October | 2011 | LG K3
May 2012, Week 1
Small Group 4-5
Deal or No Deal
Bible Story: Deal or No Deal (the parable of the talents) • Matthew 25:14-30
Bottom Line: I can be trusted when I make the most of what God has given to me.
Memory Verse: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Luke
16:10, NIV
Virtue: Responsibility—showing you can be trusted with what’s expected of you.
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
GET READY
Prepare ahead of time for 4th–5th grade Small Groups this week:
Plug In: Focus the Energy (Choose one or both of these activities.)
Early Arriver
 An offering container
Would You Rather
 Pens
 “Would You Rather” (Activity Page); one copy for each kid
Catch On: Make the Connection (Choose as many of these activities as you like.)
Wacky Props (application activity / review the Bible story / great for boys)
 Bibles
 Box containing 10 random and easy-to-find items such as: a coaster, penny, plastic vase, old
shoe, hand weight, etc. (the sillier and more unusual the better)
Prayer
 4 coins
 3 lunch bags
 Newspaper
 3 small gift boxes
 Stuff the lunch bags with newspaper and write “My Stuff” on each one.
 Write “My Gifts and Talents” on each gift box.
Additional Resources:
 Make copies on cardstock of this week’s GodTime and Parent Cue cards.
 Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv, CUE Box and the Parent Cue
app. To find out more about these great resources, go to http://www.Studio252.tv/leaders.
©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
1
October | 2011 | LG K3
May 2012, Week 1
Small Group 4-5
FOR LEADERS ONLY
GOD VIEW: the connection between RESPONSIBILITY and God’s character,
as shown through God’s big story
Think about all you saw when you stepped outside this morning. Was the sun shining? Did you hear birds or see
squirrels making the most of their morning? Did you take a deep breath?
Without our thinking about it, life happens.
The sun keeps shining. The seasons change. We have air to breathe.
From the beginning, when God created the world, He set systems in motion. If He decided to ignore those, our
world would quickly turn chaotic. God takes responsibility for what He creates. Even when we fail Him, He
promises a way of escape through Jesus. He made good on this promise, and after we take our last breath we
can trust that we’ll be with Him forever. God has proven that you can trust Him with every moment of your life.
But God doesn’t want for us to move through life simply trusting Him. He wants us to become more like Him by
showing others that we can be trusted as well. Every day, you have opportunities to take what God has given to
you—your stuff, your words, your relationships—and use them wisely. When you respond to God with the abilities
He has given to you, you are responsible. And when you are responsible with a little, the Bible says you will be
given more: more opportunities, more relationships, more ways that you can use what God has given you to
reflect His character to the world around you.
This month, let’s think about how:
(1) God has proven He can be trusted.
(2) When we trust Him and we respond to Him with our abilities, we are responsible.
(3) When we are responsible, we live a good story. We are a light to others. They will see our good works and
glorify God because of how they see Him at work in us.
Remember: A virtue is something God does in us to change the world around us.
This week, we’re discovering:
Our Bible story is the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). This is key for the whole month
because it talks about being responsible with our stuff—both our money and our gifting. Everyone’s
been given something, so what should you do to best invest it? We’ll see how the worst thing is to sit on
it or just save it for later.
Our Bottom Line is: I can be trusted when I make the most of what God has given to me. When we
bury our stuff, we seem to be afraid. People waste their lives and what they’ve been given when they
don’t trust God enough to let Him work through them with the abilities He gave them in the first place.
When we are responsible, we can become trusted people.
It’s important to remember this week’s Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what, as we talk about
responsibility. It’s true that everything we have has been given to us by God. When we respond to God
with what He has given us, then we are responsible. It’s like our Memory Verse says, “Whoever can
be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Luke 16:10, NIV
©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
2
October | 2011 | LG K3
May 2012, Week 1
Small Group 4-5
Deal or No Deal
Bible Story: Deal or No Deal (the parable of the talents) • Matthew 25:14-30
Bottom Line: I can be trusted when I make the most of what God has given to me.
Memory Verse: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Luke
16:10, NIV
Virtue: Responsibility—showing you can be trusted with what’s expected of you.
Basic Truth: I need to make the wise choice.
Plug In: Focus the Energy (Small Groups, 10-15 minutes)
Focus the energy on today’s Bible story in a Small Group setting with an engaging discussion question
and an interactive opening activity.
Before students arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your
class for the first time. Pray that God would work in your kids’ hearts to help them be responsible with
their stuff (not just their money, but also their abilities). Pray that they would realize that everyone has
been given something and that we can trust God to use us in the world around us when we want to be
more like Him.
1. Early Arriver Idea
What You Need: offering container
What You Do:
Enjoy some fun conversation with the kids who arrive early. Ask them what their favorite TV game
shows are. If they could be contestants on any game show, which show would they choose? Why?
Invite kids to place their offerings in the offering container.
2. Would You Rather …
What You Need: pens, “Would You Rather …” (Activity Page)
What You Do:
Give kids a pen and a “Would You Rather” page. Read each scenario aloud, either as a group or let
volunteers read, and ask kids to circle their answers. Tell them to also guess the number of other kids
in the group they think will chose the same option. After each question, let them take turns sharing their
answers and the reasons for their choices. Whoever guesses the closest number of kids with the same
answer as theirs wins that round. Continue with the rest of the questions. If time allows, let kids make
up some “Would You Rather” choices of their own.
©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
3
October | 2011 | LG K3
May 2012, Week 1
Small Group 4-5
What You Say:
“Life is full of choices. Some are really easy. Others can be super hard. With every choice comes a
certain amount of responsibility. [Transition] Let’s go to Large Group and hear a story Jesus told
about some interesting choices people made.”
Lead your group to the Large Group area.
©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
4
October | 2011 | LG K3
May 2012, Week 1
Small Group 4-5
Catch On: Make the Connection (Small Groups, 25-30 minutes)
Make the connection of how today’s Bible story applies to real life experiences through interactive
activities and discussion questions.
1. Wacky Prop Review (application activity / review the Bible story / great for boys)
What You Need: box of items, Bibles
What You Do:
Form groups of 3-5 kids. Ask kids to each choose one of the items from the wacky prop box.
Challenge teams to prepare a one-minute retelling of today’s Bible story. Explain that they must use
their wacky props in some significant way as they tell the story. If kids need help remembering the
story, have them use their Bibles to look up Matthew 25:14-30. Give teams five minutes to prepare, and
then let them take turns presenting their “Wacky Prop Review.”
When each group has had a turn, talk with them about the meaning of the parable. Remind kids that it
isn’t just about wasted money; it’s also about wasted opportunity. Explain that God has given them
talents, abilities, opportunities, family, love, health, and even life because He has a purpose for their
lives. Each of those gifts is their responsibility to use and not waste, even if they’re scared or unsure.
What You Say:
“Responsibility is responding to God with our ability—knowing He can work through us to change the
world around us. God wants us to take all that we have been given and do something good with it.
[Apply] If you have a talent, practice and get better. Develop your skill so that you can use it to
glorify God to the best of your ability. You don’t have to wait until you can do something
perfectly in order to get started. But remember to always work at improving the way you do
stuff. If you have a good singing voice or play a sport, ask someone who sings or plays better to
teach you what he or she knows. If it’s easy for you to make friends, try doing something kind
for someone else every day. If you’re good at math, help a friend who’s not so great at it. If you
show you can be trusted with the mind, strength, and talents you have, God can use you in some
amazing ways. Remind yourself this week: [Impress] I can be trusted when I make the most of what
God has given me.”
Pray and Dismiss
What You Need: coins, prepared bags, prepared gift boxes
What You Do:
Sit together in a circle. Distribute the coins, bags, and boxes in no particular order. Make sure each
person has one of the items.
Ask kids to take a moment to consider what they’ve been given in terms of money, possessions, and
talent. Tell them that if they’re holding a coin, they should pray silently asking God to help them use
their money for Him even if they have only a little. If they’re holding a bag, encourage them to consider
the stuff they own and how they can be more responsible with it by sharing with others or using it to
©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
5
October | 2011 | LG K3
May 2012, Week 1
Small Group 4-5
serve God in some way. Challenge those holding the gift boxes to think about the gifts, talents, and
interests they have. Have them pray for God to help them develop the things they’re able to do in order
to do them even better.
Allow one-minute prayers and then signal kids to switch items and pray again. Repeat until everyone
has had a chance to pray silently three times, each time holding a different kind of item. (They may
need to share items for the third round.)
Close by praying something like this: Dear God, thank You for entrusting us with so many good things.
Help us to be responsible with them and increase all You have given us for Your glory. Amen.
What You Say:
“As I look around our circle, I see a lot of talent wrapped up in some amazing kids. [Apply] (Name
something you recognize as a gift, ability, or possession of each of the kids.) Each kid here is
different from the other, but God created all of you for His good purpose. Don’t waste what you’ve been
given; make the most of it this week. That’s what today’s Bottom Line is all about: [Impress] I can be
trusted when I make the most of what God has given me.”
Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent Cue cards as adults arrive to pick kids up.
©2012 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
If you change the content of this document, please add to the copyright: Adapted by (your name/organization name/date).
6