Sports Network, Week 3 (Feb. 25, 2024)
What’s On The Inside
Bible Passage: Matthew 15:1-20
Big Idea: Clean Hands vs. Clean Hearts
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: Sensory Bins — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Bubble foam sensory bins will be provided for kids to play with and explore with their hands. A bucket of clean water will also be available for them to wash off their hands afterwards.
Intro & Bible Story— Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Today we’re going to be watching a video about a time when Jesus’ friends didn’t wash their hands before they ate, and some other people who saw them were kind of mad about it, because they said, that’s against the rules.
What kind of rules do you have in your home? Do you think different people might have different rules in their homes?
Let’s watch our video to find out more about what happened in the Bible story with Jesus and his friends…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Why were the religious people so mad when they saw Jesus’ friends eating without washing their hands?
Do you think that not washing their hands makes them bad people? What did Jesus say about that?
What did Jesus say was the most important thing to God - to be clean on the outside or on the inside?
What do you think it means to have a clean heart on the inside?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how what’s on the inside that counts. We may all do things a little bit differently in our homes or in our families, but what God cares about most is that we have clean and good hearts that are full of love for you and for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Watercolor Hearts — Activity Leader — 7 minutes
Kids can either paint their hearts on regular paper, or they can cut out heart shapes and then paint them.
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: Group Keepy Uppy — Activity Leader — 3 minutes
Have all the kids stand in a circle. Inflate 2-4 balloons and begin a game of keepy uppy, starting with one balloon and slowly adding more so that the group has to keep up multiple balloons at once.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today in our video we’re going to be hearing about a time when some very religious people got upset with Jesus and his friends because they didn’t wash their hands before they ate, which the religious people said was against the rules
We all have rules in our homes right? What are some of the rules that you have in your home? (ie. rules about bedtime, watching tv, where you should sit to eat your dinner, etc)
Do you think different people have different rules in their homes? Or maybe people with different cultures and backgrounds might do things differently?
Let’s watch our video to find out more about what Jesus had to say about the hand washing problem his friends were facing…
Video Lesson — 5 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Why do you think the religious people were so upset when they saw Jesus’ friends eating without washing their hands?
Do you think that someone who washes their hands before they eat is a better person than someone who doesn’t? Why or why not?
What did Jesus say was the most important thing to God - to be clean on the outside or on the inside?
What do you think it means to have a clean heart on the inside?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the lesson we learned today about how different people may have different rules or customs that they follow, but what really matters is what’s on the inside, and what our hearts are like. Please help us to have hearts that are accepting of others and their differences, and that are full of your love and goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Watercolor Hearts — Activity Leader — 10 mins
Kids can either paint their hearts on regular paper, or they can cut out heart shapes and then paint them.
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.
Game: Balloon Stack Minute To Win It
Kids will take turns blowing air into a deflated balloon, and using it to stack as many cups as possible in one minute
See video: https://youtube.com/shorts/dzxBl3rjpV4?feature=shared
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader —5 minutes
Today in our video we’re going to be hearing about a time when some Pharisees and religious leaders got upset with Jesus and his friends because they didn’t wash their hands before they ate, which the religious people said was against the rules and traditions of their people.
We all have rules that we have to follow right? What are some of the rules that you have in your home? (ie. rules about bedtime, watching tv, where you should sit to eat your dinner, curfew, etc)
Do you think different people have different rules in their homes? Or maybe people with different cultures and backgrounds might do things differently? Maybe something that’s considered okay in one culture is considered rude or offensive in another?
Let’s watch our video to find out more about what Jesus had to say about the hand washing issue his friends were facing…
Video Lesson — 4 minutes
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader — 5 minutes
Do you think it was fair for the Pharisees and religious leaders to get so upset with Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before they ate? Why do you think it was so important to them? (ritual purity - being clean before God - was something that was of cultural / religious importance)
If different cultures and families have different customs and ways of doing things, do you think that makes one way better or worse than another?
What were Jesus’ thoughts on the Pharisees trying to enforce their rules and traditions on his disciples?
So Jesus took this moment as an opportunity to teach the people an important lesson about what is truly important. How would you summarize Jesus’ message? (what’s on the inside in more important to God than any external customs or traditions)
What do you think makes a person clean on the inside?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader — 1 minute
“Dear God, thank you for the lessons learned today about how different people may have different customs or ways of doing things, but that at the end of the day, following external rules or traditions isn’t what makes us pure or holy. Instead, it’s what’s on the inside, in our hearts, that matters the most. Please help us to strive to have pure hearts that are accepting of the differences of others, and that are full of your love and goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Craft: Watercolor Hearts — Activity Leader — 10 minutes
Kids can either paint their hearts on regular paper, or they can cut out heart shapes and then paint them.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver
