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

2. Hello everybody and welcome to another amazing week of “Hide-n- Seek
Hello everybody and welcome to another amazing week of “Hide-n- Seek!” Today is going to be so much fun! (Appear to be distracted by one of the kids.) Before we get started, though, (point to kid) it looks like you’ve got a little something in your eye. It might be a piece of dust or something. You might want to get that out. You’re going to have trouble finding the hidden objects with dust in your eye. (Point to another kid.) Hey! It looks like you have something in your eye, too. You should do something about that. It’s really distracting for me! (Notice the other kids in the room.) In fact, it looks like you’ve all got something in your eyes. Do you kids ever look in the mirror before you come to church?

3. By this point the kids will be objecting that you have a stick in your own eye. After a short time of denying it, check your clear eye, then tell them there’s nothing there and they don’t know what they’re talking about. After further protests, pick up a handheld mirror and look for yourself.

4. Well, how about that. I DO have something in my eye
Well, how about that! I DO have something in my eye. (Remove the bandana and stick.) I’m curious, how did you feel when I told you to get the dust out of your eye when I had a giant stick in my own eye? (Take answers.) Great answers!

5. It seems silly to point out something small in a person’s eye when you have something giant like a stick (hold up stick) in your own eye, but the truth is that we all do that sometimes. Now, you might be wondering, “When in the world have I ever done something like that?” Great question! I think our Bible story for today might help us figure that out.

6. 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.

7. To get our story started for today, I need for you to find a newspaper
To get our story started for today, I need for you to find a newspaper. (Retrieve the newspaper once it’s found.) News about Jesus was spreading all over the land of Galilee. When people heard Jesus talk about the Kingdom of God and saw Him perform miracles, they couldn’t keep it to themselves. They told people, who told more people, who told more people. And after a short time, Jesus had huge crowds following Him.

8. Now I need you to find a ladder
Now I need you to find a ladder. (Retrieve the A-frame ladder once it’s found and set it up.) When Jesus saw the crowds, (climb part way up the ladder) He went up on a mountainside and delivered what is now called the “Sermon on the Mount.”

9. A “sermon” is a message about living God’s way and a “mount” is just short for “mountain.” Jesus was talking about living God’s way while sitting on a mountain—that’s why it’s called the “Sermon on the Mount.” Let’s take a look at one of the things Jesus taught in his sermon on the mount.

10. I need you to find my Bible
I need you to find my Bible. (The kids may have a Bible of their own, but insist that they find YOUR Bible. Retrieve the Bible once it’s found, then open it to Matthew 7:1-2.) Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 7:1-2. “Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged. You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others.” Do you know what it means to judge others? (Take answers.) Great answers! When you judge others, it means that you point out all of the bad things that other people do and you think badly about them. But Jesus says to be careful when you do that. Let’s find out why.

11. I need you to find a 2x4 board. (Retrieve the board once it’s found
I need you to find a 2x4 board. (Retrieve the board once it’s found.) Jesus went on to say, (read vss. 3-5) “You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend’s eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. (Hold the 2x4 board up to your eye.) How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye’? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend’s eye.”

12. 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: Why do you think so many people followed Jesus? Do you remember what it means to judge people? What does it mean? 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.

13. Tech Que: “Hide n Seek” Title Graphic I want you to take a look at something. (Put a small speck of wood on your fingertip. It could be a small splinter from the 2x4 or from a toothpick. Hold it close to the kids.) Can you see what’s on my fingertip? It’s a tiny speck of wood. It’s about the size of a piece of dust. Jesus says this piece of dust is like a tiny sin—a little bad thing that someone might do. Can you think of a little bad thing kids do? (Take answers.)

14. Now take a look at this. (Hold up the 2x4 from earlier
Now take a look at this. (Hold up the 2x4 from earlier.) Jesus says this piece of wood is like a really big sin—a giant bad thing that someone might do. Can you think of a giant bad thing kids do? (Take answers.)

15. Here’s what Jesus was warning us against
Here’s what Jesus was warning us against. He said that sometimes we like to point out when our friends or siblings do something that’s a little bit bad (hold up the speck), but we don’t stop to think about the really bad things that we’ve done (hold up the board). He said that’s kind of like telling someone they have a piece of dust in their eye when we have a giant piece of wood in our own eye. That’s silly!

16. It’s not always wrong to tell someone when they’re doing something bad
It’s not always wrong to tell someone when they’re doing something bad. If we do it with love in our heart, we can help them make a better choice. But Jesus wants us to do something first. Our Bible verse for today tells us what that is. Let’s look at it together. (Encourage kids to open their Bibles to Matthew 7:5. 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.)

17. Tech Que: “First take the piece of wood out of your own eye
Tech Que: “First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend’s eye.” Matthew 7:5

18. Before you tell someone that they’re doing something bad, Jesus says to think about the bad things you’re doing. If you stop doing that bad thing and ask for forgiveness, then you’ll be able to do a better job helping your friend make good choices too. In fact, I think we should do that right now. Let’s sit very quietly for a moment. While it’s quiet, think about one of your own sins—something bad that you’ve done. Silently tell God about it and ask Him to forgive you.

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