“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
Game – “Happy Lights”
You
will need a flashlight for each child. Before class, cover the ends of each
flashlight with a piece of construction paper out of which you’ve cut a happy
face. Include a smile and two eyes. Tape the
papers to the flashlights.
A way to introduce and play the
game
Raise your hands if
you ever get scared of the dark. (Wait for response.) I get scared of the dark
too. I like being in the light much better! I think God likes the light better
too. Here’s a Bible verse that tells how God’s Word, the Bible, is like a light
and a lamp. Listen to what it says: Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.” Now let’s say it together. I’ll say some words first and then you
repeat after me. (Say a couple of words at a time and let the children repeat
after you.) Can anybody point to some lights in our room? (Wait for response.)
Good job! Lights are important. They help us see where to go and keep us from
bumping into things so that we don’t get hurt. God’s Word, the Bible, is like a
light. It also shows us where to go and keeps us safe if we do what God tells
us to do. God’s Word should make us very happy just like this happy light I am
holding. (Show the children your happy face flashlight.) When we love God and
obey Him we will be happy. Here is a flashlight for each of you to hold.
(Explain how to turn it on and off.) Now, I am going to turn the lights off in
our room. But before I do, everyone turn your flashlights on. (Turn the lights
off in your room.) Wow! Would you look at how bright our room is? It’s
beautiful. Now, shine your lights up on the wall. Do you see the happy faces?
They’re all over the wall! Now, we’re going to play a little game with our
flashlight. I am going to say an object in the room. For example, I might say
“the clock.” I want everyone to shine their lights on the clock. We will then
say our Bible verse together.
At this point, choose an object in your room the children can
point to it with their flashlight. Then have the children repeat the verse
after you. Do this several times picking a new object each time. At the end,
you might sing the song “This Little Light of Mine” and have the children dance
around the room.
Game – Follow the footprints!
Preparation:
Cut out foot/shoe prints – one
for each word of the verse plus the reference. Write one word per foot/shoe print.
Tape the foot/shoe prints in order in a path on the carpet so that the kids can
step from one word to the next as they recite the verse.
To
play:
Line the kids up. Give the first child in line a lantern to hold and use
as they step/hop on each word of the verse and recite it. After they have
followed the path and recited the verse, have them race back to the line and
give the next person the lantern so that they can begin the verse path.
Game – Follow the Leader in the Dark
In an unused room that can be easily darkened, place masking tape on
the floor to create a path for the children to follow. Depending on the number
and ages of students, you can make the “path” more challenging by adding
obstacles to go around/over – such as pillows to jump over.
Instruct the
children that they will be going on a mission. Explain that when they enter the
room there will be a path they must follow. They will be given a special “tool”
that will allow them to see where to go. Pick one child to be the line leader
and give them the flashlight. With one behind each other holding onto each
other’s shoulders, instruct the line leader to use the flashlight to see where
the path is going. Explain he or she must lead the other children along the
complete path. Continue this until all children have become the line leader.
Relate the activity to the memory verse. Emphasize how each person needed the
“light” to see where they were going. Just like it God’s Word is as our light
in order to help guide us in our every day lives.
Make a Poster
Have the children glue together the different parts to make this poster for their wall at home
