FREE Big Game Sunday School Lesson
FREE Big Game Sunday School Lesson For Kids that you can use at your church this Super Bowl Sunday. Everyone loves the Super Bowl. Whether you care about the game or only the commercials, everyone will be watching. You can take advantage of all the excitement and buzz about the game this weekend to teach your kids a fun lesson about trusting God. Kids will learn that when we face any obstacle the first thing we should choose to do is pray, rather than try to take on the problem alone. This FREE lesson is perfect to use in any Children's Ministry, Sunday School, or Kids Church.
BOTTOM LINE:
When we put God first, the victory is already won.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn to put Jesus first.
KEY PASSAGE:
2 Chronicles 20:1-24, The story of Jehoshaphat and Judah’s victory over their enemies.
MEMORY VERSE:
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15b (NIV)
“The Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope because of this huge army. The battle is not yours. It is mine.’” - 2 Chronicles 20:15b (NIrV)
SUMMARY:
When Jehoshaphat and the nation of Judah were faced with a great enemy, they cried out to God. They put God first, and God gave them the victory. God will give us victory, too, when we put him first and let him fight for us.
OBJECT LESSON:
Video Game
How many of you are big video game fans? Have any of you ever played this game?
(Share your favorite game with the kids. Tell them how old you were [be honest] when you started playing and why you got hooked.)
How many of you remember when you started playing video games? It was so exciting, wasn't it? After watching the big kids and adults for so long, you finally got to hold a controller and play for yourself.
But after a while, it got a little frustrating when you discovered that video games could be hard! Remember that one obstacle, that one bad guy, that one level you could never, ever beat? You got mad, you got upset, and then what did you do?
You went to mom, dad, or an older sibling and said, "Beat this for me!"
That's just what Jehoshaphat did in today's story. He knew his army could not defeat the army that was coming to crush his people. So instead of fighting on his own, he cried out to God. He asked God to defeat his enemy for him.
As Christians, we will face battles big and small. When that happens, don't fight those battles alone. Put God first. Give God the battle, and he will give you the victory.
God has promised he will one day have the final victory over sin and death, but we don't have to wait for that day to have victory. When you are challenged, don't fight your problem alone. Tell God your troubles, and he will give you victory.
LARGE GROUP LESSON
INTRO
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you have probably heard there’s a big football game this weekend. This weekend’s game is the biggest televised sporting event of the year, broadcast all around the world in dozens of languages. When game time hits, families and friends all across the country will gather in front of the TV, with plates full of buffalo wings, to sit down and enjoy the commercials.
In between those commercials, of course, is a football game that will decide who is the world champion. Both teams have a game plan. Both teams are expecting to win. Both teams will be counting on their star players, their heroes, to win the victory for them!
As Christians, we don’t have a star player, but a God we can rely on to give us victory. When we are challenged to defend our faith, God has promised he will fight for us. But if we want to claim that victory, we have to put God first in our lives.
Today we're going to look at a man and a people who did just that. The man's name is Jehoshaphat. He was the king of Judah, and he had a very big problem!
READ
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-13
Jehoshaphat had a problem. Not one army, but several armies, were marching toward his country, planning to wipe him and his people off the map. There was no way Judah's small army could win this victory… not on their own! It would be like a pee wee football team trying to take on the Dallas Cowboys!
So Jehoshaphat and the people did the only thing they could do - they prayed! Instead of trying to solve the problem on their own, they went to God. They asked for help. This is how God responded.
READ
Read 2 Chronicles 20:14-19
Don't you love God's response? If we were to translate that into modern kid language, it would sound like this - "Don't worry about a thing. I got this!"
The people of Judah put God first, and God vowed to give them the victory. Do you want to know how the story ends?
READ
Read 2 Chronicles 20:20-24
The people of Judah marched out to face their enemies, with a choir praising God leading the way. By the time they got to the battlefield, there was no battle to fight. All their enemies were dead, and the people praised God for their victory.
MAIN POINT
Jehoshaphat could have done a lot of things to prepare for attack. He could have made deals with some of his neighbors to help defend him. He could have just sent his men into battle, crossed his fingers, and hoped for the best. But Jehoshaphat didn't try to solve his problem on his own. He went straight to God, and God gave him a victory he never could have predicted on his own!
Did you notice, too, that instead of sending his army out first, he sent a choir? Even as they marched into battle, the people put God first. They were so certain of victory, they let an unarmed choir go ahead of their fighting men, singing praises to God. God honored their faithfulness, and God promises that when we put him first, he will fight for us as well.
DRIVE IT HOME
We live in a time when people are increasingly hostile towards God and his believers. We live in a time when people believe in doing whatever feels good. There’s no right and wrong except for what you think is right and wrong, and more and more, Christians are being silenced in public places.
God doesn’t want us to run and hide. He wants us to pray for courage, just as Jehoshaphat did. He wants us to stand strong and defend our faith. But before we do anything, God wants us to put him first so that he can give us the victory.
If we put Jesus first, God will give us the words to say. We will remember what our real enemy is - sin - and God can use us to show others that the good news of Jesus is for everyone - even those who don’t yet believe.
If you are already on God’s team, today is a day to celebrate. Thank God for the gift of Jesus, and tell Him you want Him to be first in your life. If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, don’t leave here without asking someone to help you do so. The battles are hard, and the challenges are great, but we don’t need to be afraid. The battle is not ours, but God’s!
CLOSE WITH A SIMPLE PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of King Jehoshaphat. Help us to have faith that you will always fight for us. Thank you for giving us victory over sin.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
MEMORY VERSE:
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15b (NIV)
“The Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope because of this huge army. The battle is not yours. It is mine.’” - 2 Chronicles 20:15b (NIrV)
LARGE GROUP MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY:
Post the verse on the screen. Have the kids read it aloud as a group.
SMALL GROUP MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY:
After introducing the memory verse, have each kid recite the verse dramatically, pretending to be the angel who gave the message to Jehoshaphat.
CRAFT IDEA:
Have kids color in these football coloring pages.
LARGE GROUP GAME:
FLEA FLICKER
ITEMS NEEDED:
A football
A timer
INSTRUCTIONS:
Choose two teams of two for this game.
Clear out an open area at least twenty feet wide, and have the teammates stand at opposite ends of the area.
Each team will have 30 seconds to complete as many passes as they can. Teammates will throw the ball back and forth as quickly as possible. Every complete catch counts as a point, and the team with the most points wins.
VARIATION:
For smaller kids, use a soft football and let them stand closer.
For older kids, you can have them throw simultaneously instead of one team at a time to make it a little more challenging.
You can also have volunteers (kids or adults) play defense and try to block/intercept passes to make it harder for the really big kids!
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (K-2ND)
ICEBREAKER:
Who are you cheering for in the big game... or are you just planning to watch the commercials?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-19
What was Jehoshaphat's problem?
What did Jehoshaphat and his people do when they learned they would be attacked?
What did God say when the people asked for his help?
Read 2 Chronicles 20:20-24
Who did Jehoshaphat send out in front of his army?
What happened to Jehoshaphat's enemies?
Who defeated the enemies of Israel that day?
SIMPLE PRAYER:
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of King Jehoshaphat. Help us to have faith that you will always fight for us. Thank you for giving us victory over sin.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (3RD-5TH)
ICEBREAKER:
Who are you cheering for in the big game... or are you just planning to watch the commercials?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-19
What was Jehoshaphat's problem?
Why did Jehoshaphat and his people cry out to God when they learned they would be attacked?
What did God say when the people asked for his help?
Read 2 Chronicles 20:20-24
Why did Jehoshaphat send out his singing men in front of his army?
What happened to Jehoshaphat's enemies?
Can we trust God to fight for us, even today? How do we know that we can trust him?
SIMPLE PRAYER:
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of King Jehoshaphat. Help us to have faith that you will always fight for us. Thank you for giving us victory over sin.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
For your convenience, you can also download the entire PDF version of this Big Game Children's Church Lesson (just click the link).
You can also find additional Big Game Sunday School Lesson Ideas from these websites: