Missions Marathon Skit, Day Three

Skit:	Missions Marathon
Wednesday:	Making Disciples
Missions Lesson:	What does a missionary do?
Missions Examples:	Philippi
Bible Passages:	Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 16, Philippians 2:19-30.

	[Earnest and Kristina are running a Missions Marathon, jogging in place with exaggerated “running” arm motions.]
Earnest:	I sure am glad we're running this missions marathon.
Kristina:	Yeah, it'll be so great to tell those people the good news.
Earnest:	If we tell them, do you think they'll run the race with us?
Kristina:	Right — and not just this Missions Marathon today, but hopefully they'll run the whole race for Christ — the whole Christian life.
Earnest:	Yeah, because I was running that race before, even before I started this missions marathon. This isn't the first time I've run, and it isn't the first thing I've ever done for Jesus.
Kristina:	In fact, we wouldn't be very good in this missions marathon if we hadn't been training, by reading reading our Bible and going to church and all the rest of the race that we run.
Earnest:	Right. So, what exactly do we have to tell them again?
Kristina:	We have to tell them what we learned in the Bible. You know, about how the bad things we do separate us from God, but he loved us and sent Jesus to die and pay the price for us, so we can go to heaven some day and live with God.
Earnest:	Oh, right, we're going and making disciples of these people, just like Jesus said, make disciples of all nations. Ohio's a nation, right?
Kristina:	Well, Ohio's part of a nation, so it counts.

Missions Marathon Skit, Day Two

Skit:	Missions Marathon
Tuesday:	Let's Go!
Missions Lesson:	Why do we send missionaries?
Missions Examples:	The Macedonian Call
Bible Passages:	Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 16-17

	[The race has started. Earnest and Kristina are jogging in place (with exaggerated running arm motions).]
Earnest:	Okay, I'm wearing my running clothes, I have my number, I'm on the course, now let's see... why am I going, again?
Kristina:	You want to be a missions marathon runner, right?
Earnest:	Right!
Kristina:	Well, missionaries tell other people the good news about how Jesus came to Earth to save them from their sin. That's what you want to do, isn't it?
Earnest:	Yes! But aren't all Christians supposed to do that?
Kristina:	Yes, all Christians are supposed to be sharing their faith with others, but sometimes some of them sit around in the bleachers, instead of running the race.
Earnest:	Oh, I don't want to be like that. I want to do it. I want to get things done. I want to tell people about Jesus. I want to run this race!Jesus said, “go and make disciples of all nations”, and I want to obey.
Kristina:	That's the spirit! [Point.] Look, over there are some more people we could tell about how Jesus died for them.
Earnest:	Great! I wonder why somebody didn't already tell them? If we pick up the pace, we can be over there in a few minutes.
Kristina:	That's why we're going on this missions marathon: because there are people who have never heard how they can get to heaven.
Earnest:	Let's go tell them.

Missions Marathon Skit, Day One

Skit:	Missions Marathon
Monday:	Get in the Race
Missions Lesson:	What is a Missionary?
Missions Examples:	Paul in Athens
Bible Passages:	Acts 17

	[Setting is near the starting line for a marathon race. Kristina is dressed to run in the race, standing on the track. Earnest is also dressed to run, but he's sitting in the bleachers.]
Kristina:	Hey, Earnest, I thought you were in this marathon race today.
Earnest:	I am! This is really going to be fun. I'm really excited about it!
Kristina:	Well, then what are you doing in the bleachers?
Earnest:	What do you mean? Isn't the marathon here?
Kristina:	The marathon is a race, Earnest. It's down here on the race course. If you're going to run the race, you have to be on the course.
Earnest:	Well, look, all these other people are sitting here. Why can't I do the marathon sitting here too?
Kristina:	Earnest, those people aren't in the marathon. They're just watching. If you're going to be in the race, you have to run.
Earnest:	Oh. I see. So I guess I'd better come down out of the bleachers then, huh? [Join Kristina.] Say, what kind of race is this, anyway?
Kristina:	Didn't you read the sign? It's a missions marathon!
Earnest:	A missions marathon? What's missions?
Kristina:	Missions is how Christians tell other people the good news about how Jesus wants to save them from their sin.
Earnest:	Oh, right. That's what I want to do. That's why I came to the missions marathon. But why do we have to run?
Kristina:	Well, when we run a marathon race, we have to actually run. We can't just sit around in the bleachers. Just like that, missionaries have to share their faith with others, so they have to go where the people are, who need to hear about Jesus, and then, they have to actually tell them.
Earnest:	Yeah, that makes sense.
Kristina:	Right. They can't just sit around in church. So the missions marathon we're running this week is a way of reminding ourselves that if we're going to do missions, we can't just sit around. We have to get out and actually do something.

The Finish Line Discussion Questions

Friday:	The Finish Line: Heaven
Main Passage:	Revelation 1:1-20
Other Passages:	2nd Timothy 4:7-8, John 14:1-14, Revelation 21:1-22:6, Romans 10:4-13, 1st John 2:1-6
Memory Verse:	2nd Timothy 4:7-8, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day...

1. Where's Patmos? Why was John there?
2. What was John doing while he was on Patmos?
3. Why did Jesus show John what heaven would be like?
4. What will heaven be like?
5. How can you be sure that you're going to heaven?
6. What happens to people who don't go to heaven?
7. Who are we running our race for?
8. What have we learned this week that will help us run our race better?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Things That Entangle Discussion Questions

Thursday:	Things that Entangle
Main Passage:	Matthew 19:16-30
Other Passages:	Hebrews 12:1-3, Philippians 3:7-11, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30
Memory Verse:	Matthew 19:29, And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

1. What was keeping the rich young man from running his race?
2. What did Jesus tell the rich young man to do? Why did he tell him that?
3. Why did the rich young man go away sad? Explain.
4. Does that mean Jesus wants all of us to give away all of our money and possessions in order to follow him?
5. What does Hebrews tell us to do so that we can run a good race?
6. What are some things that could entangle you if you're not careful? How can you keep that from happening?
7. Should we feel deprived if we have to stop doing some kinds of things in order to run our race better? How should we regard those things that we throw off?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Discussion Questions: Josiah and the Book of the Law

Wednesday:	Josiah and the Book
Story Passages:	2nd Kings 22-23, 2nd Chronicles 34
Other Passages:	1st Corinthians 9:23-27, 1st Timothy 4:7-10, 2nd Timothy 3:16-4:8, 2nd Kings 21:10-11, 2nd Chronicles 33:10-16, 2nd Kings 23
Memory Verse:	1st Thessalonians 2:13

1. How old was Josiah when he began to seek the Lord? How old was he when he had the temple repaired?
2. Why did Josiah have the temple repaired and cleaned? How did he know to do this, if he didn't have a copy of God's word to tell him?
3. How many people were involved with the work of repairing the temple?
4. When Hilkiah found the book, he gave it to a secretary, and the secretary took the book and read it to King Josiah. What was the secretary's name?
5. When the king heard what was written and realized that Israel had not been following the law, he sent men to ask the Lord about it. What was God's response?
6. What was the name of the person through whom God spoke his answer?
7. What did Josiah do when he received God's answer?
8. What are some things you have learned recently by studying God's word? How can you apply them to your life?
9. How can you make time in your schedule to study God's word more?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

Daniel and the Satraps Discussion Questions

Tuesday:	Daniel and the Satraps
Story Passage:	Daniel 6
Other Passages:	Philippians 3:12-16, Psalm 118, Hebrews 13:5-6, Exodus 20:5-6, Isaiah 31:1, Jeremiah 1:17-19, Philippians 3:7-11, Romans 8:28-39, 1st Corinthians 1:17-29
Memory Verse:	1st Corinthians 15:58

1. If the satraps' job was to oversee each section of the kingdom, why did King Darius need Daniel to oversee the satraps?
2. Why would Darius enact such a strange law?
3. Daniel probably could have avoided getting caught if he'd prayed privately, behind closed doors, to avoid being seen. Why did he pray in front of an open window?
4. How can God expect us to do something that might turn other people against us?
5. What kind of prize did Paul expect to win?
6. Unbelievers often think the things of God are foolish. Why do they think this? What gives us the right to believe that we are right and they are wrong?
7. What are you doing to be faithful to God?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

The Lord's Anointed Discussion Questions

Monday:	The Lord's Anointed
Story Passages:	1st Samuel 24, 1st Samuel 26, 2nd Samuel 1:1-16
Other Passages:	2nd Timothy 2:3-5, 1st Samuel 10:1, 1st Samuel 16, 1st Samuel 8-9
Memory Verse:	1st John 2:3

1. Why do athletic competitions have to have rules?
2. Why can't a soldier go wherever he wants, whenever he wants?
3. Why didn't David want any of his men to kill Saul?
4. Why was Saul ashamed when he found out that David could have killed him and didn't?
5. Usually the next king is one of the king's sons. Why did Samuel anoint David to be the next king, instead of Jonathan or one of Saul's other sons?
6. David had several older brothers. Why did Samuel pass them over and anoint David, the youngest, instead?
7. Why did Samuel anoint Saul to be king in the first place?
8. How can you make Jesus the Lord and master of your life, as David did in his life?

If you need hints to answer some of the questions, look up the listed scripture passages.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Friday:	2nd Timothy 4:7-8
Bible Lesson:	The Finish Line: Heaven (John on Patmos)
Memory Verse:	I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day... 2nd Timothy 4:7-8

Introduction: Subtitle

Hold up a posterboard with the verse written on it, and have the children read it as a group.

This verse comes from 2 Timothy, a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, who was a pastor. He's talking about the prize we can win for finishing the race, following Jesus with our lives.

Explanation: 2^nd Timothy 4:7-8

What does Paul mean when he says that he has fought the good fight? What is the good fight? (The Christian life.) Paul has lived for Jesus. He says he has finished the race – Paul is old, near the end of his life, and he has done the things God wanted him to do with his life. Many people have come to know Jesus because of Paul's ministry. He also says he has kept the faith: what does that mean? Even when times got tough, Paul never let go of what he believed and knew to be true about Jesus.

What is a crown of righteousness? (A reward people receive for being righteous.) What does it mean to be righteous? You do what is right – all the time. Jesus was righteous, and if we follow Jesus, we will do what is right, for the right reasons: because it's what God tells us to do. Can we be righteous on our own? (No.) We need God's help to be righteous. If we follow Jesus – if we run the race – God will give us his crown of righteousness.

When will the Lord give us the crown of righteousness if we earn it? (On that day.) What day is Paul talking about? (When Jesus takes us to be with him, and gives us rewards.) The crown of righteousness is stored up for us in heaven until then.

Game: Manly & Ladylike Voices

Divide the children into two groups by their teams (red and blue). Have a competition to see which team can say the verse in the deepest, strongest, loudest, manliest voices. Go back and forth between the teams, having them work on the deepness of their voices, then the strength of their voices, then the loudness, and finally the manliness of the voices. Then put all four together. Award points to the team that tries hardest and does best.

Then have another contest to see which team can say the verse in the highest, softest, most quiet, most ladylike voices. Go back and forth between the two teams, having them concentrate on first the highest pitch of their voices, then on the softest quality, then on whispering most quietly, then on the ladylike quality of their voices. Then put all four together. Award points to the team that tries hardest and does best.

Announcement: Verse Points

Tomorrow, when you come to Bible School, if you can say your memory verse without looking, you can earn points for your team's score. Each person who can say the verse can earn 200 points. So, if you want to help your team win more points, go home and practice your verse a few times. Don't forget the reference! On your way out the door tonight, you will be given a slip of paper with your verse on it. Don't lose it, because if you learn your verse, your team gets 200 more points!

You can say your verse for points tomorrow when you check in at the registration table.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.