Theme: My body: Playing sports and games

Bible Story: Run the good race

Value: Make good choices

Run the good race

 

Before Jesus went back to heaven, He gave His friends a very important job to do. They had to tell the world that God loves them and that Jesus died and rose again, so that we could all be forgiven of our sins. Because of what Jesus did, we can all go to heaven one day.

Paul was one of these messengers. He travelled to many towns to tell people about Jesus. He also wrote letters to give advice on how to live as a follower of Jesus. Even today, we can read Paul’s letters in the Bible.

Paul tells us that we are like runners, running a race here on earth. But it’s not just about running fast and being strong. It’s about loving and following Jesus and doing what is right, even when it’s hard sometimes.

He said, “Let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way, like the sin that so easily catches us. Let us look only to Jesus.”

Do you want to know the great news? When we love and follow Jesus and stop doing bad things, Jesus is waiting at the finish line for us to go to heaven with Him. What an amazing prize!

(Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

 

  1. Opening

Have you ever run in a race before? What do people get when they finish a race?

In the Bible we read that all of us are like runners running a race here on earth. Let’s read the Bible story.

 

  1. Discovery

Can you remember the story that you heard yesterday?

Yes, we talked about how all of us are like runners running a race with Jesus waiting for us at the finish line. Let’s read the Bible story again.

What is your favourite part of the story?

Which one of the people in the picture will win the race?

Who will be second and third?

 

  1. Retell

Can you tell me what happened in our story yesterday? (Ask leading questions and guide the child using the picture and story.)

How do you feel if you win a race?

What do you get when you win?

Would you stop halfway through the race, or would you give your best and finish it?

 

  1. Value

This week we’ve been talking about how Jesus is at the finish line of our lives, waiting for us to join Him in heaven! Running the race is about following Jesus and making good choices. We also need to stop doing bad things like lying to our parents or teachers, taking a friend’s toy or not being obedient.

Do you want to go to heaven one day?

What are some of the bad things that you want to stop doing?

 

  1. Activity

In our Bible story this week we learned that Jesus is waiting for us to be in heaven with Him. If we want to run a good race here on earth, we need to follow Jesus and stop doing bad things.  Now, let’s see how good you are at running a race!

(Create an obstacle course with tables, chairs, cushions, etc. Let the children take turns running or walking through the obstacle course. Give each child a prize at the end of the race, like a star sticker or a lollipop.)