Signs Your Youth Aren’t Reading Their Bibles Enough

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10.
 You announce the sermon is from Galatians … and everyone checks the table of contents.

9. They think Abraham, Isaac & Jacob may have had a few hit songs during the 60’s.

8. They open to the Gospel of Luke and a WWII Savings Bond falls out.

7. Their favorite Old Testament patriarch is Hercules.

6. A small family of woodchucks has taken up residence in Psalms.

5. They become frustrated because Charlton Heston isn’t listed in either the concordance or the table of contents.

4. Catching the kids reading the Song of Solomon, they demand: “Who gave you this stuff?”

3. They think the minor prophets worked in the quarries.

2. They keep falling for it every time when you tell them to turn to First Condominiums.

1. The kids keep asking too many questions about their usual bedtime story: “Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors”


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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The Pumpkin

pumpkin.jpgA woman was asked by a co-worker, “What is it like to be a Christian”?

The co-worker replied, “It is like being a pumpkin.

God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then! He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

– Author Unknown

 

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Not Looking Back

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Materials 

None

Activity
Ask youth to:
1) tell about their most embarrassing moment while participating in a sport
2) tell about the greatest triumph while participating in a sport.

Application
There are a lot of people who are vary proud of the things they have done. They spend their lives collecting accomplishments trying to get more than everyone else. But Paul was not this way. He was willing to give up everything in order to pursue Jesus. He did not focus on past failures or accomplishments, but pressed on toward his calling in Jesus. (Phil 3:12 – 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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Cleaning House

broom.jpgLast Week I threw out Worrying, it was getting old and in the way. It kept me from being me; I couldn’t do things God’s way.

I threw out those Inhibitions; they were just crowding me out. Made room for my New Growth, got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on MY PAST (didn’t have time to read it anyway). Replaced it with New Goals, started reading it today.

I threw out hate and bad memories, (remember how I treasured them so)? Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too, threw out the one from long ago.

Brought in some new books too, called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST. Threw out I might, I think and I ought. WOW, You should’ve seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND, haven’t seen him in a while. I believe his name is GOD, Yes, I really like His style.

He helped me to do some cleaning and added some things Himself. Like PRAYER, HOPE and FAITH, Yes I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing and placed it at the front door. I FOUND IT – its called PEACE. Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I’ve got my house looking nice. Looks good around the place. For things like Worry and Trouble there just isn’t any place.

Its good to do a little house cleaning, get rid of the old things on the shelf. It sure makes things brighter; maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF. This is a start of my “NEW BEGINNING”

– Author Unknown


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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Chicken Eggs

egg.jpgGrowing up, we lived in the country and my family had quite a collection of animals. We had turkeys, geese, ducks, chickens, and rabbits. I was given the daily responsibility of feeding them and collecting the eggs which the birds unselfishly contributed to our family.

We had chickens which laid brown eggs, green eggs, blue eggs and white eggs. Turkey eggs were a bit larger and were white with brown speckles. Duck eggs were even larger. The largest eggs were by far the goose eggs.

Every morning we would check their nests and while we were doing so there were always a few that would sing out. On some days we would have lots of eggs and on others all the birds seemed to go on strike.
Some of the eggs were VERY small. There were times when I felt like getting a goose egg and showing it to the chickens and saying, “Now take a good look at this and try harder.” But even if I had, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

Each type of bird laid a characteristic egg and no amount of encouragement would make them lay a different egg.

As Christians, you might also say we each have our own eggs. We also have our own characteristic contributions to the family of God:

Some people are easily eggcitable. Others tend toward eggsaggeration. Some are eggstroverted. Some are gifted in eggsplanations of God’s word while others have a gift of eggsaltation. Some set great eggsamples. Some seem eggsellent at almost everything they do. Some are gifted with eggcitement, or eggsortation, or eggsperience in many different areas. Some cover the eggspenses of ministry. And like at home, there are a few who sing out as well… most often to the music of “Lord I Eggstol you.”

Of course there are always a few rotten eggs. Those who have unrealistic eggspectations, eggsclude others, and eggsploit people. There are those who are always making eggcuses and always focusing on eggsternal things.

Jesus said you can tell a tree by its fruit. But you can also tell a bird by its eggs.

Just remember you don’t have to be an eggspert to eggsercise your gifts in the church.

© Ken Sapp
This entry is protected by copyright laws, and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed, transmitted, displayed, broadcast or otherwise exploited in any manner without the express prior written permission of Ken Sapp


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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Focused on the Lesson

magnify.jpgLook ahead to the next lesson.

As soon as one lesson has been taught, you should be looking ahead to the next one.

1. Write the topic on a post-it note and stick it someplace you will see each day. Then as you go through the week, you will be amazed at the things you find in daily life that relate to the lesson. You will find yourself able to apply the lesson in practical real life scenarios.

2. Change the context.With the topic in your thoughts, walk through a toy store. What toys could be used as object lessons for the upcoming topic? Do the same walking through the supermarket, through a garden, watching the news, reading the newspaper, etc.

3. Relate the lesson to Popular Culture. With the topic in your thoughts, what recent movies or TV shows are related? How can you use them to illustrate key points in your lesson? Do the same for popular songs on the radio? Popular sports figures and events? Tap into youth culture and you have thier attention!

4. Apply it to your own life.What are some events or experiences in your own life where this lesson was applied, should have been applied, or wasn’t applied. How would knowing the content of this lesson have made a difference to you? What lessons did you learn from the experience? How would applying this lesson make a difference in your life today? As you go through the week try to apply the lesson at every opoprtunity to your own life.

5. Carry a notecard with you with the topic written on it. Whenever you get an insight or idea, jot it down on the card. Too often we have great insights, but then we forget them because we didn’t have a process for recording them for future reference.



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…

Running to Win

racecar.jpgMaterials
1. You’ll need a flag sized piece of cloth.
2. Mark starting and finish lines in your room using the masking tape. You can also mark out an entire race course if you have the space. For an outdoor use cones or stake some brightly colored string or yarn to the ground to define the track. Ensure there is enough room for cars to pass each other on the track!
3. You’ll also need Bibles.

Activity
1. Form “race-car teams” of five students
2. Each of teams is to be an Indy-style race car. One person will be chassis, and the other four will be the wheels. The wheels must carry the chassis.
3. When I shout, “Racers, start your engines!” all race cars should line up, side by side. Let me hear the roar of your engines!
4. When I drop my flag, your race car should race along the outside edge of our meeting room. The first race car to make five laps around the track wins. Ready? Racers, start your engines! Pause, then quickly lower the flag.

Application
When the race is finished, have youth / children sit together with their teams. Give each team a Bible. Ask a volunteer from each team to read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, then have teams each discuss the following questions to debrief their experience:

What does it mean to “run to win”?
Did your team run to win? Why or why not?
What does it mean to run to win in life?
What’s one thing you can do that will help you run to win in your life?

Additional Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-2; I Cor 9:24-27

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Our “Destined to Win” series is a great follow up for youth who are new Christians or to emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum / Small Group Study has a sports theme and is great for athletes and works well as a tie in to the Olympics.
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Time for God

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Materials

1. Obtain a variety of clocks, watches and other time pieces.
2. Bright colored small sticker dots from the stationary store. Write “Take time” on them

Activity
Ask youth to choose a clock that represents them and to tell the group why.

Examples
* “It’s always time to Praise God.”
* “I seek to worship God in every minute of of life.”
* “Nothing disrupts my time of worship with God.”
* “Take time for God.”

Application
Ask youth to place the stickers on their watches so that every time they look at their watch they will be reminded to “take time” for God. Distribute 3X5 cards and ask youth to write goals such as, “every time I look at my watch I will spend a moment in meditation with God.” etc.

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…

Cutting Corners

hammer.jpgA wealthy man had a friend who was a builder. The builder was down on his luck and hadn’t done much work lately. The wealthy man felt sorry for him and decided he would help him out. He offered him a set of plans and a check for $300,000. The philanthropic gentleman said, “I want you to build me a new home. I’m turning the entire project over to you. You make all the decisions. If you do a good job, I promise to pay you well.”

The builder was very excited. He could finally start earning some good money. But he started thinking, “If I cut a few corners here and there maybe I could pocket some of that $300,000.” So he went out and bought the cheapest concrete he could find. He had the cement mixer water it down so it would stretch further. He saved four or five thousand dollars right there.

Then contractor went out and found the least expensive lumber he could fine. Some of the wood was bent and warped. He didn’t care since it would be hidden behind the walls. He did the same thing with the plumbing, the electrical work, cutting corners and saving money. When the job was completed, he had saved nearly $40,000, which he discreetly buried in his own bank account.

He called his wealthy friend to take a look at the finished house. The purchaser was quite impressed. On the surface, the home appeared to be beautiful. The prosperous gentleman never guessed the builder had cut corners, compromising the integrity of the whole house.

The builder was ecstatic as he recognized how pleased the owner was. He could not wait to see how much he was going to be paid.

As the wealthy man walked to the front door, he turned slowly with a grin on his face and said to the builder, “You know, I don’t really need this home. I already have a beautiful home.” Then he handed the builder the keys, and said, “Here, my friend. This is for you. You’ve just built yourself a brand new home.”

You and I are always building our own homes. Whether it is on the job or in your church, you are building a reputation or character of integrity. When you cut corners by being dishonest on your job or failing to give your best, you are hurting yourself. If you never have time to build God’s house with our time and talents, you are hurting yourself.

Your poor foundational decisions will affect your future. You may look good on the outside, but inside you know the walls are starting to crumble.

Are you watering down your foundation because of a lack of integrity? What kind of materials are you placing in your life? Be you using the best materials to build your marriage and your service to the Lord or are you skimping?

From Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen.


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…