Come To The Castle

Main Point: God teaches me the way to go.
Bible Story: Gideon at Battle – Judges 7:9-22
Memory Verse: “He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God.” Deuteronomy 10:17 NLT

KID CONNECT

COLORING PAGE

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: crayons, coloring pages
What you do: Place the crayons in the center of the circle and give each child a coloring page.
DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Instruct children to color their coloring page. As children color, get to know them by asking what they have done today or what they are going to do.
AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Make sure children’s names are on their page and set the pages aside until children are picked up at the end of the worship experience.

DON’T FEED THE DRAGON

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: fire tokens (36), dragon mat (1), dragon dice (2)
What you do: Give each child three fire tokens and place the dragon mat in the center of the circle. Tell children the dragon wants to take all the fire for himself, but the last player with fire tokens at the end of the game wins!
DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Explain children will take turns rolling a die and then complete one of the following actions according to the face-up picture on the die:
If the child rolls fire, they keep all their fire tokens.
If the child rolls the dragon, they must give one fire token to the dragon by placing it on the dragon mat.
If the child rolls an arrow, they must give one fire token to the child the arrow is pointing at.
Choose a child to go first. The child will roll the die and complete the action. Children with no fire tokens left are not out of the game; they pass on their turn until they earn fire tokens from other players. Continue until only one child has fire tokens.
Extension activity: For faster play, tell children to roll two dice each turn. Children will complete the actions shown on both dice. When a child has only one fire token left, the child should only roll one die.

JOUSTING PRACTICE

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: no supplies
What you do: Explain jousting was a competition between two knights on horseback. The first knight to knock the other knight off their opponents horse would win the joust.
Have children stand in a circle and spread out so there is room between each child. Practice the four jousting moves:
Single Sword Swipe: swipe one arm down across body
Double Sword Swipe: swipe both arms down to form an “X”
Shield Block: hold both arms up to block head
Duck: squat down while ducking head

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: The jousting knight (the eGroup leader for the first game) will call out and model jousting moves, starting slowly at first and then increasing speed. The child who completes the move last is out and sits in the horse barn (center of the circle).
Continue until one child remains. This child is the next jousting knight. Allow the jousting knight to choose and perform moves and encourage the rest of the group to complete the moves. Help determine who completed the moves last and ask children to sit in the horse barn.

GET TO KNOW YOU

CASTLE QUESTIONS

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: castle mat, character cards, leader sheet
What you do: Place the castle mat in the center of the eGroup. Spread the character cards around the outside of the castle mat.
What you say: “This month we’re coming to the castle to learn about the best King ever – God! God is always with us and He always has things under control. Before we learn more about our great King, let’s get to know each other better.”

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Explain that after each child introduces themselves, they will choose one of the character cards, answer the question for that character on the leader sheet, then place the character on the castle. Continue until all children have been introduced and have answered a question.
After all children are introduced, pass out a Quest animal sticker to each child. Have each child place it next to their name tag.
What you say: “We are the (insert animal name) today! There are two very special rules to remember so we can have the most fun. The rules to follow are:
Be Safe – How can we be safe? (keeping our hands to ourselves, sitting when others are sitting, walking instead of running, following the rules)
Be Kind – How can we be kind? (listening when others are talking, sharing, obeying leaders, sitting on our bottoms so others can see)
If you can obey our special rules and are ready to have fun then put one hand in the center and repeat after me:
I am (allow response)
a (insert group name) (allow response)
I will (allow response)
be kind and safe! (allow response)
On the count of three everyone, say ‘Go (insert animal name)!’
1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .
Go (insert group name)!”

AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “Now that we all know each other and we know the rules, we’re ready to hear a Bible story about how God takes care of His people!”

BIBLE CONNECT

GIDEON AT BATTLE

JUDGES 7:9-22
BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: God’s Story for Me Bible, Bible story stickers
What you say: “We can find true stories in God’s book, the Bible!”

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Show and read the Bible story from pages 143-148 in the God’s Story for Me Bible. Ask the Bible story review questions. Each time a child answers a question correctly, give the child a sticker.
What you say: “Let’s see how much you remember from our Bible story!”
“What were the Midianites stealing from God’s people?” (food)
“Who did God ask to help get the Midianites out of Israel?” (Gideon)
“At first, was Gideon excited or scared to obey God?”(scared)
“After God showed Gideon His power, was Gideon still afraid or was he brave?” (He was brave.)
“Did God want Gideon to fight with the entire giant army or with a smaller group of soldiers?” (a smaller group of soldiers)
“Who told Gideon what to do to beat the Midianites?” (God)
“When Gideon and the soldiers obeyed God’s plan, did they beat the Midianites?” (yes)

AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “I’m sure that Gideon thought God’s instructions were crazy, but he chose to follow God’s path. I’m so glad that God teaches us the way to go too! He’s always got this! Who’s got it?” (God’s got it.)

VERSE VOICES

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: no supplies
What you say: “This month our Bible verse says our God is great, mighty, and awesome! We can trust He has everything under control.”

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Say the memory verse and do the motions in front of the children. After showing them once, encourage children to practice the memory verse with you using different voices.
What you say: “I am going to say our memory verse. Everyone watch me! (Demonstrate the memory verse as shown in the sidebar.) Now let’s do it all together! Are you ready? (Say the memory verse with the motions several times.) Now let’s try the verse in some silly voices!”
“Say the verse in a deep voice, like a king!”
“Say the verse in a silly voice, like a jester!”
“Say the verse in a loud voice, like a roaring dragon!”

AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “Fantastic job, everyone! Our memory verse tells us that God is GREAT, AWESOME, and MIGHTY! God can do anything! God has always got it!”
What you do: Explain to the group children can recite the verse each week to earn a memory verse card for their collectible poster! Allow children an opportunity to recite the verse by themselves. Give any child who recites the verse by themselves a memory verse card. Mark the “MV” box by that child’s name on your check-in sheet.

VERSE PASS

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: dragon toy, knight toy
What you say: “This month our Bible verse says our God is great, mighty, and awesome! We can trust He has everything under control.”
DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Give the dragon toy and the knight toy to the children on either side of you. Encourage children to begin passing the toys around the circle in opposite directions. After the toys have been passed a few times, call out, “Stop! Who’s got them?” Encourage the children holding the toys to stand and say the verse together. Repeat until all children have had a chance to say the verse.
AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “Fantastic job, everyone! Our memory verse tells us that God is GREAT, AWESOME, and MIGHTY! God can do anything! God has always got it!”
What you do: Explain to the group children can recite the verse each week to earn a memory verse card for their collectible poster! Allow children an opportunity to recite the verse by themselves. Give any child who recites the verse by themselves a memory verse card. Mark the “MV” box by that child’s name on your check-in sheet.

BIBLE CONNECT

NAVIGATE THE MAZE

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: crayons, maze sheet
What you do: Place the crayons in the center of the circle and give each child a maze sheet. Keep one maze sheet for yourself to help as you demonstrate the way to go.
What you say: “Tap your nose if you’ve ever seen a maze like this before. (Encourage kids to tap their nose.) A maze can be really tricky to figure out, but if you try it with someone who already knows the way, it’s not so hard! I already know the way through this maze. Let’s see if you can follow my directions and solve the maze when I tell you the way to go.”

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Tell each child to choose a crayon to use. Read the following instructions one step at a time, telling children the way to go and using your finger to demonstrate the path on your maze as you read. Encourage children to trace the path on the maze with their finger before drawing it with their crayon, and assist any children in following the correct path as needed.
Start at the star at the top of the castle. Draw a line from the star to the pink heart.
Draw a line from the pink heart to the blue square.
Draw a line from the blue square to the orange diamond.
Draw a line from the orange diamond to the green triangle.
Draw a line from the green triangle to the yellow star.
Draw a line from the yellow star to the purple circle.
Draw a line from the purple circle to the gray cloud.
Draw a line from the gray cloud to the red stop sign.

AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “You did such an awesome job navigating our maze. You listened as I told you the way to go and you followed! In our Bible story today, God showed a man named Gideon the way to go, and He’ll show us the way to go if we listen, too! Who’s got it?” (God’s got it.)

eKIDZ JOURNAL AND MAIN POINT CARD

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: eKidz eGroup prayer journal, pen, sample collectible poster, main point card, glue, Sharpie marker, eKidz eGroup prayer journal
What you say: “God can do great things through us when we learn and live out what the Bible says! Today we learned God teaches me the way to go. Let’s think about some of the things we need.”

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: Take out your eGroup prayer journal and pen. Write down each child’s name and what they say in the journal. Pray with the group.
What you say: “God taught Gideon the way to go in battle, and God will teach you and me the way to go, too! Let’s make a list of things we need God to teach us—things like the way to share, love others, be a helper, and obey our parents! All of those things are hard to do and we need God to show us the way to do them. When we pray we can use our list and ask God to help show us the way. When I say your name, tell me one thing you need God to teach you, and I’ll write it in our prayer journal. (Write each child’s name and what they say in the journal.)
“Let’s pray together now! Dear God, You are the best teacher! You always know the right way to go. And because You love us so much, You want to teach us the way to go! Please help us learn the way to (read what the children listed). We love You, God, and we want to do what is right. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
What you do: Give each child a main point card. Encourage children to color their main point cards as you talk. Show the prizes on the back of the sample Wonder! Clubhouse poster.
What you say: “Each weekend you visit Wonder! Clubhouse you’ll get main point cards to add to your Wonder! Clubhouse poster. Collect six cards and bring your poster back to Quest to receive a special prize! We have some really special Quest animal prizes that we can’t wait to share with you once you bring back your filled poster!
Today’s main point card says, ‘God teaches me the way to go.’ I want you to color your main point card now. Add this card to your poster at home.”
VIPs AND CHILDREN WHO NEED A NEW WONDER! CLUBHOUSE POSTER: Give the child a poster and glue the main point card on it. Write the child’s name on the front of the poster with the Sharpie marker.

AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “Make sure to keep your poster in a place you can see it every day to help you remember what we learn in Quest and to spend time with Jesus. Today we learned God teaches us the way to go!”
What you do: Take your journal home with you so you can pray for your eGroup children by name throughout the week.

BEAN BAG BALANCE

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: bean bags (1 per child)
What you do: Give each child a bean bag and spread children out around the eGroup space. Explain children will try to balance the bean bag on different parts of their body while performing different actions. If the beanbag drops, children have to say the main point, “God teaches me the way to go,” and then sit out on the next action.
DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you say:
“Balance your bean bag on top of your head and do three small jumps.”
“Balance your bean bag on your shoulder and spin around two times.”
“Balance your bean bag on the back of your hand and hop on one foot four times.”
“Balance your bean bag on top of your foot and take five steps forward.”
“Balance your bean bag on your knee while I count to seven.”
“Balance your bean bag on your elbow and pat your knee two times.”
“Balance your bean bag on your back while crawling to a different spot.”
“Balance your bean bag on one finger and take three steps forward.”

AFTER THE ACTIVITY
What you say: “Great job, friends! It was tough to control our beanbags sometimes, but God is always in control. Who’s got it?” (God’s got it!)

DISMISSAL

JOUSTING PRACTICE

BEFORE THE ACTIVITY
What you need: no supplies
What you do: Explain jousting was a competition between two knights on horseback. The first knight to knock the other knight off their opponents horse would win the joust.
Have children stand in a circle and spread out so there is room between each child. Practice the four jousting moves:
Single Sword Swipe: swipe one arm down across body
Double Sword Swipe: swipe both arms down to form an “X”
Shield Block: hold both arms up to block head
Duck: squat down while ducking head

DURING THE ACTIVITY
What you do: The jousting knight (the eGroup leader for the first game) will call out and model jousting moves, starting slowly at first and then increasing speed. The child who completes the move last is out and sits in the horse barn (center of the circle).
Continue until one child remains. This child is the next jousting knight. Allow the jousting knight to choose and perform moves and encourage the rest of the group to complete the moves. Help determine who completed the moves last and ask children to sit in the horse barn.