Materials
Two or three types of bubble making wands and bubble soap. Many different kitchen utensils like wire wisks make great bubble wands. You could also provide wire and wire cutters and allow older kids to design their own bubble wands.

Activity
Hold a bubble blowing contest. Have awards for verious categories:
* Biggest bubble
* longest lasting bubble
* Most unique bubble
* Greatest number of connected bubbles
* Most unique bubble wand

Discussion
1. What do all bubbles have in common?
Answer: Eventually they all burst!
2. What are some things that last forever?
3. What are some things that we strive for in life that are only temporary?

Application
Bubbles are Temporary
Bubbles come in all sizes and shapes, depending on the wand used to create them. Bubbles can be tiny or large, can be kept or set free, can be alone or connected. Regardless, all bubbles will eventually burst. The do not last forever.

Bubbles grab our attention / fascination
The world waves a wandful of fascinating temptations at us. Fun, romance, happiness, wealth, material possessions all hold our attention for a time, but they too are only temporary. When you think you have risen above the dangers, when yuo have been lifted above the frailties and difficulties of life, when you finally think you have something that will last a while, then suddenly the bubble bursts. What once seemed substantial is now only a memory. You reach out to grab what you always wanted and “POP!” its gone. You are left with nothing.

Scriptures
1 John 2:15-17; Mark 8:34-38 (especially v 35) See also Matthew 6:31-33; James 4:13-14 (especially in the version The Message)

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.

Learn More…

Materials

1. Rubber bands, paper clips, paper, masking tape, a measuring tape, Bibles
2. A large open area, preferable indoors to avoid issues with wind.

Preparation

1. Divide the youth into groups of 2 to 3 persons and place the materials in a central location accessible to all
2. Using the masking tape, mark off a starting position for youth to stand behind when launching their planes. Create a small cross (or X) some distance from the starting line as a target.
3. The objective is the create a paper airplane for the Flying Challenge
4. Announce that there will be several award categories:

• Plane that flies the farthest
• Longest time in the air
• Most accurate Flyer
• Most Creative

Activity

1. Give youth 10-15 minutes to create the planes.
2. Farthest: Have youth line up behind the line to launch their planes, on group at a time. You may wish to allow two throws or best of three, depending on time constraints
3. Longest time in the air: use the stopwatch to measure the time each plane is aloft
4. Accuracy: Have youth take turns trying to launch their planes so that they land inside the target area.
5. Creative: Most creative design

Discussion

1. Were you focused on trying to achieve a specific award or did you just create a general purpose plane? Why?
2. What were the key characteristics of your design? Why?
3. What were the keys to success for each award category?
4. In what ways are the paper airplanes similar to people? Similar to Christians? Different? Which one is most like you?
5. What are your goals in life? As a Christian?
6. Do you have just one goal or many goals? Why? Which goal is most important to you? Why?
7. What purpose do goals serve in life?
8. What goals did Paul have in life? What were Christ’s goals?
9. How are you similar / different in your goals as compared to Paul / Christ?
10. What factors / keys to success make you a winner in the Christian life?
11. What things can we people to be more successful? What do you need to change to be more successful as a Christian?
12. What things have you spiritually grounded / prevent you from soaring as high as you can as a Christian? What things are weighing you down spiritually? How can you lighten your load?

Applications

• Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 2:3-10
• Soaring as eagles
• Laying down our burdens

This Creative Teaching Idea for children or youth combines an object lesson with a learning activity to stimulate discussion of our goals in the Christian life

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.
Learn More…

Detective
The object of this game is to solve a criminal case created by the class. Two people who have not played detective before are appointed to be detectives. Ask them to leave the room while the class creates a case for them to solve. While the detectives are out of the room tell the class that no case needs to be prepared. Instead they are to listen carefully to the questions asked by the detectives. If the last word of a question ends with a vowel, a “y” or an “s” then the group answers, “yes” If it ends with anything else, the group answers “no”. The detectives then return to the room and are allowed to ask “yes or no” questions. The story is completed when you ask “are we done” in which case everyone else will reply “yes.”

Application
Inevitably the detectives will pursue an amazing story which they are creating. Many people are going through life asking questions and pursuing a false story while we know the truth. It is our job as Christians to proclaim the truth.

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.

Learn More…