“Serving God's Way” Game

Advance preparation: You will need 18 index cards. Write a different fruit of the Spirit on each of nine index cards. (See Galatians 5:22-23.) Write an occupation that would be familiar to the children (for example, teacher, nurse, police officer, construction worker, business person, pastor, and so on) on each of the other nine cards. Place each set of nine cards in a separate container or paper bag.

Read 1 Peter 4:10 to the children. Explain to them that Christians share God's love by serving others. Christians are to serve others in ways that are pleasing to God. One way that Christians are to serve others is by displaying the fruit of the Spirit in their everyday lives. Read Galatians 5:22-23 to the children.

Tell the children that you have written each fruit of the Spirit on an individual index card and that you have placed the cards in a container. Then tell them that you have also written nine occupations, each on individual cards, and have placed those cards in another container. Instruct the children to draw one card that lists a fruit of the Spirit and one card that lists an occupation. Ask the children to talk about how someone in that occupation would use that fruit to show God's love. For example, a teacher could demonstrate kindness by taking time to listen to a child who is having problems at home and by remembering to pray for that child. Children can work individually, in pairs, or in small groups. For a further challenge, children could act out the situations in pantomimes or skits.

Prayer

Dear God, help all Christians to remember that they are serving you in whatever job they have. Help us to show your love today to everyone we meet. Amen.

Questions for Discussion

1. What are some ways that you can show the fruits of the Spirit in your everyday lives at school and at home?
2. How does displaying the fruits of the Spirit to others relate to being a good steward?
3. In what situations is it easy for you to show the fruits of the Spirit? When is it difficult?
4. Can you describe a recent moment when you displayed a fruit of the Spirit to someone else? How did he or she feel? How did you feel when you served another in the name of Jesus Christ?

Janet Zimmerman is an ordained United Methodist deacon, who serves as Christian Education Director at Church of the Lakes in Canton, Ohio.