A 7 week mountain climbing adventure that exposes kids to the different tools we have in our kids church that

will equip them for their lifes expedition. It exposes kids and volunteers to the priorities and values of this curriculum and your kids church: the Bible; prayer; worship; relationships with friends, leaders and most importantly, a relationship with God.
This unit is intended to follow Missions in the Mountains, a 4 week unit with the same environment, or before/after Kingdom J Ranch. Both have the same environmental theme.
2004 Expedition Kids! Curriculum, Amy Silva All Rights Reserved Permission given to make unlimited copies by the purchasing church for use in that church

The Set Up for Expedition Kids!

Did you know that every one of us is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Kids are no different. With Expedition Kids! curriculum, children can get equipped to go out and be successful in the expedition God has them on. They need to have the tools of prayer, reading Gods Word, knowing who they are in Christ and that God has a purpose and a plan for them. Our goal is to provide quality curriculum for churches that is affordable, full of energy & fun, while retaining the spiritual depth to make an eternal impact. We want kids to want to come to your church, to hear about how awesome God is, and to want Him in their lives! Expedition Kids! offers a kids church curriculum that is effective, inexpensive and easy to use. Its aimed at children from 1st 5th grades and employs a largegroup/small-group teaching format. It is fun and sometimes a little crazy, with the rooms environment changing to reinforce and reflect the current units theme. It is a great help to smaller churches and church plants that currently may not have a large budget, technological capabilities or volunteer pool. Youre going to have to be willing to cook up several giant pots of slime, put down some tarps in your kids church room, and catapult eggs. Most activities and games reinforce the lesson point, but sometimes we do something just because its fun. While they are having fun, kids will be learning about prayer, how to read their Bible, how to pray for others, and what its like when God speaks to us. There are weeks that the curriculum calls for movie or game weeks. This is a time to kick back and enjoy being with your kids and let them build relationships with each other! These weeks also make the curriculum flexible so it fits into your calendar. Expedition Kids! helps get people involved. You dont have to teach if thats not your gifting: theres a place for everyone to pitch in and begin the expedition! Places to serve include: small group leaders for those with pastoral gifting, teachers for those comfortable speaking and entertaining, carpentry opportunities to build games, artistic opportunities with decorating and even a skit or two for those dramatic types! There are several special items you will need to make as you progress through the curriculum (potato launchers, egg-a-pults, Plinko game, etc.). While these take some time to make, they will be used again either later in the unit or in another unit.

Expedition Kids! is easy. Simply print it out from the curriculum CD, write the dates you plan to teach the lessons on the Table of Contents page and make copies. You can also edit and print so its ready to go! Another option is to email it and let the volunteers print out the weeks they need.

Expedition Kids! Format:

This curriculum plans for an hour and a half, with a 10 15 minute worship time. Welcome This is a time to make announcements, welcome guests, celebrate birthdays, etc. Worship Dont have a worship leader? Consider ordering some DVDs from Gods Kids Worship company (www.godskidsworship), Group Publishing (www.group.com), or use previous VBS worship DVDs. Small Group Trek Team Debriefing This is a time for kids to gather in small groups with their Trek Team Guide (small group leader) to discuss their week, review last weeks lesson and see how it applied to their lives. Its a chance to debrief from their expedition of the past week. It is recommended to keep the same groups each week so that relationships can be formed among the children and leaders. Trailbreaking This is the large-group teaching time. You can have someone double up as the teacher and a small group leader if youre short on volunteers. Memory verse Expedition Kids! uses the same verse for 4 5 weeks at a time and uses motions to help kids remember. Small Group Trek Team Gear Up This is a time for kids to return to their small groups to discuss the lesson, get geared up for the week, and have prayer/ministry time.

Fun Elements You Can Incorporate:

If you dont already have one, come up with a fun name for your kids church. Ours is called Base Camp because every 3 or 4 months we pack up and move our base camp to a new location to learn about something new. This is when we completely redecorate the room and keep it a surprise from the kids until they walk in the door (weve built a tent that remains the same no matter where we are). We may go underwater to learn about how immeasurable Gods love is, we may go into a cave to dig for treasures represented by answers to our questions,

4 or we may join in with a Mexican fiesta to celebrate the salvation that is available through Jesus! Have a Trading Post where kids can spend Bible Bucks on trinkets & toys (www.orientaltrading.com is a great place to find inexpensive treasures!). We usually have ours the last Sunday of each month at the end of class time. Kids can earn Bible Bucks for knowing the memory verse, making good choices during class, bringing their Bible, bringing a friend and just being there! Decorate the room if you can. Use scene setters & plastic tablecloth rolls from party supply stores, butcher paper from teacher supply stores, an overhead to copy a scene onto drop cloths, or just decorate the stage. We offer some ideas, so make it as elaborate or simple as you wish. Also, several of the units follow after the theme from some VBSs so you may have some of these decorations already. Its great stewardship to reuse these resources! Consider making a sound effects CD to play as children arrive, or play music that fits the theme. Not an artist? Theres help! Use Microsoft Office Online for clipart & decorating pictures for backdrops or animals. Print or copy them onto a transparency and then shine them onto paper or fabric. Trace, and voila! Professional looking artwork using less-than professional level talent!

Table of Contents
DATE:

Welcome to Expedition Essentials! Decorating Ideas Supply List The Bible - Our Guidebook Worship Our Life Giving Oxygen Prayer Our Walkie Talkie Relationships with Our Trek Team Guides Our Compass Relationships with Our Trek Teams Our Boot Crampons Our Relationship with God Our Rope & Lifeline How to Become the Best Explorer Completing Our Expedition Well

p. 6 p. 9 p. 10 p. 13 p. 22 p. 28 p. 32

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

p. 37

_________

p. 42

_________

p. 45

_________

Welcome to Expedition Essentials!

Introduction: Expedition Essentials is a great unit to start everything off with because it introduces kids and volunteers to the values and priorities of this curriculum. It explains why we do things the way were doing them! Its a time to focus on what you want your kids church to be for them; namely, a place to pray, develop friendships, worship, and learn the Bible. Each week will focus on a different tool they need to make their life expeditions successful and lay the foundation for the rest of the year. Expedition Essentials has a mountain climbing theme so it fits to go either before or after Kingdom J Ranch or Missions in the Mountains.

Special Instructions/Tips:
Make a life-sized board game from a canvas tarp (see instructions on the next page). If you dont want to do that, you could tape squares of construction paper on the floor to form a trail around the room. Youll need to gather some fun facts on your Trek Team Guides for a game in the 4th week. The form we used is on page 8. Consider making a TT Guide informational sheet for parents that explains who the TT Guides are and hand it out on week 4. It can include their pictures and some of the fun facts you gathered for the Trek Team Guide game. You can make signs for the different tools logos and hang them up in your room. We made ours out of foam, but you could use paper, cardboard or wood. Bigger examples of the logos are on p. 9. Its something you can leave hanging up to remind everyone of your priorities and values! We can reuse ours every time we teach this unit so its great.

What to order from Oriental Trading Colors of Faith cross craft. IN48/1425 They have one thats Jelly Bean Prayer with the same idea if you prefer. You can order large dice for lesson 7, or use a small box. IN39/198

Life-Sized Board Game Needed for Week 7

Buy a canvas drop cloth from a home improvement store. They come in all different sizes, depending on how large you want your game to be. Use a pencil to sketch out a winding path on the canvas. Think Candy Land! You can have arrows that kids have to move forward or back if they land on them (like Chutes & Ladders). You can also have spaces that say to move forward 2 or move back 2. This game board is painted on a 5x7 foot canvas using craft paint from Hobby Lobby. It helps to thin the paint with water by about 50%.

If you dont want to paint a life-sized board game, tape construction paper squares to make a path around the room. You can write on the squares if the kids should move ahead two or move back three.

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Decorating Ideas
You can make signs for the different tools logos and hang them up in your room. We made ours out of foam, but you could use paper, cardboard or wood. Bigger examples of the logos are on p. 8. Its something you can leave hanging up to remind everyone of your priorities and values! We can reuse ours every time we teach this unit so its great. Use any picture below to paint a backdrop on a canvas tarp. The cool thing about the extra work this takes is that it can be rolled up and saved to be reused. We have our walls painted blue and made mountains with large rolls of brown painters paper from a home supply store (Lowes, Home Depot). We crumpled up white paper and stapled it on the peaks to resemble snow. We also stapled up some quilting batting around the highest peaks to look like misty clouds. We painted hot air balloons and mountain goats on foam so those are reusable. Fantastic! You can find cute goats if you look on coloring book websites. Print the pictures out, make a transparency and trace them onto paper or foam sheets. Paint cloud shapes on foam or cardboard, cut them out and hang them flat from the ceiling so when kids look up, they see clouds!

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Supply List
Week 1: The Bible - Our Guidebook
Letter from their mom in an addressed envelope to the Teacher Bible Baseball field transparency (if you dont have an overhead, draw something similar on a poster board), Game pieces to represent players made of red and blue colored see-through report folders (or color squares of a transparency with red and blue markers), Bible Baseball question sheet Overhead marker Psalm 119:105 transparency, or written on poster board Flashlights for Trailbreaking Teacher, Trek Team Guides Copies of Our Guidebook Handouts for each small group Overhead of Memory Verse, or written on poster board Crayons

Week 2: Worship Our Life Giving Oxygen

Worship instruments & streamers A box or something 2 kids can carry for the Ark of the Covenant Clothespin for each child 3 Big Bowls or bottles for game Glue Sheets of paper to glue verse puzzles on 2 Timothy 2:15 page, copied - each child will cut theirs up to make a puzzle Baggies for puzzle pieces Male dressed in a long tshirt and shorts to be King David Female to be Michal, his wife. Dressed with a crown.

Week 3: Prayer Our Walkie Talkie

Puppet for 1-800-Calling God Skit (or a person to act the character) Dirty sock, toothbrush, pretend fish (stuff that the puppet can throw out) Phone Book Small piece of paper for each child Pencil/crayon for each child Half pieces of paper Set of Walkie-Talkies Box with a cross on it for Prayer Walk Each Trek Team will need a small box to put prayers slips in

Week 4: Relationships with Our Trek Team Guides - Our Compass

6 or so rolls of toilet paper (several per TT Guide) Trek Team Guide Fact Sheet (gathered from earlier) Trek Team Guide Info Handout as kids leave (so parents can know who you are!) Youll need all the Trek Team Guides to be here for the game section Memory Verse overhead (Eccl. 4:9 12)

12 Week 5: Relationships with Our Trek Teams Our Boot Crampons

The Tigger Movie Bag of uncooked spaghetti noodles Roll of Lifesavers

Week 6: Our Relationship with God Our Rope & Lifeline

Cross Craft from OT (TIP: have the ribbon for hanging already hot-glued on!) Several glue bottles per Trek Team Large clear jar with a lid that can be sealed Another container or jar Iodine Bleach 2 light colored sponges cut in the shape of a cross and a heart Water Paper towels

Week 7: How to Become the Best Explorer Completing Our Expedition Well
Tape measure Large dice can order from Oriental Trading or use a cardboard box you cover with colorful paper and put dots on it. Life-sized board game either painted on a canvas tarp, or you can use pieces of construction paper to make a path. You can write on some squares to skip the kids ahead if they land on it (for example: you decided to trust God in a difficult situation move ahead 2) and set backs (you lied to get out of trouble move back one). If you already have a game board painted on a tarp, write these on construction paper and place them in the squares. Questions for Game Pawns for Game whatever youd like The Cartoon Grinch movie (not the version with Jim Carey), ready to show part where his heart is 3 sizes too small Supplies for skit: laptop, comic book, guidebook-looking book, box of Twinkies, compass, flash light without batteries, a few candles, roll of dental floss

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Lesson 1: The Bible - Our Guidebook

Supplies:
Letter from their mom in an addressed envelope to the Teacher Bible Baseball field transparency (if you dont have an overhead, just draw something similar on a poster board), Game pieces to represent players made of transparent red and blue colored report folders (or color squares of a transparency colored with red and blue markers), Bible Baseball question sheet Overhead marker Psalm 119:105 transparency, or written on poster board Flashlights for Trailbreaking Teacher, Trek Team Guides Copies of Our Guidebook Handouts for each small group Overhead of Memory Verse, or written on poster board Crayons

Kids Will Learn:

The Bible comes to us straight from God so we can follow its directions and clearly see the way to go in life.

Bible Verse:
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. The Message: By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. Psalm 119:105

Memory Verse: Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the
faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9

Welcome kids as they arrive Have fun music playing! Everyone should be ready to focus on kids at this time.

Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

14

Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it.

15 minutes Trek Teams Debriefing This is when you can either meet your new group or find out what theyve been doing this summer! Introduce yourself and share something about yourself (i.e. what ice cream you like.). There are other ideas of what to share in the upcoming weeks to get to know your kids better. Have the kids share their name and give their answer to what you shared. This is your chance to set some expectations for group behavior (ex: everyone fits in the circle no double parking!, dont interrupt, raise your hand for a chance to speak so we can hear what everyone has to say, its not appropriate to give silly answers, lets use encouraging words, etc.). Once everyone has had a chance to share, let them take turns sharing what they did over the summer.

15 minutes Worship

30 minutes Trailbreaking Time Before lesson, stick Psalm 119 transparency in your Bible & give your letter to someone to give to you at the right time. Once again, welcome the kids. During your welcome, have someone come in and deliver a letter to you. You are so surprised and pleased. Its from your mom (or another family member) whos very special to you but you havent heard from in awhile. Apologize to the kids because you simply must read the letter right now, its so special to you. Open it and pretend to read it with reactions, tell the kids some things (i.e. Shes coming in a few weeks! She says she loves me so much! She says to be sure to eat healthy food and wear clean underwear (or something silly read it like youre reading it fast because youre excited and said it before you realized what the words meant). MOOOoommmm!!!! How embarrassing! When youre finished, thank the kids for waiting and reiterate how much your mom means to you and how special her letter is. She always says how much she loves you, how she wants to be with you, and tells you important things about how to be safe or healthy.

15 That reminds you of another letter that is very important at Base Camp (your kids church name): the Bible. Its our letter from God and He tells us all that stuff, too. Not about wearing clean underwear necessarily, but about how much He loves you, how to be happy and healthy and safe, and all about Jesus. Reading the Bible is always one way to hear Him speaking to you and to learn more about Him. The Bible is our Guidebook for Base Camp it tells us everything we need to know to be successful in our lives, or our expeditions. It tells us the way to go. Get the kids to say with you several times loudly, The Bible is our Guidebook! to serve as a cue to someone to turn the lights off. Have someone turn the lights off for the stage, too, so its as dark as you can get it without it being scary it should seem unexpected. Tell the kids not to worry, as one of the leaders you have a flashlight handy Trek Team Guides have flashlights, too. Turn it on and walk to turn the lights on. As you do, your light shines on your Bible. Wait a minute! My Bible can help me, too! Open it up and pull out the transparency. Put on the Psalm 119 overhead and turn it on. (if you dont have an overhead, let your flashlight find it written on chart paper or poster board on the wall) Read it over with the kids. Talk about how Gods words, the Bible, can light our way when we walk through our lives our expedition because many times it can tell us which way to go. Just like the light of Gods words from this transparency can help us see in this dark room (or your flashlight). It helps us make decisions about how to live (should we steal something even if we really want it? Should we lie to not get in trouble? If we love God, what happens when we die?) At this point the other lights should still be off, so hopefully this will be a good illustration about Gods Words being like light. Turn lights on. Since its so important and we need to know all about it to be successful on each of our expeditions, lets learn more about it. Make sure all the kids have a Bible. The Bible is a very big book, but its divided into two main parts. Ask for volunteers to answer the following questions: What are they? (Old & New Testaments). Whats the difference? (OT is before Jesus, NT is about Jesus on earth and after Him during the early church). Then the OT and NT are made up of what? (books. Some of these books in the NT were actually letters written from disciples to new believers) Let kids name some of the books of the OT and then some from the NT. GAME: Bible Baseball See end of lesson for questions. Put the game board on the overhead. The red and blue plastic pieces represent the players as they move around the baseball diamond. Divide the kids into two teams, keeping in mind age and knowledge differences. Each team needs to pick a leader. This person will give the answer THE TEAM agrees on. Choose a team to go up to bat first and put one of their

16 pieces on home plate to bat. They can choose a single, double or triple hit question depending on the risk they want to take (triple hit questions are the most difficult, but they also move you to third base right away). If they get it right, move the player piece to the right base on the game board. If they miss it, they get an out. Tally the outs and runs on the top of the game board. When a team gets either 3 outs, or earns 5 points, play switches to the other team and they get to go to bat. Play to 15 points to win.

5 minutes Memory Verse Practice the memory verse with the kids. Use the overhead or write it on poster board so everyone can see it as well. This ones a little long, so its good we have motions to help us and several weeks to learn it! Its Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; Point to head, sign Lord, sign God twice he is the faithful God, sign depend on by pointer fingers crossed, one resting on the other like its relying on it (from VBS, too) keeping his covenant of love hands in fists pulling toward you for keeping, hands cross on heart for love to a thousand generations of those who hands flash ten lots of times love him and keep his commands. Sign love, sign keeping

Pray and thank God for His Word, divide up into Trek Teams.

10 minutes Trek Team Gear Up Review how Gods Word, the Bible, can be our Guidebook for our kids church . What are some situations in life that the Bible can help you decide what to do? Complete The Bible: Our Guidebook handout together. Match the emotion with the Scripture that would help us when we feel that way by drawing a line connecting the face with the verse. What are some times we would feel sad, angry, happy, scared? Let the kids take home their copy to show their parents.

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Psalm 119:105 By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.

The acts of the sinful nature are hatred, jealousy, fits of rage Galatians 5:19, 20

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. Psalms 28:7

You are sad now. I will see you again and then your hearts will be full of joy. No one can take your joy from you. John 16:22

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4

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Bible Baseball Questions

Some of these questions can be asked multiple times and the kids must give a new answer (ex: Name a book in the OT).

Single
Name a book in the Old Testament Name a book in the New Testament Tell me one thing about: David Esther Zaccheus John Noah Adam Etc. Say what comes next: Genesis, Exodus, _______ What is our Guidebook at kids church? True/False: John is in the New Testament Name one of Jesus disciples.

Double
You have 20 seconds to find, and begin reading Luke 2:11 Say what comes next: Matthew, Mark, Luke, _____________ What does Psalm 119:105 say? Finish this verse: Father, hallowed be Your name, your Kingdom come. Give us this day our daily ______________. Finish this verse: I am the way and the truth and the (life). True or False: Malachi is in the Old Testament. Who told Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden? Who was Cains brother?

Triple
Quote John 3:16 Before Matthew was a disciple, he was a ___________________. Which disciple betrayed Jesus? How long was Jonah in the belly of the whale? (3 days) What is the name of Mary and Marthas brother, whom Jesus raised from the dead? Finish this pair: Samson and (Delilah) What was the name of the man Jesus raised from the dead? (Lazarus) Why was Daniel fed to the lions? (he prayed to God, not the king) What was Peters job before he joined Jesus? Finish: Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, (Galatians)

Finish this pair: Adam & ____________ Who built the ark?

Finish this pair: Elijah and (Elisha) Finish: Joshua, Judges, (Ruth)

Name Jesus earthly parents. Who kept calling Samuels name?

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By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. Psalm 119:105

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Memory Verse

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9

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Lesson 2: Worship Our Life Giving Oxygen Supplies:

Worship instruments & streamers A box or something 2 kids can carry for the Ark of the Covenant Clothespin for each child 3 Big Bowls or bottles for game Glue Sheets of paper to glue verse puzzles on 2 Timothy 2:15 page, copied - each child will cut theirs up to make a puzzle Baggies for puzzle pieces Male dressed in a long tshirt and shorts to be King David Female to be Michal, his wife. Dressed with a crown.

Kids Will Learn: In order to worship freely, we need to care less about what others think of
us and more about what God thinks. Think how much easier life becomes when the only person you have to make happy is God! If they are going to be a Christian, they will be different from a lot of people.

Bible Verses: 2 Timothy 2:15 (The Message), Galatians 1:10, 2 Sam 6:12
16, 20 - 22

Memory Verse: Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the
faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9

Welcome and arrival time Have fun music playing, be ready to focus on and interact with the kids Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

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Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it.

10 minutes Trek Teams Debriefing Share what you like to eat on your pizza and then have the kids share their names again and what they like. Talk about what learned last week. Review how the Bible is our Guidebook for Base Camp, even some of the scriptures. Were the kids able to use those during the week to help them through anything? (see the Bible: Our Guidebook page from lesson 1)

15 minutes Worship Time You may consider having worship time after the teaching this week, since we are teaching on it so kids can apply what theyve been taught!

35 minutes Trailbreaking Time Ask: Does anyone know what happens when a person goes mountain climbing and they go way up above where trees grow? The air gets very thin theres not much oxygen. It becomes very hard to breathe and you get very weak. In our Base Camp (kids church), worship is like our oxygen and it is very important. When we worship God in any way, it blesses Him, but it also strengthens us it is a time to be filled with Gods Spirit. Every time you come to Base Camp (kids church) you will be prepared for the teaching time by worshipping just like you would have things to do to prepare to go on an expedition. There are lots of different ways to worship singing, dancing, tithing, praying; basically, any time we say that God is more than us, and we put Him first. Today we will focus on worship by using our voices and sometimes moving our bodies (TIP: do NOT say dance because then youve lost most of the boys before you even start!). When we worship it is a time to focus on God not your friends around you and to tell Him what you think and feel about him by singing the songs. Even when youre in church with your parents, you can do this. There are two things you must have to be able to worship God the way He wants for you to. Can you guess what they are? (1) You must love God and

24 (2) you must care more about what He thinks than what others think of you. If you are really going to love and follow God, you are going to be different. There was someone in the Bible who definitely cared more of what God thought of him than others. He was a shepherd, who slayed a giant and then became king. Raise your hand if you think you know who it is. (King David) King David had defeated the Philistines with Gods help and he was bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. This was very important and exciting because the Ark held the 10 Commandments and Gods presence traveled with it. They were all very excited. As they were entering the city everyone was celebrating with shouts and instruments. David himself, the king, danced before the Lord with all his might (v. 14) in something called a linen ephod which was like an undergarment. (pass out tambourines & streamers) In this skit, you guys are going to be the Israelites who are celebrating as David dances before the ark and then well see what happened to him when he decided to worship God. Its very important that when David makes it to his palace or the front that you put your instruments down so you can hear what happens. Lets practice. Practice shaking the instruments and when you step on the stage they should be quiet. Let actors perform the David Dancing Skit. So, what happened to David? How did he respond to Michal, his wife, when she made fun of his worship? (let kids share answers) Who did David care more about: what his wife and other people thought, or what God thought? Just think how much easier life would be if all we cared about was what God thought not everyone else. What would be different about our lives? Would we be more free to be who God made us instead of trying to impress other people? Would we have more peace and joy? This doesnt mean that you have to dance around every time youre in worship, but if theres a time that you feel like closing your eyes, or raising your hands or clapping, then dont worry about what other people think. Make God happy first! You can get the kids to echo this back to you in a chant if you think it would be effective. (If you havent done worship, this would probably be a good time) GAME: Silly Relay. Tell the kids its time to play a game a silly game. Divide them into three teams. Get them each in a line. Put three large bowls on the floor at the other side of the room. Give the first child in each line a clothespin. The object of the game is to race to the other side, drop their clothespin in the bowl from their mouth and race back. The thing is, they have to be doing The

25 Squid (a very silly move whatever seems goofy to you!) while theyre doing it. They need to tune out everyone else and do something silly to win!

5 minutes Memory Verse Practice the memory verse with the kids. Use the overhead or write it on poster board so everyone can see it as well. Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God,

keeping his covenant of love

to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Point to head, sign Lord, sign God twice sign depend on by pointer fingers crossed, one resting on the other like its relying on it (from VBS, too) hands in fists pulling toward you for keeping, hands cross on heart for love hands flash ten lots of times Sign love, sign keeping

Pray, thanking God for His Word, then send kids to their Trek Teams

10 minutes Trek Team Gear Up Review with the kids 2 Timothy 2:15 from the Message: Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of Talk about how this applies to worship or anything we do. Let kids cut it apart to make puzzles of the verse and put them back together and glue them onto a piece of paper. If they dont finish, they can take them in baggies. It might give them something to do if they eat lunch out after church!

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David Dancing Skit 2 Samuel 6

For this skit you will need one teenage boy to be David dressed in a long Tshirt and shorts, a woman to be Michal, and instruments/streamers for the kids. Make a middle aisle with the chairs for David to dance through. Begin with David in the back, Michal up front on the stage, watching.

Michal enters. Where is that husband of mine? King David has time for everyone and everything else but me. Im just not important to him anymore. Whats that I hear coming up the road? (pretend to be looking out a window) Oh, I dont believe it! How embarrassing! Why would the great king of Israel make such a fool of himself! Hes dancing like a crazy baboon with rabies! Ill never be able to show my face at the next royal ball! David begins to dance his way to the front with the Ark following. Dont make him look like an idiot but he should be dancing with abandon. Play celebratory music and encourage the kids to shout. Stop the music when David reaches the stage. Michal should be despising him in her heart. When David reaches the stage, he should hold up his hands and bless the people. I, King David, bless all of you in the name of the Lord Almighty. And now Im going to go bless my household. Michal walks over to him and says sarcastically at first, then angry. My, my, how royal and kingly you looked dancing in rags in front of everyone in the kingdom like some crazy person would do. Do you know how embarrassed I am? Kings arent supposed to behave like that! David replies, I was doing it for God, who chose me to be King and show His people how they are supposed to act. I choose to worship God with joy in my heart. And if I need to look even sillier in your eyes to worship God, then I will gladly do that, too. But everyone else will honor me for putting God first. Michal remains angry and walks away. King David leaves the other way.

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Lesson 3: Prayer - Our Walkie Talkie Supplies:

Puppet for 1-800-Calling God Skit (or a person to act the character) Dirty sock, toothbrush, pretend fish (stuff that the puppet can throw out) Phone Book Small piece of paper for each child Pencil/crayon for each child Half pieces of paper Set of Walkie-Talkies Box with a cross on it for Prayer Walk Each Trek Team will need a small box to put prayers slips in

Kids Will:
learn prayer is how we talk to God practice praying individually and in a group

Scripture: Deut. 4:7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near
them the way the Lord our God is near us when we pray?

Memory Verse: Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the
faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9

Welcome kids as they arrive Have fun music playing & be ready to interact with the kids.

Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

29 Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it. 10 minutes Trek Teams Debriefing Ask the kids how their week was. Share with the kids what animal would make your favorite pet & then have them share. Review 2 Timothy 2:15 and talk about whether the kids had to make any decisions this week to put God first and not care what others thought.

15 minutes Worship

30 minutes Trailbreaking Time Turn your walkie-talkie on and have a Trek Team Guide ready to talk to you from outside the room. They should listen at the door so they know when to interrupt. Review with the kids about what we have learned about Base Camp so far: the Bible is our Guide Book and worship is like oxygen. Today we are going to learn about (Trek Team Guide breaks in using the walkie talkie from outside the room: Help! Im on an expedition but Im lost. Can you please give me directions?).So you stop and give them directions briefly guide them into the room. Perhaps the Guide will need further direction as you try to tell the kids what they will be learning about today. When they finally arrive and walk into Base Camp talk about how important it was they had their walkietalkie with them when they were on their expedition. They were able to talk to someone who cared and could help! Prayer in our lives is exactly like a walkie-talkie on an expedition. Its how we communicate with God and wait for a response like when we might need directions! In fact, God is near to us when we pray our Guide Book says so! Have kids find Deuteronomy 4:7. Moses is talking and hes saying how blessed Israel is to have God in their lives. He says God is near us when we pray! Even if we cant feel it, we know its true because the Bible says so. 1-800-Calling God Puppet Skit. (if you dont have a way to do this as a puppet skit, find a youth or someone who can play the part as a person) Prayer Maze. Now we are all going to have a chance to use our spiritual walkietalkies. Give each child a small piece of paper and a pencil or crayon. Have then write one thing on the slip of paper that they want to talk to God about. While they are doing that, set the chairs up in a maze that ends at the stage or the front. Place a small box at the front with a cross on it. Kids are to pray about that one thing as they walk the maze and leave their prayers at the cross. They are not to talk, not to look at others. Let one child get halfway before starting the

30 next. Im hoping this will be a solemn and serious time. Tell the kids what you do when you are asking God for something pray for His will, tell Him how you feel

5 minutes Memory Verse Practice the memory verse with the kids. Use the overhead or write it on poster board so everyone can see it as well. Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God,

keeping his covenant of love

to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Point to head, sign Lord, sign God twice sign depend on by pointer fingers crossed, one resting on the other like its relying on it (from VBS, too) hands in fists pulling toward you for keeping, hands cross on heart for love hands flash ten lots of times Sign love, sign keeping

Pray, thanking God for His Word and send kids to their Trek Teams.

15 minutes Trek Team Gear Up Together make a list of things the group can pray for (our country, the pastor, unsaved friends, our church, the childrens pastor ). Have them each pick one thing, draw a picture of it on a half piece of paper. Then go around and let each child pray (hopefully out loud), putting their prayer picture in the Prayer Box when theyre done. Be sensitive to guests. Pray as a group to close.

31

1-800-Calling God Puppet Script

Puppet starts talking before kids can see him. Hes obviously looking for something. Unwanted items that are found start flying out of the opening or a bag hes carrying (dirty sock, toothbrush, stinky fish) Puppet: Where could it be? Is it here? Whats that? Oooothats where that sock went. (throw out). Hey!! Theres my toothbrush! Its been lost for weeks! My mom will be glad I found it. (throw it out) Peeeeuu! What in the world is that? Oh, thats right! We had fish on Thursday for dinner! (throw fish out). Leader: Puppet, PUPPET (obviously use the puppets name)! What in the world are you doing? I hope youre not messing up our tent! Puppet pokes head out. Puppet: Oh, hi, ______. Im looking for a phone book. Theres someone important I need to call! Leader: Here! I have one. A good Trek Team Leader is always prepared, you know! What can I help you look up? A toy store? A candy store? A friend? Theres thousands of pages in a phone book so Im sure we can find it. (open the book and be flipping already) Puppet: No, none of those places. I want to make a really important phone call. I want the number that calls God direct, please. I dont want to waste time talking to a secretary or anything. Leader: Oh, puppet. You are so silly! Dont you know how to talk to God? Puppet: Oh! You mean I dont use the phone? Now I know what to do. Thanks, _____. Now..(starts looking around backstage again) wheres that walkie-talkie? (comes back out and asks) Do you think God always has His walkie-talkie turned on? Leader: Puppet, we dont need a walkie-talkie to talk to God, either. Kids, can you help puppet and tell him how we talk to God? (we pray!) Thats right, we pray. We dont need a phone or a walkie-talkie or to even be at church. You can talk to God anytime, anywhere. Just think about Him and tell Him whatever you want! Puppet: Really? I dont need anything? But walkie-talkies are so cool! Leader: Well, you can pretend the walkie-talkie is in your head if you want. Here at Base Camp we say that prayer is like our walkie-talkie because we use them to talk to each other if were far apart and cant see each other. Like when we pray we cant see God, but He can definitely hear us like a walkie-talkie. Puppet: OK, Ill give it a try. Thanks, _______!

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Lesson 4: Relationships with our Trek Team Guides Our Compass

Supplies: 6 or so rolls of toilet paper (several per TT Guide) Trek Team Guide Fact Sheet (gathered from earlier) Trek Team Guide Info Handout as kids leave (so parents can know who you are!) Youll need all the Trek Team Guides to be here for the game section Memory Verse overhead (Eccl. 4:9 12) Kids Will Learn: That their relationship with you, their Trek Team Guide, is very important. About the relationship between Paul and Timothy. Background Information: Timothys mother was a Jewish Christian so he had been taught OT as a child. Paul called him My true son in the faith (1:2), perhaps indicating that Paul led him to Christ. Paul invited Timothy to come with him on his missionary travels when he came back to visit. Timothy traveled and learned from Paul as he preached and ministered even joining in (Acts 17:14 15, 18:5). He was with Paul during his first imprisonment. Timothy traveled with him again to learn more, but eventually stayed in Ephesus to help develop the church there. Paul cared for him deeply (Phil. 2:19 22 and in his letters to Timothy). At the end of his life he requested Timothy to join him at Rome (2 Ti 4:9, 21). Paul was a friend, mentor, teacher, father-figure and guide to Timothy. Much like I hope your relationships will eventually develop with the kids in your small group! Scripture: Acts 17:14 15, 18:5; Phil 2:19 - 22 Memory Verse: Two are better than one, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12

Welcome kids as they arrive Have fun music playing & be ready to interact with the kids.

Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us

33 is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it.

15 minutes Trek Team Debriefing Ask the kids how their week was. Share with the kids what animal you would be for a day & why & then have them share. Ask kids how they did with praying this week. Did any of them take some time in their rooms by themselves to pray? What are some times they did pray? (before eating, at school) Did anyone feel like they heard from God? Teach them the new memory verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9 12 Two are better than one Show two fingers, thumbs up, show one finger If one falls down, The one finger falls down His friend can help him up. Pretend to pull someone up Though one may be overpowered, Cover head with arms Two can defend themselves. Punch A cord of three strands Hold up 3 fingers Is not easily broken. Shake head no while making a breaking motion with your hands like youre breaking a stick.

30 minutes Trailbreaking Time Review the Base Camp tools weve talked about so far: the Bible is our guidebook, worship is our life-giving oxygen, and prayer is our walkie talkie. Today were going to learn about another important tool you must have at Base Camp (your kids church). It will help make your lifes expedition successful: a compass. At (kids church) your Trek Team Guides are your compass if you listen and look to them, they will point the way to go. Each week you get in your Trek Team small groups and they pray for you, they listen to you, and they tell you Gods truth. If you ever have a problem or worry, they will direct you to God. They are there to help you & to have fun with you!

34 There was a young man mentioned in the Bible who had an older man to guide him. The young mans name was Timothy. Timothy had been given the responsibility of watching over a new church in the town of Ephesus. He was young and this was a big job a job some people might have felt should have been given to someone older. But Timothy had someone besides God who was helping him it was Paul. Paul had taken Timothy on several of his missionary trips as he traveled around telling people about Jesus and Paul cared for him very much. Read Phil. 2:19 22. Im sure Timothy learned a lot from Paul and Paul tried to teach him and show him everything he knew. Paul even wrote letters to Timothy when he was in Ephesus thats why we have 1 and 2 Timothy in the Bible! (have kids find these books) God knows that we need someone here on earth, along with our parents, to help show us the way to go. Thats why your Trek Team Guides are here. So lets have some fun with them!

Mummy Wrap Game Lets have some fun with our Trek Team Guides! Give everyone two minutes and several rolls of toilet paper to wrap up their Guide the best. Give the first graders a little handicap wrap to help them out. The Team whose Guide is the most mummified at the end of two minutes wins!

Guide Guess Who? Game Lets get to know our Trek Team Guides better! Ask the Trek Team Guides to come up on the stage and sit in chairs. Using the Trek Team Guide Fact Sheet (on page 7 they should have this filled out beforehand) give a fact about one Trek Team Guide without giving their name. Each Trek Team is then supposed to vote yes or no if they think its their Trek Team Guide. If they are right, they get a point. If they are wrong, they get nothing. Once all Trek Teams have voted, have the TT Guide who it is stand up. Play as long as its fun! At the end of the game have each Trek Team come surround their Trek Team Guide, put their hands on them and pray with you as you pray for and bless them. Have a time of quiet and ask the kids if they feel they heard anything from God. They can either tell you or whisper it to their Guides.

5 minutes Memory Verse Ecclesiastes 4:9 12 Two are better than one If one falls down, His friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, Two can defend themselves.

Show two fingers, thumbs up, show one finger The one finger falls down Pretend to pull someone up Cover head with arms Punch

35 A cord of three strands Is not easily broken. Hold up 3 fingers Shake head no while making a breaking motion with your hands like youre breaking a stick.

Pray, thanking God for His Word, then send kids to Trek Teams

10 minutes Trek Team Gear Up I would like for Trek Team Guides to share their testimony with their group, with wisdom. I would like for you to focus on how it felt when God was calling you, what it was like when you decided to follow God forever, and things He has said to you or done in you since then. If you need an activity for the first grade group, they can draw a picture of you & title it My Trek Team Guide. If you have one, give each child a Trek Team Guide info handout for kids to take home. (your childrens pastor would have made it) It will introduce you in a little more depth to the parents of your kids church kids!

36

Memory Verse

Two are better than one, if one falls down, his friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12

37

Lesson 5: Relationships with Our Trek Teams Boot Crampons

Supplies: The Tigger Movie Bag of uncooked spaghetti noodles Roll of Lifesavers Kids Will Learn: Just as the paralytics friends helped him to get to Jesus, we all should help our friends in that same way doing whatever we can to help our friends get to Jesus (this includes friends in our Trek Teams and our unchurched friends!) by listening to our friends, talking to them, praying for them, or even inviting them to church. Scripture: paralytic lowered Mark 2:1 - 12, Eccl 4:8 12 Memory Verse: Two are better than one, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12

Welcome kids as they arrive Have fun music playing & be ready to interact with the kids.

Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it.

38 10 minutes Trek Teams Debriefing Share with the kids your favorite color and let them share theirs. How was everyones week? Trek Team Guides should share, too!

15 minutes Worship

30 minutes Trailbreaking Time Review our Base Camp Tools from previous weeks: the Bible is our guidebook, worship is like oxygen, prayer is like a walkie talkie, our TT Guides are like compasses pointing us to God. Great! Its time for us to learn about a new tool! Ask for a volunteer to come up to the front (preferably a calm girl not an energetic, dramatic kid ). Tell them you are going to ask them to do some things and they get a small prize for every trick they can do (maybe a quarter or a piece of candy). First, ask them to walk across the stage. Are your shoes good for that? Great. Now walk across the tile floor. Are your shoes good for that? Great. Now along these chairs. Are your shoes good for that? Great. Now.walk up the wall. When they cant do it, ask them whats wrong. Why cant they stick to the wall? Have you ever wondered how mountain climbers can get their shoes to almost stick to the side of the mountain? They have a special tool that they attach to their boots called crampons. They are like spikes or long cleats and they dig into the ice or rock or dirt and help support their feet and to hold onto the mountain. Our friends are like our hiking boots with crampons they help us hold onto God. Your friends should be a support and be helping you get up the mountain. The members of your Trek Team should be (1) helping you become the person God wants you to be and (2) get closer to God. Think about how tired your feet get when you walk a lot. Lets say you go to an Astros game (or whatever team is in your wonderful city! ) and you have to park in the very last spot because you get there late. You have to walk all the way in, up and down, and its hot. Do you want to have good, supportive shoes? Will it make it easier to get to your seat if you have on comfy tennies or your flip flops from last summer that are two sizes too small? Of course your comfy supportive shoes will help you get to where you want to go. Its the same with friends which is why its so important to choose good ones and to be supportive when you meet together with your Trek Team. We should be a support to one another. Lets say youre this spaghetti noodle. Youre all alone and feeling fine. Nothing bad has happened youre doing well in school, a bully hasnt picked on you, your parents are getting along. Youre climbing up your mountain with no trouble at all. But what happens when bad things start to happen? (begin to bend the

39 noodle as youre describing the opposite list above: bad things) It is so easy to break one noodle! BUT, lets say youre this noodle. (hold up a new one) And youre one smart noodle because you have a bunch of friends who support you as a Christian. (surround it with 15 or so noodles) Now these same bad things come along, but what happens? (bend them all together & they dont break) The one noodle by itself is not strong, but a bunch of noodles together are! So lets all be a little more noodley! There will be times when you meet in your Trek Teams and your life will be fine but its not always like that. And it may not be that way on that day for someone else in your group. There are mommies and daddies of some kids in here who are having trouble getting along. You can be a support to them. There are some kids in here who are getting picked on by a bully. You can be a support to them. There will be times when a grandparent of someone dies we can be a support to them! Thats what our Trek Teams should be. I want to remind you of a man in the Bible who had really great friends who supported him. Have kids find Mark 5 in their Bibles. Quickly read the story about how the paralytics friends lowered him through the roof & then summarize, pointing out the effort his friends went through for him. What a difference they made in his life because they brought him to Jesus! They could have left him at home, or stayed at the back hoping Jesus might walk that way eventually. The paralytic could walk from that day for the rest of his life because of how much his friends cared how supportive they were! Lets watch this clip about some other supportive friends. Show The Tigger Movie beginning when Tigger is in his family tree in the snowstorm (near the end) and he hears his name being called. End it when he saves all his friends from the avalanche. Talk with the kids about the risk they were taking to find him, about the risk he took to save them, etc. Read Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 and discuss. Like our spaghetti, they were all definitely stronger together! Lets play a game with spaghetti.

Silly Spaghetti Game: Have each Trek Team get in a circle with their chairs. The object of this game is to be the first Trek Team to pass a lifesaver candy around the circle and yell Go Trek Teams! The trick is you have to use a spaghetti noodle in your mouth instead of your hands! No hands allowed! Tell the kids to keep the lifesaver near the end of their noodle to keep it sanitary. They are to hand it from noodle to noodle around the circle. Trek Teams with fewer members will need to go twice so that each group has the same number of passes needed to win. You can play several times if its going well.

40

5 minutes Use the overhead and motions to help kids remember the verse. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12 Two are better than one Show two fingers, thumbs up, show one finger If one falls down, The one finger falls down His friend can help him up. Pretend to pull someone up Though one may be overpowered, Cover head with arms Two can defend themselves. Punch A cord of three strands Hold up 3 fingers Is not easily broken. Shake head no while making a breaking motion with your hands like youre breaking a stick.

Pray, thanking God for His Word and send them to their Trek Teams.

10 minutes Trek Team Gear Up Make sure kids have time to pray for each other today and be a support. Try to encourage some sharing & bonding among your group. Have each child think of one thing the Team can pray for them about it could even be a Thanks, God! After each child shares, have the group lay hands on them and pray, if that feels like it would be comfortable for the child. Then go to the next child. This way, we dont forget anybody!

41

Lesson 6: Our Relationship with God Our Rope & Lifeline

Supplies: Cross Craft from Oriental Trading (TIP: have the ribbon for hanging already hot-glued on!) Several glue bottles per Trek Team Large clear jar with a lid that can be sealed Another container or jar Iodine Bleach 2 light colored sponges cut in the shape of a cross and a heart Water Paper towels

Kids Will Learn: About the resurrection of Jesus, God being our rope Scripture: Matthew 28:1 10 Memory Verse: Two are better than one, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12

Welcome kids as they arrive Have fun music playing & be ready to interact with the kids.

Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

42

Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it.

10 minutes Trek Teams Debriefing Remind the kids how last week we learned how important the member of our Trek Team are and how we are to be a support to each other. Share one thing you are afraid of, and then let the kids share.

15 minutes Worship

30 minutes Trailbreaking Time Welcome kids. Briefly review the tools weve been learning about the last month: 1) prayer is our walkie talkie, 2) the Bible is our Guidebook, 3) Trek Team Guide is our compass, 4) Trek Teams are our boot crampons, 5) worship is our oxygen. Today we are going to learn about our most important Base Camp (or your kids church name) Tool the rope. Often when mountain climbers are climbing, the rope is the only thing that keeps them safe and from falling. Its the only thing keeping them from death. Here at (kids church), our rope is God and our relationship with Him. God saves us from falling off the mountain He saves us if we believe in Jesus like a rope would if you were falling. Read Matthew 28:1 10 with the kids. Were here to celebrate the greatest event in history. Jesus is alive! Have kids shout that back to you 3 4 times. Let me show you why thats so important. Object Lesson: You will need a large clear jar with a lid that can be sealed, a second container of some type, some Chlorine bleach, some Iodine, and two light colored sponges. Cut one sponge in the shape of a heart. Cut the other in the shape of a cross. Both need to be of a size that will fit in the jar with a lid. Fill the jar with a lid about half full of water, and the other container with a very strong solution of bleach and water (half and half will do). Set the cross in the bleach solution as you begin your lesson (not too long before, it could dissolve the sponge). For the lesson, show the children the heart shaped sponge. Talk about sin and put some drops of iodine on the sponge to represent those sins. You can talk about how impossible it is to remove those stains by yourself. Even dip the heart shaped sponge in the jar of water and show it is still dirty. Then, put the heart shaped sponge in the jar of water and leave it. Now take the cross out of the bleach solution, keeping as much of the solution in the sponge as possible. Tell the children about the power of the cross to cleanse the heart from sin. Put the cross in the jar with water and the stained heart, seal it with the lid, and shake it

43 up a bit as you talk some more about the cross. Then, open the lid and take the heart out. It will be clean. You should experiment with this lesson once before you actually give it to be sure you have a strong enough bleach solution to clear the iodine from the heart shaped sponge. Be sure to rinse the heart shaped sponge very clean with clear water so the iodine stains will remain when you do the real lesson.

Memory Verse 5 minutes Ecclesiastes 4:9 12 Two are better than one If one falls down, His friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, Two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands Is not easily broken.

Show two fingers, thumbs up, show one finger The one finger falls down Pretend to pull someone up Cover head with arms Punch Hold up 3 fingers Shake head no while making a breaking motion with your hands like youre breaking a stick.

Pray, thanking God for His Word, then send kids to their Trek Teams.

20 minutes Trek Team Gear Up We dont want for anyone to leave Base Camp and begin their weeks expedition without their rope! First lets make the craft that will lead into a discussion giving the kids an opportunity to pray. We want to make sure we have time at the end for you to talk and pray with the kids so watch your time!

Cross Craft: Each child will make a hanging cross as shown to the right. Be sure to make it together so you can talk about each color (ex: everyone glues on the pink cross & we wait until everyone is ready for the next part). Glue them from top to bottom so it makes sense and presents the salvation message: yellow, black, red, white, green, blue and purple.

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Ask the kids if any would like to pray today and tell God they believe Jesus rose from the dead, that theyre sorry for the wrong things they do and they want Jesus to be their Forever Friend. See if anyone responds. If not, tell them you are all going to close your eyes and pray a simple prayer to tell God those things. They can pray it quietly if they want to. Dont be discouraged if no one seems to respond they may be shy or they may have already made a decision earlier in their lives. But the shy childs prayer may be sincere. This may be the day that some of our kids choose Christ! Heres an example prayer: Dear God. Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for Jesus. Im sorry for all the wrong things I do. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and was brought back to life so that I can be forgiven of all the wrong things I do. I want to live my life for you and make you happy. Please help me to do that. Jesus, I want you in my life and to be my forever friend. I love you, God. Amen.

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Lesson 7: How to Become the Best Explorer Climbing our Mountain / Growing as a Christian
Supplies: Tape measure Large dice can order from Oriental Trading or use a cardboard box you cover with colorful paper and put dots on it. Life-sized board game either painted on a canvas tarp, or you can use pieces of construction paper to make a path. You can write on some squares to skip the kids ahead if they land on it (for example: you decided to trust God in a difficult situation move ahead 2) and set backs (you lied to get out of trouble move back one). If you already have a game board painted on a tarp, write these on construction paper and place them in the squares. Questions for Game Pawns for Game whatever youd like The Cartoon Grinch movie (not the version with Jim Carey!), ready to show part where his heart is 3 sizes too small Supplies for skit: laptop, comic book, guidebook-looking book, box of Twinkies, compass, flash light without batteries, a few candles, roll of dental floss Scripture: Hebrews 6:1 (The Message) So come on, lets leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. & Hebrews 5:12 - 14 Kids Will Learn: Our spirits need to grow just like our bodies do Some things we can do to help our spirits grow. Memory Verse: Two are better than one, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 12

Welcome kids as they arrive Have fun music playing & be ready to interact with the kids.

Orientation Welcome Welcome to a brand new expedition! We are going to learn about why we do things the way we do em in our kids church! Did you know that every one of us

46 is on an expedition? We are! God has each one of us on a journey that can bring glory to Him and purpose for us. And like any expedition, we need the right tools to be successful. Celebrate any birthdays, welcome guests & give announcements.

Pray to open your kids church, you can have a child volunteer come up to lead it.

10 minutes Trek Teams Debriefing Share your favorite food and then let the kids share theirs. Remind the kids how last week we learned that God is like our rope and saves us from our sin. Does anyone have any questions about that? How was everyones week? Anything they want to pray about?

15 minutes

Worship

35 minutes Welcome!

Trailbreaking Time

Ask kids: Who is the biggest, best Christian in the room? Take a vote. How would we measure? Would we use a tape measure? What would it look like to be the biggest, best Christian? Can we tell by the size of a person? No, of course not! In fact, God doesnt compare us that way or put us in any order based on whos His favorite. Its not a competition to see who can follow the commandments the best like who can climb to the top of the mountain first. Its not a competition, but God does want us to change and grow He doesnt want us to stay exactly like we are today on the inside. The last 6 weeks or so weve been learning about all the tools we have in (kids church) to help us be successful in our expeditions our lives when we walk out that door. What were some of those tools? (1) prayer is our walkie talkie, 2) the Bible is
our Guidebook, 3) Trek Team Guide is our compass, 4) Trek Teams are our boot crampons, 5) worship is our oxygen, 6) God is our life-saving rope.) We now know about all the tools

we have to help make the expedition of our lives successful! But.what do we do with them? Why do we need all these tools? Today were going to talk about how to use these so we can grow and become a mature Christian to be successful in our expeditions. So let me ask you: how

47 does a baby change from a baby to an adult? He grows. We must all grow our bodies and our spirits. Our bodies grow in inches, but how does our spirit grow? But what would happen if our bodies grew and our spirits didnt? Show Grinch clip where his heart is 3 sizes too small. Do we want to be that way? Do we want for our bodies to grow and our spirits dont (like the Grinchs heart)? We make sure we eat healthy foods, get the sleep we need, exercise so our bodies will grow, but what about our spirits? How do we grow our spirits? Lots of ways. We use the tools weve been learning about. We make sure to read our Bibles, we make sure to worship, we make sure to choose good friends who will help us and not make it more difficult to be a Christianetc. Ive got some friends who need to get ready for an expedition up the mountain, lets watch them and see what they choose to do with some of these tools. Rob & Bobs Most Excellent Expedition Skit. How do you think they are going to do on their expedition? GAME: Life-size board Game. Arrange kids in teams of 3 4. You read the question and if they get it right, they roll the die and move forward. As they move through they have advancements (decide to trust God in a difficult situation) and set backs (succumb to temptation), but in the end they win - meaning they have grown as a Christian. The questions are about how to handle things & review questions from this unit.

Memory Verse 5 minutes Use the overhead of the scripture and the motions below to help kids remember the memory verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9 12 Two are better than one Show two fingers, thumbs up, show one finger If one falls down, The one finger falls down His friend can help him up. Pretend to pull someone up Though one may be overpowered, Cover head with arms Two can defend themselves. Punch A cord of three strands Hold up 3 fingers Is not easily broken. Shake head no while making a breaking motion with your hands like youre breaking a stick.

48 Pray, thanking God for His Word and send kids to their Trek Teams.

10 minutes Trek Team Gear Up Spend the remaining time talking with the kids about what they learned the past 7 weeks. What did they learn? Which is their favorite tool and why? What was their favorite part?

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The Most Excellent Expedition

Two guys are preparing to go on a mountain climbing expedition. Their personalities are like Bill & Teds Most Excellent Adventure. Bob is behind the stage or in a tent, handing things out to Rob, who is looking up what they need to take on a website. The guys make choices on what they are going to bring and several of them are bad choices. In fact, they choose to leave behind some of the very things the kids have been learning are essential to an expeditions success. Rob can put the script on the laptop screen & turn it so kids cant see it.

Rob: Dude, Im on mountainclimbing.com. The Base Camp geo-synchronous orbit satellite link is strong. Cool..OK, it says we need..(#1) a guidebook. Bob: Hey, dude, I got this totally excellent comic book. Hands it out. Rob: Naw, dude! Its like gotta have a map and stuff. Bob: Hmmmm, here you go. Hands out a guidebook. Rob: Guidebook, check! (puts it in a backpack & goes back to reading the screen) (#2) Walkie Talkies with extra batteries. Dude what will we need those for? Were going to the same place! Bob: Yeah! If I need you Ill just go BILLLLLLLLLLLLL, DUDE! Rob: Excellent! (play guitar). OK(#3) Nutritional Food - high in protein and carbs. Bob: Party on! Here ya go, dude. hands out a box of Twinkies. Rob: Excellent yet again, my esteemed expedition partner! Were totally gonna have the most excellent expedition ever! Next, (#4) a Compass. Bob: Got it. Hands out a compass. Rob: Compass, check. (puts in backpack) (#5) Flashlight with extra batteries. Bob: Uhmmmmm.Ive got a flashlight, but no batteries. Rob: Dude, bogus! What are we gonna do? Bob: Ive got some candles! We can go totally caveman and try to light them with some rocks! Rob: Excellent! (puts candles in backpack) Last thing, (#6) Rope. Bob: No rope. How about some extra strength dental floss? hands it out Rob: looks at it, shrugs shoulders & sticks it in. Minty fresh, cool. OK, dude! We are totally ready for the most Excellent Expedition Ever! Lets go! Bob comes out from tent backstage with his backpack. They slap each other on the back and head off. Throws it back in

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Life Sized Board Game Questions

What is our Guidebook at Base Camp? Who was Abels brother? What was Davids wifes reaction to his worship? Name 3 disciples. What did the paralytics friends do to get him to Jesus to be healed? When should we pray to God? What should we pray about when we pray? Finish this verse: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a (light unto my path) Who built the ark? Name a book in the Old Testament. (use several times if needed) Name a book in the New Testament. (use several times if needed) How long was Jonah in the belly of the whale? Where was Daniel thrown when he refused to stop praying to God? Who was crucified next to Jesus? What was the name of the disciple who had to touch Jesus hands and feet in order to believe He was alive? Who did God send to say to Pharoah, Let my people go! Name 2 of the plagues God sent on Egypt. What was the name of the prophet who refused to go to Nineveh? Who took over after Moses died? Name 2 Fruits of the Spirit. Whats the last book of the Bible? Whats the first book of the Bible? Who convinced Eve to take a bite of the apple? Who convinced Adam to take a bite of the apple? Name one of the guys God saved from the fiery furnace. Whats our walkie talkie in Base Camp? What did people lay on the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem before He was crucified? What did Jesus ride on when he came into Jerusalem? How did Noah know it was safe to come out of the ark? How did Noah get all the animals to come to the ark? How many hippos did Noah have on the ark? Who baptized Jesus? What was Jesus mothers name? Did Jesus have any siblings?