Run With Endurance Group
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "Run with Endurance"

Scripture Reading:  Hebrews 12:1-2

OBSTACLE RACE: Set up tables, toys, chairs, books, and items around the room to form an obstacle course for the children to run through! Children can run as individuals or as teams and TIME the race to see who is the fastest and also who did the obstacle race without touching any obstacle.

HINDERED RACING: Tape pieces of paper on each child (the same number of pieces of paper on each child). Written on the paper are struggles which children might face. (bullying, poor grades, lack of friends, fear, family problems, anger, poor self esteem) The children will run to the other side of the room and remove one piece of paper and then run back to team. This will continue until all children have "stripped off all of the weights that would slow them down." When all of their pieces of paper are gone, they will return to their team and sit down. The idea isn't to WIN the race but to FINISH the race as they removed their struggles!

LEADER RACING: Choose a leader to run a race but those that follow the leader must race the same way the leader chooses, such as hopping, jumping, crawling, running or skipping. Continue to play as time allows and continue to change leaders so that everyone has an opportunity to be a leader if they'd like to be.

BIBLE VERSE RACE: Divide the children into two groups. Give each group strips of paper with words and phrases from today's Bible verse written on them. Have the children arrange the strips of paper in the correct order to complete today's Bible verse. When all groups have successfully completed the Bible verse, have the children read the verse together.

MEDAL OR RIBBON RUNNING: Divide children into pairs. Each pair will take their turn to run to the finish line as the rest of the class cheers them as they go. Make sure that all pairs have an opportunity to RUN THE RACE while everyone else cheers. Give each child a medal or ribbon for finishing the race.

EYES ON JESUS: Give the children a sheet of construction paper and cutouts of the shapes of various parts of the eye (iris, pupil, eye lashes, etc.) After glueing the parts of the eye on their piece of paper, tell children to write KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS below the eyes.

STARING CONTEST: Show the children this optical illusion. (Click Here) Use this opportunity to stress the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus if we want to run the race that God has set out for us.

SING A SONG: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS; I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS.

SNACK TIME: Scatter wrapped candies over a designated area and let children RACE to the candies - but only allowing each child to take 1 or 2 candies each (or as teacher allows)

Song:  "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Piano accompaniment Track (right click to save to your computer)

Song:  "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Piano accompaniment Track (right click to save to your computer)