God Talk, Good Talk

LESSON ONE

To help kids realize the importance of being encouraging and positive in their speech.

OBJECTIVES

Kids will:

observe how putdowns deflate a "balloon person";
listen to a Bible character tell how putdowns harmed his family;
practice making encouraging comments; and
prepare messages of encouragement for others.

BIBLE BASIS

Genesis 21:1-14

God shows us in this very early story of a family's struggle and eventual breakdown how damaging mockery and putdowns can be. God had promised to make Abraham the father of many nations. But for scores of years Abraham wasn't able to become the father of even one child. Finally Sarah, Abraham's wife, urged Abraham to have a child with her servant Hagar. When Hagar became pregnant, she mocked Sarah, causing terrible heartache and discord in the household. Hagar eventually gave birth to Ishmael. But God told Abraham that Ishmael was not the son he had promised. Sarah would conceive in her old age and bear him a son.

YOU'LL NEED

round balloons
long balloons
masking tape
string
markers
straight pins
an adult to play the role of Abraham
(optional) bathrobe for Abraham's costume
Bible
overalls and shirt on a hanger
newspaper
photocopies of the 'Talking Card" handout.
scissors
pencils

When Sarah gave birth to Isaac, Ishmael must have felt cast off and displaced, even though scripture says Abraham loved him. Ishmael's mockery of Isaac at a party given in Isaac's honor was the proverbial last straw. Sarah demanded and got immediate dismissal of Hagar and Ishmael from the family.

In this passage, Paul warns Christians against evil speaking, but then he goes on to state the same principle in a positive way: Say what encourages people and builds them up.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR KIDS

"Where did you come up with that outfit? “That comment has stuck with me since sixth grade. I can remember exactly what I was wearing, who said it, who witnessed it, where we were standing in the school and what the weather was like!

To paraphrase a childish expression: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but bones heal in a few weeks. Putdowns will almost always hurt me and probably stick with me for years to come.

Putdowns are easy to understand. If my words cut someone down, then I'm suddenly bigger in comparison. Unfortunately, putdowns know no age limit. For kids at the lower end of your age‑group a putdown may be something like, "Can't you even tie your shoes yet?" Older kids may come out with charming phrases like, "Don't be such a sleaze-ball."

The good news is putdowns and negative speeches are habits and habits can be changed. A positive spirit is as contagious as a negative one. This lesson gives you a chance to show kids it feels good to make others feel good‑and it pleases God, as well.

ATTENTION GRABBER

Hey, Mr. Balloon Man!

As kids arrive have them form groups of about five. Give each group one round balloon, four long balloons, tape, string and a marker. Explain that each group is to build a balloon person by blowing up the balloons and taping or tying them together. Groups can use the round balloon as the head and the four long balloons as arms and legs. Have kids use markers to give their balloon people faces.

Have groups bring their finished balloon people to the front. Say to one of the balloon people: I think you're full of hot air.

Follow the putdown with sticking a straight pin into one of the balloons. Give kids each a straight pin and invite kids to insult other groups' balloon people and to pop one balloon after each putdown.

How did it feel to see your balloon person being destroyed? (It felt terrible; I wanted to protect him.)

How did it feel to insult other balloon people and pop the balloons? Explain. (It was fun at first, but when I saw my balloon person getting hurt I wanted to stop.)

How is that like what happens when people put YOU down? It feels like they stuck me with a pin; it feels like I shrink and become an ugly little blob.)

Do you think putdowns really harm people? Why or why not? (Yes, people may say they don't care, but deep inside they really do get hurt; no, words can't hurt me.)

Say: We know putdowns cause hurt and angry feelings. Today we're going to see how putdowns tore apart a Bible-time family. As a matter of fact, the father of that family is going to pay us a visit and tell us the sad story right now!

BIBLE STUDY

A Sad Day (Genesis 21:1-14)

Tell kids a very famous person from the Old Testament is going to visit your class. If you recruited an adult to play the part of Abraham, cue him to enter now.

Or you may choose to have one of your older boys play Abraham. Make sure you choose a good reader. Let the other kids use the bathrobe to dress him as a Bible-time character, and then welcome him to class with a round of applause. Have him read or recite the story A Visit From Abraham.

Say: Sometimes it feels good just for a minute when we put someone down. But the good feeling never lasts. And we usually end up paying for it in the end, just as Ishmael did. Let's see what the Bible has to say about putdowns

LIFE APPLICATION

Stuffed With Affirmations

Have a volunteer read Ephesians 4:29 aloud. Bring out your overalls and shirt and a stack of newspapers. Hang the hanger with the clothes on a nail or over a door.

Say: We saw how putdowns destroyed our balloon people. Now we're going to do just the opposite. We're going to build this person up by giving encouragement and saying things that make a person feel good.

Wad up a piece of newspaper, stuff it into the shirt and say: I'm glad you came to class today.

Let kids take turns stuffing the figure with newspapers and saying one encouraging comment with each newspaper wad they stuff. Guide the process so the arms, legs and body each get some stuffing.

When the figure is well-stuffed, say: Look at how the encouraging things we said have built up this person. Let's see if this works in real life.

Have kids take turns standing in front of the class. Give the rest of the children 20 seconds to make positive comments about the person who's standing. After everyone (including you!) has received encouragement and affirmation, ask:

COMMITMENT

Encouraging Words

Say: We don't want all these encouraging words to stay here in our class. We want to encourage each other after class and during the week, too. We're going to make cards to give to people this week.

Give kids each a photocopy of the "Talking Card" handout, a pair of scissors and a pencil. Demonstrate how to fold and cut the card so the lips move.

Have kids form pairs, younger kids with older kids, to work on their cards. Have partners discuss who to send the card to and what message of encouragement to write in the speech balloon. Let older kids do the writing for younger ones whose writing skills aren't yet developed.

Talking Card

CLOSING

Boisterous Buildups

Have kids stand in a circle holding their completed cards. Explain that on the count of three, kids will make their cards talk all at once, saying the encouraging message that's written on them.

Say: That sounds terrific. Let's remember to use words that build people up, not put them down.

Bring the stuffed-overall person into the center of the circle. Close with a prayer similar to this one: Dear Lord, thank you for the encouraging words we've all heard from each other today. Help us to keep building each other up. In Jesus' name, amen.

Remind children to show their talking cards to their parents and then to send the cards to the people they thought of when they wrote their encouraging messages.