You will need: copies of the ‘Temptation’ story.

• Ask the group to think about ’baddies‘ from films and stories. What do they look like and sound like? Ask them to do a baddie’s laugh! Is it easy to spot a baddie?
• Read the ‘Temptation’ story, putting on a baddie’s voice for the voice of the devil, either by reading it yourself or having volunteers if they are confident.
• Now reread it, shouting the devil’s voice. Repeat the story once more, but this time make the devil very gentle and friendly.
• Talk about which of the voices was the more persuasive. In which voice was the tempter more difficult to spot? How do we know what’s wrong and right?

Make

Spinning wheel (C 15 mins)

Make a spinning wheel

You will need: some thick white card discs (approx. size of large glass or saucer), one per child; dark colour felt tip pens; scissors; 45 cm of string per child.

• Give each child a card disc and invite them to divide the front and back of the circle into similar sized pie pieces, by drawing lines out from the centre.
• Invite them to colour the alternate sections on one side in the dark colour.
• Help them to poke two small holes near the centre with scissors and pull the length of string through, so that the disc is in the centre.
• (The children can now spin the wheels!) Demonstrate how to hold the ends of the string in each hand and twist the string in opposite directions in each hand, until the entire length is twisted. Then give the string a firm, brisk pull.
• Talk together about what happens – the dark colour is still there but becomes much paler – therefore the light is stronger than the dark.

Play

Tug of war (C+YP 10 mins)

Alternative activities exploring the need for tension to make us strong

You will need: a length, or lengths of rope; a piece of cloth or a scarf; some large curtain rings (optional).

• Have a length of rope long enough for two teams to hold at either end. The teams need be no more than one or two, depending on group size and space available.
• Hold a tug of war competition, or rounds, just for fun. Please note health and safety issues: make the teams as equal as possible; if mixed ages, talk to the older ones about sensible use of strength; and remember, the danger comes not from being pulled forward, but by falling back if the other team lets go!.
• Explain that the next challenge is more difficult. Tie a piece of cloth/a scarf to the middle of the rope and place a chair directly under it. The two teams have to work together to keep the cloth directly above the chair, but it must not drop down and touch it.

Alternatively

• In twos and sitting on the floor, give each pair a metre length of rope, with a large curtain ring in the centre.
• Explain that they both have to get to a standing position without putting their hands down to help, while keeping the ring in the centre of the rope.
• In both activities, talk about how Jesus had the devil pulling at him, but he also had the Holy Spirit, and that gave him the balance and strength to stand firm.

Listen and discuss

Glory torch (C+YP 5 mins)

An ongoing Lenten activity, looking for the glimpses of glory

You will need: a torch or torches.

• Look back at the Glory torch activity from last week (or introduce it this week).
• Consider this week’s passage. When they think that there is a moment of glory in the passage, the youngsters should shine their torches or take it in turns to shine the single torch.

Pray

Tug of war prayers (C+YP 5 mins)

A hands-on prayer

You will need: The rope/s from the Tug of war activity or rucksacks.

• Divide the group into two teams again and encourage each team to work together, to steady the cloth or balance the ring in the centre of the tug of war.
• Ask them to think about something they are struggling with at the moment – a difficult decision or pressure to do the wrong thing. Imagine that they are pulling against it with the help of the Holy Spirit, and pray:

  Holy Spirit, give us your strength to make the right choices,go the right way and pull in the right direction. Help us to stay strong, and to help each other. Amen.