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Leader Guide

Small Group Game

  • Painters tape or masking tape
  • Bible or the Superbook Bible App

Place a line or mark down the center of the room lengthwise

     

  

In Large Group, you were asked to listen carefully for two things that Thomas calls Jesus after He appears to him. My Lord and My God.

 

Raise your hand if you remember when in the video Peter and John raced to the tomb? Children respond.

Who told them some very good news about Jesus that they could hardly believe? Mary (Magdalene).

 

I am going to read from the Bible what we watched in the video. This will give you a better understanding of our game. Read John 20:1–10:

 

1Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” 3Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—9for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10Then they went home.

 

Have you ever raced a friend to get somewhere fast? Children respond.

It sounds like Peter and John had a race to the tomb, doesn’t it? Can you imagine the thoughts going through their minds—could Jesus really be alive? Children respond.

John won the race but he didn’t go into the tomb. Peter came in second place, but went into the tomb right away! They saw the empty tomb and the burial cloths Jesus had been wrapped in. Now, they finally understood Jesus’ words about His resurrection! They not only heard about Jesus’ resurrection, they experienced it—and this was only the beginning! 

 

In our game today, we are going to be in and out of the tomb like Peter and John as we follow commands that are given. Jesus said that we show our love for Him when we accept and obey His commands. And His promise to us is that He will reveal Himself to us. Let’s find out how to play. 

 

Have the children line up single file behind one another down the center of the room, facing the leader. Leave as much room as possible between the children. Tell the children that the right side of the line is “In the Tomb” and the left side of the line is “Out of the Tomb.”

The leader shouts a command and ends it with either “In the Tomb” or “Out of the Tomb.” Upon hearing the command, the children jump from one side to the other and do the command. If the children stay on or jump to the wrong side, they must sit out of the game for two commands, and then they may return. Have another leader control when children may return to the game.

 

Use the commands below or create your own:

  • Clap your hands as fast as you can—in the tomb.
  • Clap your hands as fast as you can—in the tomb. (This is a duplicate command to trick.)
  • Sit on the floor—out of the tomb.
  • Stand up—out of the tomb.
  • Jump up and down three times—in the tomb.
  • Do five jumping jacks—in the tomb.
  • Shout “Jesus is alive!”—out of the tomb.
  • Hop on one foot—in the tomb.
  • Wave hello—out of the tomb.
  • Touch your toes—out of the tomb.
  • Hum a tune—in the tomb.
  • Pat your back with both hands—out of the tomb.
  • Shout “I want to experience Jesus!”—in the tomb.
  • Spin around two times—out of the tomb.
  • Shout “I am a witness for Christ!”—in the tomb.
  • Run in place to share the Good News—out of the tomb.
  • Dance in place from your waist up (legs still)—in the tomb.

 

Game options: Play just for fun—no one is removed from play when an error is made. Or eliminate players from the game as they err. The last child standing wins.

 

Conclusion: You did a great job obeying the instructions that were given. Let’s learn more about Jesus appearing to His followers after His resurrection in today’s Signpost teaching.