GAME ACTIVITY. CHOOSE TO FOLLOW Sheep or Goat? situation slap game. Youth can learn Jesus’ Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) to help them make the right decisions. The sheep sit on the right hand of God by choosing the right, serving Heavenly Father, to one day live with Him again in the kingdom of God. The word-strip choices will help them slap left (goat) or right (sheep).
Use For: Primary and Home, Come Follow Me, Youth & Doctrinal Classes, family home evening, Sunday School
OBJECTIVE: To help children/youth learn to apply the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats found in Matthew 25:31-46 by playing the Sheep and Goat Situation Slap Game.
Lesson Lifesaver Activity:
Sheep and Goat Situation Slap Game
Tell youth that in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, the sheep are the ones that sit on the right hand of God. By choosing the right and serving our Heavenly Father, we are choosing to one day live with Him again in the kingdom of God.
TO MAKE Print slap pad, and cut up and place situation word-strips in a container to draw from.
TO PLAY:
1. Divide group into two teams.
2. Take turns having a player from each team stand or kneel at the slap pad placed on the table, board, or floor.
3. The two players stand or kneed with their hands to their side, ready to slap the SHEEP or GOAT on the pad.
4. Children can take turns drawing and reading a situation word-strip aloud but giving the SHEEP or GOAT answer.
5. Players guess which situation is a SHEEP (good action), or the GOAT (bad action) by slapping their hand on the SHEEP or GOAT. The first to guess right receives a point for their team.
Tell players that the SHEEP is placed on the right of the pad as the SHEEP symbolizes those who choose the right.
6. Add up the points; the team with the most points wins!
7. Have everyone say, “Choose the right to keep heaven in sight.”
THOUGHT TREAT: Choose the Right Cupcakes. Frost CTR on top of a frosted cookie.
SCRIPTURE CHALLENGE CARD: Help youth Search and Ponder this scripture card by filling in the blanks. PRINT this 5 x 7 scripture card from the pdf included with the above activity. You can punch the two holes on the left and tie a ribbon to attach cards or use two metal rings to connect cards.
Matt. 25:37-38; 40 “When saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? . . .. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
“INHERIT THE KINGDOM (sheep)”
Matthew 25:34-46 separates sheep from goats
LESSON IDEAS:
Present New Testament Lesson 27 (Manual Primary 7) “Parable of the Sheep and Goats” ⇒ ↓
SEE Enrichment Activity 5 (below) for which the above activity was created.
Lesson 27
Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
“Lesson 27: Parable of the Sheep and the Goats,” Primary 7: New Testament (1997), 91–94
Purpose
To teach the children that serving others helps us be prepared for the time when Jesus Christ will judge us.
Preparation
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Prayerfully read Matthew 25:31–46. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)
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Additional readings: Jacob 2:17–19; Mosiah 4:16, 26; and Doctrine and Covenants 104:17–18.
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Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
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Materials needed:
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A Bible or a New Testament for each child.
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Pictures 7-26, The Last Judgment (Washington Temple mural), and 7-25, The Second Coming (Gospel Art Picture Kit 238; 62562).
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Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Invite the children to share with the class something they did during the past week to develop or share a talent.
Enrichment Activities
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
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Share and discuss the following story with the children:
“I have many memories of my boyhood. Anticipating Sunday dinner was one of them. Just as we children hovered at our so-called starvation level and sat anxiously at the table, with the aroma of roast beef filling the room, Mother would say to me, ‘Tommy, before we eat, take this plate I’ve prepared down the street to Old Bob and hurry back.’ I … would run down to Bob’s house and then wait anxiously as his aged feet brought him eventually to the door. Then I would hand him the plate of food. He would present to me the clean plate from the previous Sunday and offer me a dime as pay for my services. My answer was always the same: ‘I can’t accept the money. My mother would tan my hide.’ He would … then say, ‘My boy, you have a wonderful mother. Tell her thank you.’ … I remember, too, that Sunday dinner always seemed to taste a bit better after I had returned from my errand” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Long Line of the Lonely,” Ensign, Feb. 1992, p. 4).
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Arrange to have a member of the Relief Society presidency or a member of the bishopric come to class to explain how the Relief Society gives compassionate service. Have the visitor explain how the Church gives help to those in need, including how fast offerings are used.
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Give the children each a piece of paper and a pencil, and have them list ways they can serve others at home or in the neighborhood. Challenge the children to perform at least one act of service this week.
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Discuss the following quotation:
“There will be a wise and just God to sit in judgment on all men. … The wicked may prosper for a time, the rebellious may seem to profit by their transgressions, but the time is coming when, at the bar of justice, all men will be judged, ‘every man according to their works’ (Rev. 20:13). No one will ‘get by’ with anything. On that day no one will escape the penalty of his deeds, no one will fail to receive the blessings he has earned. Again, the parable of the sheep and the goats gives us assurance that there will be total justice” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 304–5).
SEE Enrichment Activity 5 (below) for which the above activity was created.
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Prepare two boxes or containers. Label one box “Sheep” and the other box “Goats.” Place the “Sheep” box on your right and the “Goats” box on your left. On separate pieces of paper write good and bad actions (include some actions where the category is not so obvious). Have the children each read an action and decide if it is a “sheep” action or a “goat” action and put the piece of paper in the appropriate box.
Use the actions listed below or create some of your own:
Telling your parents the truth.
Not admitting it when you have done something wrong.
Fighting with your brother or sister.
Saying “I’m sorry” when you have hurt someone’s feelings.
Telling only part of the truth.
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Help the children memorize Matthew 25:40.
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Sing or read the words to “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, p. 78).
Conclusion
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.