"My Soul Is Troubled"
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "My Soul Is Troubled"

Scripture Reading:John 12:27-29

STONE TOSSING:

Let children draw HOPSCOTCH lines on a parking lot or sidewalk. Children can play hopscotch and tossing little stones to the squares that they will be hopping to. If there are many children, they could have several hopscotch games going. The teacher can write words from today's lesson in each square and tell children which square to toss the stone and then hop to that square. Continue as time allows and then encourage children to listen to the Bible story today about a worry stone, just as they might have worried about hopping to the right square and tossing their stone to the right place.

STONE STICKING:

Divide the children into teams. Give each team a stick to run a relay, pushing their stone to the finish line. pick up the stone and run it quickly back to their next team member to do the same until everyone on the team has pushed the stone to the finish line and back.

STONE SOCCER:

The children can be divided into several teams and everyone start out at the starting line to carefully move a stone with their feet to the finish line. Make sure children understand that no stone can be kicked hard and move off the ground, but to only move the stone along the ground.

HAPPY AND SAD HEARTS:

Give children supplies to draw and cut out 2 large hearts. Children can use markers to write TROUBLED heart on one and HAPPY heart on the other. Give children small cut out pieces of colored construction paper to form the eyes, nose and sad or happy mouth! Children can then glue hearts on another piece of construction paper and write words from today's Bible verse.

TROUBLE ACROSTIC:

The class can work on this acrostic together, as the teacher writes the letters for T-R-O-U-B-L-E along the left side of a poster board. Tell the children to think of POSITIVE words for each letter that will keep a heart from being troubled. After each letter and idea, let a child come to the board and draw a colorful happy face beside the positive word.

STONE WORK:

Provide each child with a small stone and some paints and brush to color their stone and draw a heart or other picture or words from today's Bible lesson. Encourage children to write JESUS in bright colored paint on one side of the rock.

GLORIFY YOUR NAME HAND:

Children can be given supplies to trace their hand and cut it out and glue onto a piece of construction paper. In the "palm" of the hand, they can write, "Father, glorify your name".. and on each finger, the children can write ways to glorify GOD so their heart will not be troubled - such as PRAY< FAITH< TRUST, etc.

TORN CROSS

: Give each child a piece of paper and tell them to TEAR out a cross - not tracing and not using scissors. Children can write, "GLORIFY GOD'S NAME", or other words from today's lesson.

VERSE CROSSES:

Before class time, the teacher can cut out enough crosses to be able to put one word each of our Bible verse today (either the long version or a shorter version). Tape the crosses along the wall and let each child go to the crosses and add one word "in order" of our verse today. Then children can read each cross and RECITE the Bible verse together!

SING A SONG:

TO GOD BE THE GLORY; HALLELU, HALLELU

SHARE A SNACK:

POPSICLES can be the treat today and while the children are eating their "melting" snack, ask the children if they are having TROUBLE eating it all before it melts and what did the word TROUBLE have in our lesson today! Children could give answers about what troubles our hearts, or parts of today's Bible verse as well. ENCOURAGE children to share about what troubles their heart!

Song: "To God Be the Glory"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track (right click to save to your computer)

Song: "Hallelu, Hallelu"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track (right click to save to your computer)