Materials
A coin to be flipped by an impartial participant.

Activity
Divide the group into 2 even teams. Have teams sit on the floor facing. Members from each team must hold the hands of the team-mates next to them, preferably behind their backs so that the other team cannot see them. At the end of the line, place a spoon on the floor between the last two people. On the other end, you need an impartial person (you or a volunteer) to flip a coin. Everyone except the two people at the beginning of each line must close their eyes, or sit facing out and all must be silent.

When the coin is flipped, if it is heads, the people at the beginning of each row squeeze the hand of the person next to them, who then squeezes the hand of the person next to them, and so on. When the squeeze gets to the end, the last person can open their eyes and grab the spoon. The team that grabs the spoon first sends the person from the end of their line to the beginning and everyone shifts down one. The object is to be the first team to rotate all the way back to the starting position. If the coin is tails, nothing happens and you flip again. If the people at the beginning of the line squeeze on tails, they go to the end of the line (rotating backwards). They also go backwards if anyone on their team opens their eyes prematurely or makes any noise. It is helpful to have judges standing behind each team to watch for erroneous squeezes and to listen for noises.

Application
While the line cannot see what the teacher is doing at the front, they can feel the touch of the person in front of them. One person squeezes the hand of the next until it reaches the end. Each person will in time be at the front of the line and the leader. In the same way God leads our lives. He must not touch us directly but through someone else. In time he may choose us as leaders to touch the life of another person.

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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1. Place the items below on index cards. You can then play matching games with them. Place the cards writing side down down in a grid. children turn over two cards. If the question matches with the occupation they get to keep those cards and try again. Otherwise they turn the cards back over and the next person tries to match two cards.

2. Make two sets of cards listing only the occupations. Divide the class into two teams and give each team one set. Call out the description and then the first team to bring you the card with the correct occupation gets a point. Award the team that gets the most points.

Who would you talk to if the teacher made a mistake marking your paper?
Teacher

Who would you go to if you had a water pipe leaking?
Plumber

Who would you go to if your electricity was not working?
Electrician

Who would you go to if someone robbed you?
Police

Who would you contact if you saw your house on fire?
Fireman

Who would you talk to if you were feeling very sad?
Counselor

Who would you talk to if you wanted something to eat?
Cook

Who would you go to if you needed a haircut?
Barber

Who would you go to if your wristwatch quit working?
Watchmaker

Who would you go to if your dog was sick?
Veterinarian

Who would you go to if your computer quit working?
Computer repairman

Who would you go to if your car engine wouldn’t start?
Mechanic

Who would you go to if you needed spiritual advice?
Pastor

Who would you go to if your vision was getting blurred?
Optometrist

Who would you talk to if you need a reference book on animals?
Librarian

Who would you talk to if your hearing was going bad?
Audiologist

Who would you talk to if you had a heart problem?
Cardiologist

Who would you talk to for legal advice?
Lawyer

Who would you talk to if you needed medicine?
Doctor

Who would you talk to if you had a toothache?
Dentist

Who would you go to in order to have your sin cleansed?
Jesus

Application
A teacher may give us bad marks, but we can learn from our mistakes. A mechanic may take the car completely apart, but when he puts it back together it works. A dentist may pull a tooth, but he makes room for a new tooth. Sometimes the solutions to problems are very difficult or even painful. Also discuss the idea that we had a sin problem and as such need Jesus.

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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Materials
Cleaning supplies such as a broom, soap, cloth, detergent, scrub brush and scrub pad, window cleaner, brass polish, furniture polish, etc. Take a look under your sink or among your cleaning supplies and see what you can find. Warning: Do not open any chemicals or other cleansing agents as they can be irritants to skin and eyes. Some are even poisonous.

Activity
Bring all the cleaning supplies before the children and ask then to identify what they all have in common. Of course they are all cleaning supplies. Then have children name what each item is used for. You may wish to bring some dirty dishes, tarnished metal, etc. to demonstrate cleaning for the children. Have children look about the room for things that need to be cleaned. Some children, depending on their age may wish to help clean the room.

Application
Talk about the fact that sometimes when you are cleaning you have to use a lot of pressure. It is good that these things aren’t alive and don’t have feelings because it could be very painful. Let them rub a scrub brush or scrub pad along their skin to see that it can be painful, especially if you have to scrub very hard. Explain that sometimes pressure and discomfort or even pain is needed in order to clean something. Jesus was placed under immense pressure and incredible pain on the cross that we might be cleansed from our sin.

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
Soft Dodge Ball

Activity
Have the entire group make a circle. Pick four to five people for each team. The first team goes into the center of the circle and forms a line by attaching their hands to the waist of the person in front of them. The people who make up the circle throw the ball at the “dragon”, trying to hit the last person below the waist. Once hit, the last person returns to the outside circle and players continue to hit the new person at the end of the dragon until there in only one person left and they too are hit. A new team then goes into the middle. Time each team to see which one can last the longest.

Application
In your team you were eliminated until only one person was left. Paul was looking at his life and eliminated everything until one person was left. It wasn’t people he eliminated but accomplishments. Paul only wanted one person left– Jesus. (Philippians 3:4-9)

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
String and a piece of candy for each two persons. (Polo mints with the hole in the center works well.)

Activity
Have two contestants face each other. Have a long piece of string with a candy of some sort tied to the exact middle. Put each end in a contestants mouth. Say go and the contestants will pull the string into their mouth and move their way toward the center of the string to get the candy. The person who gets the candy in their mouth the first is the winner.

Application
Paul wanted the Philippians to know that being first, or getting possessions and things, was no longer important to him. Winning was also not important. He was willing to lose everything if he could have Jesus. His only concern was Jesus. In the game, the candy was in the center of the string. But it wasn’t titles or accomplishments that Paul focused on for the center of his life. He wanted Jesus to became the center of his life. (Philippians 3:4-9)

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…

Any game that involves elimination of members can be used to teach about persecution. Check out the “games” book at my website www.vanishingcookies.com/kensapp for more ideas.

As a simple elimination activity, you might also place several peices of paper in a bag or box containing characteristics. Some possibilities are:

* Wearing red
* Wearing sneakers
* Wearing spectacles
* Wearing a belt
* Wearing sandals
* Wearing a watch
* Has Long Hair
* Brushed their teeth today
* Ate rice today
* Has a $2 note
* Has a pet
* etc.

Continue drawing slips from the bag until everyone is eliminated. Last person left gets a prize.

Debrief
How did you feel when you were eliminated? Do you feel that at times the world eliminates you because you are a Christian?

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
You’ll need a Bible and five large bags of candy.

Activity
Take five students away from the rest of the group, and explain to them how the game works. For smaller classes you might have only two or three assistants. Be sure that the other kids cannot hear your instructions to the five. Tell each of them you are going to give them bags of candy to share with the other students. There’s only one catch: They can give candy only to the boys, or only to the girls, or only to kids with black tennis shoes. (The idea is to pick something that will eliminate at least half of the kids.) Remind kids not to tell the others why some kids are getting candy and others aren’t. Warn kids to only give candy to those in the designated group, even if the other kids beg.

After giving the first five their instructions, tell the rest of the group: In a moment, I’m going to let the five kids back into the room. When they come in, they’ll have some candy to share. You can ask, bribe, and beg them for it, but do not take it from them. You may or may not get some candy. If you figure out what the requirement is for getting candy, you’ll be entitled to a double portion.

Call the first five kids back into the room. Allow them time to circulate through the group handing out candy to the chosen few. When they have completed their task, you can play the game again if you wish, picking five new kids to pass out cancly. During this round, pick a ciifferent category of kids to give candy to. For example, you may choose those who have buttons on their shirts, those who are wearing white T-shirts, or those with long sleeves, etc.

Debrief
* What was it like to be one who received candy?
* What was it like to be left out or passed over?
* Did anyone figure out why he or she did not get candy?
* Are you nicer to some people because of the way they look, or do you ignore others because they appear to be different?
* What makes you treat some people differently than others?
* Do others treat you different because you are a Christian?
* Do others treat you badly, or make fun of you as a Christian?
* How can today’s passage help you dela with times of persecution?

Application
Finish by passing out candy to everyone! Explain that while the world may persecute us and leave us out because of our Christianity, Christ promises a reward to all Christians. We can take Heart, because Christ has overcome the world.

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
Several sheets of paper or newsprint for each student. Tape

Activity
Ask students to write one thing they are troubled about on each sheet of paper. They can also write something that concerns them, worries them, or gives them difficulty. They might write “grades,” “family,” or “friends.” Anything that upsets or discourages them is acceptable. Tell them to NOT put their name on the paper or share it with anyone else. This is strictly between them and God.

While kids are writing, tape a line down the middle of the floor.

When each person has at least three to five things written, each on a separate page, have kids wad their pages up into a ball. Form two equal teams of participants. Have the teams face each other standing on opposite sides and approximately three feet (1 meter) from the tape line. If you have more than twenty kids, you might want to consider forming additional teams.

On your signal, they must throw all of their troubles onto the other team’s side while trying to keep that teams concerns off your side. The object is to get as many concerns as possible on the other team’s side before the time is up. Give them about 1 minute.

Part 2
When the time is up, put a large trash can in the middle of the room. This time, give them thirty seconds to work together to get all of the concerns into the trash can.

Debrief
1. How was the way you treated your troubles in this game like or unlike the way kids really treat their troubles?
2. What happened when you dumped your troubles on each other?
3. What thoughts go through your mind when your friends dump troubles and problems on you?
4. What do you think about dumping your troubles on Christ?
5. How can you help your friends bring their troubles to Christ?
6. What are your thoughts about how Christ can help you with your troubles?
7. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus has overcome the world?

Application
Gather around the trash can and ask for several people to pray that group members will be able to let go of their troubles. If you have a dumpster, you may hold a ceremonial trash dumping after the prayer.

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
Various Fishing Lures/bait for different types of fish, fishing pole or net (no hooks for safety’s sake.)

Activity
A fishing line by itself won’t catch fish. Even a hook by itself isn’t going to ctach fish. Have youth try to identify the hook/bait to catch different types of fish. The youth that correctly matches the most lures with the fish they would attract is awarded a prize.

Debrief
Have a fishing expert select some of the common fishing lures and explain how each is used. Some lures sink to the bottom where catfish and bottom dwelling fish can be found. Others such as a fly float on the surface. Some move through the water and have spinning parts and reflectors to attract the fish. Some look like worms while others look like shrimp or other live creatures the fish like to eat. Some people may not use lures but instead use live bait. Ask the fisherman to display and describe important equipment used in fishing such as fishing rods, waders, floats, weights, and hooks. After the fishing tour and demonstration have youth read Matthew 4:17-22 and then ask:
1) How is telling others about Jesus similar to fishing?
2) Fishing lures are created to be attractive to fish. How can you make the good news about Jesus attractive to your friends?

Application
Jesus said in Matthew 4:19, “Come along with me and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men.” He was sending His disciples out to fish for men, rather than fish. Jesus wants each of us to go fishing with Him every day of our lives. We are to fish for people to bring to the Lord. We are to tell them how Jesus loved them so much that He died on the cross to forgive their sins. We must tell people how they can invite Jesus into their hearts to become their Savior. That way, we become fishers of men and helpers of Christ.

Closing
As a possible closing gesture, give each youth a fishing lure (in which the hooks have been removed for safety) and tape them to a card with a key phrase from the passage.

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
Obtain the leaves from various trees and plants. Have some green leaves, some dried ones, big ones, small ones, different shapes, wilted ones, etc.

Activity
Have kids identify the plants from which the leaves come. You could number the leaves and then have kids identify each leaf by number. Reward the youth that gets the most correct.

Debrief
Explain that the leaves dry up and die when disconnected from the tree. Our spiritual lives will also dry up if we are disconnected from Jesus. Without Jesus we cannot even grow. John 15 describes this relationship between Christ and Christians as similar to that between a vine and branches.

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…