Children's Sermon, Object Lessons

Drops of Influence

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Our words can be words of life or words of destruction. This object Lesson for youth reminds us that the words we say have influence beyond just the moment. Also make a great Children’s sermon.

Materials

  • Two clear glasses as nearly alike as possible
  • A Bottle of red and a bottle of black food coloring

Preparation

  • The bottles of food coloring should be covered with white paper
  • On one print the words, “Good Influence”
  • On the other print the words, “Bad Influence”
  • Paste the label “Good Influence” on the bottle with red food coloring
  • Paste the label “Bad Influence” on the bottle with the black food coloring

What to Do

  1. Place the glasses in the center of the room or where the youth can clearly see them.
  2. Fill the glasses nearly full of water.
  3. Have the youth define “influence”
  4. Share the idea that every one has an influence for either good or bad; that we must guard ourselves every moment, for some thoughtless word or act might spoil another’s life.
  5. Share some personal examples of influence you have had for bad and good.
  6. Ask the youth to share some things that could be considered a good influence.
  7. Ask the youth to share some things that could be considered bad influence.
  8. Ask the youth to share some things they have personally done or said that influenced someone else.
  9. Ask “How much influence it takes to make a difference?”
  10. Put one drop of black ink into one of the glasses. The youth will notice with remarkable interest how quickly the color spreads’ and the pure water in the dish is spoiled.
  11. Emphasize how one drop will spread till it spoils the whole and how one little bad act may spread in the heart of another till a whole life is spoiled.
  12. Ask one of the youth to take that drop out of the water; they will tell you it cannot be done. And so with our influence, it cannot be undone.
  13. Put a drop of the red ink in the other glass and the bright color will grow and spread in the same way, and liken this to good influence.

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

We can be a positive influence as Christians

  • Youth can be a positive influence on other believers (1 Timothy 4:12)
  • Believers can be a positive influence on youth (Titus 2:6-8)
  • A godly person can be a positive influence an a spouse (1 Peter 3:1-7)
  • A Christian can be a positive influence upon the ungodly (1 Peter 2:11-12, 1 Pet 3:1-2; 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
  • A Christian can be a positive influence through encouragement (2 Corinthians 9:1-2; Hebrew 10:24-25)

We can be a negative influence as Christians

  • Our sin can negatively influence other Christians to also sin (Galations 2:11-13)
  • Our sin can negatively influence unbelievers to reject God (Romans 2:24; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5)
  • False teaching can lead others to error (Galatians 5:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:14)
  • Other verses: 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 8:10-13; 2 Timothy 2:16-18

Youth can be a positive influence by sharing the gospel with others (Romans 1:16; Colossians 1:3-6)

  • The gospel has the power to change the mind (Ephesians 4:20-23)
  • The gospel has the power to change our conduct (Ephesians 4:24; 5:8-10)
  • The gospel has the power to change spiritual condition – death to life (2 Timothy 1:10)
  • The gospel has the power to turn darkness into light (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Make it Personal

  • What difficulties do we face in trying to be a positive, Christ-like examples to others? In the home? Church? Workplace? Community, with non Christian friends?
  • If you were the only Christian someone knew, what picture of a Christian would they have? How would they define a Christian? What would they believe about Christians? What would they expect Christians to do and say?
  • How does the answer to these questions above differ from the Biblical idea of what a Christian is supposed to be?

Make it Practical

  • Are there parts of your life that you would not want others to imitate? explain?
  • What will you do to change? Who will you ask to help you?
  • How can you get started this week to be a more positive influence for Christ?

Close by brainstorming ways that youth can be a positive influence this week on their families, friends, and others.

Additional Scriptures

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
– 1 Timothy 4:12

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”
– 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 5:13-16

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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Creative Teaching Ideas

The Nature of God

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We were recently very blessed in church when we got the opportunity to meet and worship with the writer of the praise song “Jesus Shall Take the Highest Honor.” It really opened our eyes and hearts to the magnificence of God and we saw a glimpse of what a big and indescribable God He truly is.

When we think about God, it really blows our minds. There’s so many things to say about Him, many things about His character that we still don’t understand. This activity helps youth at least gain some perspective on the personhood of God and relate to Him in ways they can describe and (at least try to) identify with.

The Nature of God

Resources

  1. Balloons
  2. Newsprint or a large sheets of paper
  3. Markers for youth to write on the balloons and also to write on the newsprint

Preparation

  • To speed up the activity you can inflate the balloons in advance.

What to Do

  1. Divide the youth into small groups and give each group a marker and some newsprint.
  2. Individual groups brainstorm attributes of God and list their ideas on newsprint.
  3. Groups share their answers and vote on 5 most important attributes from the collective ideas of all the youth.
  4. Write the attributes of God on the inflated Balloons and place them in the center of the classroom.
  5. Have the youth group stand in a circle around the balloons. For larger youth groups split into 2 or more circles.
  6. Toss the balloons into the air. The youth must keep all the balloons in the air at once.
  7. If a balloon hits the floor, everything stops and the youth must discuss what God would be like without the attribute that touched the floor.
  8. If the same balloon hits the floor more than once, the youth must discuss one of the attributes on a balloon that has not been discussed yet.
  9. Once all the attributes have been discussed, have everyone take a seat and get out their Bibles.
  10. Share a few of the verses on the attributes of God. (Unless you have a lot of time, limit discussion to 3-5 attributes, but mention some of the others)
  11. Discuss how the attributes affect our relationship with God.

Variations

  • Replace the word “God” in the instructions above with “friend” for a lesson on the qualities of a friend.
  • Attributes of the Church (Christians)
  • Attributes of a Good father / Good Mother
  • Attributes of a Christian
  • Attributes of a missionary / evangelist
  • Attributes of Christ
  • Attributes of the Holy Spirit

Take It to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

God is…

  • Alive (John 5:26)
  • Beyond Comprehension (Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 145:3; Romans 11:33, 34; Isaiah 55:8).
  • Compassionate (Psalm 103:13)
  • Eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17)
  • Faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)
  • Father (Matthew 6:9; 7:9-11)
  • Forgiving (1 John 1:9)
  • Gentle (Psalm 18:35)
  • Good (Romans 2:4)
  • Gracious (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 31:19; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:16, 17:3; Psalm 103:8, Ephesians 2:7-9)
  • Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13; Exodus 3:2, 4-5; Hebrews 12:29; 1 Peter 1:16; Isaiah 59:2)
  • Incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25; Matthew 5:48)
  • Invisible (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 John 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:16; Col 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:27)
  • Just (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 45:21; Jeremiah 9:24; Job 34:12)
  • Love (1 John 4:8,16)
  • Merciful (Psalm 103:8)
  • Omnipotent; All-powerful (Revelation 19:6; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Genesis 17:1; 35:11; Romans 13:1; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:6; Matthew 19:26)
  • Omnipresent; Everywhere (Psalm 139:7-13; Jeremiah 23:23; Mark 5:10; Jude 6; Revelation 20:1-3; 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18; Isaiah 66:1; Acts 7:49; 17:27-28; Psalm 139:7-13)
  • Omniscient; All knowing (Psalm 139:1-5; Proverbs 5:21; Psalm 139:1-6; Job 42:2; Acts 2:23; 1 Timothy 1:17; Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:20)
  • Patient (Exodus 34:6)
  • Perfect (Matthew 5:48)
  • Personal (Exodus 3:14, Romans 9:19; Isaiah 1:18; Romans 11:33-34; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 18:19; Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 6:16; Exodus 20:5; Psalm 103:8; Deuteronomy 4:25; Genesis 6:6; Psalm 103:1)
  • Provider (Matthew 6:25-27)
  • Righteous (Exodus 9:27; Matthew 27:45-46; Romans 3:21-26; Psalm 129:4; Psalm 19:7-9; Jeremiah 9:24)
  • Sovereign (Psalm 93:1; 95:3; Jeremiah 23:20)
  • Spirit (John 1:18; 4:24; Matthew 16:17)
  • Truth (Psalm 117:2; 1 Samuel 15:29; 1 Jn 1:5; John 17:17; Titus 1:2)
  • Unchanging (James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 102:26, 27; Mal 3:6; But God can change his mind: Jonah 3:10; Gen 6:6)

Make it Personal

  • What attributes of God comfort you? Make you fearful?
  • How are the attributes of God revealed in his dealing with us?
  • Share a situation when you personally experienced one of the attributes of God. How did it make you feel? What effect did it have on your relationship with God, with others, or on the way you live your life?
  • What attributes of God should we also display in our words, thoughts, and actions?

Make it Practical

We are called not only to seek God and worship him, but also to be like him. While there are some attributes of God we can never have, there are other attributes of God that we are told to express in our lives as Christians. (Eph. 4:24, Colossians 3:10, leviticus 11:44, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:28-29, 1 John 3:2)

  • Which characteristics of God should do you need to express more in your life? Which is most difficult for you?
  • What can you start doing now that can help it to happen?

With all the awesome attributes of God, it may seem that God is out of reach. It’s hard to imagine that God should take an interest in us. But our awesome God can be found if we seek Him.

Close with a time of praise to God for who he is and for how he relates to us.

Scripture References

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
– Romans 1:20

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
– Jeremiah 29:11-13

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Game Ideas

Cat and Mouse

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Description

One of the biggest challenges right now is the “Back to School” blues. Summer is over and the reality of school has set back in again. Everyone’s back to pursuing something. Popularity, grades, sports, maybe even aspiring to music careers on YouTube, everyone faces the pressure to perform.

This game is great to blow off some steam and burn off a little energy in the youth group. As typical in any game of tag, it is a game of pursuit. This lends itself to a discussion of the things we pursue in life and what the Bible says we should pursue.

Resources
None Needed

What to Do

  1. Choose someone to be the “cat” and another person to be the “mouse” then ask the rest of the youth to hold hands and form a circle around the “mouse”.
  2. Have every two persons in the circle to drop hands so that they are in pairs. These partners must continue holding hands and cannot let go.
  3. The cat can cut through the circle in between pairs, but the mouse must run around the outside of the circle.
  4. The objective is for the cat to tag the mouse, but there is a small twist that balances out the cat’s ability to cut through the circle. The mouse can grab any free hand (or arm) of the partners forming the circle. (The partners will be holding hands or locking arms, but the outside arm of each person will be free.) If the mouse grabs one of these outside arms/ hands, the mouse forms a new partner with the person the mouse has attached to, and the person who was not grabbed now becomes the new mouse.
  5. If the cat manages to tag the mouse, they reverse roles and the cat becomes the mouse and the mouse becomes the cat.
  6. This game can usually go on for quite a while before the youth become bored. Usually I will set a time limit and a forfeit for the person who is the cat when the time is up.

Variations

  • For Christmas you could have the Grinch chasing the Puppy, or Herod Chasing Baby Jesus.
  • For Thanksgiving have the Farmer Chasing the Turkey.
  • For Easter you could have the Pharisees Chasing the Disciples.
  • For a lesson on King David, you could have Saul chasing David.
  • For a lesson on Moses, Have Pharaoh Chasing Moses.
  • There are a lot of places in the Old Testament where People are being pursued.

Take It to the Next Level

Take it Spiritual
In life, we may sometimes be pursued and other times we may be doing the pursuing. What are some things that we pursue in life?

Here are some of the things the Bible says we should pursue.

  • Love – 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NAS)
  • Peace -1 Peter 3:11 (ASV NAS RSV NIV); Psalms 34:14 (KJV ASV NAS RSV NIV)
  • Righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness – 1 Timothy 6:11 (NAS NIV)
  • Righteousness, faith, love, and peace – 2 Timothy 2:22 (NAS NIV)
  • Peace, Holiness – Hebrews 12:14 (NAS)
  • Prize – Philippians 3:12-14
  • Righteousness – Proverbs 15:9 (NAS RSV NIV); Romans 9:30-32 (NAS RSV NIV); Isaiah 51:1 (NAS RSV NIV)
  • Peace, Things that build others up – Romans 14:19 (NAS RSV)
  • To Know God – Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)

As you look over the things the Bible says to pursue, you’ll see they fall into the same two areas of the great commandment – To love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength, and to Love your neighbor as yourself – A right relationship with God and a right relationship with others.

Take it Personal

  • Which of these do people find difficult to pursue?
  • What stops people from pursuing these things of God?
  • When you think about your relationship with God – faith, endurance, righteousness, piety and holiness, how do you think you measure up?
  • What are you currently pursuing?
  • How can you direct that pursuit in a way that is honoring to God?
  • In what areas does your life – thoughts, attitudes, actions – need improvement?

Closing

  • What is one thing you can pursue this week in your relationship with God?
  • What is one thing you can pursue this week in your relationship with others?

Scripture References

“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB)

“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”
1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.”
Romans 9:30-32 (NIV)

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
Romans 14:19 (NASB)

“Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.”
Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)

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This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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Game Ideas, Icebreakers

Knock Down, or Build Up

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Description

There are times when we have fun, draw closer to one another, talk about all kinds of things, and experience the joy of being together. Other times though it seems that the things we say, or things that are said to us seem to hurt even more when it involves our families.

We often hear it said that the people we hurt the most are often the ones that are closest to us. There are times I wish I could have taken back the words the moment I’ve said them, but it’s often too late; damage done.

In all our relationships the things we do can say can either build up or tear down. This wacky youth group game presents the same choice to teams of youth.

 

STACKERS

 

Resources

  1. Plates and cups – You want an even number of plates and cups so they can be stacked. Don’t use breakables ones as they will be knocked over and dropped. Plastic works great, but you can also use disposable ones. Be warned that if they are too light, they can be easily blown over.
  2. Balls – Tennis balls work well but you can use a smaller ball to make the game more difficult or a bigger one to make it easier.
  3. Instead of cups and saucers you can use other objects but must take into account the weight of objects and the ball used. A light ball won’t be able to knock down heavy objects. Other options include using just cups, jenga blocks, shoe boxes, empty food cans (beware of sharp edges), Pringles cans, cereal boxes, wooden blocks, etc. The only requirement is that the objects must be easily stackable by the youth.

Preparation

  • Create an open space in the middle of a room or of an outdoor area.
  • Place the cups and saucers in a pile for each team.
  • Set up teams an equal distance from the piles in the center. The further away, the more difficult the game becomes.
  • Give each team a ball.

What to Do

  1. The first person on each team must run to the pile in the center for his or her team in the play area and stack all the plates and cups. The cups and saucers must be stacked so that each cup rests on a saucer, then the next cup and saucer is placed on top, continuing until a tower of cups and saucers is built.
  2. After the tower is built, the youth runs back to his or her team and tags the next person.
  3. The next person has a choice. EITHER run straight to their own team’s tower in the center and unstack and re-stack the cups and saucers OR
  4. Toss the ball to knock down another team’s tower. If the ball is tossed, the next person in line must retrieve the ball and bring it back to the group before the person who tossed it can run to their tower in the center and unstack and re-stack the plates and saucers.
  5. If a team’s tower is knocked down by another team, the person who originally stacked that particular tower must run to the center and stack them again before the next person can go to the center and unstack and re-stack the plates and saucers.
  6. The first team to have everyone on the team finish unstacking and re-stacking their tower wins.
  7. Strategically, a team has a choice to focus on building their own towers or taking time to knock down other towers so that they slow others down. Bear in mind that they could knock down more than one tower with one throw – including their own!

 

Take It to the Next Level

 

In all our relationships the things we do and say can either build up or tear down. It always seems easier to tear someone down rather than build them up. It takes a long time to build someone up with positive words, words of life, words of blessing, but only a moment to tear them down. And often, all the positive that was done before is wiped out in an instant.

We can all remember occassions when we have personally been torn down by someone’s hurtful words. Most of us have been intentionally, or unintentionally torn someone down with our words or actions.

  • Paul tells the Christians to let no “unwholesome talk” come out of their mouths. What are some things that might be called “unwholesome talk”? Words that tear down?
  • Why do people speak to others with hurtful words?
  • What are some examples of words that build up?
  • Before we do or say things to others, we need to ask ourselves, will this build up or tear down? Will it benefit, or harm?
  • How should we respond when we have been hurt by words?
  • How should we respond if we have hurt others? What can we do to make it right?
  • How can we build up others who have been hurt?

Closing

Give each youth some adhesive address labels and a something to write with. They must write down encouraging remarks on the stickers and place them on the backs of other youth with a personal comment to encourage them. Be sure to let the youth know this is a time to be serious and if they can not do it in a meaningful, caring way you’d rather them not participate. You might want to have some soft music playing while they do this. Tell them to go build each other up.

Then ask for volunteers to come to the front and read the words on their back. Let the youth keep them and ask them to place them some place at home where they will be reminded of the encouraging words.

Action Point

Issue the youth a challenge to speak positive words to at least 2 persons everyday for the next week and then in the next meeting ask them to share their experiences.

Scripture References

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there be any virtue, and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8)

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

 

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This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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Icebreakers

Tee Freeze Icebreaker

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Description

Beat the hot days of summer with a frozen T-shirt contest for your youth. The objective is simple – Unfold a frozen t-shirt and wear it. But it’s not quite as easy as it sounds. It can be played as a team effort or you can have one frozen tee for each youth.

Resources

  • Gallon Freezer Bags
  • You’ll need one t-shirt for each team or participant. Larger shirts are best and if possible you want them all to be the same size. Sometimes t-Shirts can be torn or stretched in the process.
  • Water
  • Freezer

Preparation

  1. Soak each t-shirt in about 2 cups of water then wring it out. If there is too much water it will take too long to thaw.
  2. Once the shirt has been wrung out, nicely fold each one into a square that will fit inside the freezer bag. Once you have folded it flat, press it down again to try to remove even more water.
  3. Seal each bag, and place each t-shirt in the freezer so that each lies flat.
  4. Let them freeze for a couple of days for best results.
  5. If you need to transport the shirts to another venue, place them in a cooler filled with ice so they stay frozen.
  6. Want to play on the theme a little? Have “Iced Tea” for refreshments.

What to do

  1. Tell the youth you are going to have a real icebreaker game.
  2. If you play by teams, don’t tell the youth what you are going to do and instead ask for a volunteer from each team. (You don’t want more than 4 or 5 on a team or it gets too crowded and some youth end up sitting on the sideline and watching.)
  3. Give each youth (or team) a frozen tee.
  4. The objective is to use whatever means possible to thaw the t-shirt enough so that it they can put it on. (They’ll sit on them like hatching an egg, throw them on the ground, rub them with hands, roll them, stick them on bare arms and legs to use their body heat to warm them up enough to unfold them and put them on.) They’ll be worn out trying to get them unfolded enough to wear.
  5. The first person to get the t-shirt on wins! Heads and arms must be completely in the t-shirt for normal wear to be declared the winner.

Rules of the Game

You might want to set some rules such as:

  • You cannot place the t-shirt in water or any other liquids
  • You cannot microwave it or use any appliance or machinery to heat it up.
  • You cannot leave the game area
  • You are not allowed to use any sharp object on the t-shirt

Take It to the Next Level

Like many things in life, this game takes a lot of effort. It’s the same with building relationships. If you want to have relationships that aren’t so cold and are more warm and friendly, it takes work. “Cold hearted” and “Hard – hearted” are terms we commonly use to describe how youth relate to others. We also often talk about the warmth of friendship.

Take It Spiritual

In the Bible, Cold and Hot are used to describe the relationship of a person with God. But God’s greatest criticism is not to a person is either hot or cold, but to someone that is lukewarm. In Revelation, God refers to the church of Laodicia in the same terms.

“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot”. “Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

Laodicia had no water supply of its own, so an aqueduct was built to bring water to the city from hot springs. By the time the water reached Laodicia is was neither therapeutically hot nor refreshingly cold. And because of it, one of the strongest words in Revelation is used, emesai, meaning to vomit.

Take it Personal

  • What actions of a Christian might be described as Hot? Cold? Lukewarm?
  • How does a lukewarm Christian behave?
  • Why is lukewarm worse than being either hot or cold?
  • What is an area of your devotion to God that could be described as Lukewarm?
  • If we are cold or lukewarm, how can we become “On Fire” in our devotion for God?

Take Action

  • What can you do this week to become more fired up about your relationship with God?
  • What can you do this week to share the warmth of Christ with someone?

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Devotional

Road Kill Grill

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Had a chuckle a couple of weeks back when this image of a dead raccoon was painted over on the Franklin Road in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA.  Reminded me of this menu that was circulating on the internet many years ago.

Roadkill Grill

The Roadkill Grill Menu

 

“A Taste of the Wild”

 

Appetizers

  • Fried Deer Hide
  • Rigger Mortis Tortoise
  • Awesome Possom Blossom
  • Critter Fritters
  • Bug Juice Soup

“Fender Lickin’ Good” Entrees:

  • Chunk of Skunk
  • Rack of Racoon
  • Smear of Deer
  • Cheap Sheep
  • Flat Cat
  • Wreck of Lamb
  • Squeal Parmigiana
  • Robin on the Hood
  • Alley Cat-serole
  • Baked Chicken
  • Squiche Lorraine

Canine Cuisines

(“Eat like a hog when you taste our dog!”)

  • Poodles and noodles
  • Slab of Lab
  • Cocker Cutlets
  • Ground Round Hound
  • Hushed Puppies
  • Rabbit of the Day
  • “Thumper on the Bumper”

Special:
“Guess that Mess”

  • Guess what it is and you eat free!

Desserts:

  • Road Toad Alamode
  • Armadillo Crunch

    •  
     

“Food is more fun when you hit it on the run!”

 
 

Unfortunately, many unsuspecting animals end up on the menu of the Roadkill Grill simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were in the middle of the road.

And there are many young people who are in danger of becoming roadkill too. That’s because they are “middle-of-the-road” Christians. They are neither on one side nor the other. They live for Christ when it’s convenient, then live for themselves or for the crowd when that’s more convenient. They are Christians on Sunday, but the rest of the week you can’t really tell which side of the road they are on. They are middle-of-the-road Christians.

The Bible says, “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Also: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise they other” (Matthew 6:24). And further: “So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my moth” (Revelation 3:16). All of these Scriptures make the point very clear. If you are a middle-of-the-road Christian, you are roadkill.


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Game Ideas

Messy Games – Whipped Cream Bubble Relay

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Description

This is a simple messy game for youth and children with the mess coming from a whipped cream.

Resources

  • Pie tins (or paper plates) for each team
  • Bubble Gum for each team
  • Whipped Cream
  • Damp towels for clean up

Preparation

  • Set up a table for the pie tins
  • Set up the pie tins along the tables, side by side
  • Place an unwrapped piece of bubble gum in each pie tin and cover with whipped cream
  • Have additional bubblegum and whipped cream as replacements between each player

How to Play

  1. Divide the youth into teams.
  2. Line each team up across the room from the table with the pie tins.
  3. When the relay begins, the first player on each team will rush to the table. They must keep their hands behind their backs and without using their hands must use their mouth to fish around in the pie tin of whipped cream to find the unwrapped peice of bubble gum.
  4. Once the youth finds the bubble gum, he or she must chew it and blow a bubble.
  5. They then run back to their teams. While they are running back to their teams, someone must replace the bubble gum in the whipped cream and a little whipped cream for good measure.
  6. The first team on which all the players on the team complete the task wins.

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Creative Teaching Ideas

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Running for the Gold

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Running for the GoldWe’ve come to the end of the Olympic games. Seen the joy on the faces of the athletes at the closing ceremony and seen the flag passed on to Rio, the next hosts of the Olympics. For many of these athletes, this would mark the end of their career. Their last time competing on the world’s stage. As we recognize their achievements, we’re reminded of the spiritual race that still lies before us…

Running for the Gold

 

During the 2012 London Olympic Games, we watched athletes who have invested a lot of time, money, and immense effort in order to compete (often in a single event), hoping to receive gold, silver and bronze medals that will be hung on ribbons around their necks. In the original Olympic games the only prize the Greek athletes received was a crown of olive leaves cut from a sacred tree at Olympia. There were no medals and only the winner’s name was recorded. There was no prize for those who finished second or third. While today’s Olympic medals last much longer than a crown of olive leaves, they may not be worth as much as you think.

Olympic gold medals only need to be gilded with a minimum of 6 grams of gold. The rest of the medal is silver that is a minimum of 92.5 percent pure. Silver medals are made entirely of at least 92.5 percent pure silver. At today’s prices the gold medal is only worth around $300 and the silver medal is worth considerably less. But ask any athlete how much it is worth and they are sure to tell you it is priceless. Even so, these medals do not last forever. Medals can tarnish, be stolen, or even be lost. The ribbons they hang from will rot. The athlete’s moment of glory will one day be forgotten. Think about it, how many Olympic champions can you remember? How many world record holders can you name?

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (NIV).

Just as the Olympic Games has come to an end, and the athletes have been awarded their medals, the Olympic flame extinguished, our life will one day come to its end. The Bible says that we also compete, not for a medal, not for a temporary crown of olive leaves, not for honor and personal glory but for a crown that lasts forever. The opponents we face are the enemy and his forces and our own fleshly nature. The glory we receive is not that one moment on the podium but one that endures for all eternity. God’s crown is not for one winner, but for all who strive for righteousness.

The crown is our reward for running the race, for being faithful to our calling, for enduring the struggles and the hardships, for wrestling with the sad events and circumstances we cannot control and do not understand, for finishing the course God has set out for us.

Toward the end of his life Paul writes: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to ALL who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Take it to the Next Level

 

Life is like a race. Sometimes its uphill, sometimes it’s downhill. Sometimes you don’t know how far you’ve come or how far you still have to go. It’s more than simply showing up to the starting line.

The important factor is not how many start, but how many finish. It’s not a half-effort attempt, but a total commitment. It’s not taking short cuts, but following the rules. Only then can you win the prize.

It’s the pursuit of a goal, forgetting about what lies behind and instead straining toward what lies ahead, and casting aside anything that might hinder us. It’s the pursuit of Godliness. It’s something you strive for every moment of every day. We have our coach, our guide, the Holy Spirit and our training manual – the Bible. Our coach makes it clear to us what we need to work on, and the Bible provides instruction on how to make it happen. Both reveal areas where we need self-control, more discipline, and better focus. Both guide our training in righteousness. We must make a disciplined all out effort to act on that instruction. And at the end of this life, we will stand on the victors team. Christ has already run the race, being not only the first, but also the last to make sure that all of us in the middle cross the finish line in victory. Don’t just run. Run in such a way as to win. When things get tough, the discipline carries you through. When the moments of testing come, its the training that brings you the victory.

If you look at many of the great Bible characters you will see a period of training and discipline before God places them in the spotlight. Daniel in Captivity. Joseph in a prison. Moses in a desert. David as a shepherd among the sheep. John and Peter as Fishermen.  Saul (Paul) as a Pharisee.

 All destined to be used by God, yet all in a place of training where God prepared them for the race that was ahead. And God has plans for you too. Wherever you are now, whatever situation you are in now, is training not only for the present, but also for the race ahead. Maybe God has already brought you to the track. Maybe God is preparing you for the track. Whatever the case, he will work his perfect will in your life if you have the discipline and accept the training he has for you now.

Scriptures Verses for Youth Bible Study

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to ALL who have longed for his appearing.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'”

Questions for Youth Discussion

Rules

  • What are the things we are commanded to DO in these Bible verses?
  • What are we told to NOT DO in these Bible verses?
  • How are we to run?
  • What will result in disqualification for a Christian? What are we disqualified for?
  • What actions can cause us to lose our rewards?
  • What are the rules for Christian living?

Discipline & Training

  • What are the Christian disciplines?
  • Why did Paul live a disciplined life?
  • What is a disciplined life in the context of living as a Christian?
  • What are some of the Christian disciplines that prepare us for the race?
  • What are the characteristics of our training?
  • What does it mean to run in such a way as to get the prize?
  • What does the spiritual athlete need to exercise?
  • When have you “run aimlessly” or “beat the air”?
  • What requires discipline and self-control in your life?

Goals

  • What is our goal, our purpose as a Christian?
  • What can we do to ensure we finish well?
  • What is the prize for Christians?

Application to the Lives of Youth

* What lessons can you find in your past and present circumstances?
* What training and discipline has God revealed a need for in your life?
* What are some goals that you would like to trust God to achieve?
* What are your plans (i.e., activities) to achieve these goals?

What can you begin with today, so that at the end, you can say like Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, and now there is in heaven the crown of Righteousness.

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
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Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
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