Hangin Tough

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April 3rd 2016 .:. .:. Room 301

Pathways Kids Weekend Small Groups

This curriculum is for the 6, 7 and 8 year olds.

This Weeks Scope

Bible Story: Rise Up (Ascension/Pentecost) Matthew 28:20, Acts 12
Bottom Line: When life gets hard, remember God is with you.
Memory Verse: But those who trust the LORD will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles.
They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak. Isaiah 40:31, NIrV
Life App: Perseverancerefusing to give up when life gets hard.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.

Welcome Time
What You Need: Offering container
What You Do:
Collect kids offerings as they arrive.
Ask kids if they have ever run in a race at school or with their family. Did they like running the
race? What made it easy? What made it hard? What was their favorite part of the race? Would
they want to do it again?
Lead your kids to large group.

Activity #1
What You Need: Masking tape, small squares of tissue paper; 2-3 sheets cut into pieces for each
Small Group
What You Do:
Wrap masking tape around kids wrists like bracelets with the sticky side facing out.
When everyone has their bracelets ready, toss the tissue paper in the air.
Kids can then run around to try to catch the pieces and stick them to their bracelets. (The key
word is try. Kids will probably need to pick up most of the tissue paper pieces and stick them
directly to their bracelets.)
Keep picking up tissue paper and throwing it in the air as time and interest allow.
What You Say:
When Jesus ascended or went up into heaven, He didnt just leave us here on earth alone; He gave
us the Holy Spirit. Just like these pieces of tissue paper stuck to you, He sent the Holy Spirit down to
stick with us and guide us through our lives. [Bottom Line] When life gets hard, remember God is
with you. [Make It Personal] (Tell kids about a time the Holy Spirit directed you toward a
decision or prompted you to say something to someone.) Even though sometimes it seems like
God is far away, really Hes right here, sticking with us.

Activity #2
What You Need: tapeline on the floor, plastic cups, Story Cards Activity Pages
What You Do:
Tape the Story Cards to the upside-down cups and lay the beam across your Small Group
area.
Give each kid a cup to balance on their head as they walk across the beam.
At the end of the beam, kids can put their cups in order to tell the story.
Circle up to talk about the activity and the story. (The correct order of the story is below.)
1. Jesus rose from the dead.
2. Jesus spent time with His friends.
3. Disciples went to the mountain in Galilee to hear from Jesus.
4. Jesus talked with the disciples.
5. Jesus ascended through the clouds over the mountain.
6. Angel talked to the disciples on a mountain.
7. The disciples went back to Jerusalem to wait for Jesus.
8. Tongues of fire descended above the disciples heads.
9. Peter preaches to the crowd.
What You Say:
You put our story together just the right way! Does anyone remember what Jesus said He was leaving
with the disciples? (The Holy Spirit) Okay, hold that thought, and lets think back to our balance beam.
That was hardwalking the beam while balancing the cup on your head! At some point, a few of you
swayed and waved your arms around a little bit. What happened there? (Give them a chance to answer
and think about the question.) Yes, you lost your balance. The sense of balance is inside of us; its
different than the sense of touch or sight or smell, but its necessary all the same.
The Holy Spirit is like that. You cant see Him, but Hes there and is important. And when you start a
relationship with God, He gives you the Holy Spirit to guide you. The Holy Spirit shows you where
theres something in your life that needs a little more attention, like when you need to pray, or spend
more time reading the Bible, or get encouragement from a Christian friend. The Holy Spirit is our guide
so that we can follow God even when things get hard. The disciples were about to face some hard
times as they shared about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came to help and guide them. Because the Holy
Spirit is here, you can be confident, and [Bottom Line] when things get hard, remember God is with
you.

Prayer
Opposites

Time

What You Need: No supplies needed

What You Do: Have kids gather in a circle, sit and bow their heads
What You Say:
God, thank You so much for helping us persevere when things get hard. Thank you for sending the
Holy Spirit to be with us and show us the right thing to do. Please remind us that You are with us.
Amen. Lets say the Bottom Line together one more time. [Bottom Line] When life gets hard,
remember God is with you.