Sports Network, Week 2 (Feb. 18, 2024)
Dodging Wrong Teachings
Bible Passage: Matthew 16:5-12
Big Idea: Wrong Ideas Spread Like Yeast
Preschool-Kindergarten
Welcome — Activity Leader — 2 minutes
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.
Warm-Up Activity: Yeast and Balloon Experiment — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Class leader can demonstrate this experiment for the kids to watch.
Step 1: Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up repeatedly; lay it aside.
Step 2: Add the packet of yeast and sugar to a cup of warm water and stir.
Step 3: Once the yeast and sugar have dissolved, pour the mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice the water bubbling as the yeast produces carbon dioxide.
Step 4: Attach the balloon to the mouth of the bottle and set both aside.
Step 5: After several minutes you’ll notice the balloon standing upright. If you don’t see anything happen, keep waiting. Eventually the balloon will inflate.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Today we’re going to be learning something that Jesus taught his friends and followers about the kind of ideas and teachings that we listen to and believe.
We hear a lot of different ideas from a lot of different people all the time. What are some of the places or people that you learn things from? (ie. school, parents, shows/tv, friends, siblings, church, the Bible…)
What are some good things that you’ve learned from teachers or parents or friends? Have there ever been not so good things that you’ve learned too? Like what?
Let’s watch our video to see what Jesus has to say about the different ideas or teachings that we listen to…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Can anyone remember what Jesus compared wrong teachings to? (Yeast)
Does anyone know what yeast is? (It’s an ingredient that you mix into the dough when you’re making bread)
How do you think wrong teachings and ideas are kind of like yeast? (Just like yeast spreads through the dough, and wrong ideas can also spread among people… if a friend tells you something that’s not right, like for example, “lying is good”, and then you tell someone else that, and then tell someone else… then suddenly lots of people think that lying is a good thing)
Can you think of some ways that we can be careful about the ideas that we’re listening to and believing? (Maybe we can ask lots of questions, check with our parents or teachers, learn about what Jesus teaches us …)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how wrong ideas or teachings can spread like yeast, and how it’s important to be careful about who we listen to and believe. Thank you that we know we can trust you to help us know the truth and the best advice to follow in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Craft: Salt Dough — Activity Leader — 7 minutes
A batch of salt dough will be provided for the kids to mold into bread
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Free Play — Both — 7 minutes
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 1-3
Welcome —Both— 3 minutes
Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves .
Warm Up Activity: — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Class leader can demonstrate this experiment for the kids to watch.
Step 1: Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up repeatedly; lay it aside.
Step 2: Add the packet of yeast and sugar to a cup of warm water and stir.
Step 3: Once the yeast and sugar have dissolved, pour the mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice the water bubbling as the yeast produces carbon dioxide.
Step 4: Attach the balloon to the mouth of the bottle and set both aside.
Step 5: After several minutes you’ll notice the balloon standing upright. If you don’t see anything happen, keep waiting. Eventually the balloon will inflate.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today we’re going to be learning something that Jesus taught his friends and followers about the kind of ideas and teachings that we listen to and believe.
We hear a lot of different ideas from a lot of different people all the time. What are some of the places or people that you learn things from? (ie. school, parents, shows/tv, friends, siblings, church, the Bible…)
What are some good things that you’ve learned from teachers or parents or friends? Have there ever been not so good things that you’ve learned too? Like what?
Let’s watch our video to see what Jesus has to say about the different ideas or teachings that we listen to…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Can anyone remember what Jesus compared wrong teachings to? (Yeast)
Does anyone tell me what yeast is? (It’s an ingredient that you mix into the dough when you’re making bread)
How do you think wrong teachings and ideas are kind of like yeast? (Just like yeast spreads through the dough, and wrong ideas can also spread among people… if a friend tells you something that’s not right, like for example, “it’s okay to cheat on your tests in school”, and then you tell someone else that, and then tell someone else… then suddenly lots of people think that cheating is a good thing)
Can you think of some ways that we can be careful about the ideas that we’re listening to and believing? (Maybe we can ask lots of questions, check with our parents or teachers, learn about what Jesus teaches us …)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how wrong ideas or teachings can spread like yeast, and how it’s important to be careful about who we listen to and believe. Thank you that we know we can trust you to help us know the truth and the best advice to follow in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Craft: Salt Dough — Activity Leader — 10 mins
A batch of salt dough will be provided for the kids to mold into bread
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
Grades 4-6
Welcome and Warm-Up — Activity Leader— 5 minutes
Welcome the kids to class, introduce yourselves.
Activity: Yeast and Balloon Experiment
Step 1: Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up repeatedly; lay it aside.
Step 2: Add the packet of yeast and sugar to a cup of warm water and stir.
Step 3: Once the yeast and sugar have dissolved, pour the mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice the water bubbling as the yeast produces carbon dioxide.
Step 4: Attach the balloon to the mouth of the bottle and set both aside.
Step 5: After several minutes you’ll notice the balloon standing upright. If you don’t see anything happen, keep waiting. Eventually the balloon will inflate.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today we’re going to be learning something that Jesus taught his friends and followers about the kind of ideas and teachings that we listen to and believe.
We hear a lot of different ideas from a lot of different people all the time. What are some of the places or people that you learn things from? (ie. school, parents, shows/tv, friends, siblings, church, the Bible…)
What are some good things that you’ve learned from teachers or parents or friends? Have there ever been not so good things that you’ve learned too? Like what?
Let’s watch our video to see what Jesus has to say about the different ideas or teachings that we listen to…
Video Lesson — 4 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Can anyone remember what Jesus compared wrong teachings to? (Yeast)
Does anyone tell me what yeast is? (It’s an ingredient that you mix into the dough when you’re making bread)
How do you think wrong teachings and ideas are kind of like yeast? (Just like yeast spreads through the dough, and wrong ideas can also spread among people… if a friend tells you something that’s not right, and then you tell someone else that, and then tell someone else… then suddenly lots of people have the wrong ideas… kinda like the game telephone)
Can you think of some ways that we can be careful about the ideas that we’re listening to and believing? (Maybe we can ask lots of questions, check with our parents or teachers, learn about what Jesus teaches us …)
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you the message we heard today about how wrong teachings or misinformation can spread like yeast and send us in the wrong direction. Please help us to be wise and know who we can trust and listen to. Thank you that we know we can trust and believe in you to lead us into truth when we are careful to study scripture and ask lots of questions, as well as to learn from our own experiences. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Salt Dough — Activity Leader — 10 minutes
A batch of salt dough will be provided for the kids to mold into bread
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
