SUMMER VACATION WK 1 "Road Trip"

LESSON SNAPSHOT
BOTTOM LINE:
Stop your whining, trust God, and enjoy the ride!
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn to stop grumbling and enjoy life.
KEY PASSAGE:
Exodus 16:1-16. The Israelites grumble against Moses.
MEMORY VERSE:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human
masters. Colossians 3:23
SUMMARY:
The most common phrase uttered on a road trip (after I need the potty!) is Are we
there yet? How many good times are spoiled by grumbling and complaining? Instead
of whining all the time, we need to learn to trust God and enjoy the ride.
SIMPLE PRAYER:
Dear God,
Teach us to be grateful at all times and not to grumble. Help us to enjoy the blessings
you give us every day.
In Jesus name,
Amen
SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP
MEMORY VERSE
masters. Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord,
not for human masters. Colossians 3:23 (NIrV)
LARGE GROUP:
Put the verse on the big screen and read it aloud with the kids.
SMALL GROUP:
Ask the kids what they think the writer was trying to say when he wrote these words.
Then ask them how this verse is connected to todays story.
SKIT
ARE WE THERE YET?
ITEMS NEEDED:
6 chairs
Steering wheel (optional)
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 3M/3F
CHARACTERS:
Moses
Sarah, George, Sharon, Brian, and Julia- Ungrateful brats
Six chairs are arranged on stage facing the audience in three rows of two like a minivan. Moses is in the drivers seat. Sharons in the front passenger seat. Julia and Brian
are in the middle, and Sarah and George are in the back.
SARAH: Are we there yet?
MOSES: No.
MOSES: No.
MOSES: No.
BRIAN: I need to go potty.
MOSES: We just stopped for a potty.
SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP
SKIT
BRIAN: Well I need to stop again!
GEORGE: Im hungry!
JULIA: Can you turn the radio on?
MOSES: No.
JULIA: Why not?
MOSES: Because were in the middle of the wilderness! Theres no radio out
here.
MOSES: No!
GEORGE: I need a drink!
SHARON: Do you even know where we are?
MOSES: Sort of.
SHARON: What do you mean, sort of?
MOSES: Were going to the Promised Land.
SHARON: How far is it?
MOSES: I dont know.
SHARON: How long til we get there?
MOSES: I dont know!
BRIAN: I need to go potty!
MOSES: Well stop for a potty in a little while.
JULIA: Can you put in some Van Halen? I love Van Halen.
MOSES: I dont have any Van Halen.
SKIT
JULIA: What about Bon Jovi?
MOSES: I dont have Bon Jovi.
JULIA: Well what music do you have?
MOSES: I dont have any music!
JULIA: (groans) This is so boring!
SHARON: So you have no idea where this land is?
MOSES: No.
SHARON: Then how will we get there?
MOSES: God will show us.
SHARON: You know who else could show us? On-Star! You press that button, and a
nice On-Star rep will tell us where we ARE!!
SARAH: Are we there YET??
MOSES: No!!
BRIAN: I need to go potty!
MOSES: I dont need On-Star, okay?
SHARON: Do you have a map?
MOSES: Do you see that pillar of cloud out there? Gods in that cloud, and thats how I
know where to go.
GEORGE: Does the pillar of cloud know where we can find a McDonalds?
MOSES: There are no McDonalds out here!
GEORGE: But Im starving!
MOSES: God will provide our food!
GEORGE: He better have fries with it!
SKIT
MOSES: NO!!
BRIAN: I need to go potty - NOW!!
SHARON: So what happens when it gets dark? Hmm? You cant see a pillar of cloud at
night.
MOSES: Then God will give us a pillar of fire.
SHARON: Oh that sounds safe. Tailgating a pillar of fire as we blaze down the Interstate?
JULIA: AC/DC wrote a song about that. Do you have any AC/DC?
MOSES: NO!!
JULIA: I want some music!!
GEORGE: If I dont get anything to eat, Im going to die!!
SARAH: Are we there YET???
MOSES: NO!!!!
BRIAN: I NEED TO GO POTTY!!!
Moses slams on the brakes. Sound effect of squealing brakes. Everyone dips forward
and then back.
BRIAN: Never mind, just went.
MOSES: All right, Ive had about enough of this. I took you people out of slavery and
bondage! Im taking you to the land God promised our ancestor Abraham, a land of milk
and honey! And what have I heard ever since we left? I wanna eat! I wanna go potty! I
wanna hear the radio! Are we there yet?
SHARON: On-Star.
MOSES: God has promised to give us a home, food, security, and yes, there will be toilets and radio! But if you all dont stop whining and crying and complaining, so help me I
will turn this van around and take you all straight back to Egypt!
SKIT
ALL EXCEPT MOSES: GOOD!!!!
End.
OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON

ITEMS NEEDED:
GPS
Show the kids the GPS. Just for fun, let them pick a few places and have the GPS give
directions. How far is Disney World?
When Moses and the Israelites traveled the wilderness, they had no maps to guide
them. Only Gods presence in a pillar of cloud and fire. People complained.
Years later, people traveled the ocean by boat to America. The trip was long, and they
went for days with no land in sight. People complained.
When the people traveled west in the wagon trains, they had nothing to guide them - no
maps, no road signs, nothing. People complained.
Today, we have this, a global positioning device. This little device uses satellite technology to tell you where you are, how to get to your destination, and where the nearest
place is to sleep, grab a burger, or use a potty. GPS has changed the way we travel
and the way we take vacations. Its taken the mystery out of where we are and when
we will get there. And yet even with all this information at our fingertips - people still
complain.
Its sad how much we complain, especially when you consider all that we have been
given. God loves us so much, and he is always faithful to meet our needs. Instead of
focusing on all the things we wish we had, we should turn our eyes to the many blessings hes given us.
The next time you start to complain, stop yourself. Think about where you are. Think
about what God has given you. Its a great cure for complaining, and a great step forward to enjoying more of life.
LARGE GROUP GAME

ROAD TRIP
ITEMS NEEDED:
2 Chairs
Cards (see below)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Choose two teams of two. Send one team out of the room where they cannot hear what
is going on.
The game is a cross between Password and I-Spy. Have the two teammates sit back to
back. One teammate is shown a series cards with something that might be seen on a
road trip. (See below.) They will start with, I spy with my little eye something that starts
with ___. Their partner will ask a set of yes or no questions to try to guess the object. If
they guess correctly, the team moves on to the next card.
Each team will have 60 seconds to play. The team with the most correct guesses in 60
seconds wins.
Items for the cards:
Taco Bell
Stop sign
Roller coaster Hotel
Water Park
McDonalds
Zoo
Gas Station
Museum
Beach
VARIATION:
For younger kids, pick two players and have an adult give all the clues.
WHATS THE POINT?
Dont get impatient with God; sit back and enjoy the ride.
LARGE GROUP LESSON

BOTTOM LINE:
Stop your whining, trust God, and enjoy the ride!
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will learn to stop grumbling and enjoy life.
KEY PASSAGE:
Exodus 16:1-16. The Israelites grumble against Moses.
INTRO
Millions of families in this country will leave home this summer on vacation. Theyll travel to places like Disney World, Six Flags, and the beach. When they get there, theyll
visit museums, ride on sightseeing bus tours, ride roller coasters, make sandcastles,
play in the water, or just lie in the sun.
But standing between those families and those happy memories is the road trip, the
long journey from your driveway to the vacation paradise of your dreams. That means
long hours in the cars, listening to mom and dads old music, restroom stops, and that
age old question: Are we there yet?
Theres an old saying that says its not the destination, but the journey that matters. But
most people would just as soon skip the journey because they cant stop complaining.
They need a potty. They want something different on the radio. They want something
to eat. They want to know where they are, where they are going, and when will they get
there!
Even though cars and road trips are a fairly recent invention, complaining about the
journey is nothing new. In fact if we go back to the book of Exodus well see that Moses
dealt with more than his share of complainers. Take a listen to what Moses had to deal
with on that long road to Canaan.
READ EXODUS 16:1-16
LARGE GROUP LESSON

MAIN POINT
If you dont remember the story, the children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt. They
had worked for centuries under the cruel hand of the Egyptians. Their children had
been murdered by their cruel masters, and the Lord had performed great miracles to
set them free. But when their bellies started to growl in the desert, what did the people
say? We were better off in Egypt, where we were slaves!
The Israelites were a truly ungrateful lot, and even after they were fed with manna they
still complained. Sometimes, tho, we sound just as bad. Mom and Dad go to all the
trouble to plan a fun family get away, and all we do on the way is complain about being
hot, being hungry, or not getting to listen to our music. And its not just with Mom and
Dad on road trips, where we complain. We complain in school, we complain at home,
and we complain to God.
This is not what God wants for his followers. God wants us to be people who embrace
the journey, who dont mind a little delayed gratification. He wants us to trust him, and
he has given us plenty of reasons to do so!
DRIVE IT HOME
First of all, we can trust God and let go of our worries because he loves us enough to
meet our needs. When the Israelites complained about the food situation, God didnt
just tell them to suck it up until the next exit. He sent them all the food they would need.
God isnt going to neglect us any more than he did Israel. He wont always answer in
the way we expect, but he never fails to give us what we need.
The second reason we have to trust God and not complain is the Bible itself. In the Bible we find story after story that prove Gods faithfulness. God promised Abraham a son
in his old age and delivered. God stuck by Joseph in prison and eventually led him to
the throne of Egypt, where he saved his family from famine. God heard the cries of his
captive people and sent Moses to set them free.
The children of Israel had these stories too, but they seemed to ignore them. Instead of
trusting the God of Abraham and Joseph who had already delivered them from slavery,
they cried and complained for the few creature comforts they missed in Egypt.
We need to remember these stories of faithfulness, especially the one about Jesus
coming to die for our sins. When we remember these moments, we are reminded of
Gods goodness. We may not see what God is doing, but the stories of Gods faithfulness can carry us through those times until his perfect plan is revealed.
Finally, we need to trust God and not complain so we can enjoy the journey. God
doesnt want us to only live for the best of times. We can have joy every day - even in
those long car rides.
LARGE GROUP LESSON

When we remember that God loves us and is faithful, we can let go of our frustration.
Whatever we are going through, it will pass, and God will lead us to our next destination.
You dont need all the answers. You dont need to know how God is going to meet your
needs. You simply need to trust him and obey. And while youre at it - give Mom and
Dad a break too. Your parents love you, and if theyre taking you on a vacation, its because they love you.
Complaining never made anyone less hungry. It never got anyone any closer to their
destination. Let go of the spirit of complaint and trust the Lord. He wont let you go
hungry, and even if you dont know where youre going, he will get you there safe and
sound.
CLOSE WITH A SIMPLE PRAYER
Dear God,
Teach us to be grateful at all times and not to grumble. Help us to enjoy the blessings
you give us every day.
In Jesus name,
Amen
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (K-2ND)

ICEBREAKER
Whats the craziest thing thats ever happened on a road trip with your family?
MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY
Colossians 3:23
SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITY
Play a game of musical chairs with the kids.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read Exodus 16:1-16
Where were the children of Israel?
What complaints did they have about their situation?
What did the Israelites start saying about the time when they lived in Egypt?
How did God provide bread for the Israelites to eat?
How does this story remind us of Gods goodness?
SIMPLE PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank you for your awesome love. Thank you for providing for us and meeting all our
needs. Forgive us for the times we have complained, and teach us to remember all
your blessings.
In Jesus name,
Amen
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (3-5TH)

ICEBREAKER
Whats the craziest thing thats ever happened on a road trip with your family?
MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY
Colossians 3:23
SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITY
Have some of the kids teach the others their favorite road trip games.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read Exodus 16:1-16
Why were the children of Israel complaining?
How did God provide for the Israelites?
Did the manna and quail stop the complaining?
How does this story remind us of Gods goodness?
Why is it important to remember these stories when we want to complain?
SIMPLE PRAYER
Dear God,
Thank you for your awesome love. Thank you for providing for us and meeting all our
needs. Forgive us for the times we have complained, and teach us to remember all
your blessings.
In Jesus name,
Amen
POWERPOINT REVIEW GAME

True or false.
The Israelites were complaining because they were hungry.
TRUE
God sent the Israelites birds called manna to eat.
FALSE
The Israelites stopped complaining once they had food.
FALSE
God wants us to be patient and not worry.
TRUE
Theres nothing in the Bible to remind us that God provides.
FALSE
5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick With Your Kids
THIS WEEKS LESSON: ROAD TRIP

IN THE CAR:
Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home:
Today we talked about road trips and the way we tend to complain when we dont get
what we want right away. Instead of whining all the time, we need to learn to trust God
and enjoy the ride. Exodus 16:1-16. The Israelites grumble against Moses.
HANGING OUT:
Make this weeks lesson real:
Be on guard this week when driving with the kids. If anyone gets bored, remind them of
todays lesson and challenge them to remember the good things theyve been given.
AT DINNER:
Here are some great discussion starters:
- Why did the Israelites complain in the wilderness?
- Did God take care of the Israelites and their hunger?
- Can we trust that God will take care of us? Why?
AT BEDTIME:
Quiz your child on this weeks memory verse:
masters. Colossians 3:23
PARENT TIME:
What you need to know:
Be careful not to guilt your kids into not worrying or complaining. Instead, encourage
them to think positively about their blessings and trust God to meet their needs.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for
the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
CUT ON DASHED LINE
Road Trip Word Search

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Road Trip Word Search

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SUMMER VACATION WK 1 "Road Trip"

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SUMMER VACATION WK 1 "Road Trip"

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LESSON SNAPSHOT

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

LARGE GROUP GAME

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

LARGE GROUP LESSON

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

LARGE GROUP LESSON

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

LARGE GROUP LESSON

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (K-2ND)

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (3-5TH)

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

POWERPOINT REVIEW GAME

SUMMER VACATION : ROAD TRIP

THIS WEEKS LESSON: ROAD TRIP

SUMMER VACATION: ROAD TRIP

CUT ON DASHED LINE

Road Trip Word Search

Road Trip Word Search

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