BOTTOM LINE: Christians need the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn what the Fruits of the Spirit are and how they can impact our lives. KEY PASSAGE: Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit MEMORY VERSE: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” -Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

SUMMARY: The artificially flavored cereal in a box of Trix are shaped liked lemons, oranges, and cherries. There is nothing fake about living our lives full of the Fruit of the Spirit. SIMPLE PRAYER: Dear God,

Fill our hearts with the Fruit of the Spirit so that others will know how sweet it is to follow Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

LESSON SNAPSHOT

CEREAL: TRIX

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” -Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the person who goes to him for safety.” - Psalm 34:8 (NIrV)

LARGE GROUP: Divide the room in half. Pick one side to start and have them all shout the first word, then the other side shouts the second word, and so on until they finish the verse.

SMALL GROUP: Put each word of the memory verse on a card. Have the kids rearrange the cards and put the words in order.

MEMORY VERSE

CEREAL: TRIX

SKIT

CEREAL: TRIX

THE CEREAL TASTING

ITEMS NEEDED: A serving tray, bowls of Trix

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 3M plus extras

CHARACTERS: Bruce- A cereal “expert”Mel- A cereal salesmanJared- A cereal loverOther cereal lovers

Bruce, Jared, and the other cereal lovers enter. Bruce addresses the group.

BRUCE: Welcome, cereal lovers! Welcome to Mel’s fancy cereal tasting party. I’m your host, Bruce Abbot. Today, we’re going to sample a few varieties of cereals, taking time to enjoy the bouquet, and then savoring the flavors on our tongue. JARED: So does that mean we get to eat cereal?

BRUCE: Eat? Ha ha ha, my friend, today we’re going to savor the cereals.

JARED: But we get to eat them while we savor them, right? I mean I’m not sticking cereal in my ear, am I?

BRUCE: To guide us through this culinary excursion, I’ve invited a special guest. Please welcome the proprietor of Mel’s Cereal Palace, Mel.

Mel enters with a tray of Trix cereal in bowls.

SKIT

CEREAL: TRIX

MEL: Hi, I’m Mel from Mel’s Cereal Palace! Everybody take a bowl!

BRUCE: Our first sampling today is a cereal called Trix. Let us begin with the lemon.

JARED: Which one is that?

MEL: That’s the yellow bit!

BRUCE: Take the lemon between two fingers and lift it to your nose. Now inhale gently.

MEL: Give it a good sniff.

JARED: Mmmmm.

BRUCE: Now place the morsel in your mouth and savor.

MEL: Chew it up good! We don’t want anybody choking!

JARED: Mmm, it certainly is sweet.

BRUCE: Now let’s go to the orange bit. Pick it up and place beneath the nostrils. Inhale. Now, savor.

MEL: How’s it taste?

JARED: It tastes like… like… just like the lemon actually.

BRUCE: Clearly, you do not have a sophisticated palate. The orange tastes orange, and the lemon tastes lemon.

JARED: Who’s not sophisticated?

MEL: Sorry to burst your bubble, Brucey, but the unsophisticated guy is right.

JARED: Thank you, I think.

MEL: The yellow, the orange, all the bits taste exactly the same!

BRUCE: Ha! And you call yourself a cereal expert?

MEL: I am a cereal expert. That’s why I know, all the bits in Trix are the same fruit flavor. Same with Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles?

SKIT

CEREAL: TRIX

BRUCE: Are you sure?

Everyone starts tasting bits at random.

JARED: Yeah, they do all taste the same!

BRUCE: But Trix is supposed to be a bouquet of flavors.

MEL: They are a bouquet of flavors. Each bite is a combination of many delicious fruit flavors. (in his inspired voice) It’s just like the Fruits of the Spirit, nine flavors of love, joy, peace, patience, and other things that come together to form a sweet aroma, a heaven-ly flavor. Each one has a distinct tang, but they all come together to flavor a person with the Holy Spirit.

JARED: I want to try that fruit!

BRUCE: Me too!

MEL: You want the Fruit of the Spirit? Then ask Jesus! He’s the giver of all good things. I’m just the giver of cereal. But I have to take this one back, if you don’t mind.

BRUCE: But we were all enjoying this cereal.

MEL: Silly, rabbit, Trix are for kids.

BRUCE: How did I know that was coming?

ITEMS NEEDED: A bowl of Trix

Have one of the kids come up to sample a few pieces of Trix. Ask if any of them taste different?

Trying to find individual flavors in a bowl of Trix is as pointless as trying to taste the different flavors in fruit punch. They’re all blended together to make one, delicious fruity flavor. They may be all the colors of the rainbow, but every piece is going to have the same sweet, slightly fruity flavor.

The Fruits of the Spirit are as distinct as the fruit shapes that go into Trix. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control all mean something very different taken individually. When you put them together, they set you apart. They mark you as a true follower of Christ, a person who loves and cares for other people with the same love Jesus had for everyone.

The Fruits of the Spirit are the perfect “diet” for Christians. If we can cultivate these fruits in our lives, God can use us to share his love with others. We will treat people with more kindness and love. We will avoid temptations. We will live our lives in gratitude and thankfulness for all God has given us.

Ask God to grow the Fruits of the Spirit in your heart so that others can taste and see that the Lord is good!

OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON

CEREAL: TRIX

ITEMS NEEDED: A bowl of Trix

Have one of the kids come up to sample a few pieces of Trix. Ask if any of them taste different?

Trying to find individual flavors in a bowl of Trix is as pointless as trying to taste the different flavors in fruit punch. They’re all blended together to make one, delicious fruity flavor. They may be all the colors of the rainbow, but every piece is going to have the same sweet, slightly fruity flavor.

The Fruits of the Spirit are as distinct as the fruit shapes that go into Trix. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control all mean something very different taken individually. When you put them together, they set you apart. They mark you as a true follower of Christ, a person who loves and cares for other people with the same love Jesus had for everyone.

The Fruits of the Spirit are the perfect “diet” for Christians. If we can cultivate these fruits in our lives, God can use us to share his love with others. We will treat people with more kindness and love. We will avoid temptations. We will live our lives in gratitude and thankfulness for all God has given us.

Ask God to grow the Fruits of the Spirit in your heart so that others can taste and see that the Lord is good!

OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON

CEREAL: TRIX

NAME THAT JUICE

ITEMS NEEDED: A blindfold, a glass of juice

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose two players for this game. The game is played like the old “Name That Tune” game show. One of the two players will have a chance to sip a mystery juice and guess what flavor it is. Let the kids begin bidding as to how many sips it will take for them to guess the juice. When one of them doesn’t want to go any lower, they say, “Name that juice.” The other player is then blindfolded and handed the juice to taste. If he can guess the flavor, he wins. If he can’t guess, the other player wins.

VARIATION: You can make this best two out of three for older kids. For younger kids, pick one kid, let him drink the juice, then let him guess the flavor. Make it simple.

WHAT’S THE POINT? God wants us to fill our lives with the fruits of the spirit.

LARGE GROUP GAME

CEREAL: TRIX

LARGE GROUP LESSON

CEREAL: TRIX

BOTTOM LINE: Christians need the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn what the Fruits of the Spirit are and how they can impact our lives. KEY PASSAGE: Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit

INTROCereal lovers certainly have a variety of choices every morning. If you want something basic and healthy, there’s Cheerios, Life, Shredded Wheat, Wheaties, Grape Nuts, or Raisin Bran. If you want something chocolatey, there’s Cocoa Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Reeses cereal, and Cocoa Krispies.

Strange as it sounds, you can even get fruit flavors! If you like strawberry flavor, there’s Frankenberry. If you like blueberry flavor, you can get Booberry. Years ago, you could get a fruit punch flavored monster cereal called Fruit Brute and another monster cere-al calle Fruity Yummy Mummy that had an orange flavor. Who wants to try an orange cereal? Anyone?

The most popular varieties are the ones that, supposedly, bring all the fruit flavors to-gether. Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, and Trix all offer unique ways to enjoy fruit flavors in your cereal bowl. They come in all different colors, all mixed together in a bowl, and even though the commercial says “Trix are for kids,” I assure you that adults love them too!

Fruit comes from vines and trees, but did you know that there is fruit that can grow with-in us? Jesus taught his disciples that they need to be people who bear good fruit.

READ LUKE 6:43-45

LARGE GROUP LESSON

CEREAL: TRIX

BOTTOM LINE: Christians need the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn what the Fruits of the Spirit are and how they can impact our lives. KEY PASSAGE: Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit

INTROCereal lovers certainly have a variety of choices every morning. If you want something basic and healthy, there’s Cheerios, Life, Shredded Wheat, Wheaties, Grape Nuts, or Raisin Bran. If you want something chocolatey, there’s Cocoa Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Reeses cereal, and Cocoa Krispies.

Strange as it sounds, you can even get fruit flavors! If you like strawberry flavor, there’s Frankenberry. If you like blueberry flavor, you can get Booberry. Years ago, you could get a fruit punch flavored monster cereal called Fruit Brute and another monster cere-al calle Fruity Yummy Mummy that had an orange flavor. Who wants to try an orange cereal? Anyone?

The most popular varieties are the ones that, supposedly, bring all the fruit flavors to-gether. Froot Loops, Fruity Pebbles, and Trix all offer unique ways to enjoy fruit flavors in your cereal bowl. They come in all different colors, all mixed together in a bowl, and even though the commercial says “Trix are for kids,” I assure you that adults love them too!

Fruit comes from vines and trees, but did you know that there is fruit that can grow with-in us? Jesus taught his disciples that they need to be people who bear good fruit.

READ LUKE 6:43-45

LARGE GROUP LESSON

CEREAL: TRIX

MAIN POINTA farmer who grows fruit wants trees that are healthy enough to produce good fruit. Trees that grow good fruit are pruned and cared for, but trees that don’t produce good fruit are cut down and tossed away.

Jesus wants us to be fruitful, to bear good fruit. He wants us to produce fruit that will benefit the world around us But what kind of fruit should a Christian produce? The an-swer to that can be found in Galatians.

READ GALATIANS 5:22-23

The Fruits of the Spirit aren’t actual fruits. They are things that will come from us if we are following after Christ. We will be people who love others. We will have joy, peace, patience, and kindness. We will be good and faithful. And we will have self-control.

DRIVE IT HOMEIf the Fruits of the Spirit are the good fruits that can grow in us, what would the bad fruits be? How about selfishness? How about a spirit of complaining and blaming oth-ers? What about a spirit of lying and tearing others down? A lack of self-control?

I think we’ve all had days when these fruits have come out of our hearts. Being selfish and self-centered is what comes naturally to us. We are born sinful people, and it is only by God’s grace that we are able to turn away from such things.

Paul sets a tall standard for us to follow. He challenges us to become people who are completely the opposite of our natural inclination. We need to be people who put God first, other people second, and ourselves third.

That’s not easy to do! Especially when we are surrounded with people who are selfish, hateful, and bitter with no self-control. But when we can live by the Fruit of the Spirit in a world filled with sin, we will set ourselves apart. We will show people that there is a better way to live. We will show them that God is real and that God can grow the same good fruits in their own hearts.

The Fruit of the Spirit has always held a special attraction for people who need Jesus. The Fruit of the Spirit was seen in the early believers who loved their persecutors even as they tried to harm and kill them. It’s still seen today in the people who are killed for their faith in third world countries. When we put God first and rely on him, he will make us a shining light for others to follow.

The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a real thing that can grow in our hearts. God can take these nine fruits and make us into something sweet and beautiful.

LARGE GROUP LESSON

CEREAL: TRIX

Ask God to grow the Fruits of the Spirit in your heart, and God will use you to draw oth-ers to his son Jesus.

CLOSE WITH A SIMPLE PRAYERDear God,

Fill our hearts with the Fruit of the Spirit so that others will know how sweet it is to follow Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

ICEBREAKERWhat’s your favorite fruity treat at breakfast?

MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITYPsalm 34:8Put each word of the memory verse on a card. Have the kids rearrange the cards and put the words in order.

SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITYHave the kids create their own commercial for Trix. Don’t forget the catchphrase: “Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONSRead Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23

What does Jesus say about growing fruit in our lives?

Why do we want to grow good fruit?

What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

Where do the Fruits of the Spirit come from?

How can God use the Fruits of the Spirit to lead others to Jesus? SIMPLE PRAYERDear God,

Fill us with your Spirit, and let the Fruit of the Spirit grow in our hearts.

In Jesus’ name,Amen

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (K-2ND)

CEREAL: TRIX

ICEBREAKERWhat’s your favorite fruity treat at breakfast?

MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITYPsalm 34:8Put each word of the memory verse on a card. Have the kids rearrange the cards and put the words in order.

SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITYHave the kids create a short skit to introduce all of the Fruits of the Spirit.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONSRead Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23

Why do we want to grow good fruit in our hearts?

What are the Fruits of the Spirit?

What are some “worldly” fruits?

Where do the Fruits of the Spirit come from?

How can God use the Fruits of the Spirit to lead others to Jesus? SIMPLE PRAYERDear God,

Fill us with your Spirit, and let the Fruit of the Spirit grow in our hearts.

In Jesus’ name,Amen

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (3-5TH)

CEREAL: TRIX

True or False.

There are nine different Fruits of the Spirit.TRUE

The Fruit of the Spirit is real fruit we can eat. FALSE

Love, Joy, and Impatience are Fruits of the Spirit. FALSE

Self-Control is one of the Fruits of the Spirit. TRUE

The Fruit of the Spirit can show other people that we are different and that God can change their lives. TRUE

POWERPOINT REVIEW GAME

CEREAL: TRIX

5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick With Your Kids

THIS WEEK’S LESSON: TRIX

CEREAL: TRIX

IN THE CAR:Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home:The artificially flavored cereal in a box of Trix are shaped liked lemons, oranges, and cherries. There is nothing fake about living our lives full of the Fruit of the Spirit. Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit

HANGING OUT:Make this week’s lesson real:Sit down with the family. Have each person pick one “fruit” to grow this week. Pray every day for God to grow your chosen fruit in each one of your lives.

AT DINNER:Here are some great discussion starters:- Why is it important that Christians grow good fruit in our lives? - What are the Fruits of the Spirit? - How can we get the Fruit of the Spirit?

AT BEDTIME:Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse:“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” -Psalm 34:8 (NIV) PARENT TIME:What you need to know:Living by the Fruit of the Spirit is a tall order for any believer, young or old. Pray for yourselves and your kids to grow the fruits, one at a time, so you can live more like Christ.

5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick With Your Kids

THIS WEEK’S LESSON: TRIX

CEREAL: TRIX

IN THE CAR:Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home:The artificially flavored cereal in a box of Trix are shaped liked lemons, oranges, and cherries. There is nothing fake about living our lives full of the Fruit of the Spirit. Luke 6:43-45 & Galatians 5:22-23, The Fruit of the Spirit

HANGING OUT:Make this week’s lesson real:Sit down with the family. Have each person pick one “fruit” to grow this week. Pray every day for God to grow your chosen fruit in each one of your lives.

AT DINNER:Here are some great discussion starters:- Why is it important that Christians grow good fruit in our lives? - What are the Fruits of the Spirit? - How can we get the Fruit of the Spirit?

AT BEDTIME:Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse:“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” -Psalm 34:8 (NIV) PARENT TIME:What you need to know:Living by the Fruit of the Spirit is a tall order for any believer, young or old. Pray for yourselves and your kids to grow the fruits, one at a time, so you can live more like Christ.

CUT O

N D

ASH

ED LIN

E

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one w

ho takes refuge in him.”

-Psalm 34:8 (N

IV)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one w

ho takes refuge in him.”

-Psalm 34:8 (N

IV)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one w

ho takes refuge in him.”

-Psalm 34:8 (N

IV)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one w

ho takes refuge in him.”

-Psalm 34:8 (N

IV)

Have the kids choose one Fruits of the Spirit and draw a picture showing what that fruit would look like in real life - a kid loving someone, showing self-control, etc.

CRAFT ACTIVITY

CEREAL: TRIX