Leader Guide
Matching Game
- Two sets of the Sermon on the Mount Matching Cards
- Thirty-two paper plates
- Scissors
- Glue stick or tape
- Reference the Sermon on the Mount Matching Game Illustration
Make two copies each of both Matching Game Pages.
Cut apart the thirty-two individual cards.
Glue or tape one card (face up) on the front of each paper plate.
Shuffle the plates.
Lay the plates face-down in the pattern shown on the floor in rows and columns with enough space for a child to walk between them. See the illustration.
Good or Bad: Play a game to match fruit.
Read Galatians 5:22–25:
When we choose to live like Christ, we cannot possibly do it on our own. Only the Holy Spirit can produce the kind of fruit in us that pleases God. In our human nature, we can produce rotten fruit that doesn’t reflect Christ. That is what our game is about. Under these plates are two kinds of fruit: Fruit of the Spirit that God produces and some bad fruit that we are likely to make on our own. This happens because we are not joined to Jesus.
Each player on their turn will walk to the plates, turn one over, and show it to everyone. Then the player will choose another plate to try and match the first plate. If they do not match, the plates are returned face down to the same spot. If the plates match, the player carries them back to the team. The team with the most matches after all the plates are removed wins.
Divide the children into two teams. Try to mix each team with a variety of ages. Have the teams sit together and alternate turns. (It doesn’t matter whether a team has a match or not; the other team takes a turn next.) As different plates are chosen, discuss whether it is a Fruit of the Spirit or a “human” fruit we might produce apart from Jesus. This type of fruit would displease God and not bring praise to Him.
Conclusion: Without fail, Jesus showed God’s love, mercy, and kindness to all people. This is not possible to do on our own. To live like Christ, we must commit to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading every day and choose to display the good fruit that He produces inside us.