Doctor Quitsalot's Amazing Give-Up Button
Bible Lesson ·
Upper elementary ·
10 min
MAIN BIBLE LESSON · Ages 9–11 · 16-22 MIN · Galatians 6:9
Doctor Quitsalot's Amazing Give-Up Button
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BIG IDEA
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God promises a harvest in his own time, so we keep doing good even when nothing seems to be happening yet.
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SUPPLIES · 2 ITEMS
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Screen and presentation controls |
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A Bible |
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HOOK
2-3 min |
Behold the Invention
| DO |
Before children arrive, make three simple slides: Slide 1 has a giant red circle labelled GIVE UP. Slide 2 shows three half-finished jobs with labels: cup stack, picture, and puzzle. Slide 3 shows the same three jobs stopped halfway, with a large GIVE UP button over them. You only need words and simple shapes; messy is perfect for Doctor Quitsalot. |
| SAY |
Attention, everyone! Doctor Quitsalot has invented the greatest machine in human history. It has one button. |
| SAY |
When you feel tired of a job, bored with a job, annoyed with a job, or allergic to a job—press GIVE UP. The tired feeling disappears instantly! |
| DO |
Pause for reactions. Let children suggest ridiculous jobs the button could stop, but do not explain the point yet. |
| SAY |
We need to test this highly scientific invention. Doctor Quitsalot definitely did not test it himself. He was too tired. |
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1
3-5 min |
Test the Button
| DO |
Choose three willing children who can follow a quick instruction. Put them where the room can see them. Ask one to mime stacking cups, one to mime drawing a picture, and one to mime putting together a puzzle. Show Slide 2. |
| SAY |
These scientists each have an important job. Start working! |
| DO |
Let them mime their jobs for a few seconds. Then switch to Slide 3 and dramatically press the GIVE UP button on the screen. |
| SAY |
BEEP! The Give-Up Button has been pressed! Freeze! Stop working! |
| DO |
Let the room look at the stopped jobs on the screen and the frozen children. If the volunteers start laughing or finish their pretend job quickly, that is fine; press the button right away and keep going. |
| SAY |
Look carefully. What did the button actually fix? |
| DO |
Take several answers. If no one answers, offer choices: Did it finish the jobs, make the jobs disappear, or stop the people working on them? |
| SAY |
The button did not finish anything. It stopped the people before they could reach the end. |
| SAY |
When someone quits a good thing, the hard part may stop for a moment. But the good thing they were working toward stops too. |
The stopped jobs create the question that Galatians 6:9 answers: what do we do when doing good gets tiring?
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2
2-3 min |
The Harvest Has a Season
| DO |
Open the Bible and read the verse slowly. Invite the pre-k children to listen for the words give up. |
| SAY |
Galatians 6:9 (WEB) says, “Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.” |
| SAY |
Paul knows doing good can make us weary. He does not pretend it is always easy. |
| SAY |
He says we will reap in due season. A harvest is what comes after growing and waiting. Paul does not tell us the date, and he does not tell us exactly what every harvest will look like. |
| SAY |
But he does tell us what to do while we wait: do not give up doing good. |
| SAY |
Doctor Quitsalot’s button takes away the finish line, not the effort. God promises a harvest in his own time, so we keep doing good even when nothing seems to be happening yet. |
Galatians 6:9 (WEB)
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DO IT
3-5 min |
Cover the Button
| DO |
Keep Slide 1 on the screen. Ask every child to hold one hand out flat, palm up, as if it is a tiny remote. No one needs to tell the group what they choose. |
| SAY |
Think of one good thing you want to keep doing before Wednesday. Make it small and real. |
| SAY |
You could choose: Tomorrow at recess, invite Sam to play. Or: Tonight, help my little brother put away toys. Or: Before bed Tuesday, pray for my friend Maya. |
| SAY |
In your mind, choose a person, what you will do, and the day you will do it. |
| DO |
Give quiet thinking time. Pre-k children can choose a simple helpful action, such as helping put away toys or giving someone a kind word. |
| SAY |
When you know your next good thing, put your other hand over your pretend Give-Up Button. |
| DO |
Let children cover their open palms with their other hands. Do not ask what they chose. |
| SAY |
When you see your hands at home, remember: the Give-Up Button does not bring a harvest. Keep doing the next good thing. |
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THE PASSAGE · Galatians 6:9
Paul tells believers not to quit doing good when they get tired, because there will be a harvest in the right season.
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TALK ABOUT IT · PICK ONE OR TWO
YOUNGER
What could help someone keep doing good when the results are taking a long time?
OLDER
What did Doctor Quitsalot’s button actually change: the tired feeling, the job, or something else? Why do you think that?
What are some reasons a person might feel like quitting a good thing before they see any results?
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PRAY TO CLOSE · SAY ALOUD
| God, when we feel tired of doing good, help us not to give up. Help us trust you with the season and keep doing the next good thing. Amen. |
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GOES HOME WITH THEM
At home, put one hand over the other like you are covering a button. Remember the good action you chose and do it on the day you picked.
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BEFORE YOU TEACH IT
Please review and adapt all generated content before use.
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Ben · MAIN BIBLE LESSON · Doctor Quitsalot's Amazing Give-Up Button
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