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11.1 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

Riddle RangersJesus is the True Vine

Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version ™, Copyright ©1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. All scripture references are taken from NIrV unless otherwise stated.

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BIG IDEA: Jesus is the vine, so we can grow by staying connected to Him.

BIBLE BASIS: John 15:1–17

KEY VERSE: “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit.” John 15:5 (NIrV)

15–25 minutes

7–15 minutes

30–40 minutes

7–15 minutes

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LEADER DEVOTIONALIn his book The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer says, “The impulse to pursue God originates with

God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him.” How we follow God matters. Jesus called this being a “disciple.” The way that we follow Him—the

decisions that we make, what we daydream about, what we say or don’t say to the guy in the cubical next to us—matters. When we follow hard after God, His ways become our ways. We become a reflection of God. Maybe faintly at first, but then more and more clearly as we draw closer to Him.

Christian scholars through the ages have meditated on how we are reflections of the character of God. God is wise, so we have the capacity for wisdom. God is compassionate, so we have the ability to show compassion. God is forgiving, so we have the capability to forgive. But at the end of the day, we are more like God’s character when we become the most like Jesus. Dallas Willard says it best in his book The Divine Conspiracy: “I need to be able to lead my life as he (Jesus) would lead it if he were I.”

Throughout this coming week, meditate on what it means for you to live your life as if Jesus were living it for you. How would your attitude change? What would you do differently? What would you say differently? I pray that in doing so, you become the clearest reflection of the One worthy of our discipleship—Jesus.

John GarrisonGO! Contributor



SMALL GROUP SKILL BUILDING

Connecting with Parents during Pick-up Time

The Titanic was pretty cool, but the best ship is a partnership. (Worst opening line ever!) When children’s ministry volunteers and parents work together, it makes for a powerful partnership that has twice the impact as when they work separately. Here are a few ways that you can reach out to the parents of the kids in your group and make a connection.

Require the parents to come all the way to your small group before releasing their kid. Connecting with the parents requires you to have contact with them and you can’t do that if they beckon their kids from across the room. If this differs from your normal pick-up protocol, talk to your leaders about making a change.

Choose one or two parents to connect with during pick-up time. If you throw a dozen balls in the air and try to catch them all, you probably won’t catch any. It’s kind of the same with parents. (Note: do not throw parents in the air.) If you try to connect with all of the parents, you’ll most likely drop the ball. Instead, choose one or two parents every week to make a significant connection with.

Share something positive about their kid. Parents love hearing positive reports about their kids! Better yet, do it in front of the kid and watch his face light up.

Ask the parents if there’s any way you can pray for them. This is a great way to find out what’s going on in the life of their family and to support and encourage them. Show them that you’re truly committed to supporting them by following up with them in the coming weeks.



RIDDLE RANGERS CONNECT QUESTIONSSay: Today we’re starting a really cool adventure called “Riddle Rangers.” The “Riddle Rangers” are two kids who solve all kinds of riddles and puzzles, but they’re going to need our help. Are you any good at solving riddles? (Allow kids to answer.) Let’s find out by doing a practice riddle.

Riddle: What has to be broken before you can use it? (Answer: eggs)

Question: Do any of you know some other good riddles?

Question: If you could be any kind of fruit, what would you be? Why?

ADDITIONAL TIME ACTIVITY—THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWNSimply ask the kids in your group to share one good thing that happened this week (thumbs up) and one not-so-good thing (thumbs down). This is a great way for your group to share celebrations and struggles with one another.

THE RIDDLE RANGERS ADVENTUREDirections: There will be two times during the Large Group program that kids will be asked to turn to their groups to solve a riddle. Zack and Jada (a.k.a. the “Riddle Rangers”) will send a copy of the riddle from “Mystery Island.” Keep the riddles out of sight until they’ve been “sent.” This will help to preserve the illusion that the riddles are actually coming from the Riddle Rangers. When directed, give each kid in your group a copy of the appropriate riddle along with a pen or pencil. Unless you choose to work together as a group, remind the kids to refrain from shouting out the answer as soon as they solve it so that other kids have the opportunity to solve it for themselves.

For Younger Kids: Each riddle has a version that is geared toward younger children. Nevertheless, many of the riddles are letter- and word-based. Begin by reading the riddle to your group along with the instructions from Zack or Jada. If you have kids in your group who are still learning to read, you may want to work as a group on some of the riddles. Be prepared to assist the kids as needed. You may want to point the kids in the right direction, give them hints, and sometimes show them the answer. As the leader, you can determine the level of help to give your group.

STORY QUESTIONSDirections: During the Large Group program, kids will be asked to turn briefly to their small group and answer the following questions:

For Younger Kids:1. What do you think it means that Jesus is like a vine and we are like the branches?2. What are some ways that you can stick close to Jesus?



For Older Kids:1. What does this story teach you about Jesus?2. What do you think it means to remain connected to Jesus?

UPSET THE FRUIT BASKET (Application Activity)Set up: Print the 12 “Fruit Basket” pictures on 8½ x 11 cardstock paper. (See Resource Folder.) Each piece of paper will have one of the following fruits on it: apple, orange, strawberry, banana. Determine how many kids you have in your small group. Subtract 1 and place that number of pictures in a circle on the floor. For example, if you have 10 kids in your group, place 9 fruit pictures facing up in a circle on the floor.

Say: Today we learned that Jesus is like the vine and we’re like the branches. When we stay connected to Jesus, we grow in the “Fruits of the Spirit.” Does anyone remember what some of those fruits are? (Answers include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.) We’re going to play a game that helps us think about some different ways we can stay connected to Jesus.

Directions: Choose one kid to be the “caller.” Instruct all of the other kids to sit down on one of the fruit pictures. When ready, tell the “caller” to call out one of the 4 fruits: apple, orange, strawberry, or banana. Any kids that are sitting on that fruit, will have to jump up and quickly move to an open spot. At the same time, the “caller” will also race to grab an open spot. When all the spots are taken, there will be one kid left over. That kid will become the “caller” for the next round. Before they call out a fruit, though, they must answer the following question:

Question: What is your favorite way to spend time with Jesus? When and how do you do that?

If needed, you can give the kids suggestions like praying, reading the Bible, singing worship songs, or going to church. Continue playing until every kid has had a chance to be the “caller.” If a kid becomes the caller more than once, they don’t have to answer the question multiple times.



CHARADERS FROM OUTER SPACE (Bible Memorization Activity)Directions: Place the Bible verse sign in the middle of the group and read it carefully with your kids. Today’s Bible verse says:

“I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit.” John 15:5

Tell your group they need to come up with silent charades that go along with the Bible verse. When finished, have your group practice the silent motions together, but with one catch. Tell them to perform the motions as if they were floating in space. When finished, have your group take a seat and recite the verse from memory aloud. Alternate between doing the silent, zero-gravity space motions and reciting the verse from memory until your group has successfully memorized the verse.

Question: What fruit/s of the spirit do you need more of in your life now? Why?(Answers include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.)

PRAYER BANDS (Group Prayer Activity)Say: Sometimes it can be hard to think of different things to talk to God about. We can sometimes get stuck praying about the same things over and over. We’re going to do an activity right now that will help us think about some different things we can pray about.

Directions: Place various colors of Tyvek® wristbands in the middle of the group. Allow each kid to choose one color. With a pen or marker, have them write the following verse on their wristband:

“Cast all your worries on him.” 1 Peter 5:7

When finished, randomly choose a colored wristband from the remaining pile. Ask the kids who have that color to answer the following question:

Question: What is something you are worried about?

Directions: Continue drawing colors until everyone has had a chance to share. Next, open the kids in prayer. When finished, help the kids put their wristbands on. Tell them to keep it on throughout the week and every time they notice it, they can remember to cast or give their worries on/to him.


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