Creative Youth Ideas: Object Lessons Archives

Advent Alphabet

Alphabetically listed are 25 items commonly associated with Advent and Christmas, one object lesson per day. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 09:22 AM on December 06, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Christmas, Advent, Symbols, Traditions

Baby Pictures

Are we content even when our youth group never grows? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 04:49 PM on November 16, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Spiritual Growth, Maturity, Child of God

Briefcases

Use this Object Lesson using briefcases for a discussion on appearances and of chasing after new things. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 09:55 AM on November 13, 2005 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: Appearance, External, Heart, God's Judgment, Discernment, Obedience

By Him All Things Were Created

Create a simple booklet to illustrate the days of creation and remind them that Christ was involved in Creation (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 01:23 PM on April 25, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Creation, Christ

Calling God

Calling God is different from talking on a mobile phone (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 09:30 AM on November 06, 2005 | Link | Comments (5)
Keywords: Prayer, Calling God, Talking to God, Communicating with God

Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee

May the New Year something special. Go into it determined to make things better around you! (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on January 02, 2007 | Link | Comments (7)
Keywords: New Year, improvement, adversity, trials, difficult circumstances, struggles, tribulations

Christ Was Born for All People

Use this object lesson as a reminder that Christ was born as a gift to everyone. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on December 22, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Christmas, Light of the World, Body of Christ, Christ Came for All

Clear Marbles

Christ turns our world upside down. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:21 PM on March 12, 2005 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: Change, Redemption, spiritual transformation

Coat Hangers

Use this object lesson / children's sermon as a lesson on how Jesus doesn't just cover up our sin, but removes our sin. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 08:00 AM on August 29, 2006 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: sin, atonement, forgiveness, propitiation, sacrifice

Connect-The-Dots

It is sometimes difficult for us to connect the dots in life to see the purpose God has planned for us! (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on October 14, 2005 | Link | Comments (2)
Keywords: Doubts, Faith, Questions, Belief, God's Plan, Creator's Design, Sovereignty, Purpose, Future, Following Jesus, Discipleship

Connecting with Friends

In this creative learning activity, the string or yarn serves as an object lesson illustrating the relationships and friendships we have with each other. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on October 08, 2006 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: relationship, friendship, body of Christ, qualities of friends

Corrupted

A small sin can have very big consequences (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:28 AM on July 23, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Sin

Creator and Created

We only find our purpose in God (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:04 PM on August 06, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Purpose, destiny, future, decisions

Cupcake Faith

Use this creative object lesson as a surprising illustration to kids that God looks at our heart, not our appearances. It can be used on any occasion or as a children's sermon, but with a reference to tombs, and masks it also serves as a fun lesson for an alternative to Halloween. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 08:00 AM on October 31, 2006 | Link | Comments (2)
Keywords: Halloween, fall festival, harvest festival, appearances, masks, internal, heart, attitudes, hypocrisy, hypocrits, pharisees, inner beauty

Does It Work?

We don't need to understand everything about God to follow him. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on August 31, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Understanding God

Drawing from the Source

Celery and food coloring becomes an object lesson for drawing from Christ. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 01:00 AM on May 29, 2005 | Link | Comments (2)
Keywords: Spiritual Growth

Easter Cookies

These cookies are tasty object lesson to remind children / youth of the Easter events. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:38 PM on March 18, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Easter, Resurrection

Easter Resurrection

Use this Easter object lesson, to talk about death and the resurrection in simple terms. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 PM on April 03, 2007 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Easter Object Lesson, resurrection, life after death, new life, Spirit, flesh, body

Etch-a-Sketch

Use an etch-a-sketch as an object lesson or children's sermon to teach youth or children about things that are temporary or about forgiveness. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on September 01, 2006 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: forgiveness, temporal vs. eternal, image of Christ, cleanse from sin, new life in Christ

Exchanges

We often have difficulty choosing what is good and what is best. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on July 18, 2006 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Priorities, importance, time

Fear Factors

Discuss dealing with fears as a halloween alternative. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:54 PM on October 29, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Fears, Afraid, Trust, God's Protection, Halloween Alternative, fall festival, harvest festival

God Hears

Even when it may seem like God is not listening, we can have confidence that He is listening and that He cares. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on January 06, 2009 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: persistent prayer, God hears prayers, God answers prayers

Grains of Wheat

Give youth a visible reminder that God answers their prayers. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:07 AM on March 30, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: prayer, faith, petitions, supplications, intercession

Greatest Prize

The greatest prize is the calling of Christ. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:11 AM on October 17, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Award, Prize, Calling of Christ, Pursuits

How do I measure?

How do we measure our spirituality? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:41 AM on October 02, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Love, Measure, growth, spirituality

Image of an Invisible God

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)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:07 AM on April 23, 2005 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: Christ, Seeing God, Visible God, God's Presence, Presence of God

Image of the Father

If you want to see God, Look at Jesus! (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on February 06, 2006 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: God, Jesus, Reflections, Faith, Doubt, Seeing and Believing

Invisible Helper

Jesus sends the Holy Spirit (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 10:01 PM on September 05, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Helper, Comforter, Holy Spirit

Jack O' Lantern

Create a Halloween lantern with stars for eyes, the Christian fish symbol for a mouth, and a cross for its nose. Then pass out a poem to spread the gospel message. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 04:55 PM on October 08, 2006 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Christian alternatives to Halloween, October, fall, gospel, evangelism, witnessing, trick or treat, fall festival, harvest festival

Jelly Bean Salvation

Use 5 colors of Easter Jelly beans to tell the Gospel. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on March 19, 2006 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Easter, Salvation, Gospel, Evangelism, Witnessing, Sacrifice, Christ's work, Gospel According to Jelly Beans

Jesus is the Key

Jesus is the key to a relationship with God and the only way to enter heaven. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 PM on February 20, 2006 | Link | Comments (2)
Keywords: Christ, Evangelism, witnessing, salvation, Gospel

Jesus is the way

Jesus points us toward God. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 10:49 PM on February 18, 2006 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Jesus, way,

Labeled

It's not the clothes we wear, the house we live in, the cars we drive, or names and titles people give us that determine our identity or our value as a person. It's what's inside us that counts. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 08:00 AM on May 05, 2007 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: identity, character, created, labels, calling people names, fruits of the spirit, heart, appearances

Legend of the Candy Cane

A candy cane can remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:02 PM on December 01, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Christmas, Candy Cane, Symbols, Christmas Legends, Christmas Traditions

Light of the World

A lit candle is easily missed in a bright room. But when the lights go out it is impossible to miss it! Use this creative object lesson to illustrate the importance of being lights in the world, especially in those places where people are living in darkness. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:01 PM on January 24, 2008 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: light, darkness, witness, shine for Christ, evangelism

Like A Halloween Pumpkin

Use a pumpkin to share the gospel. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:05 AM on October 31, 2005 | Link | Comments (2)
Keywords: Redemption, Evangelism, Witnessing, letting our light shine, fall festival, halloween alternative, harvest festival

Magnifying Glass

Materials Magnifying Glass Lesson Magnifying glasses are fascinating and lots of fun. Let the children play with it for a minute - making their EYES big, looking at plants, etc. Point out that magnifying glasses are very useful. They are... (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:06 AM on September 03, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords:

No Power

Electrical appliances serve as an object lesson to children and youth that God created us with a special purpose, but that purpose can only be accomplished when we rely on his power rather than our own. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 08:15 AM on April 29, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Created, purpose, power of God, Strength of God, rely on God, Depend on God

Out of Tune?

Is your life in tune with God? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:05 AM on March 31, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: God's Will, choices, decisions, listening to God

Packages

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. This object lesson reminds us that fulfillment is only found in Christ! (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 10:26 AM on April 19, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Satisfaction, gift, success, pursuits in life, goals, objectives, meaning in life, Easter

Perfect Love...

How do we restore our relationships with God and others? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on January 13, 2009 | Link | Comments (2)
Keywords: forgiveness, purity, true love, relationships, Valentine's Day

Peter Pumpkin

Has your light gone out because of sin in your life? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:14 PM on October 08, 2006 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: pumpkin, christian alternatives to halloween, sin, evangelism, fall festival, harvest festival

Pizza Prayer

Is calling upon God in prayer like calling and ordering a pizza? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 04:35 PM on January 02, 2009 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: prayer, calling upon God, answered prayers, God's provision

Pumpkin Prayer

Object Lesson on Prayer using a pumpkin (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:14 PM on October 08, 2006 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Christian alternatives to halloween, pumpkin, prayer, fall festival, harvest festival

Pumpkin Seed Toss

Use this game as a discussion about te pwoer of our words, or about how we choose goals in life. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:13 PM on October 31, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Halloween Alternative, 4th of July Watermelon party, Words, Mouth, Goals, Targets, fall festival, harvest festival, thanksgiving

Roses and Thorns

A rose serves as a reminder of the Easter story. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:41 PM on March 18, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Easter, resurrection, Redemption, New Beginning

Roses and Thorns

God can restore (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 10:27 PM on August 11, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: restoration, grace, redemption

Sand Dollar

The markings on a sand dollar represent aspects of Christ's birth and death. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 01:57 PM on March 23, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Easter

Sensitive to the Spirit

The Holy Spirit helps us to be sensitive to the things of God. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 08:30 AM on April 15, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Spirit, sensitive, spiritual sensitivity, guidance, conviction, conscience

Shelter in the Storms?

Stress and storms make us stronger and can bring out the best in us. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 08:04 AM on July 12, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: difficulties, stress

Sink or Float?

Christianity LITE (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:24 AM on July 30, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords:

Sports Equipment

Sports equipment is used as an illustration of using the wrong equipment to play the game of life which God has ordained for each of us. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on July 03, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: equipment, gifts, pursuits, goals, objectives, service

Spot the Differences

We use the Bible as our standard in which to evaluate our life. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on February 16, 2006 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Sin, Christian Living, Evaluation, Christlike, Pleasing God

Standards

Our physical lives are governed by standards. Do we also allow the Bible to govern our spiritual life? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:58 PM on April 28, 2008 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: standard, righteousness, judgment, Christ

Sweet grapes or Sour grapes?

Grapes serve as an object lesson regarding the parable of the vines and the branches. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:55 PM on May 28, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: Spiritual Growth

Symbols

The Lord's supper is a powerful reminded of what Jesus has done for us. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 10:10 PM on July 19, 2005 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: Lord's Supper, Communion

Taking the heat

Heat conduction serves as a simple object lesson of God taking the heat for us in times of trouble. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 11:29 PM on May 15, 2005 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords:

Target Practice

Is it the proper Christian response to knock others down in order to be lifted up, or to simply lift others up? (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 12:00 AM on December 29, 2008 | Link | Comments (0)
Keywords: The greatest and least, first and last, humility, pride, criticism, harsh words, edifying speech, edification, encouragement, discouragement, back-biting, gossip, cutting others down, building others up

Tension in Relationships

Rubber bands will be used as an object lesson for youth on relationships, stress in relationships, closeness in relationships and the hurt we can experience in broken relationships with God and others. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:38 PM on January 23, 2008 | Link | Comments (1)
Keywords: relationships, closeness, intimacy, tension, stress, hurt, pain, biblical relationships

Thanksgiving Object Lesson - Ten Lepers

Use this Thanksgiving Children's sermon / Thanksgiving Object lesson to create a situation in the Sunday school classroom or Worship service to illustrate the story in Luke 17 of the healing of ten lepers and the ONE that return to Jesus and thanked him for what he had done. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 10:24 AM on November 11, 2007 | Link | Comments (4)
Keywords: Thanks, gratitude, leprosy, ten lepers, 10 lepers, giving thanks, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Holiday

The Cross or Hell?

God gave us a choice of heaven when he died on the cross for us. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 06:38 PM on April 16, 2006 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: Easter, cross, crucifixion, new life

The Gospel According to a Tea Bag

Use a tea bag as an object lesson to tell the story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Its the Easter message for children and adults. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 02:28 AM on April 16, 2006 | Link | Comments (6)
Keywords: Easter, resurrection, crucifixion, gospel, atonement, sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness

The Greatest Love was not shown on Valentine's Day!

The Greatest Love was not shown on Valentine's Day, but when Jesus opened the way to heaven for us 2000 years ago! Use this evangelistic Valentine's Day object lesson as a Children's sermon or teaching activity. Based upon the "wordless book" concept, it uses black, red, white, green, and gold (or yellow) hearts to explain the key points of the gospel message. (more)

Posted by Ken Sapp at 07:36 PM on January 31, 2009 | Link | Comments (3)
Keywords: Valentine's Day, salvation, evangelism, hearts