Sunday School at Home for August 14, 2022

Run With Endurance

Theme: Run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
Scripture: Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Complete Supply List:
● A trophy or medal
● A Bible
● “Jesus Optical Illusion” handout
● Tape
● “Run With Endurance” video
● Something to play the video
● Plates - 1 per child
● Napkins - 1 per child
● Golden Oreo cookies - 1 per child
● Fruit by the Foot - 1 per child
● Frosting
● A plastic knife
● Plastic sunglasses - 1 per child
● Cardstock
● Scissors
● Markers
● Glue sticks
● A fine-tipped permanent marker

The Children’s Sermon
You’ll Need:
● A trophy or medal

Do This:
SAY: Have you ever won a trophy or a medal for something? (Allow time for
responses.) When we think of medals, we often think of the Olympics – gold, silver,
and bronze. One of my favorite things to watch in the Olympics are the track races
where people run faster than anyone else in the world!
Several years ago when the Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain, the world saw
one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. A young man named Derek
Redmond had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400 meter race. He
had worked hard to get to the Olympics and his dream was within his reach. He was
in the semi-finals and was running the race of his life. He could see the finish line
just ahead as he rounded the final turn. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in the back of
his leg and he fell to the track with a torn muscle in his right leg.
Derek struggled to his feet and started to hop toward the finish line on one foot in
an attempt to finish the race. (Hop on one leg.) Suddenly, a large man came out of
the stands, pushed aside a security guard and ran to Derek's side. It was Derek's
father, Jim Redmond. "You don't have to do this," he told his son. "Yes, I do," said
Derek. "Well, then," said his father, "we're going to finish this together."
And they did. They stayed in Derek's lane all the way to the end. At first, the crowd
watched in silence. Then they rose to their feet and cheered -- and wept.
Derek Redmond didn't win the gold medal, but he walked away with the incredible
memory of a loving father who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the
stands to help him finish the race.
Our Bible lesson today describes a race you and I are running that is even bigger
and more important than the Olympics. In Hebrews we learn that, "Since we are
surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses, let us run the race that God has set
before us. Throw aside anything that will slow you down. Keep your eyes on Jesus."
What is this race that we have before us? It is the race of following the example
that Jesus set for us and expects us to follow as one of His disciples. It is a race of
obedience to God's Word and faithfulness to Jesus' call to "Follow me."
Life is like a race that has been set before us. We may struggle and face many
obstacles, but we have a great crowd of witnesses who are cheering us on. We
have a Heavenly Father who loves us and will help us when the pain is too great. We
have a Savior, who left His place in heaven and came to earth to show us how to run
the race. If we will keep our eyes on Jesus, how can we help but finish the race?

PRAY: Dear Jesus, sometimes life is difficult. Help us to keep our eyes on You and
to run the race that is before us. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Bible Interactive Experience
You’ll Need:
● A Bible
● “Jesus Optical Illusion” handout
● Tape

Get Ready: Before the activity, print the “Jesus Optical Illusion” handout and tape it
to a wall with blank space next to it.

Do This:
● Open your Bible to Hebrews 11:29-12:2.
● Read the passage and invite kids to listen for words that appear repeatedly.
● After reading the passage, have kids gather together at the center of the room.
● Invite kids to stare at the “Jesus Optical Illusion” handout for 30 seconds.
● When the time is up, have kids look immediately at the blank space on the wall
and invite them to tell you what they see.

ASK:
● What are some ways you can keep your eyes on Jesus?
● What are some things that might keep you from “running the race” well?

SAY: The Bible tells us to throw off everything that keeps us from serving the Lord
and throw off the sin that gets us all tangled up. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, we’re
going to keep our feet where they belong and stay on the right path. Let’s learn
more about that now.

Run With Endurance
You’ll Need:
● “Run With Endurance” video
● Something to play the video


Do This:
Show the video.
ASK:
● What does it mean to “run the race”?
● Who do you have around you to run the race with?
● Who is someone you can learn from and follow as you run the “race”?


Gold Medal Snacks
You’ll Need:
● Run with Endurance How-to video
● Plates - 1 per child
● Napkins - 1 per child
● Golden Oreo cookies - 1 per child
● Fruit by the Foot - 1 per child
● Frosting
● A plastic knife

Get Ready: Before the snack, have kids clean their hands.

Do This:
Follow these steps for the “Gold Medal” snacks:
● Give each child a plate, a napkin, one Oreo cookie, and one Fruit by the Foot.
● Invite kids to twist their Oreo cookie until it separates into two round cookie
halves.
● Have kids open their Fruit by the Foot and remove the paper backing.
● Invite kids to place both ends of the fruit strip onto the frosted side of their Oreo
cookie so that it looks like a gold medal.
● Add a little bit of frosting to each child’s remaining cookie and have kids
sandwich the cookies back together to complete their gold medal.
● Invite kids to wear their gold medals.
● Enjoy!

ASK:
● What is endurance?
● What are some ways you can seek Jesus with endurance?

SAY: Life is full of mountains and valleys, a lot like a difficult race to be run. When
we fix our eyes on Jesus, we have the endurance to run hard and finish well. But
instead of a gold medal or a plastic trophy, we get to spend eternity in heaven with
Him!

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
You’ll Need:
● Plastic sunglasses - 1 per child
● Cardstock
● Scissors
● Markers
● Glue sticks
● A fine-tipped permanent marker

Do This: Have kids follow these steps to make the “Keep Your Eyes on Jesus” craft:
● Give each child a pair of sunglasses and a half-sheet of cardstock.
● Invite kids to draw two eyes on their cardstock and decorate them using
markers.
● Have kids cut out the eyes and glue them to their sunglasses. Invite kids to add
eyebrows or noses as time allows.
● Use a fine-tipped permanent marker to write “Keep your eyes” on one arm of the
sunglasses, and “on Jesus” on the other arm.

SAY: Great job creating your sunglasses! Take these home as a reminder to keep
your eyes on Jesus every day, in every season.