Object Lessons

Object lessons are an invaluable way to drive home your Main Teaching (and other Bible doctrines and principles) to your students, especially those who are visual learners. You can find an object to use as a visual aid for almost any lesson, but the following list is a collection of some of our favorite children's church "object lessons" that help to illustrate particular teachings:

The Weight of Sin

As you are teaching about sin (either the sin of unbelief while teaching about salvation for the lost, or any sin while teaching your saved students about having a victorious Christian life), use the bottle to spray water (sin) on the balloon (student). Show them how sin can weigh them down and make them ineffective for the Lord. Then use the towel to wipe away the water and illustrate the restoration that Jesus Christ can offer as He washes away sin with His blood. If done correctly, the water will weigh down the balloon and cause it to drop; and wiping away the water will cause it to rise up again.

Let Go of Your Sin

As you are teaching about gaining victory over sin, ask for a volunteer from your students. Have the student stick his hand into the jar and grab the "sin." Now tell him to pull his hand out without letting go of the sin. This will not be possible. Illustrate that it is only once we "turn loose of sin" that we are free to be victorious and do what the Lord has in mind for us.

Washed by the Blood

Before class combine some dishwashing liquid and red food coloring in a small container. Set the bowl of water on a table in front of you as you are teaching about sin.

Explain to the children that the bowl of water represents our lives and the black pepper represents sin. As you teach, sprinkle a little pepper into the water each time you mention an example of sin. Then, as you are sharing the gospel, apply the "blood" -- pour or drop some of the red soap into the center of the dirty water, and the "sin" will vanish to the sides of the bowl.

Overcome Temptation

Demonstrate to the students how a rat trap works by setting it and allowing it to snap a pencil in half. Talk about the dangers of a rat trap... particularly to a rat! Explain how the rat is lured or tempted by the bait (cheese, peanut butter, or whatever). Ask the students what will happen if the rat gives in to the temptation.

While having this conversation, discreetly move the spring off the bail so that the rat trap won't work. Set the trap again as if you are going to snap another pencil. Ask for a brave volunteer (you might not get a volunteer, so you'll have to select someone) to be your rat. Act as if you're tempting your "rat" to take the bait; tell him to go ahead and put his finger into the trap. If he is brave enough to stick his finger in, illustrate how that God can make a way of escape. If not, commend him for not falling into temptation (and then go ahead and show the way of escape).

Tea Bag Christianity

As you are teaching this lesson, actually prepare a cup (or bowl) of tea for the students to see. Explain that Christians are like tea bags, and Christ is like the tea leaves. Christ lives within us if we are saved, but His presence is much more noticeable when we get into "hot water." You can tell what a Christian is really made of when trials come along.

So Christ can be in you, but He may not be too useful to anyone else until you experience some trials or problems. If you respond properly to trials, you will be more useful to God because others will be able to see how He is working in your life.

Don't Leave the Lord Out

In preparing for this lesson, pre-measure the amount of rice needed by putting the balls into the can and adding enough rice to fill. Be sure to shake the rice down until it is really full. Then pour it into a container with lid to transport to children's church.

During the demonstration, talk about how we go throughout our day allowing all of life's events to happen and be poured into our minds and hearts. As you are saying this, begin to spoon or pour rice (which represents the different components of life) into the can. Then say that at the day's end, we try to cram in the Lord after we've filled our minds with everything else. Try to stuff the balls (which represent Father/Son/Holy Ghost) into the can. They obviously don't fit after the rice has been added.

But... pour the rice back into its original container... if we make time for the Lord first, we find that everything else fits perfectly; and we are able to be balanced and happy. Demonstrate this by inserting the balls first and then pouring in and shaking down the rice until everything fits.

This object lesson submitted by A.J. Cameron of West Plains, MO.

What's on the Inside

Select a student who has been particularly attentive and participating in children's church. Commend the behavior and invite the child to select one of two wrapped gifts. Allow the child to unwrap the gift and show the contents to the rest of the class.

The student will likely select the beautifully wrapped gift but receive a very undesirable "prize." Discuss how that we often judge people from the outside, not having the ability to see inside their hearts, as God can. After the brief object lesson instruction, offer the child another prize ~ the unattractively wrapped gift containing a nice prize.

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