Daily Assembly Scripts
Day 1: Opening Assembly
Welcome
SUPPLIES FOR DAY 1 WELCOME: weights and exercise equipment of your choice
Person 1: Huzzah! That means “hooray!” Let’s try that together. When I say, “Huzzah!” you answer with “Huzzah!”  Welcome to ! Are you ready to enter a world of castles and kings and queens and dragons and epic battles?  
Person 2: Did someone say epic battles? If I’m going to be in a battle, I want to be ready. I want to be strong!
Person 1: Well, I’m glad you want to be physically strong, but this week, we’re going to talk about being strong in a different, more important way—being strong in the Lord.
Person 2: Ooo, I bet that involves lifting even more weights if I want to be strong in the Lord. 
Person 1: Um, you know what? Being strong in the Lord has nothing to do with lifting weights.
Person 2: Nothing to do with lifting weights?
Person 1: Nothing.
Person 2: Then what does it mean to be strong in the Lord?
Person 1: We can’t just muster up our own strength. Listen as I read this verse from the Bible.  Notice this says to be strong “in the Lord.” To be “in the Lord,” we need to be part of God’s good kingdom and rely on God to help us be spiritually strong. He gives his children special spiritual armor to wear in the spiritual battles.
Person 2: This sounds like big stuff!
Person 1: It is! We can’t wait to share more with everyone this week, so let’s get started! Everyone up, and let’s sing about being a keeper of the kingdom!
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” 
Song 
Contemporary: “Way, Truth, Life” / Traditional: “The Kingdom on the Right”
Mission Moment 
SHOW: 
As we spend this week learning about standing strong in God’s truth, we’re also going to get the chance to meet a boy or girl living in a different part of the world. We are partnering with Children’s Hunger Fund to help children who are living in poor conditions and don’t have enough to eat.  
But the best part is you can help them! And along with sending food, you can help them hear about Jesus, too!
SHOW: 
Are you ready to meet the first child?  Great! Today, we’re going to meet a very little girl named Ehani (eh-ha-nee), who lives in the country of Nepal.  
SHOW: 
Country: Nepal
Problem: Generational Poverty
Ehani doesn’t have the same opportunities that you have here. If her mom can’t afford school supplies, Ehani doesn’t get to go to school. Without an education, Ehani’s children could live in poverty someday, too. Thankfully, a pastor from a local church came to break the cycle of poverty for Ehani and her family!
Do you want to help kids like Ehani?  Great! This week at VBS, we’ll be collecting coins to put in these Coin Paks. Take this home today and tell your family and friends about Ehani. Ask them to help you collect coins for meals. It only costs 25 cents to provide a nutritious meal for a hungry child. 
These meals will be packed into a Children’s Hunger Fund Food Pak, which is a box of nutritious food. This will be enough to feed a family for several days.
Each day this week, bring back any coins you’ve collected, and we’ll count how many meals you’ve given so far. With your help, we can deliver hope to suffering families all over the world. 
Announcements 
Announce any info pertinent to your situation. Today, you need to explain how the contests work so the kids can participate. Check with your director if you aren’t sure.
Prayer
Dismissal
Song 
C: “Hold on to the Truth” / T: “My Armor” / Contemporary Memory Verse Song: “Be Strong” / Traditional MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Day 1: Closing Assembly
Song C: “Way, Truth, Life” / T: “The Kingdom on the Right”
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” / C Memory Verse Song: “Armor of God” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Creature Feature: Winifred “Winnie” the Warhorse 
SHOW: 

Every day, we’ll be hearing about one of God’s awesome critters. Help me get ready for today’s. You got it! 
SHOW: 
Today we’ll be talking about the warhorse.  
Can you imagine being a knight in the Middle Ages riding a great charger into battle? I certainly can. These mighty animals are a great mix of strength and endurance.
Raise your hand if you get tired after playing tag. I sure do! But warhorses often run for long periods of time without stopping. And they can run fast! Depending on the kind, they can run up to 40 miles per hour. That’s twice as fast as people. 
Let’s pretend we’re driving a car.  Now look out the window.  There goes a warhorse running past!  
SHOW: 
Apart from fighting in wars, warhorses also carried knights in jousts. A joust is where two knights on horseback would charge at each other and try to knock each other off with a weapon called a lance. 
Let’s see how we do charging at each other with our pretend horses and our pool noodle lances!  
Now, on the count of three, I want you all to shout out your favorite animal—1, 2, 3!  What was that? I didn’t quite hear you!  
SHOW: 
Did you know God designed horses to have good hearing? And they can turn each ear 180 degrees. Everybody, hold your hand up.  Now turn it around.  That’s 180 degrees. Now try to turn your  180 degrees.  Can you do it? People can’t, but horses can!  
SHOW:  
Not only that, but they can turn each ear in a different direction to help them pinpoint where a sound is coming from. In war, this would help warn a horse and their rider of potential danger. 
 Now, bend down and place the side of your hand on the floor, with your thumb on top. Then place the side of your other hand on top of the hand on the floor. Do this about eight hands high. You got it? Great! 
SHOW: 
You just measured the height of a miniature horse. The way we measure the height of horses is in hands. The standard hand is about four inches wide. 
SHOW: 
Some warhorses were 15 or more hands high at the top of their backs or withers.
SHOW: 
Warhorses have accompanied soldiers into battle for thousands of years in fighting forces known as cavalry. 
SHOW: 
Sometimes, the horses themselves would be given special armor to keep them safe in battle. And the bond between a rider and his steed was usually unbreakable. They often fought and died together. 
SHOW: 
But why did they have to fight at all? Well, war is a result of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, this world has been broken, and people and kingdoms have been fighting. Wars typically happen between two kingdoms.
SHOW: 
Our trusty pal, Winifred the warhorse, is galloping in  to remind us that we have two kingdoms in our world today, too.
SHOW: 
The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the world. One is ruled by our Creator God, and the other is ruled by the prince of darkness, the enemy. The Bible tells us in Psalm 20:7 that some may trust in chariots or horses but our trust needs to be in the name of the Lord our God. 
SHOW: 
This week, with the help of Winnie and her friends, we’ll learn about these two kingdoms, and how of the two, only one is true! Thanks for trotting by, guys! 
Drama See the Drama Production section starting on page 29 for details. 
Announcements 
Cool Contests 
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind them to do their Go and Do on their student guides, learn their memory verses, and make up a sign or team cheer for tomorrow.
Prayer
Takeaway Time 
Each day, right before dismissal, share a thought to leave everyone with. Make sure to allow time for this final thought of the day.
Before we leave, let’s play a super fast game called Lightning Round. I’ll ask a question and you shout out the answer. It’s gonna go really fast, so get ready. Here we go!  
The ruler of the bad kingdom is___? 
The ruler of the good kingdom is___? 
The ruler who lies is___? 
The ruler who is kind is___? The ruler who is all things good is___? The ruler who is against us is___? The ruler who has limited power is___? 
The ruler who wins is___? 
Yes! God wins! Let’s sit down, and every time I point to you, I want you to shout, “God wins!”
If I’m a child of God, I can be at peace and not anxious because— 
I can have hope because—
No matter what’s going on in this broken world, I need to remember—
Dismissal
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” 
Day 2: Opening Assembly
Welcome 
SUPPLIES FOR DAY 2 WELCOME: Brown delivery box with an assortment of belts in it (tool belt, silly belts, kids’ belts, etc.)
Person 1: Huzzah!  Welcome back to ! We have a great day planned for you!
Person 2: Look what I’ve got! This box of belts. I’m trying to decide which one to wear. What do you all think? 
Person 1: I know which belt to wear, and it’s not any of those.
Person 2: It’s not?
Person 1: Nope. You need to wear the belt of truth.
Person 2: What’s that?
Person 1: It’s the most important belt of all. It’s not a belt you can see, like these, but it’s a belt God gives us when we’re part of his kingdom. We’ll be hearing how to become part of his kingdom today and how to wear the belt of truth, but before we do, let’s sing “Hold on to the Truth.”
Song
C: “Hold on to the Truth” / T: “My Armor”
Song 
“Faith Is the Victory” / Memory Verse Song: “Stand Firm”
Mission Moment 
SHOW: 
Do you guys remember Agnes, who we met yesterday? She’s going to be introducing us to children around the world who need to hear about God’s truth. Each one of these children lives in poverty, and you will have a chance to help them!
Do you remember how we’re able to help them?  Yes! By collecting coins in your Coin Pak. Remember, each quarter you put in your Coin Pak means one meal for a hungry child.
SHOW: 
Today, Agnes is going to introduce us to a little boy named Chiumbo, who lives in the country of Kenya. Let’s hear his story.  
SHOW: Country: Kenya
Problem: Orphan
Chiumbo’s story is very different from the story we heard yesterday, isn’t it? In the story we heard yesterday, Ehani has a mother to care for her and her sister. Chiumbo doesn’t know where his parents are.
But despite his circumstances, Chiumbo is pretty blessed, right? The woman who found him took him in and continues to care for him. A local pastor comes to visit, bringing food to eat. He even takes the kids to learn about God’s Word!
Did everyone take home their Coin Paks?  Did you tell anyone what we are collecting coins for?  Remember, every 25 cents you collect this week means one meal for a child like Chiumbo.
Now, do you want to hear how many meals we’ve raised so far?  Well, we’ve counted the coins you brought in and we can provide ____ meals! SHOW: 
That’s a great start to our week, but we’ve still got a few more days to go. So keep bringing in your coins all week long! If you haven’t already shared with your families what we’re collecting coins for, be sure to do that today! Ask your parents if you can earn money for your Coin Pak by doing some special chores around the house. Get creative!
Announcements Prayer
Dismissal
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom”
Day 2: Closing Assembly
Song 
C Memory Verse Song: “Armor of God” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Song 
C: “Way, Truth, Life” / T: “The Kingdom on the Right”
Creature Feature: Wily the Fox

SHOW: 
I’ve got a few clues for you about today’s animal. 
It’s a mammal.
It’s found in more places around the world than any other land mammal.
It barks.
It wags its tail when it’s happy.
What do you think it is? Did you say dog? Raise your hand if you have a dog.  Tell your neighbor your dog’s name. Well, guess what? It’s a type of dog called a fox!
Did you know foxes are a member of the dog kind? Dogs are also known as canines. 
SHOW: 
They can be found all around the world—in forests like the gray fox, in the cold tundra like the Arctic fox, and even in deserts like a fennec fox. 
SHOW: 
Throughout history, people have thought of foxes as mischievous, sly, and crafty animals. There are even old stories of foxes playing dead to attract birds to come close enough to eat.  
SHOW:  
They were often hunted for sport by noblemen, and farmers would often kill them to protect their livestock. However, crafty foxes often outsmarted the hunters and escaped.
All right knights, on the count of three, I want everyone to shout out their favorite color—1, 2, 3!  Did I hear someone say “red”? 
SHOW: 
Perfect, because today we’re going to focus on the red fox. They were the most commonly seen foxes in medieval Europe. They can be found on every continent except two. Can you guess which two?  
SHOW: 
They can be found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. 
SHOW: 
This small animal is characterized by having pointy ears, a long and narrow snout, long thin legs, and a reeeally bushy tail. This extra fluffy tail is helpful to the fox, for multiple reasons. 
SHOW: 
How many of you like to play in the snow and then come in and get some hot chocolate and snuggle up with a nice warm blanket?  Well, if it’s in a cold place, the red fox can use its tail as a blanket. Its bushy tail is also harder for predators and hunting dogs to grab onto, allowing foxes to more easily escape.
Okay, knights, I need you to take a big sniff. Do you guys smell anything? Me neither. Did you know that the red fox has a better sense of smell than we do? It can smell as far as six miles. That’s like from here to___.  
SHOW: They also have incredible hearing. They can hear a mouse squeak from over 100 feet away! That’s like me standing here and being able to hear a mouse squeak from way over there. 
They use their great sense of smell and hearing to help them hunt their prey. In fact, one of the most amazing abilities of this animal is their ability to hunt for mice and other rodents under three feet of ice and snow. Once the fox has heard or smelled a rodent under the snow, they freeze, so as to not alert the animal to their presence. Then, with their highly sensitive ears, they listen for the slightest sound from the rodent—a squeak or even their footsteps. Then they turn their ears in different directions to pinpoint exactly where the animal is . . . until . . . target acquired.
SHOW: 
Then comes the cool part. After they’ve located their prey, they leap into the air and dive onto the spot where the rodent is with their nose down and their tail up. They then crash into the snow, piercing up to three feet deep. And if they’re successful, then out they come with a tasty snack! 
 
Take a second to look at your neighbors’ eyes. What shape is their pupil, that black part in the middle? Unlike humans and the other members of the dog kind, foxes have a vertically slit pupil, like cats. 
This oddly shaped pupil allows the foxes’ eyes to see really well in dim lighting, which is perfect because red foxes are mostly nocturnal. This means they’re usually awake at night and asleep during the day.
SHOW:  
Foxes, like our animal pal Wily, sure are interesting creatures. Wily reminds us that just like he’s tricky, there’s a trickster out there who is the ultimate trickster. He’s the leader of the bad kingdom, and he tricked the first people, Adam and Eve. He wants to trick us, too. We need to trust in God and put on the whole armor of God!
Drama  
AnnouncementsCool ContestsAnnounce winners of today’s contests. Remind them to learn tomorrow’s verses, complete Go and Do activities, and dress up tomorrow for the Dress-Up Day. Any medieval attire works. No weapons, please.
Prayer
Takeaway Time 
Let’s say today’s memory verse together. 
Now, how many of you have ever ridden an amusement park ride where you had to get fastened in with a seatbelt?  A seatbelt’s purpose is to keep you secure, isn’t it? Well, every child of God needs to fasten on the belt of truth. So, let’s remind ourselves to trust the truth before we leave. I’ll say a phrase, and you shout it back. 
God’s Word is truth! God’s Word is truth!  
Trust the truth! Trust the truth!  
Tell the truth! Tell the truth!  
Learn the truth! Learn the truth! 
Guard the truth! Guard the truth!
Follow the truth! Follow the truth!
Truth wins! Truth wins! 
God wins! God wins! 
Dismissal
Song 
Song: C: “Hold on to the Truth” / T: “The Kingdom on the Right”
Day 3: Opening Assembly
Welcome SUPPLIES FOR DAY 3 WELCOME: Plate of cooked rice with a large rubber or cardboard fish on top of it (or substitute a bed of white paper shred for the rice), covered with a large napkinPerson 1: Huzzah! They answer, “Huzzah!” Are you ready for another epic day at ?Person 2 comes out carrying a plate with the fish and rice covered by the large napkin.
Person 1: What’s under that napkin there?
Person 2: It’s what we’re learning about today, so I thought I’d make some for snack time.
He lifts the napkin off with a flourish and announces, “The Best Plate of Rice and Fish!” (Say this fast so it sounds somewhat like “breastplate of righteousness.”)
Person 1: What? Act confused. 
Person 2: The best plate of rice and fish! Won’t that be great for snack time, kids?
Person 1: Chuckle. No, no, no! We’ve already got a great snack today. But . . . I get it! You think we’re talking about something called the best plate of rice and fish, but really, it’s the breastplate of righteousness. Say that slowly and carefully.
Person 2: Act disappointed. But I was all excited about this rice and fish!
Person 1: Well, the breastplate of righteousness is waaay better. It has nothing to do with food, but everything to do with God equipping us to live right for him. We’ll be hearing lots more about it today, along with some special shoes called the shoes of peace, but for now, let’s sing our first song, “Go, Go, Go.”
Song 
C: “Go, Go, Go” / T: “Be My King” 
SongC: “Take up Your Sword” / T: “The Army of the Lord” / C Memory Verse Song: “Shoes” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Mission MomentSHOW: 
It’s time to check in on our friend, Agnes, and meet another child from around the world!
But first, who can tell me what we’re collecting coins for this week? And who can tell me how much it costs to provide one meal? That’s right! It only costs 25 cents to send a nutritious meal to a child in need. Isn’t that awesome?
SHOW: 
Who knows where the country of Albania is?  If you don’t know, picture the country of Italy, which looks like a long boot. Well, if that boot swung backward, it would kick right into Albania. Today, we’re going to meet a little boy named Orik, who lives in Albania.  
SHOW: 
Country: Albania
Problem: Extreme Hunger
Did you notice the place where Orik and his family live? Do you think it would be cold there in winter? Do you think they have a good way of keeping warm in an abandoned building? They don’t have any electricity or heating; they just have blankets and jackets to keep them warm. And they often don’t have enough money to buy food.
Can you imagine how Orik must feel whenever he sees the pastor coming with another box of food? That box means he gets to eat that day! And the pastor who visits doesn’t just bring food; he brings the truth that Jesus came to bring eternal life!
What have you been doing this week to earn coins for your Coin Pak? Are you asking your parents if you can do an extra chore to earn money? Are you sharing with people the stories of the boys and girls you’re meeting this week? Talk to your parents about different ways you might be able to raise money for meals.
Now, do you want to hear how many meals we can provide so far? In only two days, you can provide ___ meals!That’s pretty fantastic!
SHOW: 
Remember, just like Orik, every one of the children receiving these meals will get to hear God’s truth of the gospel. I think more children around the world need to hear this good news, don’t you? Who’s excited to see how many more meals we can provide tomorrow? 
Announcements 
Prayer
Dismissal
Song 
C: “Shield of Faith” / T: “Flaming Arrows and Fiery Darts” / C MV Song: “Armor of God” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Day 3: Closing Assembly
Song 
C: “Way, Truth, Life” / T: “The Kingdom on the Right” 
Song 
C: “Shield of Faith” / T: “Flaming Arrows and Fiery Darts”
Creature Feature: Grimwald the Dragon 
SHOW: 
Today we’re talking about dragons. How many of you think dragons are fairy tale creatures? 
SHOW: 
We typically think of them as mythical creatures. But historically the word  was used to refer to real animals. Yes, dragons were real. Essentially, many reptiles could be considered dragons.
SHOW: 
The word  could be used for lizards, crocodilians, flying and swimming reptiles, and dinosaurs! Yes, even dinosaurs would qualify as dragons. 
SHOW: 
Think about it, if you saw a  in medieval times, you probably would call it a dragon. So why don’t we hear accounts of encounters with dinosaurs from medieval times? That’s because the word  hadn’t been invented yet. 
SHOW: 
That word was invented in 1841 by Sir Richard Owen.
SHOW: 
Did you know that dinosaurs were on Noah’s ark? The Bible tells us two of every kind of land animal would have been on the ark built by Noah. Dinosaurs are land animals, so they would have been included.
That means that some dinosaurs survived the flood and lived alongside people for centuries afterward. Eventually most of the dinosaurs became extinct.
SHOW: 
But for centuries people recorded encounters with amazing reptiles they called dragons. 
SHOW: 
We also see carvings and paintings from throughout history that show these animals. And many of these descriptions and pictures resemble what we call dinosaurs today. 
SHOW:  at Ark Encounter
One cool dinosaur is the . Don’t you think it definitely looks like a dragon?
SHOW: ; 
This dinosaur had a long and thin snout like crocodiles and gharials. 
SHOW: 
Its arms were long for its size, and it had three fingers on each hand. Now take a good look at your fingernails.  Do you know what they’re made of? That’s right, keratin! Each of this dinosaur’s fingers had a curved claw on the end that was made of bone. The inner finger of this dinosaur had a much larger claw on it than the other two. 
SHOW:  
That’s where it gets its name, , which means “heavy claw.” The large third claw could be up to one foot long on the top edge and it was covered in a sheath of keratin. This made the claw even longer. These large claws would have helped the animal catch and hold onto its prey more easily and defend itself from larger predators.
SHOW: 
 was a big animal. It could reach lengths of up to thirty feet. That’s from here to here.  And it stood about eight to nine feet tall. That’s about as tall as an adult male ostrich. 
Now run your tongue along your teeth.  They’re pretty flat, right?  ’ teeth were round and perfectly shaped for grasping and holding on to slippery fish. Because of their teeth and the shape of the animal’s snout, it’s thought that  was primarily a piscivore. Try saying that with me, pi-sci-vore. You got it, piscivore!
SHOW:  
 simply means “fish-eater,” though some  have been found with the bones of other dinosaurs in their stomachs.
SHOW: 
The  is a member of the Spinosaur kind. God created these animals with tough, scaly skin. From the tips of their noses to the ends of their tails, these dragons were protected—which they needed in this fallen, sin-cursed world. You know, their scaly skin is kind of like armor. 
SHOW: 
Can you imagine being covered in armor from head to toe all the time? 
SHOW: 
Grimwald, our scaly dragon, is here to remind us that when we repent of our sins and believe that Jesus is our savior, God gives us a suit of armor, too. 
SHOW: 
In Ephesians 6:11, the Apostle Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God so we can stand against the schemes of the devil. 
SHOW: 
Today we’re learning about the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of peace. A breastplate covers you from your neck to your waist and protects your heart, your lungs, and other important organs. In a similar way, righteousness protects us from a life of sin. 
SHOW: 
What word do you see in RIGHTeousness? That’s right! When we become part of his kingdom, Jesus gives us his righteousness and helps us to do what’s right.
SHOW: 
And just like shoes protect our feet, being in God’s kingdom protects us from being separated from God. Now let’s go out and do what’s right in God’s sight!
Drama  
Announcements 
Cool Contests 
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind everyone to learn tomorrow’s verses, complete their Go and Do activities, and design their helmets.
Prayer
Takeaway Time 
Before we go, let’s say Ephesians 6:14–15 together.  
Let’s remember, we all sin, represented by this muddy t-shirt.  But Jesus doesn’t, and when we’re God’s children, we put on Jesus’ righteousness. When God looks at his children, he doesn’t see our sin, but instead, he sees Jesus’ perfect right life. God’s children are forgiven not because  live perfect lives, but because  did. Isn’t that cool to know that God looks down on his children and sees us as forgiven and clean? 
That wonderful gift of forgiveness should cause us to love God and want to obey him and do right in his sight. It should also inspire us to put on the shoes of peace and tell others! Let’s live right for our kind and wonderful God!
Dismissal
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” 
Day 4: Opening Assembly
Welcome SUPPLIES FOR DAY 4 WELCOME: Trash stuck on a trash can lid (domed with a swing door opening works well) that Person 2 will wear on his head (clean it first)
Person 1: Huzzah! It’s great to see you today at !Person 2: 
Person 1: What in the world happened to you? Have you been filling your mind with garbage?
Person 2: No, this is my crazy helmet for today’s design a helmet contest.
Person 1: Oh, I’m glad it’s just your crazy helmet because it’s really important what you allow into your mind, and I wouldn’t want anyone to be filling their mind with garbage. You don’t want to let in stuff like bad TV shows, bad words, or bad pictures. You must be careful! Let’s try something. Kids, raise one of your hands and wave at me. 
Person 1: Okay, now put that hand over your ear. Now let’s do the same thing with your other hand. 
Person 1: Did you know the battle between the two kingdoms is really going on between your two ears?
Person 2: What’s that supposed to mean?
Person 1: What you’re thinking about, and watching, and listening to is a big deal in the battle between the two kingdoms! You’ve got to guard your mind by taking up the shield of faith and putting on the helmet of salvation.
Person 2: Is the helmet kind of like a hat—like this trash can lid? 
Person 1: Yes, except the helmet helps you stay strong in your trust in God and guards you from wrong thinking. We’ll be talking about the shield and helmet a lot today,  and we’re going to sing about the shield right now.
Song 
C: “Shield of Faith” / T: “Flaming Arrows and Fiery Darts”
Song 
C: “Take up Your Sword” / T: “The Army of the Lord” / C MV Song: “Shield” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Mission Moment 
SHOW:  
Well, today is our fourth day raising money to provide meals for hungry kids! Can anyone tell me how much it costs to provide one meal?  Right! Just 25 cents can provide a meal! Can anyone tell me what else the family receives with those meals?  Yes! They can hear the message of the gospel.
It’s time for Agnes to introduce us to another child.
SHOW: 
Honduras is a country in Central America. Today, our travels will take us to Honduras to meet a boy named Diego. 
SHOW: 
Country: Honduras
Problem: Disaster
In Honduras—where Diego lives—they sometimes get storms that are strong enough to destroy buildings. In 2020, Honduras was hit not just by ONE big storm, but TWO! It takes a long time to rebuild after a natural disaster, but it often takes far longer in developing countries, like Honduras.
For someone like Diego, whose entire community was flooded and buried under mudslides, do you think he might have a lot of fears and questions?  Do you think that knowing about a loving God who sent his son to save him would bring him comfort?  Well, the pastor who brought Diego’s family food was able to share that same message of hope!
Well, we have had a few days to raise money to provide meals for kids just like Diego. Are you ready to be blown away by how many meals we can provide so far?  I don’t think you sound excited enough. Are you ready to find out how many meals we can provide?  That’s better! In just three days, you can provide ___ meals! That’s incredible!
SHOW: 
And the best news is that these meals will do so much more than fill empty stomachs! These meals will allow pastors around the world to share the hope of the gospel with children and families in need. But the week isn’t over yet! We have one more day to collect coins, so see if there’s anyone else you can ask to help donate coins or if there are any chores you can do to earn extra money.
Announcements 
Prayer
Dismissal
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” / C Memory Verse Song: “Helmets and Swords” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Day 4: Closing Assembly
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” 
Song 
“Faith Is the Victory”
Creature Feature: Byron the Ironclad Beetle 
SHOW: 
Hey everyone, squeeze your arm. Do you feel something hard? Now feel along your back right here.  The hard things you feel are your bones, which are part of your skeleton. People have bones, including a backbone. 
SHOW: 
Some animals have a backbone, too. Animals with a backbone, like mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and birds, are called vertebrates. 
But some animals don’t have a skeleton inside their body. Like bugs! Give me a thumbs up or a thumbs down if you like bugs. Bugs are actually amazing creatures God made, each with its own purpose. 
SHOW: 
Today we’re going to talk about a bug called a beetle. There are lots of different types of beetles, including rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, dung beetles, and even lady bugs! These are all animals with  backbones (invertebrates).
SHOW: 
Within the beetle family is an amazing creature that looks like it has on its own armor. It’s the ironclad beetle!
SHOW:  
There are several different types of ironclad beetles, but we’re going to talk about the diabolical ironclad beetle.  means “evil.” Pretty scary name, huh? Well, despite its name and its burnt black appearance, this beetle is actually harmless. And amazingly sturdy!
Have you ever been tackled by a group of friends, or maybe your dog? Sometimes you can feel kind of squished. Did you know the ironclad beetle can survive getting run over by a car? Amazing!
SHOW: 
Let’s dig a little deeper. All beetles have a protective covering on their back called an elytra. This covering is made from a hard material called chitin, and in beetles it typically covers and protects their wings. However, ironclad beetles don’t have wings, because they’re ground beetles. Since they can’t fly, they have no way to escape from predators. But God, who’s the ultimate artist, has given them nearly impenetrable armor. 
SHOW: 
Since the ironclad beetles don’t have wings, their elytra don’t need to be able to move. Instead, the two halves of the elytra are fused together, though not like you’d think. Have any of you ever put together a jigsaw puzzle? I have and they’re pretty fun! That’s what the ironclad’s armor is like. Instead of simply being pressed up against each other, which would be easy for a predator to pry apart, the two parts interlock with a series of protrusions called blades, just like a jigsaw puzzle. This design makes it nearly impossible for the two parts to be pulled apart.
SHOW:  
And whereas most beetles have a rounded body, the ironclads have a flat body. This allows the pressure to be spread out across its entire back, rather than being concentrated on a single point. 
Because of this design, the diabolical ironclad beetle has one of the strongest exoskeletons in the entire animal kingdom. In fact, studies have shown this beetle can withstand pressures of up to 39,000 times its own weight! 
SHOW: 
That would be like me being able to have 25 blue whales, the largest animals to ever live, piled on top of me!  
SHOW: This beetle could rightly be called a living tank! Their tough armor not only protects the ironclad beetles from predators, but also from being squashed by a rock or a foot. And because they’re not getting squished, they’re able to live a long time. Raise your hand if you’re eight years old.  That’s how long an ironclad beetle can live, which is a long time in beetle world. Other types of beetles usually only live for one or two years.
SHOW:  
Because of its incredible strength, some scientists are studying this insect to see if we can replicate the structure of its exoskeleton in order to make stronger buildings, airplanes, and other man-made objects. We certainly can learn a lot from God’s creation!
SHOW: 
Byron here is crawling by to remind us that just like he’s been given incredibly strong armor to protect him from his enemies, God gives us protection from our enemy. 
SHOW: 
In Ephesians, we find that we’re to take up the shield of faith which we can use to extinguish the devil’s flaming darts and to put on the helmet of salvation. God gives his children special protection. Aren’t you glad?
Drama  
Announcements 
Cool Contests 
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind them to learn tomorrow’s verses, complete their Go and Do activities, and bring in their final mission money.
Prayer
Takeaway Time 
Let’s say today’s verse together.  
Can you think of a movie where the character uses a shield? How about a helmet? God gives every child of God a shield and helmet to fight off the enemy’s D-darts. When  thoughts come your way, use your  and to think right thoughts from God’s Word. 
When you have , take up that  and put on that ! Remember—you don’t have to listen to the enemy! You can fight back with true thoughts from God’s Word! 
If the enemy tempts you to , take up that  of faith and  of salvation.
If tempted to fight with others (causing  and ), you’ve got the  and ! 
If , or wrong, thoughts come your way, God’s given his children the  and to protect your heart and mind, so don’t just let your thoughts fall for the enemy’s tricks. 
Your protection from the enemy is grounded not in how you  but in what you  is truth from God’s Word. Use the  and !
Dismissal
Song 
C: “Go, Go, Go” / T: “Be My King” 
Day 5: Opening Assembly
Welcome 
SUPPLIES FOR DAY 5 WELCOME: Large stack of books
Person 1: Welcome back to our final day at ! We’re looking forward to a great last day talking about using God’s Word to help us be strong in the Lord.
Person 2: 
Person 1: Whoa, what do you have there?
Person 2: Well, I’m trying to train my brain to learn about a lot of different things I’m interested in. I want to learn how to cook, so I need a cookbook. And I’m interested in football, so here’s a book on that. 
Person 1: Hey, that’s great to train your brain and learn about God’s amazing world. Fantastic! But I’ve got a question for you. How much time are you putting in to training your brain in God’s Word?
Person 2: Good question.
Person 1: You know, sometimes we get so busy and distracted with other things in life, we don’t make learning God’s Word a priority. But today’s armor piece, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, reminds us we need to train our brains to learn and love and obey God’s Word. 
Person 2: Yeah, it’s so important to train my brain to know what’s written in the Bible, and to obey it.
Person 1: It sure is. It’s going to be awesome to talk more today about training our brains, but first, let’s sing!
Song 
C MV Song: “Helmets and Swords” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Song 
“Keepers of the Kingdom” 
Mission Moment 
SHOW: 
Every day this week, Agnes has introduced us to a different boy or girl facing poverty in a different part of the world. We’ve also learned this week that we have the ability to make a difference!
SHOW: 
The little girl we’re going to meet today doesn’t live in a remote village in Rwanda or a tiny apartment in Thailand. She’s not an orphan, and her home wasn’t destroyed in a natural disaster. Her name is Olivia, and she lives here in the United States. 
SHOW: 
Country: United States 
Problem: Invisible Poor
Did you know that there are children in the United States who don’t have food to eat? Olivia’s family didn’t always struggle. Her family lives in a house. Her parents both used to work. When the pandemic hit, a lot of people lost their jobs, just like Olivia’s parents.
The coins that you’ve been collecting all week can be used to provide meals for children like the ones you met this week. Children like Ehani in Nepal, Chiumbo in Kenya, Orik in Albania, Diego in Honduras, Olivia in California, and so many more children.
Children’s Hunger Fund partners with churches around the world who search for families in need of food and the saving knowledge of Jesus. Every box of food means a chance to share the gospel. Your quarters are making a huge difference! Isn’t that incredible?
Are you ready to see how many meals we can provide this week?  
The grand total number of meals we’ve provided this week during Forged in Hope is ____ meals! You guys have done an amazing job collecting coins to feed children in need. Because of you, more children and their families will learn about the love of Jesus.
Did you know that you can keep sending meals to children in need even after this week is over? You can keep making a difference for children around the world with Children’s Hunger Fund. Ask your parents how you can continue to share meals and the love of Christ with children in poverty. 
Announcements 
Prayer
Dismissal
Song 
C MV Song: “Be Strong” / T MV: Ephesians 6:10–18
Day 5: Closing Assembly
SongC: “Take up Your Sword” / T: “The Army of the Lord”
Song 
C: “Shield of Faith” / T: “Flaming Arrows and Fiery Darts”
Creature Feature: Skye the Peregrine Falcon 
SHOW: 
Today we’re going to learn about the fastest animal on the planet! Can you guess what it is? 
SHOW: 
No, it’s not the cheetah, though they can run up to 70 mph! But today’s animal makes the cheetah look like a slowpoke! 
SHOW:  
It’s the peregrine falcon! This beautiful bird is a member of the falcon kind.
SHOW: 
Peregrine falcons are found on every continent except Antarctica and are also known as the duck hawk because they hunt ducks.
SHOW: 
Falcons, along with hawks, owls, kestrels, and eagles are what we call “birds of prey” or raptors.
SHOW:  
These bird raptors are not the same as the dinosaurs known as raptors, such as the . These dinosaurs are reptiles, not birds.
SHOW: 
Falcons are very trainable, so they were used a lot for hunting and for sport during the Middle Ages. 
Can you cry like a baby for me for a second?  Young falcons were taken from the nest when they were really young and were raised by people. It was very important for the chicks to get used to humans at an early age. 
Can you wave and say hi to your adult leaders right now?  When falcons were full grown, they still needed to be around adults so they wouldn’t become too wild. The grown-ups would even put special hoods on them to shield their eyes, which helped keep them calm. 
SHOW: 
Now, the peregrine falcon stands around 1.5 feet tall and weighs up to 3.5 pounds. That’s pretty light! This is because, like most birds, God gave them something called pneumatic bones. 
SHOW: 
These bones are filled with air pockets that help make the bone lighter. This makes it easier for birds to take flight.
SHOW: 
Everybody, take your arms and spread them out. The distance from the tip of one arm to the tip of the other is what’s called your armspan. My armspan is about five feet and eight inches. Birds have a wingspan. The wingspan of the peregrine falcon is around 40 inches. That’s over three feet! 
On average, they can fly 40 to 60 miles per hour. But did you know that the peregrine falcon can dive at speeds of over 230 miles per hour? That’s almost as fast as a racecar! This incredibly fast dive is called a stoop. And how they accomplish it is pretty cool! 
SHOW: 
For starters, they have amazing vision. They can spot prey in clear detail from over a mile away. That would be like me being able to see a piece of pizza a mile away  and be able to tell you if it was thin crust, or deep dish, or even how many pieces of pepperoni it has on it. Now I’m hungry! 
SHOW: 
I need everybody to stand up.  We’re going to act like the falcon. As soon as the falcon spots a prey animal, either on the ground or in the air, the hunt is on. Starting from a high height, they flap their wings multiple times to gain momentum as they begin their dive. Let’s flap our wings.  Then they tuck in their wings, as well as their feet, and position their tail straight out behind them, resembling the shape of a bullet. Let’s do that.  This shape reduces wind resistance and allows them to pierce through the air, like a knife cutting through butter. 
Now I want you guys to do this with me. Blink your eyes slowly and focus on your eyelids.  We have two eyelids on each eye—one above and one below. But peregrine falcons are different. 
SHOW: 
God gave them a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane. This extra eyelid is clear, allowing the bird to keep its eyes open while diving but stay protected from debris at the same time. This eyelid also helps to keep their eyes from drying out from the extreme rush of wind that they experience in a fast dive. It’s almost like they have built-in swim goggles!
SHOW:  
And God gave them a special bone in their nostrils, called a tubercle, that slows the speed of air coming into their lungs, allowing the animal to breathe. This bone is very similar to the cones on the engines of a jet.
When the falcon does reach its target, it hits it with so much force that the animal is often killed on impact. When hunting other birds, the target is often knocked out of the air as a result of this powerful stoop attack.
SHOW: 
God sure has made some amazing animals like Skye, who’s swooping in to remind us that just like falcons are highly trainable and eager to learn and obey, we need to be trainable and eager to learn and obey when it comes to the Word of God!
SHOW:  
We need to train our brain to be deeply familiar with the Bible! So let’s use that sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!
Drama 
Announcements 
Cool Contests 
Announce winners of today’s challenges. Invite them to come back to the Closing Program to hear how much money was raised for the mission project.
Prayer
Takeaway Time 
Let’s say today’s verse together. 
Tell your neighbor another name for the sword of the Spirit.  Yes, it’s God’s Word, or the Bible. Just like knights used swords to fight off enemies, we can use the sword—the Bible—to fight off the enemy’s temptations. Let’s try using the sword of the Spirit now. I’m going to say something that isn’t true. You need to respond with truth. When I point to you, take out your pretend sword and say, “It is written!” Ready?  Here we go!
When someone says you evolved from animals, you could say: When someone says to look out for number 1 (to look out for yourself), you could say: 
When someone says that there are many gods, you could say: 
When someone says there are different races of people, you could say: 
When someone says you’re a loser, you could say: We want to be strong in the Lord. We can do this by reading and obeying God’s Word, praying, memorizing Scripture, singing to God, and going to church. These are some of the ways to stay strong in the Lord. Stand firm!
Dismissal
Song 
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