Stings of Stress (Philippians 4:6-7)

Purpose:

Students will use the Bible to learn how to best deal with stress

Scripture:

Philippians 4:6-7

Materials Needed:

• Bible (of course!)
• Ball of string or yarn
• Scissors
• Music
• A fun snack

Activity:

1. Pass around the ball of string.
   
2. Say: “When it comes to you, name all of the stresses in your life that you can think of.”
   • For each stress you name, pull out about a foot of string.
   • Once you’ve named all the stresses you can think of, cut off the string.
3. Have them form groups of 3.
4. Select a person in each trio to be tied up first by his or her trio partners, using that person’s string. (Be sure kids don’t tie string around someone’s neck.)
   1. Then the second person can be tied up by the third person in the trio.
   2. You can tie up the last person in each trio using his or her string.
5. Once everyone is tied up, invite students to a celebration across the room, featuring music and treats (While kids are still tied up).
   1. Turn on the music, and invite kids to join in the fun. Stop the music.
6. Ask: What’s it like being all tied up?
   1. How do you feel?
   2. Do you feel free to do what you want?
   3. How is the string taking away your freedom?

Scripture

Read aloud Philippians 4:6-7

1. Ask:
   1. Does everybody know what “stress” is?
   2. How are the effects of the string similar to the effects of stress in your life?
   3. Is it possible to live so that stress doesn’t have this effect on you? Why or why not?
   4. According to this passage, what’s the best way to deal with stress?
      1. Why is that hard to do?
   5. How can we help each other reduce the stress in our lives?
   6. Start the music again, and have kids work together to set each other free from the string.
   7. Turn the music down low, and ask kids to pile the string in the middle of their groups

Pray

• Have each group pray together, asking God to show them ways to be stress reducers for each other this week.
• At the end of the meeting, let kids enjoy the snacks.

picture courtesy of…

50

SHARES

Share on Facebook

Tweet