What Makes a Church?
Opening
• Have the kids get into groups of 20-30 kids (and at least one adult chaperone), when they find their group sit down in a group and be silent
• What is the theme of the night???
Ephesians 2:19-20
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
• Our bible study tonight is about the different things that it takes to build a church. There are many different things that make a church but Christ is the cornerstone that holds all of those things together.
• Explain that they will be visiting 8 different bible study stations.
• Rules!!
o If you arrive at a station where there is already a group wait patiently for them to finish
o Be safe, no running
o Stay together as a group, if you lose your group try to find them or come back to the main gym
• At each station you will receive a puzzle piece. When you have found all 8 pieces return to this gym
1. What Makes a Church: Forgiveness
a. Location: Main Floor behind the elevator
b. Description:
Will it Blend? : Sin!
After you have read the bible verse, each person in the group is to write down all of the sins they know that they have committed recently and haven’t asked for forgiveness. When they are finished have them each tear the piece of paper up and put it in the blender.
Explain that because they were baptized in the name of the father (add a splash of water to the blender), and the Spirit (add another splash), and the Holy Spirit (add another splash) and they have asked for forgiveness their sins are forgiven…
TURN ON THE BLEND TO BLEND THEIR SINS AWAY!!!!!!!
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
c. Bible Verse: Acts 3:19 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
d. Supplies Needed:
i. Blender
ii. Piece of paper for kids to write on
iii. writing utensils
iv. water
v. slop bucket
2. What Makes a Church: Faith
a. Location: Near front door
b. Description:
When a group arrives read the bible verse to them and explain to them that sometimes life will test our faith but when we believe in Christ he will always guide us to him even when we cannot see him.
Have each member of the group reach into the large container in search of “faith” they each must pull out a symbol of faith before they can move on.
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
c. Bible Verse:
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
d. Supplies
i. Big Container
ii. Crosses
iii. Tarp
iv. Goop/ice-water
3. What Makes a Church: Community*
a. Location: Anywhere away from other stations
b. Leader: Jessica Steen
c. Description: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Bracelets
When a group has arrived at your station hand out a piece of string (that will fit around their wrist) to each person.
Tell them to tie a knot in the very middle of their piece of string. Explain that this knot represents god and our goal is for him to be at the center of our lives.
Then have them tie a knot a ¼ - ½ inch to the right of the first knot. Explain that this know represents God’s Son , Jesus.
Then have them tie one more knot the same distance to the left of the first knot. Explain that this knot represents the Holy Spirit.
Describe how the white string represents how Jesus’ death on the cross purifies us of our sin. Have each person find someone next to them and tie the string around their wrist in a double knot. This represent how Christian community helps us with our faith.
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
d. Bible Verse: 1 John 1:7 “ if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
e. Supplies
i. White String (precut) 6-7” x320
ii. Scissors
4. What Makes a Church: Followers of Christ
a. Location: Upper Gym
b. Description: “Jesus Says”
When a group arrives read them the bible verse and explain that they are going to be playing “Jesus Says”. Play a 5 minute game of “Jesus Says” with the group (just like Simon says). When someone makes a mistake and would normally be “out” instead of ousting them from the game, walk over to them, place your hand on their head and say “child you are forgiven” and continue playing.
Suggestions for things Jesus might say:
• Hug your neighbor
• Pat someone on the back
• Follow Jesus around the gym
• Dance for joy
• Make a joyful noise
• Say the Lord’s Prayer
• Hi-five your neighbor
• Shake another person’s hand
• Recite your favorite bible verse
• Run around and “baaaaaaaaaaaah” like a sheep
• Recite one of the ten commandments
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
c. Bible Verse: Luke 9:23 23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
d. Supplies:
i. Megaphone
5. What Makes a Church: Prayer *
a. Location: Main Gym
b. Description: Prayer wall
When a group arrives, read them the bible verse and explain to them that we are creating a prayer wall.
Encourage them to write as many prayer requests as they can come up with in 3 minutes on pieces of paper and tape them to the wall.
After 3 minutes have the group sit in silence to pray for all the prayer requests on the wall for 1 minute.
When the minute has passed give each group a puzzle piece before they leave.
c. Bible Verse: 1 Timothy 2:8 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
d. Supplies:
i. Paper
ii. Writing utensils
iii. Masking tape
6. What Makes a Church: Service
a. Location: Near a trash can and away from other stations
b. Description: Washing of the Feet
When a group arrives at your station read them the bible passage about Jesus washing the disciples feet. Explain to the group that like Jesus washed the feet of the disciples they are going to wash each other’s feet.
Have the group pair up and wash each other’s feet with a baby wipe.
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
c. Bible verse: John 13:14 -17
14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
d. Supplies:
i. Wet wipes
7. What Makes a Church: Worship
a. Location: A Dance room off of the main Gym
b. Leader: Tanner Howard + Friends
c. Description: Camp Songs/ Camp Worship led by Tanner
Tanner will come up with a fun worship song or activity to do with each group in 5 mins.
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
d. Bible Verse:
Psalm 100:1 - 3 “1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. “
e. Supplies:
i. Guitar???
8. What Makes a Church: Scripture*
a. Location: Anywhere away from other groups
b. Description: Mark favorite bible verse in bible
When a group arrives read them the quote by Martin Luther and explain how scripture can help us build our faith. Have each person in the group mark their favorite bible verse with a manger sticky note. Use the Temporary stick glue sticks on the piece of paper to turn them into sticky notes.
If someone has already marked their favorite verse they can mark it again or mark another verse or mark it in another bible.
Give each group a puzzle piece before they leave. When they are done, the group is free to move on to another station.
c. Bible Verse: "Scripture is the manger in which the child is laid." – Martin Luther
d. Supplies:
i. Manger “sticky notes” x 350
ii. Temporary stick glue sticks
iii. Bibles x10-15
Closing
• As groups arrive have them sit together in a group on the floor
• When all of the groups have come back, tell them that it’s time to put their puzzles together
•
• Explain that the missing piece is the cornerstone…
o Who is the cornerstone???? A: Jesus
• Without out Christ as our cornerstone our puzzle is incomplete. So where is the final puzzle piece? Inside each of u! Christ is inside each of us.
Ephesians 2:19-20 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
