Memorize a Bible verse in just a few minutes with 1 puppet and 1 leader. Of course you can add more puppets, but this works great if you have limited help. With the skit below, you can see how easy & fun it is to repeat the same verse over & over with your kids while never having a dull moment. Memorizing the Bible verse will be the children's favorite part of the service!

John 3:16 Skit
Leader = The non-puppet person. Puppet = The puppet! We generically call the puppet "Puppet" in our skits, but please, name your puppets before they perform. Puppets can be very sensitive and they do not like to be called puppets. It's rude because puppets are people too, ya know.

Leader: (address the children) I have somebody I want you to meet. His name is "Puppet" (call puppet by name) I am not sure why he is not answering me. Maybe he can't hear me. Will you help me call him? (have children call puppet) Louder! Louder!

Puppet: (pops up quickly) What's everybody shouting at?

Leader: I didn't think you could hear me calling you so I asked everybody to help.

Puppet: I heard ya but I was busy making a hammer sandwich.

Leader: A hammer sandwich?

Puppet: Yeah, ham or turkey, I couldn't decide which so I was running a lil bit late.

Leader: OK, whatever, I'm glad your here now so you can help us with our Bible verse, John 3:16

Puppet: I'm at your service, I'm here, ready to go, (puppet looks at kids and addresses them) How about you, are you ready? (kids answer ever so quietly as they always do) Well OK then, let's go (puppet looks at Leader)  Waiting on you.

Leader: (looks a confused by puppets last comment but gets right to the point) OK, repeat after me.

Puppet: OK, repeat after me.

Leader: No, repeat the verse after me

Puppet: No, repeat the verse after me

Leader: Stop repeating after me!

Puppet: Do you want me to repeat that or are you changing directions?

Leader: I want you to repeat the Bible verse, John 3:16 after me.

Puppet: I thought that is what we were doing.

Leader: Just repeat after me

Puppet: Just repeat after me

Leader: (very frustrated, gives up and goes straight to the verse) John 3:16

Puppet: John 3:16! John 3:16! John 3:16!

Leader: You only have to say it once. John 3:16

Puppet: Sorry, I just get so excited about John 3:16. John 3:16...

Leader: (address the kids) Could you guys please, help Puppet out. Repeat after me and show him how it's done. John 3:16

Puppet & Kids: John 3:16

Leader: For GOD so loved the world

Puppet & Kids: For GOD so loved the world

Finish out the verse with the kids & the puppet behaving and repeating himself as he should.

Puppet: (addresses the leader) Why do you get to have all the fun?

Leader: What do you mean, Puppet?

Puppet: You get to have everybody repeat after you but I don't get to have anyone repeat after me. No fair!

Leader: Well if it will make you feel better, maybe you can have everybody repeat after you.

Puppet: Everybody? Really? That would be fabulicious!   But can you tell me what to say just in case I forget?

Leader: Sure. John 3:16

Puppet: Sure. John 3:16 Repeat after me everybody!

Kids: Sure. John 3:16

Leader: For GOD so loved the world

Puppet: For GOD so loved the world

Kids: For GOD so loved the world

Continue with this pattern until the verse is finished out. End with John 3:16

Puppet: That was fabulicious! I know my verse now! John 3:16 For GOD so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life!. John 3:16! I think it is fabulolly that I am going to live forever in heaven with JESUS because I believe in HIM and have asked him into my heart, but all the excitement made me hungry. I'm gonna go finish my hammer sandwich now.

Leader: Bye Puppet, thanks for helping

Puppet: By kids! (exits)

The non-puppet Leader can repeat the verse once more quickly if the non-puppet person so desires.

The children hear the chapter & verse 10 times before you even get started, & then several more times throughout the skit. They get to interact with the puppet and repeat the verse themselves twice while listening to it over and over again, all while they are being entertained.

It's OK to say Booger! It's part of the rules!

If  you have chosen to go over rules before service, keep it short & make it fun. Prioritize & focus only on those rules that are most important for safety and order. Seriously, be serious when it comes to the serious stuff, but you can toss in a few boogers too.

Rule # 1 - You can pick your friends, & if you must do it, you can pick your nose. But, under no circumstances can you pick your friends nose, because we must keep our hands to ourselves. So please refrain from touching others and their boogers!

Verily you can't do it, if truly you can't understand it!

Consider the version of The Bible you are choosing to use in your services. We encourage you to use a version that is best understood by children. We love the King James Bible, but when it comes to children, you might as well be reading the scriptures in Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic.

The easier it is for them to understand, the easier it is for them to apply it to their lives and live it!

GOD'S WORD is just as powerful in Hebrew as it is in English, as it is in Spanish, as it is in Japanese, & Vietnamese. We believe GOD had a good idea that The Word would be translated & dialects would change over time. We believe that GOD made provisions for this and that HE is more concerned with comprehension & application than HE is with the "thees" & the "thou arts" & the "verily verilys".

Take time to consider. Take time to simplify.

We currently use the N.I.V. Bible in our ministry, but we encourage to pray and seek direction from God concerning this matter. We are confident that HIS Spirit will guide you in wisdom and in truth.