Cast the first paper wad!

Materials
Supply of crumpled up newspaper sheets for each team

Activity
Have kids form two teams, and have teams move to opposite sides of the room. Designate one team as the Cartoon Team and the other team as the Giants Team. Give each team a supply of papers.

The goal is for the teams to get their opponents "out" by hitting them with paper wads. Each team must stay on their side of the room. When someone is out, they must lie still on the floor.

Further explain that kids on the Cartoons Team are out when they're each hit once by a marshmallow, but kids on the Giants Team aren't out until they're each hit five times.

Let kids play until one team is out. Ask:
· Was this a fair fight? Why or why not?
· Is there really a winner when fighting or violence occurs? Why or why not?

Have everyone stand on one side of the room. Then stand by yourself on the other side of the room. Say: We're going to play the game again, but this time you'll be one team, and I'll be the other team by myself. It'll take ten paper wads to get me out, but only one to get any of you out.

On "go," simply stand in place without throwing any paper wads. When you've been hit ten times, fall to the ground, and pause for a minute.
· How did you feel when I didn't fight back?
· What does this passage say about returning violence for violence?

Application
Lead kids into a brainstorming session and discussion on practical responses to violence and retaliation. In John 8:1-11 Jesus refused to use violence as punishment for her sin, even though she derserved to die for her sin. Instead he chose to forgive her.