B.I.G. Theme: Jesus’ Friends Go and Tell

B.I.G. Idea: We believe that we can tell others about Jesus.

B.I.G. Bible Verse: Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! (Acts 16:31, CEV)

August 1: Philip and the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-39)

August 8: Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48)

August 15: Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:1-4, 24-28)

August 22: Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:16-40)

August 29: For God So Loved the World (John 3:16)

CraftCenter

Make these color bags for yourself and your friends. You will need: quart-size resealable plastic bags; powdered blue, yellow and red tempera paints; hair gel; duct tape; measuring cups; and measuring spoons.

Create a color bag by placing ½ cup of hair gel into the bag. Add 1 tbsp. of each color of powdered tempera paint. Squeeze all air out of the bag. Seal the bag and place a piece of duct tape over the seal. Tape the top and/or bottom edge of the bag to the table.

Use the tips of your fingers to draw on the outside of the bag. Can you mix the colors? What colors appear? Erase what you’ve done and start again. Can you create shapes that relate to this month’s Live B.I.G. Bible stories? You might try a chariot (Philip and the Ethiopian), a tent (Priscilla and Aquila), or a jail cell (Paul and Silas).

FoodCenter

Make injera flat bread. If you make this, with an adult’s supervision, you will need: an electric skillet, wheat flour, unbleached white flour, baking soda, club soda, and vegetable oil.

Have the adult oil the skillet and preheat it to a medium-high temperature. Measure out the following ingredients into a bowl: 2 cups wheat flour, 1 cup white flour, and ½ tsp. baking soda. Measure and pour 2 cups club soda into the mixture. Stir until the batter is thin.

Give the batter to the adult to cook. To cook the injera, pour ¼ cup of batter into the skillet to form a thin, crepe-like pancake. Cook for 1–2 minutes. The surface will be bubbly. Do not flip the injera. Transfer to a plate.

Injera is an Ethiopian snack. As you enjoy it, review the story of Philip telling the good news of Jesus to the Ethiopian traveler (Acts 8:26-39).

ChallengeCenter

Try this activity with three or four friends. Don’t give up, no matter how hopeless it seems.

Have everyone stand close together in a circle. Have the players extend their right arms and take the hand of someone else, but not the person next to them. Have everyone extend his or her left arm and take the hand of someone else, but not the person next to him or her or the person whose right hand they are already holding.

Work together to untie the resulting knot, without letting go of hands. Pivoting hands is permitted.

Make a Difference

You can help out at your church by making altar cloths (with an adult’s help). You will need: fabric dye, wide rubber bands, rubber gloves, large container(s) for dying, lengths of muslin, scissors, and plastic bags.

Locate a space outside for the dying. Let an adult prepare the dye, using rubber gloves. Wrap rubber bands around the fabric. Carefully put the fabric in a container of dye. Let an adult, with his or her hands in rubber gloves, gently submerge the fabric. Leave the fabric in the dye for up to 15 minutes. Rinse the dye according to the directions on the package (generally using cold water,) wringing out the garment until the water runs clear.

Gently remove the rubber bands by untwisting them or very carefully cutting them. Hang the fabric to dry.

GameCenter

For this game, you will need: a beach towel, index cards, and a marker. Clear an open space. You will need an uncarpeted floor.

Write the words of the following Bible verse on the index cards, one word per card: “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!” Include the word Acts on one card and the reference 16:31 on another. Place all the cards on a chair at the end of the room.

Here’s where the game gets fun. Gather everyone at the opposite end of the room. Have one person sit on the towel and hold onto the sides. Two others will be the horses. They will each take one of the front corners of the towel.

The horses’ challenge is to pull their chariot, with rider, down to the opposite end of the room, stop at the chair so that the rider can pick up a card, and bring the rider safely home.

Caution: These horses do not run. Their goal is to hold onto the rider and safely collect all the cards.

When all the cards have been collected, have everyone put them in the correct order.

July’s B.I.G. Theme: Jesus Teaches Us With Stories
July’s B.I.G. Idea: We believe Jesus helps us know about God and understand how God wants us to live.
July’s Bible Verse: Let anyone with ears to hear listen! (Luke 8:8)

Cooking Center
Here is an easy recipe that you can make for your family: eggs in bread bowls.

4 eggs

1/4 cup skim milk

1/3 cup onion, chopped

1/3 cup red pepper, chopped

1/3 cup green pepper, chopped

2 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese

2 whole-wheat pita bread shells, halved

salsa, optional

Whisk together eggs, milk, onion, red pepper, green pepper, and mustard. Heat a 10-inch skillet to medium high heat and pour the egg mixture into the pan. Scramble the eggs until firm but still moist. Just before the eggs are set, add cheese and warm until melted. Warm pita pockets in the microwave for 20 seconds. Open one pita half and spoon ¼ of the egg mix into the pita pocket. Serve hot. Serves 4.

"Make a Difference" Center
If you enjoy working with plants — or if you just think you might enjoy working with plants — start with the flowerbeds in your own front yard. If you like what you’re doing, use your skills to help other people. You can offer to help a neighbor pull weeds or plant flowers. Or ask your church leaders if you can start a vegetable garden somewhere on the church grounds. Give away whatever is grown to families who are in need, or donate it to a food kitchen.

Read the story Jesus told about the sower planting seeds in Luke 8:4-15.

GameCenter
How much do you and your friends know about seeds? Here's how to find out. You will need: bowls filled with different types of seeds (for example, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, mustard seeds, popcorn kernels, bean seeds, tomato seeds, and so forth), paper, and pens.

Set each bowl on a piece of paper that has a number written on it. Give each friend a piece of paper and a pen. Invite your friends to study the textures, sizes, colors, and so forth. Encourage your friends to guess what fruit or vegetable the seed is from. Who got the most correct answers?

Tell your friends the Bible story about the tiny mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32).

Growing Center
Every plant has parts we can see above the ground and parts that we can’t see, the parts below the ground. With a root viewer, you can watch a plant growing above the ground and below the ground. You will need: a plastic container (example—cat litter container) or small plastic foam cooler, a utility knife (with adult supervision), a piece of Plexiglas (size will depend upon the size of the window you cut), duct tape, potting soil, sunflower or vegetable seeds, water, and newspapers. (Plexiglas is available at craft or home improvement stores.)

Let an adult help you cut a “window” in each side of the cooler or plastic container. Place a piece of Plexiglas over each hole and tape the pieces in place with duct tape. Fill the container with potting soil.

Plant seeds in the viewer, keeping them close to the windows. Water the seeds. Set the viewer where it will receive plenty of light. Over the next few weeks, watch the viewer. You will be able to see the root system of the plant as it develops.

Read the story Jesus told about the sower planting seeds in Luke 8:4-15.

Optional: Buy a ready-made root viewer instead of making one. Viewers are available at many toy stores and parent/teacher stores.

ReminderCenter
After reading the Bible story about the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), make something to remind yourself to have faith in God. Put several mustard seeds into a small, resealable plastic bag and seal the bag. Decorate the plastic bag with permanent markers, and write your favorite Bible verse on the bag. You can keep the mustard seeds with your Bible, if you like.

                                                            

B.I.G. Theme: Wanted: Heroes for God
B.I.G. Idea: We believe that God will help us have the courage to do hard things.
B.I.G. Bible Verse: Be strong, and let your heart take courage. (Psalm 31:24)

June 6: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
June 13: Joshua and the Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-16, 20, 27)
June 20: The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)
June 27: Esther (Book of Esther)

Cheese Spread

You will need: 8 oz. cream cheese; 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled; 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce; 2 tbsp. lemon juice; green onions; 1 cup chopped pecans; and pita bread.

Put the cream cheese, the feta cheese, and the cheddar cheese in a mixing bowl ahead of time. Soften at room temperature. Add 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce and 2 tbsp. lemon juice. Blend well with an electric mixer, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl. Cut the green tops of the onions into pieces 1/4 inch long. Cut enough to measure 1/4 cup. Add to the cheese mixture. Add 1 cup chopped pecans to the cheese mixture, mixing well. Spread the cheese mixture on the pita bread.

Giveaway Bears

You and your friends can set up a teddy ministry at your church. Start by putting a notice in the church bulletin asking for people to bring in teddy bears. Collect the bears every Sunday morning. Once the bears are collected, donate them to the local child services agency to give to children who are removed from their homes.

Balloon Race

You will need: small balloons, shaving cream, and plastic knives.

Each player is given a balloon coated with shaving cream. All players must scrape the shaving cream from the balloon without popping it. The player who does this first wins. Watch out when a balloon pops.

Rocky Reminder

Rocks are sturdy and strong. Decorate a rock to remind yourself that God is a source of strength and courage. You will need: rocks, paint markers or paint and paintbrushes, and paint shirts.

Choose your rock. Paint whatever design you choose on it. If you like, paint the first part of this month’s Bible verse on your rock: “Be strong” (Psalm 31:24). Let the paint dry. Keep the rock in your bedroom, your backpack, or somewhere special.

Cooking Safety Tips

If you’re into cooking, or you think you want to get into cooking, here are some safety tips.

• Always get your parents’ permission first. Make sure they understand exactly what you’re making and what is involved.

• Wear short sleeves if you’re working with the stove or oven. Short sleeves are harder to catch fire than long sleeves. Also, long sleeves are more likely to get caught on pot handles. If you’re wearing long sleeves, roll them up first.

• Keep potholders, dishtowels, and plastic utensils away from the stove.

• Never leave anything unattended on the stove.

Since you’ll be hearing about the friends in the fiery furnace this month (Daniel 3), you may be talking about fire safety in class.