252® Groups
Group Experiences for K-5th Grades
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ABOUT GOD
God is the one and only true God, yet He exists in three persons: God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God is the Creator, so
everything belongs to Him and is under His control. God is holy, so He is
righteous, majestic, and loving. God is all knowing and purposeful, so He’s
at work to bring about His will. No person, thing, or idea compares to God.
ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES
God reveals Himself to us through the Bible, and it is 100% accurate, reliable,
and authoritative.
ABOUT PEOPLE
People are made in God’s image and for His pleasure. But everybody falls
short of God’s intention, or ideal, for people. In other words, everyone has
sinned. As a result, we are all separated from Him, even though He wants
an intimate relationship with each of us.
ABOUT SALVATION
That’s why Jesus—God’s Son—came and lived on this earth, died, and
rose again. God offers His free gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus
and accept Him as Savior—the only way to be forgiven and reconciled to
God. Anyone who accepts this gift is adopted as a son or daughter into
God’s family and will live with Him forever in heaven.
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All rights reserved. www.WhatIsOrange.org
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
Guide
Bible Story: Guide (what you think about) • Philippians 4:8
Bottom Line: Use the Bible to guide your thoughts.
Memory Verse: “My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone
should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get
angry.” James 1:19, NIrV
Virtue: Self-Control—choosing to do what you should do, not what you want to do.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
GET READY
Prepare ahead of time for 4th–5th grade Small Groups this week:
Plug In: Focus the Energy (Choose one or both of these activities.)
Early Arriver
 Creative offering container
Card Game On! Concentration
 One deck of cards for every four kids
 “Card Game On!” (Activity Page)
Catch On: Make the Connection (Choose as many of these activities as you like.)
* If you don’t have time to do all these activities, be sure to do activity #1. Activity #3 is
particularly good for children who need to move in order to stay engaged (not just for boys).
God Says ... (application activity / review the Bible story)
 One copy of “God Says ... “ (Activity Page); cut apart the cards
 Pens or markers
Brain Bubbles (application activity)
 “Brain Bubbles” (Activity Page); one copy for each kid
 Large piece of poster board
 Markers
Hoopin’ It Up (memory verse activity / great for boys)
 Hula-Hoop™
 Two small balls (Koosh® balls, tennis balls, whiffle balls, etc.)
 A roll of masking tape
Prayer-Mail (prayer activity)
 Index cards or cardstock/scrapbook paper that can be made into cards
 Pens or markers
 Optional: envelopes
©2011 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
Additional Resources:
 Make copies on cardstock of this week’s GodTime and Parent Cue cards.
 Tell parents about our additional family resources: Studio252.tv and the Parent Cue
app. To find out more about these great resources, go
to http://www.Studio252.tv/leaders.
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
FOR LEADERS ONLY
GOD VIEW: the connection between SELF-CONTROL and God’s character,
as shown through God’s big story
Have you ever been so angry that you just wanted to scream until your lungs fell out? Or maybe someone
said the meanest thing possible and you wanted to get even. We all feel angry sometimes. But can you
imagine a world where everyone acted on their anger? Or said what they thought right away? What if the
adults and kids all threw a tantrum each and every time they got upset? The world would be a pretty
scary place to live.
That’s probably one reason the Bible advises us to have self-control. But self-control means a whole lot
more than not acting out or cutting up. Self-control means choosing to do what you should do—and not
what you want to do. And that’s hard for all of us.
The good news is that God doesn’t ask us to do anything on our own. God promises to help us. In fact, 2
Peter 1:3 says God’s given us everything we need to lead a godly life. And self-control is even the last
fruit mentioned in the list found in Galatians 5:22-23. The fruit of the Spirit is just a fancy way of saying
that having self-control is a way to display that we have God in our life. And when we have God in our
lives, He’s present every hour of every day, ready to help us take control of our thoughts, words, and
actions.
So, the next time you need a little self-control to help you hold your temper, to choose your words
carefully, or to eat only one of your favorite treats, pause to pray and ask God for wisdom and help. Then
you can make a wiser choice, instead of reacting in the moment. And remember: everyone benefits when
we show a little self-control.
This month, let’s think about how:
(1) We can display self-control as a response to God.
(2) God empowers us with self-control to respond wisely.
(3) God uses self-control in us to influence our families, friends, and neighbors.
Remember: A virtue is something God does in us to change the world around us.
This week, we’re discovering:
Do you know what can really get us in trouble? It’s not just our temper or our words or our choices like
we’ve talked about these other weeks. No, it’s what comes before all that and can happen so fast that it’s
hard to catch. Our thoughts lead to all our actions.
That’s why we’re finishing this month on self-control by talking through the biblical principle in Philippians
4:8 of watching what you think about. Whatever we focus on most will take over and fill our minds.
Sometimes one or two negative things might even stand out and stick more than all the other positive
things going on.
That’s why it’s important to think even more about what’s true and right, what’s excellent and worthy of
our praise. That’s why you should (Bottom Line) use the Bible to guide your thoughts. What a great
way to review what we’ve learned about the faith skill—personalizing scripture—from Proverbs and
other verses that encourage us to grow in wisdom.
©2011 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
Guide
Bible Story: Guide (what you think about) • Philippians 4:8
Bottom Line: Use the Bible to guide your thoughts.
Memory Verse: “My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone
should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get
angry.” James 1:19, NIrV
Virtue: Self-Control—choosing to do what you should do, not what you want to do.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Plug In: Focus the Energy (Small Groups, 10-15 minutes)
Focus the energy on today’s Bible story in a Small Group setting with an engaging discussion
question and an interactive opening activity.
Before students arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit
your class for the first time. Pray that God would begin or continue to show the kids in your
Small Group that what we think about matters a lot. Ask God to increase their motivation to want
to understand what the Bible says so it can help guide their thoughts, since that leads to action
and creating habits that can be hard to break.
1. Early Arriver Idea
What You Need: creative offering container
What You Do:
Greet the students as they arrive and invite them to place their offerings in the offering
container.
What You Say:
“If I could take a peek into your brain, what would I find that you think about most? What would
your friends or family guess that you think about most? Why would they say that?”
[Personalize] If kids are feeling a little shy, step up and share personal answers to get the
ball rolling.
2. Card Game On! Concentration
What You Need: decks of cards and “Card Game On!” (Activity Page)
What You Do:
Split the kids up into groups of four. Give each group a deck of cards. Instruct each group to find
a table or spot on the floor to spread out all the cards in the middle of the group in a random,
messy layer. Kids will then take turns flipping over two cards at a time, looking for a match. A
match is when two cards are the same color and number, like the 8 of hearts and 8 of
©2011 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
diamonds, which are both red. Once all the cards are matched up, the player with the most
collected pairs is the winner. Walk around to make sure kids understand how to play, are being
fair, and are having fun!
What You Say:
“In this game, you have to really think and pay attention, even review what you know to be true.
This week we are finishing our study on self-control with a look at a verse in Philippians.
[Transition] Today in Large Group, we’re going to learn what God thinks is best for us to
think about and pay attention to every day.”
Lead your group to the Large Group area.
©2011 Orange. All rights reserved. • www.WhatIsOrange.org
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
Catch On: Make the Connection (Small Groups, 25-30 minutes)
Make the connection of how today’s Bible story applies to real life experiences through
interactive activities and discussion questions.
* 1. God Says ... (application activity / review the Bible story)
What You Need: “God Says ...” (Activity Page), pens or markers
What You Do:
Divide kids into partners. Provide each pair with a card. Explain to the kids that they will be
coming up with a real-life example of how what God says can redirect their thoughts. You
should provide the first example. It could be that you think you just can’t do everything you’re
facing. It’s really tough and challenging, and you just can’t do it. But God says in Philippians
4:13, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” So, in real life, … (Kids come up
with an answer, such as “I felt defeated about learning the periodic table in science. It was so
overwhelming, with so much to remember. But this verse reminded me that I could do ALL
things with Christ as my strength. I prayed for His strength every time I studied, and I could
really tell that He was helping me to learn and understand it all! I am so glad I don’t have to do it
in my own strength.”) Have each pair share their real-life examples. Allow kids from the whole
group to contribute if a particular verse really came alive to them.
What You Say:
“You can absolutely [Impress] use the Bible to guide your thoughts. [Apply] Sometimes it
just takes a little work to capture thoughts that don’t please God and replace them with
thoughts that do. I’m so glad we have the Bible, which is full of truth, to help us fight that
battle!”
2. Brain Bubbles (application activity)
What You Need: “Brain Bubbles “ (Activity Page), poster board, and pens or markers
What You Do:
Give each student a pen or marker and a copy of the Activity Page. Ask kids to each find a
partner. Give them time to complete their pages and look up the verse with their partner. For
convenience, the directions are also included below.
1. Write what you think about in the bubbles around your brain. These should be things
that consume you, keep you up at night, make you worry, etc. For example, “I think
about what it would be like to be Taylor Swift.”
2. Now look up Philippians 4:8 and read it with your partner.
3. On the picture of your brain, write what God asks you to think about according to this
verse. Don’t try to use big, fancy words. Just use your own words. (God doesn’t want
me to admire superstars. He wants me to admire Him.)
4. Finally, pick your favorite thought bubble and be ready to share with the group.
After students have completed their Activity Pages, ask a volunteer to illustrate a crazy, cool
brain on the poster board. Have each pair come to the poster board and both write and orally
share their favorite thought bubble.
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252 Groups
January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
What You Say:
[Apply] “In Philippians 4:8 we are challenged by Paul to think about things that are true,
noble, right, pure, lovely, worthy of respect, excellent, or worthy of praise. If we are
honest, that is SO NOT where our thoughts naturally land. [Impress] Use the Bible to guide
your thoughts, and you can lean on God’s truth to help you.”
3. Hoopin’ It Up (memory verse activity / great for boys / a classroom-wide activity)
What You Need: A Hula-Hoop™, two small balls, and masking tape
What You Do:
Put a line of masking tape on the floor. Split the room into two teams. Leader #1 will provide a
question, and Team #1 will have a chance to answer. If correct, a player from that team stands
behind the masking tape line and attempts to throw the ball through the Hula-Hoop™ that
Leader #2 is holding. If Team #1 misses the question, Team #2 gets a chance to steal. If they
answer the question correctly, they get a “free throw.” Alternate sides with questions while
keeping score on throws. Close with the whole group reciting the verse together like a cheer you
might hear at a game.
Questions:
1. What is the reference of our memory verse? (James 1:19)
2. Is James 1:19 found in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (New Testament)
3. Who wrote the book of James? (James)
4. Who is the verse written to? (Believers, brothers and sisters)
5. What is the first thing this verse commands you to do? (Pay attention to what I say)
6. What should we be quick to do? (Listen)
7. What should we be slow to do? (Speak and get angry)
8. Give an example of how you can be “quick to listen.”
9. Give an example of how you can be “slow to speak.”
10. Give an example of how you can be “slow to get angry.”
11. Recite James 1:19.
12. Recite James 1:19 again.
What You Say:
[Apply] “This month we have truly committed James 1:19 to memory. We have [Impress]
used the Bible to guide our thoughts.”
Optional 5th Grade Discussion Questions
If you lead fifth graders, consider asking these discussion questions:
 What do you remember about the things we studied each week this month? Let’s review.
(Option: You can even write these on index cards and invite students to read them as a
review.)
o God can give you the power to control yourself. Proverbs 25:28
o Pause before you lose your temper. Proverbs 16:32
o Select your words carefully. Proverbs 12:18
o Know when to stop. Proverbs 25:16
o Which of these stuck with you the most? Why?
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252 Groups


January 2012, Week 5
Small Group, 4-5
[Apply] What are some good things you can think about to replace the bad things
that sometimes consume your thoughts? What can you use to visually remind you of
these good things since it’s so easy for them to be crowded out by the bad?
If we are to use the Bible to guide our thoughts, we need to be spending time reading it,
right? Do you read your Bible? Do you have a certain version you like best or some kind
of devotional? What helps you the most to be able to read, understand, and apply? How
do we have self-control—choosing what we should do, not what we want to do—when it
comes to setting aside time for God and His Word?
Pray and Dismiss
Prayer Mail
What You Need: index cards, cardstock or scrapbook paper, pens, markers, and envelopes
(optional)
What You Do:
Have a student look up and read Philippians 1:3 aloud. Following Paul’s wisdom, students will
select someone in their life they want to thank. Then they will use the provided materials to
make Prayer-Mail cards. Encourage the kids to thank the recipient for something they have
done, something they have said, or just who they are. There should be enough supplies for kids
to write more than one card, if they desire to do so. After time is given, students should hold
their card and individually pray, thanking God for the recipient of their card. If time permits,
students can share who they wrote to and why they chose this person. Encourage kids to
deliver their Prayer-Mail over the next week. Finally, close the group in prayer. (Option: For kids
who seem reluctant or feel this is too crafty, try challenging them to take a piece of paper and
compose a meaningful Twitter-size text that thanks someone specifically in 140 characters or
less. They could send their thanks a different way!)
What You Say:
“In Philippians, Paul had a thankful heart. [Apply] Thinking of people we are thankful for is a
great way to keep our thoughts positive and focused on the good in our lives that God’s
provided. [Impress] Use the Bible to guide your thoughts.”
Give each child a GodTime card. Pass out Parent Cue cards as adults arrive to pick up.
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