Small Group Discussion

Say the point and Bible verse together.

Use what you’re good at to give God glory. 1 Peter 4:10 NIRV … Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. ... 1. What kind of gifts do you think the Bible verse is

talking about? Answers will vary.

SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE

GOD’S PLAN FOR ME WEEK 1 WHAT I’M GOOD AT

Small Group Welcome

Choose a few review questions.

1. Who gave you gifts and talents? God 2. In the Bible story, what made the master angry?

One servant hid his talent and didn’t use it. 3. What do you think about hiding talents or using

them to get attention for yourself? Answers will vary.

4. What do you think would happen if everyone were good at everything? Answers will vary.

5. When you’re good at something, what can you do to make others think about how good God is instead of how good you are? Answers will vary.

1. Introduce yourself, and welcome new kids by name. 2. Kids share what happened during the past week. 3. Check up on past week’s prayer requests and events. 4. Discuss the welcome question: What would you do

in a talent show?

Small Group Activity

You’ll Need • Skill Seeking Bingo activity sheet (1 per child) • Markers (1 set per group)

To Do 1. Give each kid a Skill Seeking Bingo sheet. Say: God made everyone great at something. This card is filled with interesting and unique talents. Let’s see which kids in our group has each one! 2. Read off one talent. 3. Write your name or a kid’s name in the box if they

think it’s their talent. 4. Repeat steps 2-3 until every box is filled. Note: Each child’s name should be used at least once. Say: We filled in a lot of talents because we asked everyone! If we asked only one person, we would only fill in a few. God gives everyone different talents so that we must work together. When we work with others, we can do more to glorify God! 5. If time allows, kids demonstrate talents from the

sheet or share additional talents they have.

Choose questions to ask while kids play. 1. If you’re not sure what you’re good at, how can

you find out? Ask friends, family, God, read the Bible, etc.

2. Which talent in Skill Seeking Bingo is your favorite? Answers will vary.

Choose an action step question.

1. How can you serve others with your gifts and talents this week? Answers will vary.

2. Your gifts and talents are meant to serve others. Who can you serve this week with your gifts and talents? Answers will vary.

Pray together.

1. Ask kids to share things they’d like to pray about. 2. Write down their prayer requests. 3. Pray together over the prayer requests. Not sure what to pray? Pray this: God, thank You for the gifts and talents you gave to us. Please show us how to use them to serve others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Check Out

Stay in small groups until kids are checked out.

1. Talk about earning points by returning the Challenge Card, and play a game like Telephone or Simon Says.

2. When a kid from your small group leaves, say something positive and specific to their family.

3. Encourage families to do the Challenge Card together.

Please save questions on back for Small Group Discussion.

Small Group Discussion

Say the point and Bible verse together.

Use what you care about to bring God glory. Psalm 103:1 NLT Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 1. What do you think it means to praise God with

your whole heart? Answers will vary.

SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE

GOD’S PLAN FOR ME WEEK 2 WHAT I CARE ABOUT

Small Group Welcome

Choose a few review questions.

1. In the Bible story, how did Solomon use caring about worship to bring glory to God? He built a temple people could visit to worship God.

2. At Konnect HQ, Imani didn’t know what she really cared about. What advice would you give her? Answers will vary.

3. What do you think would happen if everyone cared about the same thing? Answers will vary.

4. What do you think is the difference between something you like a lot and something God made you care about? Answers will vary.

5. How can you show respect to people who care about different things than you? Answers will vary.

1. Introduce yourself, and welcome new kids by name. 2. Kids share what happened during the past week. 3. Check up on past week’s prayer requests and events. 4. Discuss the welcome question: If you lost a shoe,

where do you think you’d find it?

Small Group Activity

You’ll Need • Plastic cups (1 per child) • What I Care About activity supplement (1 per group) • Blank label (1 label per child) • Markers (1 set per group)

To Do Say: King Solomon built a temple because he cared about worship! What we can build with the things we care about? 1. Give each kid a plastic cup, label, and marker. Say: Write or draw what you care about most on the label. 2. Kids stick the label on the cup and use markers to

write or draw what they care about most on the label. Note: Give kids ideas from the What I Care About Activity Supplement if they need help. If they care about a lot of things, help them narrow it down to one top choice. 3. Kids stack their cups to build a pyramid, a tower, or

any other formation they would like. 4. If time allows, kids build another tower. 5. Kids take their cups home.

Choose questions to ask while kids play. 1. If we all cared about the same thing, we’d only

need one cup. What kind of tower would that turn out to be? Answers will vary.

2. What do you think happens when people use what they care about to bring God glory? Answers will vary.

Choose an action step question.

1. Think about what you care about. Name one thing you can do this week about it. Answers will vary.

2. If you care about lots of things, what can you do to find out which one God made you to do something about? Answers will vary.

Pray together.

1. Ask kids to share things they’d like to pray about. 2. Write down their prayer requests. 3. Pray together over the prayer requests. Not sure what to pray? Pray this: God, please show us how to obey You and make a difference in the things we care about. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Check Out

Stay in small groups until kids are checked out.

1. Talk about earning points by returning the Challenge Card, and build another tower with your group’s cups.

2. When a kid from your small group leaves, say something positive and specific to their family.

3. Encourage families to do the Challenge Card together.

Please save questions on back for Small Group Discussion.

Small Group Discussion

Say the point and Bible verse together.

Use your story to give God glory. Romans 8:28 NIV … in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 1. Which things can God use for good? All things

SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE

GOD’S PLAN FOR ME WEEK 3 WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH

Small Group Welcome

Choose a few review questions.

1. How did Harper’s parents’ divorce help Harper do something good? Harper understood what Alissa was going through, and she knew how to help Alissa.

2. When bad things happen, what can you remember about God? He can use bad things to work good.

3. What are some good things that happened to you? Answers will vary.

4. How did God use them for good? Answers will vary. 5. What are some bad things that happened to you?

Answers will vary. 6. How do you think God might use them for good?

Answers will vary.

1. Introduce yourself, and welcome new kids by name. 2. Kids share what happened during the past week. 3. Check up on past week’s prayer requests and events. 4. Discuss the welcome question: What would you do

if you woke up with a mustache?

Small Group Activity

You’ll Need • Blank puzzle (1 per child) • Paper bag (1 per child) • Markers (1 set per group)

To Do Say: It’s hard to understand why bad things happen, but we can still trust God. Let’s make a puzzle to show how every piece of our life fits together in God’s good plan. Even bad things are important pieces of our puzzles. 1. Give each kid a blank puzzle and a paper bag. 2. Kids draw or write things they’ve been through on the

puzzle. Examples: became a big brother/big sister, got a pet, divorced parents, made friends, moved, etc.

3. Kids put all their puzzle pieces in their paper bags. 4. Kids write their names on their bags. 5. If time allows, kids color and decorate their bags.

Choose questions to ask while kids play. 1. What happens when a puzzle is missing a piece? It

is incomplete; you can’t finish it; it has a hole in it. 2. How is a puzzle a lot like our lives? Everything that

happens fits in somewhere. God will use every piece to work good, not just some of the pieces.

Choose an action step question.

1. Think of someone you know who is going through a hard time. What can you do to encourage and help them? Answers will vary.

2. What can you do this week to keep trusting God in every situation, good and bad? Answers will vary.

Pray together.

1. Ask kids to share things they’d like to pray about. 2. Write down their prayer requests. 3. Pray together over the prayer requests. Not sure what to pray? Pray this: God, please help us to trust Your plan when things are good and when they’re bad. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Check Out

Stay in small groups until kids are checked out.

1. Talk about earning points by returning the Challenge Card, put puzzles together again, or decorate bags.

2. When a kid from your small group leaves, say something positive and specific to their family.

3. Encourage families to do the Challenge Card together.

Please save questions on back for Small Group Discussion.