Wild Card Extra
A Good Ruler
PreK–K

Hopeful People
Kids act hopeless or hopeful during this game as they learn that God gives us hope.

Spark Resources:
Spark Story Bible

Supplies:
•    Paper plates, 2
•    Paint stir stick
•    Glue
•    Markers

Set Up:
Draw a hopeful (happy) face on one paper plate and a hopeless (sad) face on the other. Glue plates together, back to back, securing the paint stick between them. Create an open space in the room.

Instructions:
Gather the kids in an open area of the room. Point to the pictures of the people on pages 178–179 of the Spark Story Bible. What is different about these people? Accept all answers. (One group is sad and one is happy.) The first group of people doesn't have any hope. We call them hopeless or sad. Jeremiah told the people that God would send a good ruler to give them hope. The second group of people has lots of hope. We call them hopeful or happy! God gives us hope! Let's play a game to learn how God gives us hope.

1. Have kids stand in an open area of the room.
2. Invite an adult leader or one kid to stand in front of the room and hold the hopeless/hopeful sign.
3. I'm going to read a statement. If it's something that will make the people feel hopeless, our sign-holder will turn the sign to show the hopeless face and we will all act hopeless. Have kids practice.
4. If I say something that will make the people hopeful, we'll see the hopeful face and we will act hopeful. Have kids practice.
5. Read the following statements, switching sign holders from time to time.
	a. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt.
	b. God sent Moses to free the Israelites.
	c. God gave the Israelites a new land to live in.
	d. God gave the Israelites a good ruler named King David.
	e. Some of the kings who ruled after King David were not so good.
	f. The Israelites were sad and forgot about God.
	g. God remembered the Israelites!
	h. God sent a man named Jeremiah to give the people hope.
	i. Soon God's promise to save the world will be kept.
	j. God will send a good ruler from King David's family.

God promised to send a good ruler from King David's family. That ruler was Jesus. God gives us hope!

If you have less time . . .
Only use a few statements.

If you have more time . . .
Make up statements about life today such as "Some people don't know who Jesus is," or "God gave me a family who loves me."