1. Tech Que: “Hide n Seek” Title Graphic

2. Hello everybody and welcome to our very last week of “Hide-n-Seek
Hello everybody and welcome to our very last week of “Hide-n-Seek!” I hope you don’t mind if I eat in front of you while we get started. I missed breakfast this morning and I’m feeling kind of hungry.

3. Take out a very unhealthy food item such as a cupcake and begin to eat it. For an even more powerful and fun effect, pour a bowl of cereal, then add honey, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, candy, etc. Have fun with it!

4. Did you know that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day? It’s true! You should eat a healthy breakfast every morning. (Continue eating the unhealthy breakfast throughout this paragraph.) When you eat a healthy breakfast it gives you the energy you need to get things done and it helps you think while you’re at school or at work. But it has to be healthy foods! You know—things like eggs, grains, fruits and vegetables. Try to avoid sugar in the morning, though. Sugar is really terrible for you! (If they haven’t already, the kids should begin to protest that your breakfast isn’t healthy.)

5. Right now some of you might be thinking, “He should practice what he’s preaching!” You probably noticed that I’m doing the exact opposite of what I’m telling you to do. Do you know what that’s called? It’s called being a hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who says one thing, but then does something very different— like saying that people should eat a healthy breakfast, but then eating [insert your breakfast food]. (Set your breakfast aside.)

6. In today’s Bible story, Jesus has some tough words for a group of people called the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the religious leaders of that time and they were the biggest hypocrites in the world. Let’s get started with the story and find out what Jesus had to say to these hypocrites.

7. Tech Que: “The Big Bible Story” Graphic Ahead of time, hide the story pictures/props around the room. For the sake of time and group management, try to hide them in places that are at least partially visible from the seating area so that kids don’t have to get up and search around the room. Hide them in somewhat challenging, but not impossible, locations.

8. To get our story started for today, I need you to find a small box with a ribbon/bandana attached to it. (Retrieve the box once it’s found.) The Pharisees would attach little boxes called “phylacteries” to their foreheads. Tech Que: Show “phylactery” Image

9. The box looked a little something like this and it had Bible verses inside. (Use the ribbon or bandana to tie the box to your forehead.) By putting the Bible verses close to their mind, it was their way of saying, “I think about God’s Word all day long.” But Jesus wasn’t so impressed. He knew they weren’t thinking about God’s Word.

10. They were thinking about themselves
They were thinking about themselves. He said, “They make their boxes extra big and they make the tassels on their coats extra long so that everyone will look at them and think they’re special. They love to sit in the seats reserved for important people at special dinners. They should be servants to the people, but instead they act like they’re better than everyone else.”

11. Now I need for you to find a container of cinnamon
Now I need for you to find a container of cinnamon. (Retrieve the cinnamon once it’s found.) When people would go to the temple, they would often bring sacrifices or gifts like spices to give to God. That was a good thing, but not when the Pharisees did it. Jesus said, “You Pharisees are a bunch of pretenders! You give God one tenth of your spices so that you look good, but then you treat people terribly. You’re not fair, or faithful, and you show no mercy to people.”

12. Now I need you to find a drinking cup
Now I need you to find a drinking cup. (Retrieve the drinking cup once it’s found. The cup should be clean on the outside, but obviously dirty and gross on the inside.) Next Jesus said, “You Pharisees are a bunch of pretenders! You’re like a cup that is clean on the outside (show outside of cup), but on the inside it’s really dirty.” (Show the dirty inside of the cup.) He said, “On the inside, your heart is ugly and dirty. You’re full of greed. You only want what’s good for you. You don’t care about other people at all!”

13. Now I need you to find a paint brush
Now I need you to find a paint brush. (Retrieve the paint brush once it’s found.) Then Jesus said, “You Pharisees are a bunch of pretenders! You are like tombs or coffins for dead people that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside they are full of bones and death and all sorts of dirty things. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong.”

14. Tech Que: “Big Bible Story Questions” Graphic At the end of the Bible story have the kids turn briefly to their small groups and discuss the following questions: For Younger Kids: Would you want to be like the Pharisees? Why or why not? What do you think Jesus cares about more, looking good on the outside or being good on the inside? Why? For Older Kids: Why do you think Jesus compared the Pharisees to a tomb that is painted white on the outside? Why do you think Jesus cares more about what people look like on the inside? After a few minutes, draw their attention back to the teaching area. You may want to ask the kids for some of their answers to hear what they were thinking.

15. In our Bible story for today, the Pharisees were so concerned with looking clean and perfect on the outside, while on the inside, they were dirty and rotten. But Jesus said that the inside is what matters the most! Let me show you what I’m talking about. I need a volunteer who would like a drink of water.

16. Invite a kid to join you in the teaching area. Hold up two cups
Invite a kid to join you in the teaching area. Hold up two cups. Smear mud on the inside of one cup, then smear mud on the outside of the other cup (avoid getting it near the lip of the cup where the mouth goes). Next, pour water into both cups, then allow the kid to choose which cup they would like to drink from. After taking a drink, ask the child why they chose that cup. Afterwards, thank and dismiss them to their seat.

17. Raise your hand if you would have chosen the same cup as our friend did? (Kids raise their hand.) Me too! When you’re choosing a drinking cup, it doesn’t matter so much what it looks like on the outside, what matters most is that it’s clean on the inside.

18. Jesus said that it’s the same for people
Jesus said that it’s the same for people. Sometimes we’re more concerned about looking good on the outside than we are about having a clean heart on the inside. Do you ever say nice things to people when they’re around, but then say rude things behind their back? Do you ever obey what your parents say when they’re looking, but then disobey them when they’re not around?

19. Are you ever kind to your classmates when the teacher is in the room, but when she leaves you pick on the kid sitting next to you? When we do things like that, we’re being like the Pharisees—we’re being pretenders who act nice when people are looking, but then act mean when they’re not. When we do things like that, we need to ask God to make us clean on the inside. That’s what our Bible verse for today talks about. Let’s take a look.

20. (Encourage kids to open their Bibles to Psalm 51:10
(Encourage kids to open their Bibles to Psalm 51:10. Be prepared to give younger kids more time and assistance in finding the verse. When ready, choose a kid to read it aloud or read it aloud yourself while the kids follow along.)

21. Tech Que: “God , create a pure heart in me
Tech Que: “God , create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.” Psalm 51:10 Instead of acting like we’re nice, God wants us to have a pure heart—a heart that loves Him. A heart that loves to do good. Not just when people are watching, but when no one can see us except God. Let’s say a prayer right now and ask God to help us be pure in heart, not just pretenders.

22. Tech Que: “Hide n Seek” Title Graphic