===================================================================== Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, January 22, 2000 From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders) Date Completed: December 15, 1999 Abstract: Activities to use as a supplement to help teach the lesson, A SPECIAL INVITATION ===================================================================== Lesson Aim: Memory Verse: "Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full." Luke 14:23, NIV GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - INVITATION TREASURE HUNT Materials needed: (10)Small slips of paper Party Invitation (Bought or made on computer) with envelope Ruler Pen WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) On the slips of paper write the following: My doctor My teacher My best friend My family My worst enemy A homeless man in my town The kid in class everyone makes fun of The blind girl who lives in my neighborhood The retarded boy who goes to the special class in my school The patients in the nursing home in my town Roll the slips of paper up and hide them around the room. On the inside of the party invitation draw lines and write the words GUEST LIST on top the card. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Explain to the children that they have been invited to a party. They are allowed to bring a guest with them. Their guest's name is written on a slip of paper, and the slips of paper are hidden in the room. Each child is to look for a rolled-up slip of paper and return to their seats with it. They are not to open it or read it until everyone has found a "guest". Obviously you can make up more "guests" if you have time for the children to look for more than one "guest". When the children return with their paper, have each child tell the class who they have brought. Write their name on a line in the party invitation under the words, guest list. Allow enough time for discussion of the "guest list". What if they really went to a party and these were the real guests who attended? What if they really did have an opportunity to invite guests to something special. Would they always choose the same person? In our Bible story today we hear about guests being invited who were not on the "guest list". Let's find out why. GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY. GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE FEAST Materials needed: Bag of colored mini-marshmallows Toothpicks Small mini loaf of fruit bread or fruit cake Bibles WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) Place the mini-marshmallows on a plate all turned up on end so they can be easily stabbed by a toothpick. Place the box of toothpicks beside the plate of marshmallows. Place these two things on a table at one end of the room. On the opposite end of the room place the small mini loaf or cake on a table. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Have the children look up the memory verse in their Bibles and read and repeat it together several times. Explain to them that the plate of marshmallows are the people who are being brought into the great feast. The mini loaf or cake is the table. They are to repeat the memory verse, go and take a toothpick and place it in their mouth. With their hands behind their back, they stab a marshmallow into the toothpick and carry it back to the loaf where they stab it into the loaf. They can have as many turns to bring people to the feast as they can repeat the verse. See how many people can be brought to the feast before the allotted time for this activity is up. (Whether or not you share the feast food together is optional) ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - HEAVENLY HOME INVITATIONS Materials needed: Party blowers (the kind that are curled up until you blow through them, then they stick out) Party stickers Envelopes Markers (thin-line) Scotch tape WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: Give each child several party blowers, envelopes, and a thin-line marker. Have them stretch the party blower out and tape it very lightly to the table in front of them. On the stretched out part they write the words, You're invited to a banquet in Heaven. Jesus is the host, and I want you to be my guest. Un-tape the blower and let it wind back up. Address the envelope to whomever they want to invite and decorate the outside with party stickers. Put the blower in the envelope. Let each child make as many as time and interest allow. Encourage them to pass them out this week. ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - BANQUET BOOK Materials needed: (2) pieces of construction paper for each child One piece of notebook paper for each child Hole punch Brass fasteners (3) for each child Pens WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead) There are no advance preparations necessary. WHAT THE STUDENTS DO: The children are going to make a Banquet Book which will include a list of guests they would like to see accept the invitation to be in Heaven with Jesus. (It can be kept at Sabbath school and used as a prayer book adding names and special notes beside names from week to week.) 1. Lay the notebook paper down on top of one of the sheets of construction paper. Place the second sheet of construction paper on top. 2. Punch three holes on the left-hand side where the notebook paper holes already are. 3. Use brass fasteners to hold the book together. 4. On the top line of the sheet of notebook paper write the words, GUEST LIST 5. Have the children write down names of people they want to pray for that they will accept the invitation to God's banquet in Heaven. Encourage them to take opportunities to talk to these same people about Heaven and salvation. (DO YOUR CHILDREN KNOW HOW TO LEAD SOMEONE TO JESUS?) Close with a prayer for all those on the list and others who will be brought to mind over the rest of the quarter.