Materials
Obtain a ball of string or yarn.
Description
In this creative learning activity, the string or yarn serves as an object lesson illustrating the relationships and friendships we have with each other.
Activity
- Sit the group on the floor in a circle.
- Holding firmly to the string, toss it to a person in the circle.
- The person receiving the string must name a quality (of the person who tossed it to him/her) that makes them a good friend.
- The person receiving the string, holds firmly onto the string and tosses the ball on to another person. The string should be held above the ground.
- Continue until everyone has received the string at least once and said at least one quality of a friend that the person who tosses it to them possesses.
- You will have a spiderweb representing our relationships.
Discussion
What makes a friend is the connections we make, the events and experiences we share, the discussions we share. Eventually, if we fail to share with each other or if we do things that “break” the relationship the friendship begins to fall apart.
- “What do you do to be a friend and to have friends?”
- What kinds of relationships do we make?
- Using a poster board or whiteboard, make a list of the qualities your group mentions.
Application
This list will probably include: time spent together; listening to each other’s problems, sharing joys and sorrows, and sticking together no matter what happens. Most things we include on “how to be a friend” can be an essential part of a developing relationship with Jesus Christ. He’s not just a band-aid for the rough times, but wants to be with us always.
For a variation of this activity see “Hold All Things Together”
MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
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