Leader Guide
Game
- Whiteboard and marker, or chalkboard and chalk
- Balls: tennis or beach balls; one per group of up to six players
- Music player such as mobile device or CD player
- Upbeat Christian music, such as “The Salvation Poem”
Write the SuperVerse on the board. Ephesians 4:26:
“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.
This will also be used for the SuperVerse activity later.
Cue up the song(s) you will use during the game. Make sure you understand how to use the controls to start and stop the music.
Let’s look at the board and say our SuperVerse together. Ephesians 4:26:
“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.
Hold up a ball. Today, our game is similar to a game you’ve probably all played called “Hot Potato.” Instead of a potato, you will be tossing away anger. Toss the ball with an easy underhand throw to an older child who is watching you.
Our SuperVerse tells us to not let the sun go down on our anger. If we hold onto anger, it can grow bigger in our hearts and begin to control our lives. When we let go of anger, it cannot grow and begin to control us. We are not to “sleep on it,” or dwell on it, or obsess about it, and carry it into the next day.
The ball represents anger. I will start the music and you will quickly toss it back and forth until the music stops. When the music stops, it is sunset! The player holding the ball must sit out of the game for two rounds. Are you ready to play?
Divide the class into groups of up to six players.
Each group will stand in a circle.
Give each team a ball.
Begin the music.
Players in each group toss the ball back and forth to each other.
The goal is not to be holding the ball—representing anger—when the music stops.
A player holding the ball when the music stops must sit out two rounds before rejoining the game.
Start the music and stop it after about 10–15 seconds. Continue starting and stopping the music at longer and shorter intervals.
Option: Have all the children who never had to sit out play a round to determine a grand champion.
Conclusion: That looked like fun! When we let go of anger quickly, it will not have a chance to control us! Let’s learn more about anger in our Teaching time.