Do This
Find some crayons (various colors.) Be sure to have a new or almost new one. Hold it up for everyone to see.
Say/Do This
Who can tell me what this is? Let’s see if we can work together to name all of the colors in a simple 12 count pack. (purple, red, green, yellow, black, blue, brown, orange, white, pink, gray and turquoise - You might want to go first and get “turquoise” out of the way.)
Say This
Now I want us to describe this crayon. (Hold up the new or almost new crayon.) What are some things we know about this crayon? (color, new, hard, etc.) [Note: You’re listening for “breakable.” If they say it, you can stop the list. If they don’t say it, stop the exercise and move to the next step.]
Say This
One thing about crayons is they are breakable. [At this point, break the crayon in half.] That’s why we have to be careful when we use them. Especially when we’re getting older.
Ask This
Can you still use a crayon if it’s broken? (Yes) We can still use them, but it’s a little harder, right? Especially, if they get real small or broken [break it again] again. If we keep breaking them, will we still be able to use them? (Yes/No…Depends on how small it is.) But if you had to choose between using this color new or broken, which do you think most people would choose? (New)
Say This
What if I told you people are like crayons? We can get “broken” too.
Ask This
How can people get broken? [Note: This is headed toward a broken spirit or heart, not broken bones.] We can get “broken” when people say mean things to us or about us, right? What happens on the inside when someone says something really mean to you? What if you hear that someone else has said something mean about you? How does it feel? What hurts? (heart) How do you feel about the person who said those things?
Say This
It’s one thing to be the person whose heart was hurt, but it’s another thing to be the person who did the hurting. Here’s the hard question: Have you ever said something that hurt someone’s heart? Is that the person you want to be? How did that person feel about you?
Do This
Find Proverbs 18:21 and read it out loud. Then find and read Proverbs 13:3.
Ask This
What’s the main lesson we can learn from these Bible verses? (our words have power)
Do This
Grab a napkin and write everyone’s name on the napkin far enough apart that you can tear it off so everyone can draw a name. Let everyone draw a name. Next, say something like, “I want us to practice the life-giving power of our words.” Then, starting with you, take turns celebrating the person whose name you drew. Lead with, “I want to celebrate _____ because they _____.”
Say This
How did this make you feel? Do you want to be a person other people see as someone who builds them up or tears them down? Let’s work on being people who build others up with our words.