate a round circle and then pinned onto the child's shirt. Encourage children to write I AM ON JESUS' TEAM on their pins.

DIARY BOOKLETS: Provide children with construction paper, markers, happy face stickers and other supplies desired to form a DIARY. Children can have colored pens to draw or write good things that they would like to do this coming week. Children can be encouraged to continue writing in their DIARY in the days and weeks ahead of the GOOD things that they do for others and for Jesus!

FINGER PRINT MEMBERS: Each child could be given ink pads and a piece of paper, to make finger prints and draw each finger print as a child. Draw many prints and write a title at the top about today's lesson and being a member of God's family. If the older children are able to and would like to make their finger prints showing action of DOING GOOD, that would be exciting for them to share with each other and have others guess what their finger print person is doing.

CAP CLUB: The teacher can buy a visor or an inexpensive cap for the children to write on and decorate with gel pens or markers. Words from today's lesson or today's Bible verse could be written on the cap. Children could also write JESUS CLUB on their cap or visor.

GROUP PEOPLE: Divide the children up into small groups. Each group can draw their own types of people on their own piece of large construction paper or poster board. Give the groups about 5 minutes or whatever time the teacher desires to draw their stick-people, etc. When the time is up -- the groups of children can show their class their drawings. The teacher can put all the pictures on a wall and have a long banner over the top of the pictures that could say, "FAMILY OF GOD MEMBERS", or other ideas from the children, such as "NOT AGAINST US BUT FOR US".

FAMILY CIRCLE: The children can get into a circle and have a FAMILY OF GOD circle prayer time, thanking God for everyone who is not against Him and for all the people who do good things.

SHARE A SNACK: Children can be encouraged to get a cookie or cupcake and bring it to a classmate or the teacher. Continue letting children share a snack until everyone has had a chance to share and then to enjoy their treats.

Song:  "This Little Light of Mine"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track

About Carol Williams
Carol and her husband have been in the ministry for more than 35 years.  They have served churches in Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, Michigan, and Indiana.  Carol loves to work with children so you will find her teaching in Junior Church and children's Sunday School.  She also has clowning ministry in which she is known as Bubbles tc (the clown).
 
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