Object Lesson | Replace The Inside

Source (Where I saw it): Original

Supplies:  Flashlight, paper, tape

Preparation: Roll up some tape and put it inside the flashlight, replacing the batteries.  Keep the batteries on hand.

The object lesson & how I used it...

Main Point: God makes us new!

Illustration: Walk up to the front and show the kids the flashlight.  Ask them what you use a flashlight for.  That’s right! To see in the dark!  Now try to turn on the flashlight (obviously it will not work because there is paper inside it instead of batteries).  Try a few times and wonder allowed what the problem is.  Ask the kids if they can think of what the problem may be.  Now open up the flashlight and reveal the paper on the inside.  Well there is the problem!  A flashlight can’t run on paper, it needs batteries like these (replace the batteries and turn on the flashlight).

Explanation: This is similar to how a lot of people are today.  On the outside they may look good, but the inside needs to be made new by God for them to be all they can be.  Without batteries a flashlight cannot be used for its true purpose.  When we hand lives to God it is like we allow Him to take the paper out of us and replace it with batteries!  We are made new!

Object Lesson | Salt vs Sugar

Source (Where I saw it): Original

Supplies:  Two bowls, some salt, some sugar

Preparation: In one bowl pour a little salt, in the other bowl pour a little sugar.

The object lesson & how I used it...

Main Point: It is our actions that identifies who we are!

Illustration: Walk up to the front and tell the kids you need a volunteer.  Show them the two bowls and ask them if they can tell you what is in each bowl just by looking at them.  Both bowls contain something small and white, but you can’t identify what they are just by looking at them.  Have your volunteer taste each bowl and then ask them what is in it.  Salt and sugar!

Explanation: Have the volunteer return to their seat and explain that you couldn’t identify what each were until they were in your mouth and acted on your tongue!  Then anyone could tell almost immediately what each were.  In the same why we can’t really tell who a person truly is just by looking at them.  Until we get to know them, and see their actions we don’t know who they are and what they believe in.  If someone says they really care about people and then go around punching people in the face, then their actions don’t back up who they say they are.  In the same way if we call ourselves Christians, our actions should back that up through our love for others.  We share God’s love in our lives by serving others, just like Jesus!

Object Lesson | Sand Mix

Source (Where I saw it): Original

Supplies:  2 small bottles, different colors of craft sand

Preparation: None

The object lesson & how I used it...

Main Point: Depending on God involves weaving God into our whole life!

Illustration: Come to the front and show the kids the little bottle.  Grab the craft sand and tell the kids that most people live their lives in sections.  They have time where they go to church and spend time with God and have a group of friends at church (pour a little bit of color into the bottle).  Then they have a time where they go to work or school and have those friends and coworkers (pour a different color).  Then they spend time with their family (pour another color). Then they try to do things to fill up their time like sports, tv, video games (add another color).  Then its Sunday again so they go to church (start the color process over).  When people do this it creates a segmented life, and most people only depend on God when they need something.

Explanation: The goal of our lives isn’t to have this segmented, compartmentalized life.  If we truly want to depend on God, then we need to weave that relationship into everything we do.  Much like how you depend on your parents right now for food, water, home, clothes, protection, and basically everything you do, God wants us to give Him everything in our lives.  Pour the one bottle into the other, this will mix all the colors together.  Dependance is all about weaving God into our everyday life and into every moment of our life.  It is a realization that God is there with us in every moment, and walking in that knowledge confidently.

Object Lesson | Dodgeball

Source (Where I saw it): Original

Supplies:  A dodgeball

Preparation: None

The object lesson & how I used it...

Main Point: We need to stay focused on God

Illustration: Come to the front and ask who has ever played dodgeball?  It is a really fun game.  Now how many of you when you go to play dodgeball just stand in the middle and face the wall?  Of course not what would happen?  Now how many of you start singing randomly and look at the ceiling?  What would happen if you do that?  What would happen if you start watching the people in the stands or another teammate?  You would get hit with the ball!  Who has ever gotten hit in the head with a ball?  It can make you dizzy and totally mess with your focus!

Explanation:  Explain that if you want to win in dodgeball, you have to be completely focused, because you don’t always know where the next ball is going to come from.  You already have to deal with that knowledge let alone allow yourself to be distracted by other things around you.  Life is the same way.  Things happen in life all the time that you have to deal with, and when you allow yourself to get distracted with video games, popularity, sports, etc you are just setting yourself up for failure.  Now not all those things are bad, its just when you start putting those things in front of your relationship with God.  god needs to be first in your life.  We all need to stay focused!

Object Lesson | Who Do You Want To Save You?

Source (Where I saw it): Original

Supplies: Sheets with pictures of heroes who you would want to be there to save you from a burning building and other things you wouldn’t want in charge of saving you like a banana or puppet.

Preparation: Create a slideshow or print of sheets of pictures

The object lesson & how I used it...

Main Point: Who do you depend on?

Illustration: Come to the front and tell the kids to imagine they are trapped in a burning building.  Smoke is all around them and there is no way out.  Just when you think all hope is lost, you hear a voice outside with someone coming to rescue you.  As I show you these pictures tell me yes or no if you would be happy to know this was the person or thing coming to save you.

Explanation:  We all have an idea of who we would depend on in certain situations, whether it is our parents or friends or someone else.  The truth is we need to depend on God in our lives first, because God never fails!