Image of an Invisible God

April 23, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
TV set

Activity
Explain that while we are surrounded by television signals, we cannot see them. In order to see this signal we need a TV to show it to us. Different channels are on different frequencies. Demonstrate the TV set to the children.

Application
A TV in some ways represents Christ. God is all around us but we cannot see him. But Christ came and brought the message of God to all the World in a visible form that people could see. Colossians 1:15-20

Variation or Addition
Demonstrate the use of a balloon or have competitions and games involving balloons. For application, explain that while we are surrounded by air, we cannot see it. When we blow up a balloon, we cannot see the air, but we can see the change it makes in the balloon. In the same way, others may not be able to see Jesus or God around them, but they will be able to see the change he makes in us. (Colossians 3:10)

This activity illustrates the truth that while God is all around us, it is through Christ and other Christians that we are able to see Him.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
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Children's Sermon

In God’s Hands

April 22, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Bring in a variety of objects and tools. You might use drawing materials (i.e. rulers, colored pencils, colored paper, scissors, glue, stickers, etc)

Activity
Have everyone create something with the tools you have provided. You could ask them to use the tools to draw things that are strong. Then bring the tools back together and command the tools to create representations of things that are strong. Of course the tools will simply lie where they are put.

Application
These tools are very useful, but only when they are in someone’s hands. The same thing is true of us. We can be useful to God, but only when we place ourselves in his hands.

Variation
This can be used as a teaching activity for youth by supplying a variety of tools and materials to youth and asking them to create something that represents a particular idea or concept. Award youth for the best creation, most creative representation, most realistic, etc.

This object lesson reminds us that we can only accomplish the things we were designed to do when we place ourselves in God’s hands.

Easter Collection
Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Creative Teaching Ideas

All You Need

April 21, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
A Bible and a soft object to throw, such as afoam ball or a wadded-up pair of clean socks.

Activity
Have everyone stand or sit in a circle. Say: “Let’s play a game called All You Need.” I’ll begin with a statement and will throw the ball to someone in the circle. Whoever catches the ball will finish the statement. For example, if I say, “All you need to make spaghetti is…” and then throw the ball to you, you might say, “boiling water.” And then you throw the ball to someone else, who might say “meatballs.” Then that person throws the ball to someone else, and so on. I’ll interrupt with new statements, so don’t be concerned if you don’t get to answer every statement. Let’s make sure everyone gets a chance to throw the ball.

Begin the game by saying: All you need for a good party is… Then have each person finish the statement as he or she catches the ball. As the game continues, interject the following statements:
· All you need to fix a flat tire is…
· All you need for a great concert is…
· All you need for a perfect weekend is…
· All you need to be popular is…
· All you need to make mee siam is…
· All you need to make friends is…
· All you need for peace is…
· All you need to recieve blessings from God is to … (PRAY)
ADD YOUR OWN IDEAS

Debrief
· What was easy about this game? What was difficult?
· Which statements took more thought? Why?
· Was everything mentioned really needed?
· Were some things needed that were not mentioned?
· Is prayer all we need? Why or why not?

Application
There are times when we think we need something, but it is not really a need. It is merely a desire, a wish. Sometimes there are things we need but we don’t realize it. Fortunately God promises to provide all our needs – Philippians 4:19. God is all we need and he blesses us with even more than we ask in our prayers.

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

Get Lost

April 20, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Activity
Form trios and have kids introduce themselves. Then tell trio members to alphabetize their first names and make the person with the name closest to A “get lost.” These people must quickly join different pairs. The last person to reach a different pair and the kids in that pair are eliminated from the game. Then instruct the new trio members to introduce themselves and tell each other when they were born. Direct the oldest and the youngest trio members to tell the other member to “get lost.” As before, new trios are formed and three players are eliminated.

Continue to play with new criteria for getting lost until only one trio survives. For example, tell each trio to send away the person who
* has the most colorful socks,
* has the oldest living grandparent,
* has the most cousins,
* has the least pets, or
* owns the largest pet.

Debrief
* How did it feel to be left out?
* What can we learn from this in our relationships with others in the church?
* What are some ways we tell others to get lost?
* What are some of the reasons we tell others to get lost?
* How can we be more united as a church or youth group?

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Object Lessons

Packages

April 19, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Wrap up several empty boxes in bright wrappers. Try to use boxes that are from items the participants would enjoy such as toys, snacks, etc. If the box obviously looks like object participants like, this object lesson is more effective.

Activity
Give participants a lot of play monopoly money and then hold an auction for the gifts. As you hold up gifts allow the students to try to guess what is wrapped up. (Don’t let them touch the gifts or they will guess the boxes are empty) You might suggest that some of the students can team up to buy an item and pool their money together. After all gifts have been auctioned off, allow everyone to open their gifts. Of course they will all be disappointed that the boxes are empty. Then bring out a treat for everyone.

Debrief
We often spend a lot of time, money, and effort for things we think are going to be so wonderful and when we finally get them we still feel empty and disappointed like these empty boxes. Yet Jesus promises us a gift of eternal life to everyone. We don’t have enough money to pay for it, but he paid for it with his life on a Cross. That’s what Easter is about. That’s what salvation is about. Jesus paid the price so we could have the gift of eternal life. We can try to find enjoyment and happiness in life through all kinds of things, but they can only be found in God.

This object lesson can be adapted for all ages and used as a children’s sermon, a teaching illustration or as an object lesson. Most people at some time or another have spent time, effort and money on things that did not satisfy, that left us feeling empty and maybe even cheated. Only the pursuit of God will bring true fulfillment in life.

Easter Collection
Games and Activities in celebration of Easter.

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Creative Teaching Ideas

Puzzle Pieces

April 18, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Puzzles – You can use large wooden children’s puzzle pieces for both and youth or children. Cardboard puzzles with a limited number of pieces can also be used. You will need more than one puzzle – one for each participant in a small group or divide the class into multiple groups and have a puzzle for each group.

Activity
Mix up the peices so that the pieces that go to each puzzle are with the wrong frame or in the wrong box. To make it more difficult completely mix up the pieces. Of course students won’t be able to fit the peices into the wooden puzzle frames because they are the wrong peices. And the others will have more difficulty because they are in the wrong box. Let the participants trade pieces and correctly put together the puzzles.

Debrief
King Solomon also tried to fill in the holes in his life with peices that didn’t fit. The book of Ecclesiastes is the record of the results. Only God can fill the puzzle of the life He has planned for each of us.

Makes a great Children’s sermon, object lesson or learning activity for youth to introduce a lesson on God’s plan for our lives.

Children's Sermon, Object Lessons

Freedom

April 17, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

“You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” -John 8:32

Materials
Orgami Paper Bird and paper cage.

Discussion Starter
Would you like to be a bird? Why?

Activity
Place the bird in the cage. Ask, how do you think the bird feels now?

But its a gold cage. He doesn’t need to worry about food or water. He doesn’t need to worry about rain or snow.

Application
What if the bird always lived in a cage?
In a way this describes us. The name of our cage is “sin.” We are born in sin. But if we know Jesus, (the way, the truth, and the life) then we will be set free from sin.

Variations
Use other keys and locks as object lessons, Trick handcuffs, combination lock, magician’s rope trick.

Key point
Only one key fits each lock
If you know the secret you can escape from the handcuffs. If you know the combination you can open the lock. If you are tied up, if you know the trick you can escape from the ropes which bind you.

Creative Teaching Ideas

Spiritual Compass

April 14, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Bible Text
John 16:13-14

Materials
A compass

Central Truth
The Holy Spirit guides us

Activity
Set the Stage: As a small game stand in the center of the room and let students arrange themselves in lines next to you to form a cross “+”. Designate one line of the cross as “North.” Designate the remaining three lines the other directions of the compass (East, etc) Then using the compass, let youth rotate themselves so that the correct line is facing north. Ask them to freeze in position. They must remember this position. Their line must always be arranged in the position it is now arrange in and correctly aligned to the compass.

Game Play:Move to another place in the room. On your signal the four teams are to reform the compass at the new location, pointing themselves in the correct directions. (To make it more difficult, stand in a doorway, next to a wall, squat under a table, etc.) First line of the cross to get in the correct position wins. Make sure all four teams are facing their respective directions of the compass before you freeze them and move to a new location.

Debrief
Ask the youth to point to north. Check to see who is correct with the compass. Then try to confuse the youngsters by turning round, going to a corner or standing on a chair and asking where north is from those positions.

Whatever position we are in, a compass will direct us accurately to north.

Application
The Holy Spirit is our inner ‘guide’. Look up John 16:13-14. The Holy Spirit will keep us on the right path, always pointing us to Jesus. It is our responsibility to align ourselves with his direction.

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Food for Thought

Onion

April 13, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

When you peel away the layers is there anything left?

Take away the titles? Take away the accomplishments? Take away the positions? Take away the opportunities to serve? Take away the layers of denial, the secrets, the bandages and salves that carefully conceal the scars and wounds.

Is there anything left when stripped of all the layers that are worn to protect?

Fear. Cold. Nakedness. Pain. Exposed to all the elements of not only ones own emotions, but to the emotions of the crowd. Sensitive to the slightest touch. Everyone staring, ones complete vulnerability on display.

Yet when you are stripped of everything, you realize that some things do still remain:

God
God is still God
God still holds the future
It is enough to be in His Hands
He who began a good work perseveres. He will complete it.
Titles, positions, and opportunities may all be removed, but God’s call remains.
And His Word still calls out in the storms – “Peace. Be still.”

People
Friends at your side
The strength of encouragement
Love that strengthens
That sees the flaws in all their ugliness but also chooses to see the beauty.

The need for Healing
Some wounds need to be exposed to the light. Left to fester they never truly heal. But when exposed to God and His People Healinq begins.

Children's Sermon

Created with a Purpose

April 9, 2005 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
Bring in a variety of unusual objects – strange looking can openers, the scoop that makes balls of fruit, a thread bobbin, money clip, a mouse-ball from a computer mouse, a spring from a ball point pen, a toothpick, dental floss, a zipper or button, a rivet, a staple remover, a sleeve for film negatives, a chuck key from a drill, a small screw or nose pad from a pair of glasses, a chisel, a golf ball with the outer covering removed to reveal the rubber strings, door stopper, corkscrew, and any other small objects that may be difficult to recognize.

Activity
Ask children to identify the function/ purpose for each object. Whenever an incorrect purpose is suggested, respond with, “We might be able to use it for that, but that is not why it was created.”

Discussion
Discuss how each was created with a very special purpose. You could use them for different things, but they were really created with a specific purpose in mind. God created each of us with a very specific purpose. We didn’t have a choice in how we were created – But we can choose to live according to our purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11-14, Psalm 139:13-16

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