© 2009 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the classroom and student notebooks. Any other use requires written permission. Missions Object Lesson LATIN AMERICA CHILDCARE Follow Me Key Scripture 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. Materials Needed Preparation Balloons, preferably filled with helium, with strings attached Blow up the balloons or fill with helium. Tie them all together in a bundle. A box or sack filled with coins Party favors A one-dollar bill The following cue lines, each written on a separate piece of paper or card stock: #1. Follow me, and I’ll give you happiness! All it takes is one dollar! #2. Follow me, and I’ll give you riches! All it takes is one dollar to get started! #3. Follow me, and I’ll give you fun, fun, fun! All it takes is one dollar! #4. Follow me, and I’ll give you friends! Just give me one dollar! #5. Don’t follow me. Follow Jesus. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. COPYRIGHT © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Lesson 4: LATIN AMERICA CHILDCARE 119 (Call five volunteers to the front. Give each volunteer one of the cue lines. Give the balloons to the one marked #1. Give the money to the one marked #2. Give the party favors to the one marked #3. For #4, have a few more kids come up to join that person. The one marked #5 gets nothing. Tell the volunteers to read the lines on their cards when you prompt them.) There are lots of people in this world who want you to follow them. They want you to do what they do. They make all kinds of promises in order to get you to follow them. (Have volunteer #1 read the line.) Wow, that sounds great. I’d like to be happy, wouldn’t you? (Move to stand behind volunteer #1.) Maybe I should follow this person and do whatever he/ she says. Then I could be happy! (Hold up the dollar bill.) Do you think I should give this person my dollar? (Allow responses.) I’m not sure what to do. Let me see what this person is offering. (Have volunteer #2 read the line.) Oh, I like the sound of that. Riches! Money! I want that. (Move to stand behind volunteer #2.) I think I’ll follow this person. Then I could get rich, rich, rich! (Hold up the dollar bill.) Should I give this person my dollar? (Allow responses.) Looks like I’ve got some choices here. Let’s move on. (Have volunteer #3 read the line.) Yes, yes, yes! I want to have fun, fun, fun! No more work. No more school. Nothing but fun times! (Move to stand behind volunteer #3.) What do you think? Should I follow this person? (Allow responses. Hold up the dollar bill.) Should I give this person my dollar? (Allow responses.) So many choices to make. I wonder what the next person has to offer me. (Have volunteer #4 read the line.) Wow, friends! I like friends. Do you like to have friends? (Allow responses. Move to stand behind volunteer #4.) All I need to do is follow this person and give him/her my dollar, and I’ll have all the friends I want. That sounds like a good idea. What do you think? (Allow responses.) (Have volunteer #5 read the line.) That’s it? That’s all you have to say? Don’t you have any neat things to offer me? These other people told me to follow them, and they made all kinds of promises. But you’re not telling me to follow you. You’re telling me to follow someone else. What do you kids think I should do? (Allow responses.) Do you think I should follow person #5? Why? (Allow responses.) You know, maybe you’re right. I’m a little suspicious about people who tell me to follow them if I just give them some money. Maybe they’re trying to get riches for themselves. Maybe they’re after power. The Apostle Paul said, “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Paul wasn’t after riches or power for himself. He just wanted people to follow the right path, so he pointed them in the right direction. Be careful who you choose to follow. Don’t be swayed by empty promises. Follow Jesus if you want to be on the right path in life. Only Jesus offers life, and He keeps His promises! Written by Lisa Lyons 120 2010 BGMC Missions Manual, Vol. 12 © 2009 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the classroom and student notebooks. Any other use requires written permission. Presentation