How to Play
Ask for volunteers to come forward to blow up balloons until they burst.
Don’t force anyone to play. Be aware that some may be terrified of balloons and allow them to sit as far back as possible during the game.
When everyone is ready, start the challenge. The first to blow up the balloon until it pops wins.
Award a bigger prize to the winner and smaller prizes to all other volunteers.
Bible Lesson – Self-Control
Discuss
1. Did you take part in this activity – to blow the balloon until it pops? Why or why not?
2. As you blow up the balloon, do you have a rough idea when it’s about to pop? What are some possible clues? How did you feel when the balloon popped?
3. For the rest of us who were watching: how did you feel when the balloon popped?
4. What does a balloon popping remind you of?
5. Have you ever lost your temper at anyone? Or has someone ever lost his/her temper at you? Tell us what happened.
6. How did the incident make you feel about yourself and about the people around you?
7. How do you think God feels about it?
Read
Galatians 5:16-23
Discuss
8. According to this Bible passage, what happens when we yield to our sinful nature?
9. Besides losing our temper, what are some other examples of sinful actions?
10. In contrast, what happens when we walk by the Spirit?
11. What can we do to overcome our problem with losing our cool?
12. What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit”?
13. How can we “walk by the Spirit”?
Conclude
Our natural human nature is sinful. When we yield to the desires of our own sinful nature, it will lead to all kinds of sinful actions. Losing our temper is just one of the many examples of sin.
On our own, we can’t get rid of our own sinful nature. However, the good news for those who believe in Jesus is that God has given us the Holy Spirit to come and live inside us. When we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will transform our hearts and produce good fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Reading the Bible, praying and going to church regularly help us stay close to God and yield to the Holy Spirit.
Bible Lesson – Anger
Discuss
1. Did you take part in this activity – to blow the balloon until it pops? Why or why not?
2. As you blow up the balloon, do you have a rough idea when it’s about to pop? What are some possible clues? How did you feel when the balloon popped?
3. For the rest of us who were watching: how did you feel when the balloon popped?
4. What does a balloon popping remind you of?
5. Have you ever lost your temper at anyone? Or has someone ever lost his/her temper at you? Tell us what happened.
6. How did the incident make you feel about yourself and about the people around you?
7. How do you think God feels about it?
Read
Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 29:11
Discuss
8. How does the Bible describe a person who bursts out in anger?
9. Is it always easy to keep our cool? Why or why not?
Read
James 1:19-20; Colossians 3:8; Ephesians 4:26-27
Discuss
10. How does God feel about anger?
11. What does God want us to do about anger?
Read
Galatians 5:16-23
Discuss
12. According to this Bible passage, what happens when we yield to our sinful nature?
13. Besides losing our temper, what are some other examples of sinful actions?
14. In contrast, what happens when we walk by the Spirit?
15. How does walking by the Spirit help us in dealing with anger?
16. What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit”?
17. How can we “walk by the Spirit”?
Conclude
The Bible describes a quick-tempered person as foolish. God wants us to control our anger because it can lead us into sin. When we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will transform our hearts and produce good fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Holy Spirit can help us deal with our human anger.
Reading the Bible, praying and going to church regularly help us stay close to God and yield to the Holy Spirit.
