Winning At Losing LEADER S GUIDE 4th- Lesson Overview Today we re talking about how to win at losing. You might be thinking, What? Who wants to win at being a loser! Well, we re not talking about how to lose but we are talking about having a winning attitude if and when you lose. Think about it. At some point, we will all lose at something. Whether it s while playing a sport or trying out for the lead in the school play or submitting your piece of art in a contest. You can t always be the winner. But, you can still win even when you lose. It s all about your attitude. Instead of being jealous or mad that you lost, you can be happy for the person who won. Instead of quitting, you can keep working hard to get better. That s what pleases God-your attitude and effort. So remember, be a winner, even when you lose. Have a good attitude and give your best effort every time no matter what. Big Idea We can win, even when we lose, with the right attitude and effort Key Question What is a winning attitude? Memory Verse Galatians 6:9 So let s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don t give up. Classroom Agenda 1. (5 min) PLAY: Let kids start working on Activity Page #1. 2nd- puzzle key: Attitude, Effort, Winning. Message: You can win, even when you lose. 2. (5 min) WARM UP: Have you ever been cut from a team? How did that feel? (Tip: Sometimes we might lose or get cut from the team, but that doesn t mean we should give up. We should keep working at it to get better.) 3. (5 min) PREVIEW: Write out the Big Idea, Memory Verse, and Key Question on a whiteboard. Have the kids copy it down on Activity Page #1 (if applicable). 4. (20 min) LARGE GROUP: Gather for songs and videos with other kids. Then return to class to finish this guide. 5. (2 min) RECAP: Read the Lesson Overview (see above). 6. (3 min) KQ: Answer the Key Question. (Answer: A hard worker who remembers that it s more important to honor God than to win. (Winning the game or the contest isn t the most important thing. How we act when we win or lose is most important. God gives us special talents and abilities and he wants us to use them to honor him. He doesn t want us to be cocky and obnoxious when we win and he doesn t want us to get angry when we lose. He wants us to give our very best and point people to Jesus by the way we act.) Bonus Questions: What is more important than winning the game or contest? Why does our attitude matter? 4-: Describe how people tend to act when they win. How does that shape the way you look at them? 7. (5 min) EXPLORE: Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-25. What does this passage tell us to do? What is the eternal prize we all want? (Answer: This passage tells us that we should always give our best and never give up. But, we should remember that the ultimate prize isn t the medal or ribbon but the hope of Heaven. So, we should live our lives to honor God and work hard at everything we do.) 8. (10 min) PLAY: Choose a group activity from Activity Page #2. 9. (5 min) CLOSE: Share prayer requests and pray as a class. Encourage kids to use the Family Guide at home with their parents - and remind them to go online to pursuegod.org/kids to find this week s lesson video. 1
ACTIVITY PAGE #2 Teacher instructions: Choose an activity for your classroom. OPTION 1: RIGHT WAY - WRONG WAY Instructions: Read a scenario (page 5) to the class. Have the kids come up with a right way to respond and a wrong way to respond to each one. Supplies needed: Scenario template (pg. 5, 1 set per class) Bonus Activity: True or False See who s the quickest to answer. 1. We can still win, even those we lose the game. (T) 2. Our memory verse is from the book of Galatians. (T) 3. It s okay to be a quitter. (F) OPTION 2:HOW TO WIN REVIEW GAME Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a bell or ringer. Read a question from below, first to ring in gets a chance to answer. If correct, they get a point. If wrong, other team gets a chance for a bonus point. Continue until all the questions have been asked. Team with the most points, wins. Questions: 1. We should for our friends at church. (pray) 2. We should be with our money. (generous) 3. Our memory verse is from the book of (Galatians) 4. Jesus died for our (sins) 5. We should the rules at school. (obey) 6. What s the book full of God s words? (Bible) 7. Where did Jesus die for us? (cross) 8. How do we win at losing? (attitude/effort) 9. What s it called when we spend lots of money on ourselves. (greed) 10. How can we win at school? (work hard, listen to teachers, follow rules) Supplies needed: Bells or ringers Bonus Activity: Fast Facts See who s the quickest to answer. 1. We win with the right and (attitude/effort) 2. Our memory verse is from the book of (Galatians) 3. We shouldn t (quit) just because we lose. 2
Winning at Losing FAMILY GUIDE 4th - 3
ACTIVITY PAGE #1 Instructions: Solve the puzzles. Big Idea Key Question Memory Verse Galatians 6: So let s not get of doing what is. At just the right time we will a harvest of blessing if we give up. 4
Winning At Losing 4th- YOU AND A FRIEND BOTH SUBMITTED A POEM IN A CONTEST. YOUR FRIEND WON. YOU MADE THE SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM BUT YOUR FRIEND DIDN T. YOU TRIED OUT FOR THE LEAD ROLL IN THE SCHOOL PLAY AND DIDN T GET IT. YOUR COACH DOESN T PLAY YOU AS MUCH AS THE OTHER KIDS ON THE TEAM. YOUR SIBLING PLAYS THE PIANO BETTER THAN YOU DO. YOUR TEAM WINS THE BIG GAME. 5