Leader Guide

Additional Activities

Two Match Card Pages
32 paper plates
Scissors
Tape

Make 2 copies each of both Match Card Pages.
Cut apart the 32 individual cards.
Tape one card (face up) on the front of each plate. Use only two small strips of tape so the card can be easily removed and the plate can be used again for the "I've Got It Covered" game.
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.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

“For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."

In the verses I read, do you remember what the Apostle Paul told us to fix our gaze on, or to focus on? The things that can’t be seen.

Only the things of God will last! To respond in love like Jesus did, especially to our enemies, we can’t focus on the present trouble. Instead, we are to focus on what can’t be seen, which is permanent!

In this game we are going to match two types of things—temporary or permanent.

Divide the children into two teams. Try to mix each team with a variety of ages.

Have the teams sit together and alternate turns.

As different plates are chosen, discuss whether it is something that lasts forever (God and His things) or is temporary and will end (things of this world).

The first player for one team begins by walking to the rows of plates, choosing one, and turning it over for all to see. The plate is then placed face up in the same location on the floor.

The player then chooses a second plate and turns it over for all to see.

If the two chosen plates match, the player keeps them and returns to sit with the team.

If the plates do not match, both are turned face down again in the same locations and the player returns to sit with the team.

The first player for the opposing team now takes a turn. Play continues until the eight sets of temporary plates and the eight sets of permanent plates are paired successfully.

The team with the most matches wins.

Conclusion: Remember that the things of this world will always fade away and only the things of God will last forever! By keeping this in mind, we can look past our present troubles and show Jesus’ love even in the most difficult times.