Category Archives: Evangelism Ideas

Activities and ideas for proclaiming the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ to the lost.

Candy Bar Gospel Relay

This youth activity uses a relay race with Candy Bars in various colored wrappers to present the Gospel. You can find lots of mini candy bars around the Halloween season. Similar to the wordless bracelet, the colors yellow, black, red, white and Green are used to explain the gospel message.

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What You Need

Mini Candy bars with the following colored wrappers:
Yellow, Back, Red, White, Green

Here are some examples

  • Yellow – Butterfinger, Mr Goodbar, Peanut M&Ms, Milk Duds, Oh Henry
  • Black/ Dark Brown – Mars Bars, Hersheys, Skore, Snickers, Milky Way, M&Ms
  • Red – Kit Kat, 100 Grand, Take 5
  • White – Cookies N Creme, Zero, White Kit Kat, Toblerone (White)
  • Green – Milo, York’s Mint, Aero, After 8, Andes, Mint M&Ms

Variation: Instead of Candy Bars, use Red, Green, Brown, and Yellow M&Ms along with white Menthos. If you can’t find those simply use any candy in the correct colors.

Preparation

  1. Form two teams and assign each team one or two colors of candy bars. You can have as many teams as you have different colored candy bar wrappers.
  2. On the floor at one end of the room, unroll a several foot long strip of paper towels.
  3. Spread the candy bars randomly over the entire length of paper towels
  4. Have the teams line up at the other end of the room.

What to do

  1. One at a time, team members rush to the paper towels, and bend down and use their teeth to pick up one candy bar (Team colors only and no hands allowed).
  2. Once they have a candy bar in their teeth, they stand back up, run back to their team.
  3. They must then show the candy bar to the next person in line, who shouts out the color.
  4. If the color’s wrong – i.e. “Trick”, the person must eat the candy bar and then go back and get another candy bar of the correct color.
  5. When the color is correct “Treat”, the person eats his/her candy bar and the next person goes to the paper towels and repeats the process.
  6. The first team to remove all the candy bars of their assigned color wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Explanation of the Gospel using the various colored Candy bars

Candy Bar in a Yellow Wrapper
The yellow wrapper reminds us of Heaven. Do you know what Heaven is? Heaven is God’s home. Heaven is filled with the glory, the shining brightness of God. There is no night there. The Bible says, “God is The Light and in Him is no Darkness at all”(1 John 1:5). The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the street of the city is pure, clear gold-like glass (Rev 21:21). God tells us many other things about His home. No one is sick there. No one is crippled or blind. No one ever dies. Every person in Heaven will be perfectly happyalways (Rev 21:4-2; Psalm 16:11). The most wonderful thing about Heaven is that God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus will be there. God made Heaven. He made you too. He loves you very much. Because he made you and loves you, He wants you to belong to Him and be with Him in Heaven someday. Jesus promised long ago, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 3:16; John 14:1-3).

Candy Bar in a Black Wrapper
There is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin. Because you and I are sinners we want to have our own way instead of God’s way. Wanting our own way is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is sin. Sin is anything that displeases God. Sin has caused sorrow and sadness in our world. God tells us in the Bible that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). All means every one of us. This dark wrapper reminds us of our sinful way (Proverbs 4:19). When it is dark, you stumble and cannot find your way. When something is dirty it usually has dark smudges. Because of your sin, you cannot find God. Your sin separates you from God, who is holy (1 John 1:5). God cannot allow sin where He is. I am sure you can think of a sin which you have done. God has said that sin must be punished. The punishment for your sin is death-to be separated from God forever (Rev 6:23). The Lord Jesus, God’s Son, said that if you die in your sin, you cannot go to Heaven where He is (John 8:21, 24). God knew there was nothing you could do to get rid of your sin. He knew you could not be good enough to please Him. But He loves you and He made a way for you to be forgiven.

Candy Bar in a Red Wrapper
The red candy bar wrapper shows the way God made for you to have your sins forgiven-taken away. God loves you. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven to take the punishment for your sin (John 3:16). Wicked men nailed the sinless Son of God to the cross, but while He hung there God put all of your sins on Him. The Bible says, “…God bath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). (Iniquity is another word for sin). All your bad temper, all your lies, your meaness-all your sin-was laid on the dear Son of God, and He suffered and suffered until He cried out with a loud voice and said, “It is finished.” When you finish a job, how much is left? Nothing. What did the Lord Jesus come to do? He came to save us from punishment for sin, didn’t He? And He finished the work. When He was nailed to the cross, what came from His hands, and His feet? His blood. God calls it the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and He says “…the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). There is no other way, for God says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin]”-no forgiveness, no payment (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus not only died for you, but He was buried, and He rose again. He is a living savior (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). God showed His love for you by sending His own Son to die for you. Now he says there is one way for you to be saved from your sin.

Candy Bar in a White Wrapper
Tears cannot wash away sin. Prayers cannot wash away sin. Doing good cannot wash away sin. But the blood of the Lord Jesus can wash away all sin (Psalm 51:7; 1 John 1:7). This white wrapper reminds me that you can be made clean from sin. Did Jesus die for everyone? (YES!) Is everyone going to Heaven? (No, because some do not believe that Jesus died for them. They have not received Him as their savior from sin.) God’s word says, “…as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name” (John 1:12). God has promised you when you receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you become a child of God.

Candy Bar in a Green Wrapper
The green wrapper reminds me of the new life, everlasting life, you have received from God. The color green reminds me of things which are growing outdoors, like leaves, grass, flowers, and trees. when you receive the Lord Jesus as your savior from sin, you are like a newborn baby in God’s family. The Bible tells you to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

(As the time permits, talk with the youth about those things which help him
grow as a member of God’s family. Explain you are not talking about growing
taller or gaining weight from eating all this candy, but the kind of growing which will help others know that he loves the Lord Jesus.

  1. Listen to God- Learn God’s Word reading and memorizing it (2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 119: 11).
  2. Talk to God. Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
  3. Talk for God. Witness or tell others (Mark 16:15).
  4. Worship God. Go to Sunday School and Church (Hebrews 10:25).

 

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Buzz Who?

Description

We all have our stock of quick, fun, easy no setup, no materials games we can pull out at a drop of a hat. How about taking another take at these games? Let’s take this classic youth game, known as “Buzz”, and see what we can do to take it to the next level.

When a person meets Christ a change occurs. Their identity, their actions, and even their thoughts will change over time. Some changes may be immediate such as they are now called “Christians,” and “children of God” etc. Other changes may take a lifetime. A classic youth game, known as “Buzz”, is used along with famous Bible Characters to illustrate some of the changes that occur when someone puts their faith in Christ or God.

How to Play

  1. Seat the youth in a circle.
  2. In a clock-wise direction, youth count up from 1. When they get to the number 7, any numbers that contain 7, AND any multiples of 7 the youth must instead say the word “Buzz.” For example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Buzz, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Buzz, 15, 16, Buzz, 18…
  3. A player who hesitates or makes a mistake is eliminated from the game.
  4. After a mistake, start over at 1 with the next teen in line.
  5. Eliminate youth that make mistakes until only the champion is left.
  6. Try for a group record or reaching 100.

You may wish to add the following to increase the complexity of the game:

  1. Once the game is going well and the youth group has reached 50 or so, stop them and add “Fizz” to the game. Now, substitute “Fizz” for 5. For example: 1, 2, 3, 4, Fizz, 6, Buzz, 8, 9, Fizz, 11, 12, 13, Buzz, Fizz, 16, Buzz, 18, 19, Fizz, Buzz, 22…
  2. If the number is a multiple of 5 and 7, or has 5 and 7 in it, like 35 or 57 or 70 or 75, say ‘Fuzz’!

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Counting up to a 100 seems like something easy to do. We can practically do it in our sleep, without even thinking. But add just one change like in the game we just played, and suddenly we all need to focus. Things that should come naturally to us make us pause or hesitate. All it takes is one change.

The same is true of changes we make in our lives. Before we met Christ, we did things the way we liked. We played according to our own rules. But now, we understand some of our old habits have to change. And that doesn’t happen naturally. Some changes take time. Some changes require us to exercise a lot of discipline.

Look at Abram. When he was first called by God, his name changed. He was now called Abraham. Did his past behaviour of not having faith in God’s protection persist? Sure! He still continued to lie about Sarah being his sister because he feared men more than God. It wasn’t until God asked him to sacrifice Isaac many years later that we see the true father of faith emerge.

What about Simon? When Jesus first called him Peter – the rock, his insecurity at Jesus’ trial caused him to deny Christ 3 times! Only later do we see the strength of his character in the book of Acts.

Sometimes, it’s the people around us who will be skeptical about the changes we’ve decided to make. When Saul was called by Jesus Himself, was now called Paul, even though he made a full 180 degree reversal, people viewed him with suspicion. Was he really changed? Or was he still an “undercover Pharisee”? It took him many more years of preparation before he was fully accepted by the brethren.

Make it Practical

When a person meets Christ we can’t help but change. Our identity, actions, and even our thoughts will continue to change over time. Some changes may be immediate such as we are now called “Christians,” and “children of God.” Other changes may take a lifetime.

When we commit to changes in our lives, we need God’s help to keep the change. It takes time for us to get used to the change. To adapt to a new way of living. Just like in the game, once we get the hang of it, we can move faster, go higher, and add more changes to our lives along the way.

Whatever happens, we have to trust God through the process of change. Don’t expect everything to come immediately or transition smoothly. We will fall along the way, just don’t beat yourself up for it. Pick yourself up and move on.

Make it Personal

Have you tried and failed and given up on changes you committed to? Maybe it’s time to think about these areas in our lives and ask God for His supernatural ability to maintain those changes. It won’t be easy, but we have to continue trusting in Him that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.

Scripture References

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
– Romans 12:2 (NIV)

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV)

Other Famous Bible Personalities and how they changed after an encounter with God:

Nicodemus

  • Before God : Pharisee, ruler of Jews
  • Met God : Met Christ by night, honest seeker
  • Response : Annointed Christ’s Body with Joseph of Arimathea

Noah

  • Before God : Not known – Father was Lemech
  • Met God : Lived a righteous life that set him apart from others
  • Response : Called to build an ark and obeyed

Abraham

  • Before God : lived with his father in Haran
  • Met God : Recieved a call to leave Haran and go to a new country
  • Response : Blessed by God and his descendents became like the sands of the earth

Simon Peter

  • Before God : Fisherman, Son of John
  • Met God : Called to Follow Christ and become a fisher of men
  • Response : Became a disciple, denied Christ three times but became a great evangelist after Christ’s death.

Zacheus

  • Before God : Tax collector
  • Met God : watched from a tree to see over the crowd
  • Response : Invited Christ to his home & paid debts/ became honest

Matthew (Levi)

  • Before God : Tax collector
  • Met God : Asked to follow Christ as a disciple
  • Response : Became a disciple and wrote one of the gospels

Joseph

  • Before God : Favored Son of Jacob and Rachel
  • Met God : Dreams
  • Response : Rose to a powerful position in Egypot in which he was able to help his family in a time of famine.

Saul

  • Before God : Pharisee, tentmaker, persecuted Christains
  • Met God : Vision on the road to Damascus
  • Response : followed Christ and became one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament

Samuel

  • Before God : Mother took him to live with the priest (Eli)
  • Met God : God spoke to him at night
  • Response : Became a great spritual leader and the last of the judges

Gideon

  • Before God : Son of Joash, Israel has forsaken God
  • Met God : An angel appeared to him, summoned him to leadership
  • Response : Might Warrior, against the Medianites

Nathanael

  • Before God : Religious, seen by Christ beneath a fig tree
  • Met God : Philip introduced him to Christ
  • Response : Followed Christ, became one of the disciples

Mary

  • Before God : devout religious life
  • Met God : appearance of an angel saying she was most blessed of women
  • Response : Became the mother of Christ

David

  • Before God : Played the harp for the King (Saul)
  • Met God : Was upset that a giant ridiculed the God of Israel
  • Response : Defeated Goliath and became one of the greatest king’s of Israel, even though he made many serious mistakes

You can probably think of other characters as well.

Our Christian Testimony: Earth! Water! Air! Fire!

Using the game of “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!” youth will discuss how our actions affect our testimony for Christ.

Preparation

  1. Position the youth in a circle of chairs facing inward.
  2. Take a handkerchief and knot it at one end so it can be easily thrown back and forth between people.

What to do

  1. Give the handkerchief to one of the youth instructing him/ her to throw it into the lap of another youth else in the circle. As he/she throws it he/she must call out “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!”
  2. If “Earth!”, “Water!” or “Air!” is called, the one into whose lap the handkerchief has been thrown must name some bird or animal that lives or moves about in that environment. For example, if “earth” is shouted then the one into whose lap the handkerchief falls might answer: “Worms!” It would be just as correct however for him to name any beast which lives upon the earth. The same animal cannot be used again.
  3. As soon as a handkerchief lands in someone’s lap the one who threw it begins to count rapidly to 10. If the animal is not given to for “Earth”, “water”, or “air”, then that person must answer a question before passing the handkerchief on to the next person.
  4. However, if the handkerchief is thrown, and the one who throws it calls out “fire!” then the one into whose lap it falls must remain perfectly silent. If he/ she does not remain silent he/she must answer one of the questions before passing the handkerchief on to another player.

Questions

The questions are related to the topic of “personal testimony.” The questions that youth must answer all involve whether the action, attitude, characteristic stated:

  • harms one’s testimony or
  • benefits one’s personal testimony or
  • has no effect on a person’s testimony.

A reason must be given for the answer. Then continue the game. You may do the questions in order or have youth pick a number between (1-66). Mark off numbers as they are used! Some of the choices involve things that happened to Paul. Others involve things to which a typical teen might be exposed.

  1. Dancing
  2. Cheating
  3. Responsible
  4. Integrity
  5. Trust
  6. Going to church
  7. Trials
  8. Being a follower of the Way
  9. Envy
  10. Belief in an afterlife
  11. Lust
  12. A clear conscience
  13. Going to a party
  14. Loving one’s enemies.
  15. Having fun!
  16. Having to appear in court
  17. Having a consistent devotional life
  18. Making good grades
  19. Having personal problems
  20. Wealth
  21. Drinking
  22. Being falsely accused of a crime
  23. Sharing your belief with someone else
  24. Athletic
  25. Serving others
  26. Speaking to a leader with great authority
  27. Taking responsibility for your actions
  28. Insisting on your rights
  29. Giving gifts to the poor
  30. Being ceremonially clean
  31. Listening to country music
  32. Listening to Rock music
  33. Theft
  34. Reading one’s Bible to the class
  35. Telling Jokes
  36. Pointing out the sins of others
  37. Hanging with the wrong crowd
  38. Obeying parents
  39. Going to an RA movie
  40. Smoking
  41. Being shy
  42. Being serious about life
  43. Being in Jail
  44. Losing your temper
  45. Listening to ONLY Christian music
  46. Praying daily
  47. Saying table grace
  48. Rudeness
  49. Anger
  50. Thinking about your sexuality
  51. Taking a stand for what you believe
  52. Showing your answers on a test to someone
  53. Being challenged to fight someone
  54. Sneaking out of the house to go to church
  55. Causing a public disturbance
  56. Telling the truth, even if it hurts someone
  57. Gossip
  58. Preaching
  59. Kissing someone in public
  60. Dating
  61. Good looks
  62. Memorizing your testimony
  63. Singing all the time
  64. The clothes you wear
  65. Your nationality
  66. Helping those in need

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Paul present his testimony in Acts 24:10-21.  In fact, some of the statements in the list are references to parts of Paul’s testimony as presented in this passage.  Paul shares more insight on his motives, and his actions as related to being a testimony to the gospel of Christ in 1 Corinthians 9:1-23 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.  Two key principles are evident.

  • While all things are permissible, Paul holds himself to a stricter standard so that he might be better witness for the Gospel, that is testimony might reach more people.
  • Paul gives up some of his rights so that others might be saved.

Make it Practical

Discuss some of the issues regarding Christian freedom, God’s forgiveness, and our our actions, words and attitudes affect our testimony as Christians.

Make it Personal

In what ways might you personally be a better testimony for the Gospel for your family, friends, and those who know you?

Barnabus: The Testimony of an Encourager

All of us have been afraid to witness (or to share our testimony) at one time or another. But a testimony, or witnessing is simply sharing about something that has happened to you. Use this high energy youth group game to clarify some of the misconceptions youth have about sharing their faith as well as learn the importance one’s lifestyle and speech also play in sharing the gospel message with others.

Materials

A chair for each youth.

Preparation

Arrange the chairs into a large circle with the chairs facing inward. There should be one less chair than the number of people so that if all the youth take a seat, one will be left standing.

What to Do

Play a variation of the game “I never.” All the youth are in a circle in chairs. One of the youth group members, is “it”, and in the center of the circle. The person in the center says something they have never done. Anyone who has done that must exchange chairs. They cannot sit back in the same chair. While they are exchanging chairs the person in the center tries to grab an empty seat. Have the new person that ends up in the center tell a little about what it is he/ she did. After several rounds, say that you have one more that you would like them to respond to. Say, “I’m Barnabus and I’m not afraid to witness for Christ.” Anyone who has been afraid of witnessing should change chairs. All will probably change chairs. You might, depending on who gets left in the middle, have the person left tell about one time they were afraid to witness or to just give their testimony.

Take It to the Next Level

Tell them that all of us have been afraid to witness at one time or another. To witness means to testify, it is just sharing about something that has happened to you. Hopefully we can clarify some of the misconceptions about sharing your faith as well as learn some effective ways to share your faith.

Make it Spiritual

Barnabas is not only a man of good character, but also one that was used by God. He is the only person in the book of Acts referred to as a “good man”. But he isn’t just a good man, he also is one who was “full of the Spirit”. His real name was Joseph, but he had the nickname Barnabas or “Son of Encouragement” Because of his personal character and his closeness to God, he was used by God to share the Gospel with a great number of people. They not only came to a saving knowledge of Christ, but they also reflected his Christlike lifestyle, so much so that they eventual came to be called “Christians.”

There are three characteristics of Barnabus that stand out in these passages about him: He was an encourager, he was a good man, and he was full of the Holy Spirit. In other words, he had a close relationship with God and that relationship with God was both reflected in his words (encourager) and his actions) a good man.

Our testimony for Christ is more than just our personal faith. It is also how we live our lives based on that faith. Both our lifestyle the way we treat others (as an encourager) is a testimony as well. We need both the Christian character as well as the Christian message. A famous quote says “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” But when what we do and what we say are in agreement, our Christian testimony is all the more powerful.

Make it Practical

  • What are some of the characteristics of an encourager?
  • What are some examples of words of encouragement?
  • What are the characteristics of a good man?
  • What are some examples of a Christlike lifestyle?
  • What is a testimony? What are the basics of an evangelistic testimony?

Make it Personal

  • What can you do to be an encourager of others this week?
  • What are some things you can do this week in serving and loving others such that they might recognise you also as a good man or good woman?
  • Choose someone to share your testimony with this week and make an appointment to meet with them to share it.

Scripture References

Colossians 4:10
“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)”

Acts 4:32-37
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.cJoseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

Acts 9:26-27 (Background passage: Acts 9:26 – 15:39)
“When he [Paul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 11:22-26
“News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

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Lessons for Evangelism of Youth: The Samaritan Woman

The woman at the well is probably the most incisive of the New Testament narratives of Jesus’ dealing with the spiritually lost. It is found only in the fourth chapter of John’s gospel. From it we can learn many things about personal evangelism in general that can also be applied to our evangelism to youth.

The background for this passage involves the Lord Jesus Christ, leaving Judea and and traveling through Samaria to Galilee. As he travels through Samaria, He stops at the city of Sychar, near Jacobs well, to rest and eat. At noon, he waits beside the well for a divine appointment, as his disciples go into the city to buy food.

The Master’s Classroom

 
Interestingly, John records that Jesus “had” to pass through Samaria. It was not an accident that Jesus went through Samaria. “There were several roads leading from Judea to Galilee: one near the sea coast, another through Perea, and one through Samaria.” 1 The road through Samaria was the least traveled, yet it was the road Christ “had” to travel. What the disciples saw as an uncomfortable trip, through a land of people against whom Jews had great prejudice, was actually a divine appointment. God will often put us in places of personal discomfort as a classroom for the greater teachings of the Kingdom of God. In this case He teaches the disciples that there is not room for barriers of any kind in the Kingdom of God. The gospel is a gospel for all people. Manmade barriers of prejudice, culture, and the lifestyles of people must not block the divine flow of the living water. 

The Master’s Workshop

 
The Samaritan woman came to draw water–a common act, done in common way, but this time to have uncommon results. Unknown to her, she had an appointment with the Son of God. Jacob’s well became Christ’s workshop for the repair of her soul. We too need to discover the common activities of youth that can be used as platforms from which to lead lost youth to a saving knowledge of God. Any contact with a lost youth is an opportunity for sharing the gospel if we would only look. The most effective witnessing occurs in those natural situations where youth interact. A popular theology of today says “let me live a good life, and if you ask me about God, I will take you to church.” How long would Christ have had to sit at the well before the woman would have noticed his good life? Jesus took the initiative and so should we. Think of the opportunities we pass up daily. What opportunities are you passing up to reach out to youth?

The Master’s Methods

 

Get Acquainted

Jesus seeks to “draw” the woman into a conversation by asking her to “draw” Him a drink of water. She recognizes Him as merely a Jew and wonders about his request. ”‘Never speak to a woman in the street, even if she be thy wife’; ‘Burn the words of the law rather than teach them to a woman,’ were the great maxims in Jewish society.” 2  Even so, Christ’s greatest concern was the condition of the woman’s soul. Because of this, he would reach out to her, even if it violated custom. Manmade barriers must not hinder the gospel. In the customs of the day there is another interesting meaning to Christ’s request for a drink. In the East, “the giving and receiving of a drink of water is the seeking and making of a covenant of hospitality, with all that that covenant implies… it is like the covenant of bread-sharing, which makes a truce, for the time being, between deadliest enemies.” 3 By asking for water, Christ was not only drawing the woman into conversation, but disarming any defense that she might put up concerning his identity as a Jew. He was showing an interest in her as an individual. “The woman, the Samaritan, the sinner, is placed over against the Rabbi, the ruler of the Jews, the Pharisee.” 4 Her birth, her sex, and her lifestyle were all barriers, but the gospel knows no barriers. The gospel sees only the need of the individual. We should also see the individual needs of our youth!

Arouse Interest

Christ offered the “gift” of living water to the Samaritan woman. Notice that the living water is a “gift” received by “asking.” The reason men do not ask, is because they do not know that it exists. 5  The Samaritan woman did not know the gift of God because her sight was focused on her earthly condition and her physical thirsts. Too often, people miss the spiritual because they are focused on the physical. Like Christ, we must use their physical needs and perceptions to lead lost youth to a knowledge of the spiritual.

The Samaritan woman then calls Christ “Sir.” She no longer sees Him as merely a Jew, but a Jew who deserves her respect. She still does not understand that Christ is speaking of the spiritual, but proceeds with a question about the method by which Jesus could obtain living water. “Jesus is speaking of the water of life; the woman is thinking of flowing water, so much more desirable than the flat water of cisterns.” 6 Jacob had to dig a well for water. Did Christ know a way of obtaining running water? “‘Canst thou do more than dig a well?’ was the meaning of the woman’s question to Jesus.” 7 Indeed He could! Abraham left them a well of stagnant water, but Jesus would give her a spring of living water. To the Samaritans, Abraham left a religion, but Jesus promised a growing relationship with God. Jesus “does not say He is greater than Jacob, but suggests that He has better water to give than that which was in Jacob’s well.” 8 The well of Jacob was so deep that it had already lasted 1500 years and was still being used. It still exists today, though much of it has been filled. How much deeper then is the love of God for this woman. (Ephesians 3:18-19) 

The Samaritan Woman’s religion was only a dry well, but Christ offered a living relationship. The Samaritan woman “identified herself with a religion which,… instead of leading her to God, only supplied a substitute for Him.” 9 “The gift of God is not dry doctrine, but a living Being.” 10 Dry doctrine creates a thirst, but Christ quenches the thirst. Dry doctrine becomes foul and corrupt over time, but a relationship with Christ refreshes and takes away foulness and corruption. Dry doctrine is stagnant, but a relationship with Christ is active. Dry doctrine evaporates, but the living water is a spring to ourselves as well as to others. “Most men draw their supplies from without; they are rich, happy, and strong, only when externals minister to their strength, happiness, and riches.”11 Christians draw their supplies from their relationship with God. From which do we drink? Do we drink from our religious practices and doctrines or do we continually seek refreshment from a vital relationship with the Savior. When we present the gospel to youth, do we present a religion and a system of beliefs or do we introduce the Savior?

Gently Confront Sin

When a river becomes obstructed the water stagnates and foul and decaying things are collected. One solution is to clear away the obstructions, but the same would only reoccur in a matter of time. The best solution is clear away the obstructions and then increase the water flow. When Jesus asks about her husband, He is seeking to clear away the obstructions. The woman says that she has no husband. “Instead of wringing the rest of the confession from the woman, Jesus makes it for her. It is a touch of His gentleness with the sinner.” 12  “The conversation had passed from the small-talk to the personal.”  13 Notice that Christ made the most of an ignorant sinner’s words instead of attacking. We would be wise to do the same with youth. We must allow the confrontation of the sinner to be with Christ and the gospel, not anything else.

She then calls Jesus a prophet and sidesteps the conversation from herself to the location of worship. It is very natural for someone to cover their eyes when a bright light is flashed. It is natural for a person walking from darkness into the brilliant light of the Son of God to shade their eyes. The Samaritan woman was no different. Her pain is too great not to shade the eyes of her heart lest it be blinded. Yet Jesus is too compassionate to leave her in such a state. He answers her diversionary question then returns to crux of the conversation–the gospel.

Answer Legitimate Questions but Confront Sinners with who Christ is

Christ answers her question, but instead of giving her religion Christ confronts the woman with who He is and thus opens the door for a personal relationship. “‘Jesus’ words are, literally: ‘I am, who speak to you.'”14 Jesus is literally saying that He is God using a term the woman would be familiar with from Exodus 3:14. Notice the progressing realization of the woman concerning the identity of Christ. He first was a Jew, then was to be compared with Jacob, then he was a prophet, and then he was the Messiah, and finally he became her Messiah.

When she realized Christ was the Messiah, she left her water pot and went to tell everyone of Him. When Christ truly becomes Lord, He becomes our first priority. John does not say the woman “forgot” the water pot nor does he say that she “purposely” left it. Either way, now that she had come face to face with Christ, the water pot was of little or no importance to her. Her focus was no longer on the physical, but instead was on the spiritual. As the woman went to tell others, “the living water which the woman received from Jesus had certainly become an overflowing fountain in her life, and others were coming to share the refreshment that she had begun to enjoy.” 15 John points out that many believed because they had heard for themselves through the testimony of the Samaritan woman. We must also bring youth to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Master’s Message

 
If Christ had began with her sin, her heart would have been hardened, had he began announcing Himself as the Christ she would have been skeptical, had He approached her as Nicodemus she would have been puzzled. Instead he uses that which she knows well to lead her to a deeper spiritual understanding. “He takes ‘water’ for his text to this water-carrier. In a picture lesson unfolds the truth. Ours are blind eyes if they do not see texts in the commonest things, where from we may preach the gospel of the kingdom.” 16  “Christ did not preach sensational sermons, but sermons which created a sensation.”17 Christ’s objective was the person, not the method or the message. The message was aimed at reaching the person. Do we deliver sensational messages to youth or do we deliver messages to reach youth. Are the words we speak our focus, or the youths to which we speak? Do we care for lost youth as Christ cared for the lost?

 

End Notes

1 William Hendrickson, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), 155.

2 Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator: John I (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953) 299.

3 Ibid., 317.

4 Ibid., 313.

5 Ibid., 314

6 Raymond E. Brown, The Anchor Bible, vol. 4, The Gospel According to John (i-xii) (New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1966), 170.]

7 Exell, 311.

8 David Thomas, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1980), 87.

9 Exell, 345.

10 Ibid., 321.

11 Ibid., 332.

12 R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel (Ohio: The Wartburg Press, 1942), 317.

13 Frank E, Gaebelein, ed., Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), vol. 9, John, by Merrill C. Tenney, 55.

14 Barnabus Lindars, The New Century Bible Commentary: The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), 191.

15 F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdman’s Publishing Co., 1983), 115.]1@

16 Exell, 307.

17 Ibid., 309.

 

Bibliography

Brown, Raymond E. The Anchor Bible, vol. 4, The Gospel According to John (i-xii). New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1966.

Bruce, F.F. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdman’s Publishing Co., 1983.

Exell, Joseph S.  The Biblical Illustrator: John I Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953.

Gaebelein, Frank E, ed., Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 9, John, by Merrill C. Tenney, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.

Hendrickson,William New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981.

Lenski, R.C.H. The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel. Ohio: The Wartburg Press, 1942.

Lindars, Barnabus The New Century Bible Commentary: The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987.

Thomas, David The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1980.

© Kenneth Sapp, 26 April 1991



Removing the Hooks

The fishermen had let their lines down into the water when Dan noticed a school of dolphins had come alongside and were swimming in the boat’s wake.  He immediately shouted for the lines to be drawn in.  The fisherman hurriedly reeled in thier lines but it was too late–one of the dolphins had been snared.  He dove deep, trying to get away from the hook, then came to the surface to relieve the pain.  Time and again he dove, erach time driving the hook deeper into his mouth.  After a long while the dolphin was finally exhausted and simply swam next to the boat.  Dan moved to the side of the boat near the dolphin and then experienced one of the most amazing moments of his life  The dolphin moved close to the boat and then turned over on his side, exposing the lodged hook protruding from his mouth.  Dan reached out and gently removed the hook.

God desires to use each of us to love and reach out to other youth in such a way that they come to understand that there is “someone in the boat” who is willing and able to remove the force destroying their lives.  As we love them and tell them of the life Christ can provide, the Holy Spirit will work with us, bringing them to a place where they will allow God to “remove the hook.”  When youth hold out the hook (their hurts and needs) we need to be ready to share with them how God can change their lives.

My Friend

My friend I stand in judgement now
And feel that you’re to blame somehow.
On earth I walked with you day by day,
And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim;
You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together here on earth,
You never told of the second birth;
And now I stand this day condemned,
Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things that’s true.
I called you “friend” and trusted you.
But I learn, now that it is too late,
And you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night
And yet you showed me not the light.
You let me live and love and die;
You knew I’d never live on high.

Yes, I called you friend in life
And trusted you through fun and strife;
And yet on coming to this dreadful end
I cannot, now, call you “my friend.”

Author unknown

Earth! Water! Air! Fire!

Description
In this active game, youth are asked to evaluate how a person’s testimony is affected by the things we do, our character, and even our background or characteristics. Youth Ministers can use this as an introduction to living a life that points others to God, sharing our testimonies, or to discuss the life of Paul, his testimony, and the accusations made against him in the Book of Acts.

Resources needed

  • Bible
  • A chair for each youth
  • A handkerchief
  • Bibles

 

How to Play the Game

    1. Ask your youth group to form a circle of chairs facing inward then take a seat.
    2. Take a handkerchief and knot it at one end so it can be easily thrown back and forth between the teens. Give the handkerchief to one of the youth instructing him/ her to throw it into the lap of someone else in the circle. As he/she throws it he/she must call out “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!”
    3. If “Earth!”, “Water!” or “Air!” is called, the youth into whose lap the handkerchief has been thrown must name some bird, animal, or creature that lives or moves about in that environment. Each animal can only be used once during the course of gameplay.
    4. For example, if “earth” is shouted then the youth who receives the handkerchief might answer. “Worms!” It would be just as correct however for him to name any beast which lives upon the earth.
    5. If the handkerchief is thrown, and the youth who throws it calls out “fire!” then the youth that receives the handkerchief must remain perfectly silent. If he/ she does not he/she must response to one of the questions (listed below) before passing the handkerchief on to another youth.
    6. As soon as a handkerchief lands in someone’s lap the one who threw it begins to count rapidly to 10. If an answer is not given to one of the three words except “fire”, then that person must answer a question before passing the handkerchief on to the next person.

 

Take It to the Next Level

Questions
Questions can be on any topic, making this a fun game for youth leaders and Sunday School / Bible study teachers to introduce just about any topic.

For this example, my topic is a person’s “personal testimony.”

The questions that youth must answer all involve whether the action/ attitude/ characteristic stated

    harms one’s testimony (Harms)

  • benefits one’s personal testimony (Helps)
  • has no effect on a person’s testimony. (No effect)

 

To make it easy, you might want to write the answers on newsprint or a large sheet of paper in front of the room. You want questions with a simple answer, but that also allow a more detailed explanation or opinion later.

After the question is answered continue with the game. You can use questions more than once so that you get different opinions for later discussion.

You may do the questions in order, or just ask them randomly. Personally I prefer random as it is less an interruption to the game. Also limit the number of questions to those most applicable to your group of youth.

Discussion
Keep track of the answers and who gave them to stimulate a discussion later. Later you can say, “John, you said ________ doesn’t affect a person’s testimony. Could you explain why you said that?”

A Personal Testimony – Being a withness for Christ

Here’s my list of things that could affect a persons testimony. Some of the choices involve things that happened to Paul in the book of Acts. Others involve things to which a typical teen might be exposed,

  • Anger
  • Athletic
  • Being a follower of the Way (Paul)
  • Being in Jail (Paul)
  • Being Responsible
  • Belief in an afterlife (Paul)
  • Causing a public disturbance (Paul)
  • Ceremonially clean (Paul)
  • Challenged to fight someone
  • Cheating
  • Clear conscience (Paul)
  • Customs (Acts 16:20-21)
  • Dancing
  • Dating
  • Disagreements (Acts 25:18-20)
  • Disturbing the Peace (Acts 24:1-8)
  • Drinking
  • Envy
  • Falsely accused of a crime (Acts 25:7)
  • Giving gifts to the poor
  • Going to a party
  • Going to an RA movie
  • Going to church
  • Good looks
  • Gossip
  • Hanging with the wrong crowd
  • Having a consistent devotional life
  • Having fun!
  • Having personal problems
  • Having to appear in court (Paul)
  • Helping those in need
  • Insisting on your rights (Paul)
  • Integrity
  • Kissing someone in public
  • Listening to country music
  • Listening to ONLY Christian music
  • Listening to Rock music
  • Losing your temper
  • Loving one’s enemies.
  • Lust
  • Making good grades
  • Memorizing your testimony
  • Obeying parents
  • Pointing out the sins of others
  • Praying daily (Paul)
  • Preaching (Paul)
  • Quoting from Scripture (Paul)
  • Rudeness
  • Saying table grace
  • Serious about life
  • Serving others
  • Sharing your belief with someone else (Paul)
  • Showing your answers on a test to someone
  • Shy
  • Singing (Paul)
  • Smoking
  • Sneaking out of the house to go to church
  • Speaking to a leader with great authority (Paul)
  • Taking a stand for what you believe (Paul)
  • Taking responsibility for your actions (Paul)
  • Teaching against worshipping idols (Acts 19:22-27)
  • Telling Jokes
  • Telling the truth, even if it hurts someone (Paul)
  • The clothes you wear
  • Theft
  • Thinking about sex
  • Trials (Paul)
  • Trust
  • Wealth
  • Worshipping God in a place where it is outlawed (Acts 18:12-16)
  • Your nationality (Paul)

Scripture Passage
If you want to focus on one passage, Acts 16:16-38 is a great one to look at.

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The Boat in the Window

A young teenage youth spent many hours building a little sailboat, crafting it down to the finest detail. He then took it to a nearby river to sail it. When he put it in the water, however, it moved away from him very quickly. Though he chased it along the bank, he couldn’t keep up with it. The strong wind and current carried the boat away. The heartbroken youth knew how hard he would have to work to build another sailboat.

Farther down the river, a man found the little boat, took it to town, and sold it to a shopkeeper. Later that day, as the youth was walking through town, he noticed the boat in a store window.

Entering the store, he told the owner that the boat belonged to him. It had his own little marks on it, but he couldn’t prove to the shopkeeper that the boat was his.

The man told him the only way he could get the boat was to buy it. The youth wanted it back so badly that he did exactly that.

As he took the boat from the hand of the shopkeeper, he looked at it and said, “Little boat, you’re twice mine. I made you and I bought you.”

In the same way, we belong twice to Someone. He both created us and paid a great price for us. With the blood of His Son, we have been redeemed and reunited with Him. His Son gave His life to get us back.

Edited from Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice. Copyright 1994 by Youth Specialties, Inc.

 


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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Face Painting Recipe

Have you ever done face-painting as part of an outreach to children?

Here’s a recipe we used for face-paint:

  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon water
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons cold cream.
  • A few drops of food color

Mix all the ingredients together in a small paper cup. If the mixture is too thick to paint with, thin with a few drops of water. The paint can be applied with a paint brush for small areas or you can spread it all over a person’s face with your fingers.

While the paint is till wet, you can add some glitter to your design as well fora little sparkle.

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

Christmas Shoebox

With the current economic situation there are many families in need. Why not provide a Christmas shoebox and donate it to someone in need and to tell people about Jesus. Local shelters and relief agencies might have suggestions as well. Your local church may also have a family you can adopt to help as well.

When you fill your box, please wrap the outside of the box in wrapping paper before you fill it. This means that you should wrap the top and the box separately. Please use a strong rubber band to secure the box top and bottom.

Here are some of suggested items to fufill a person’s basic needs:

Adult Shoeboxes

  • Soap
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Combs/brushes
  • Shaving cream
  • Neosporin
  • Alcohol wipes
  • Band-Aids
  • Gauze
  • First aid tape
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Qtips
  • Lotion
  • Mouthwash
  • Dental floss
  • Wash cloths
  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Rain poncho

Children’s Boxes

  • Soap
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Small toys
  • Stuffed Animals
  • Coloring books
  • Crayons
  • Stickers
  • Shampoo
  • Hard Candy (nothing that melts)

Youth Boxes

  • Soap
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Hard Candy
  • Hacky Sacks
  • Playing Cards
  • Travel Games
  • Dental floss

If you can, also add a tract and a Gospel of John in each shoebox.

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Games and Activities helping youth discover the Reason for the Season.Get more than 200 creative ideas for planning a Youth Christmas celebration or Christmas Party party. You can immediately download my best Christmas Icebreakers, games, illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook!
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Knocked Down

Central Teaching Truth
Sometimes when it seems like life is knocking us down, God is there to pick us up. Though we are all fallen, God takes our place and renews us unto life.

Bible Text
2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 53:5-12

Resources
Get the softest ball you can find- something that will not injure a person no matter how hard youth throw it.

Preparation
Take youth to an open area. Toss the ball into the center and then explain the rules of the game.

The Rules

  • This is a typical game of dodge ball — you pick up a ball, toss it, and if someone gets hit by the ball they must sit down where-ever they are.
  • If someone catches a tossed ball, the person who threw it must sit down.
  • When someone is hit, they are not completely out of the game. They can still grab a ball rolling by and throw it at someone still standing. However, they may NOT move around to get a ball but must stay sitting in the same place once they have been eliminated. If you want to make the game last longer, when someone sitting down hits an active player, they get to switch places and the person sitting down can get back up and continue playing.
  • When everyone is sitting down except one person, that person is the winner.

Take it to the Next Level
The circumstances of life, people, and even Satan may knock us down, but God helps us back up! We have all fallen, but God lifts us up. Christ, in his death on the cross, exchanged places with us. He died in our place that we might live. (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 53:5-12)


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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Taste Test

Materials

  • 2 clear glasses
  • 1 blindfold
  • salt, pepper, lemon juice, hot sauce, diced onions, food coloring, coke, prune juice, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, milk, soy sauce, BBQ sauce and anything else you can find to make he most disgusting concoction you can think of. Also have some sweet additions like honey, candy sprinkles, chocolate syrup, or sugar and some bottled water.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 6:23, Matthew 5:6, Psalm 34:8

Description
Good works doesn’t get you into heaven. But good works are our response to salvation by faith. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works. You can use this as an object lesson or as a children’s sermon!

What to do

  1. As the youth watch, mix the most disgusting concoction of ingredients you can (minus the sweet ingredients)
  2. Ask if anyone wants to volunteer to drink the mixture. (You might have someone willing, if so, just tell them you don’t want to be responsible for them getting sick!)
  3. Now add some of the “good” things to the mixture.
  4. Ask, “Does adding the good things remove the bad things?” (Of course not, it might dilute them or make them a little less disgusting, but they are still there.) Sin is disgusting to God. Even though we can make excuses for ourselves, or do good things to try to make up for them, nothing we can do will ever remove the sin in our lives. Scripture says we are without excuse.
  5. Sin is similar to a very deadly poison. Scripture tells us, even the smallest amount, leads to death. Some people believe that if we do enough good it will take away the bad things we do.
  6. Ask, “Do you want to drink this mixture now that we added good things?” (No.)
  7. We cannot do good things to take away the sin. ONLY trust in Jesus can take away our sin. We must believe and have faith in Christ. When we put our life into his hands, through belief, he cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness.
  8. Pour clean, fresh water into the second glass and explain that when we ask Jesus, he gives us what the Bible calls living water.
  9. So faith in Christ is the anecdote to the sin that poisons our life and poisons our relationship with God. But what is faith?
  10. Set both glasses in front of the youth and ask for a volunteer that trusts you. Explain, that you are going to blindfold the volunteer and give them a drink. Do they have enough faith in you that you will give them the glass of water rather than the glass with the disgusting contents?
  11. Blindfold the volunteer. Hand him or her the cup of water. Ask if they really, really trust you. Encourage them to take a drink.
  12. As you remove the blindfold, explain that God says those who are thirsty for righteousness will be happy (Matt 5:6). In this experiment, it didn’t matter how much faith they had in you as long as they were willing to act on that faith, to place their trust in you. What really mattered, is how faithful you were to them. The same is true for our faith in Christ. With whatever faith you have, give your life into his hands, and because he is eternally faithful, he will take care of you!

Finish by reading Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is Good!”


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…

Skeleton Race

Description
Even if you don’t want to be involved with Halloween, you’ll want to grab at least one of those plastic or paper Halloween skeletons for this object lesson / game.

Game Materials
Purchase one or more plastic skeletons commonly found during the Halloween holiday season. You can also use a paper skeleton that is already cut into parts or make your own.
(Optional) “Dem Bones” song to play in the background

Game Preparation
Separate the plastic skeleton parts into pieces or cut them out if they are on paper.

Game Play

Option 1:

  1. Obtain one skeleton for each team.
  2. Place all the parts for each skeleton in its own sack and give one sack to each team.
  3. When you say ‘Go’, each team must take out the skeleton parts and correctly reconstruct the skeletons.
  4. Award prizes for the fastest times. You can also give additional prizes for weirdest skeleton, etc.
  5. Play some crazy music while the game is going on like “Dem Bones”

 

Option 2:

  1. Hide the skeleton bones before the lesson starts.
  2. Let the participants search for them and then reassemble the skeleton.
  3. For older youth, you can hide the bones and then write out clues for them to follow to find them.
  4. You can also get a few skeletons and break the kids into teams. You can have it as a free for all (i.e. hide all parts and award the first team to find one of each part and put the skeleton together), or you can add a spot of color or a colored ribbon to identify which skeletons belong to which team.
  5. Team members must first find a complete set of parts… then they must assemble it correctly.

 

Application
One of the scary things about Halloween is the skeletons. A lot of people are afraid of death. When they see bones it reminds them of death and they become afraid. But they are just bones and there is nothing to be scared about. They can’t come to life right? or can they?

The prophet Ezekiel might have had the first Halloween scare! We don’t know what day it took place, but it probably wasn’t October 31st.

Let’s look at Ezekiel 37 to find out more!

Read the key verses from this vision.

God’s question to Ezekiel, “Can these dry bones live?” (v3) might be a question a lot of people ask on 31st of October.

But God was talking about more than a skeleton in a closet. He was giving Ezekiel a glimpse into the future when Jesus would conquer death and bring life to us. Jesus did conquer death on a cross. He also resurrected Lazarus from the dead.

Yet God was giving Ezekiel a picture of something more.

The bones represented the house of Israel and their dryness and loss of hope. (v11) The spirit of God would enter their bodies and they would experience restoration and life.

There may be a situation in your own life when you feel like a pile of dry bones. A new life may seem impossible. But like Ezekiel’s response to God when asked “Can these bones live?”, we can answer “You alone know.” God knows and with God all things are possible.

God can breath life into any situation you are in. Not only can he bring you a new life, but he can also give you a new heart: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

  • We are all dead in our sin, like a pile of dry bones (Ephesians 2:1)
  • But God, because of his great love for us, makes us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5)
  • We experience new life through faith in Christ! Doing good things doesn’t get us eternal life, but we are made alive in Christ that we might do good things for Him. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Lyrics to Dem Bones

E-ze-kiel cried, “Dem dry bones!”
E-ze-kiel cried, “Dem dry bones!”
E-ze-kiel cried, “Dem dry bones!”
Oh hear the word of the Lord.

(tune descends in half steps)

The foot bone con-nected to the (pause) leg-bone,
The leg bone connected to the (‘) knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the (‘) thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the (‘) back bone,
The back bone connected to the (‘) neck bone
The neck bone connected to the (‘) head bone
Oh hear the word of the Lord!

Dem bones, dem bones gon-na walk a-roun’
Dem bones, dem bones gon-na walk a-roun’
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun’
Oh hear the word of the Lord

(tune descends in half steps and we retrace the body)

The head-bone connected to the neck-bone,
the neck-bone connected to the back-bone
The backbone connected to the thigh-bone
the thighbone connected to the kee-bone
the kneebone connected to the leg bone
the leg bone connected to the foot bone
Oh hear the word of the Lord

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Jack-O-Lantern

Tradition says the Halloween “Jack-o-Lantern” gets it’s name from an old Irish story about a drunkard called “Stingy Jack.”

According to one version of the story, which has many variations, on October 31st, Stingy Jack was being chased by some villagers for stealing. It was his time to die and because of his wicked life he was going to hell. But he offered the devil an opportunity to create chaos and distrust in the whole village if the devil would free him for a year. The devil, gleeful at any opportunity to cause conflict and destroy relationships, agreed to hear Stingy Jack’s plan.

You want to know what his plan was?

Since the devil could turn into any shape, the devil would turn himself into a coin and Stingy Jack would use the coin to pay for the things he had stolen. Later the devil could change back to his original shape and the villagers would accuse each other and fight over who had stolen the coin.

The devil agreed to the plan, but when he changed into the coin, Stingy Jack dropped the coin into his pocket next to a cross he had stolen from the village. The devil was powerless next to the cross and couldn’t change back into his original form. Stingy jack eventually freed the devil, but only after the devil agreed not to bother him for a whole year.

The next year, the Devil met Stingy Jack walking on a country road and told him that he was there to collect his soul. Jack, pretended he was ready to go, but asked the Devil if he would grant him one last wish. Would he climb an apple tree and get him an apple? The Devil, thinking it was a small request in exchange for Stingy Jack’s soul agreed.

Jack pointed to an apple at the top of the tree and the devil began to climb. But just as he reached for the apple, Stingy Jack pulled out his knife and quickly carved the sign of the cross in the tree’s trunk. Again, powerless before the cross, the Devil was unable to come back down from the tree. Stingy Jack, very proud of himself made the Devil promise to never again ask him for his soul. Seeing no other choice the Devil reluctantly agreed.

Later, Stingy Jack died. But when he knocked on the heavenly gates he was not allowed inside because of his wicked life. But the devil, because of his promise not to take his soul, also refused to let Stingy Jack enter hell.

Being unable to go to heaven or hell Jack asked the Devil where he should go. The Devil only replied, “Back where you came from!” The way back was very dark so Jack begged the Devil to at least give him a light to find his way. So the Devil tossed Jack a hot burning coal from the fires of hell to light his way.

Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the earth ever since.

The Irish referred to him as “Jack of the Lantern,” and later, just “Jack O’ Lantern.” After a while, the Irish began to carve scary faces into potatoes and turnips and place them in windows and doorways to frighten away Stingy Jack and other roaming spirits. When they came to the United States, they discovered pumpkins were much more suitable for jack-O-lanterns since they were softer and easier to carve than the turnips and potatoes of their Irish homeland.

You don’t need a pumpkin to scare away evil spirits. And you don’t need the light of a jack-o-lantern to light your way. Jesus the light of the world has come to you!

Your name might not be Stingy Jack, but the Bible tells us that no one is worthy to get into heaven. (Romans 3:23)

And while you can’t make a deal with the devil, Jesus has already made a deal on your behalf. He exchanged his life for yours that you might receive eternal life. (Romans 6:23) And the devil is still powerless next to the cross where Jesus gave his life for yours!

You don’t need to wander the earth, fearful about whether or not you will get into heaven or afraid the devil will get your soul. You can know for certain you will go to heaven. (1 John 5:12-13, John 14:6)

All you need to do is confess your sin, believe in Jesus, and trust him with your life. (Romans 10:9)

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A Halloween Message

October 31st is a very special day, not because of Halloween, but because of another important event that literally CHANGED the world!

On October 31st, almost five hundred years ago, in the year 1517, Martin Luther nailed a letter to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.

His letter invited a debate on ninety-five different statements and initiated what is known today as the Protestant Reformation!

Martin Luther was a deeply religious man who was seeking salvation. To find answers, he became a monk and tried to earn his way into heaven by good works. But all his efforts never seemed enough! As he studied the Word of God he realized that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “For it is by grace we have been saved through faith, it is a gift of God and not from yourselves, not by works that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9.)

Martin Luther then began reading Romans in the Bible and came to verse 1:17 and discovered “The just shall live by faith.”

Luther realized that no amount of good works would achieve salvation for him. People are not saved by their works, but by their faith in Jesus Christ!

Have you been trying to earn your way into heaven?

Read Philippians 3:1-11.

Paul and Martin Luther both realized that anything they might do to earn eternal life was rubbish. Righteousness can only come through faith in Christ. Only though that faith can we enter into the presence of God!

October 31st was a new beginning for the church. It can also be a new beginning for you!
All you need to do is to believe in Christ.

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Christmas Tree Evangelism

The History of the Christmas Tree
According to tradition, the Christmas Tree originated in Riga, Latvia. The Christmas legend says that a monk named Boniface used its triangular shape to to explain the trinity – that God was Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From that point on, the Germans call the tree “God’s Tree.” By the 16th century they Western Germany in the 16th century, they were used in plays to represent the tree in the garden with Adam and Eve and were decorated with apples. They were called “Paradeisbaum” (Paradise Trees) and were soon brought into homes and still decorated with apples and other fruits to celebrate Christmas. Later, dates, pretzels, and nuts were also used to decorate the tree.

The evergreen was recognised as a symbol of eternal life. Soon candles were soon added the evergreen branches to represent the stars and that Jesus was the light of the world.

Besides apples and other fruits, tradition says they also added Communion wafers wrapped in gold and silver foil that represented the fact that Jesus came into the world to save it, that like the communion bread, his body would be broken to save us from sin. Later the wafers were replaced with cookies cut into the shapes of bells, angels, stars, and hearts.

A Children’s Sermon or Object Lesson using a Christmas Tree

Gold Christmas Bulb
The Gold Christmas bulb reminds us of Heaven which is filled with the glory of God. The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the streets of the city are pure, clear gold-like glass (Rev.21:21). God wants you to be with Him in Heaven someday.

Have you ever seen a BLACK Christmas Bulb?

THERE IS NO Black Christmas Bulb. Just like there is no black Christmas bulb, there is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is called sin. Sin is anything that displeases God. Sin has caused sorrow and sadness in our world. God tells us in the Bible that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). But just like there is no black Christmas bulb, God doesn’t allow sin in heaven.

Red Christmas Bulb
The Red Christmas Bulb shows the way God made for you to have your sins forgiven-taken away. God loves you. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven to take the punishment for your sin (John 3:16). Jesus came into the world to save us from punishment for sin. He is called our Savior! “…the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

White Christmas Bulb
The white Christmas bulb reminds us that you can be made clean from sin. When we sin, we can tell god about our sin, and ask for rogiveness and when we do his blood washes away our sin and makes us white as snow! (I John 1:9).

The Green Christmas Tree
The green Christmas tree reminds us of the new life, everlasting life, we can receive from God. The Bible tells us to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

The Blue Christmas Bulb
The blue bulb is the same as water. Jesus, to show he was giving his life to God was baptized in water.

Christmas Lights
Jesus was born as a light of the world. He came to bring us out of darkness and into the light. Do you want to walk in the light of Jesus this Christmas?

A Silver or Gold Star
You can add a star at the top of the Christmas tree as a reminder that the wisemen followed the star looking for Jesus. Will you seek Jesus this Christmas?
Applications
Use this as a presentation of the plan of salvation for a Christmas Children’s sermon or as a Christmas Object Lesson.

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Eternal Life Insurance

THE ETERNAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, the largest, oldest, and most reliable fire and life insurance company, offers a policy which is strictly equitable; it operates all over the world (John 3:16), and its management has never changed. It insures a man for more than he is worth.

  • The only insurance against loss in the great Judgment Day fire (Rev 20:15).
  • The policy is non-forfeitable and never expires (John 10:28).
  • The dividends are most liberal, being 100% in this life and in the world to come life everlasting; therefore, there are immediate as well as future advantages (1 Tim 4:8).
  • Each member personally gets the benefits, being made immediate possessor of immense wealth and the inheritance is entered into later (1 Pet 1:4).
  • The distribution of profits will shortly take place and a bonus will be paid for the manner and spirit in which the instructions have been carried out, whether the person has been a long or short time insured (Rev 22:12).
  • Premiums are much lower than elsewhere (Isaiah 55:1). There is no extra charge for bad lives (Matt 9:13), and no reduction for good lives (Rom 3:22). This insurance is within the reach of all, as the premium has been fully paid in advance by a gracious, rich Person (2 Cor 8:9).
  • There is only one Medical Officer and He is continually looking out for individuals wishing to be insured. He accepts all who apply, whether healthy or sick, even the diseased and dying and those who have been refused by other companies (John 6:37). However, people who “have no souls” can not apply.

OFFICE HOURS: Today (2 Cor 6:2, Heb 3:7). Tomorrow may be too late (Prov27:1). Companies offering policies after death are not reliable (Heb 9:27).
PAID UP CAPITAL: Unsearchable riches (Eph 3:8).
REAL ESTATE: An inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away (1 Pet 1:4).
ACCUMULATED FUNDS: Inexhaustible (1 Cor 2:9).
CASH IN BANK: Gold trieth in the fire (Rev 3:18).
SURPLUS: Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20).
BURIAL EXPENSES AND CARE OF DEPENDENTS: After one is gone to heaven they need not trouble anyone who is insured in this Company (Mat 6:24-34, Deut 34:6, Jer 49:11).
CONDITIONS OF POLICY: Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

All applications must be made to the President through the Adjuster (John 14:6).
President–King of Kings (1 Tim 6:15).
Adjuster–The King’s Son (John 3:35).
Solicitor–The Holy Spirit (John 16:8).
Agents are wanted. Each member is commissioned as an agent and none but members are authorized.


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Handling Concerns Regarding Salvation

Now is not time.
Don’t brag about what will happen tomorrow. You don’t really know what will happen then. (Prov 27:1)

I tried to be a Christian before, but then I failed.
God is strong and can help you not to fall. He can bring you before His glory without any wrong and give you great joy. He is the only God. He is the One who saves us. (Jude 24,25)

l am not good enough.
God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him. He who believes in God’s Son is not judged guilty. He who does not believe has already been judged guilty. (John 3:17,18)

I’m not so bad.
There is no one without sin. None! There is no one who looks to God for help. All have turned away … All people have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory. (Rom 3:10,11,23)

I don’t want be Christian because being a Christian means no more freedom. I cannot do what I want.
Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young. Be happy while you are young. Do whatever your heart desires. Do whatever you want to do. But remember that God will judge you for everything you do. (Eccle 11:9)

All religions are the same.
Jesus answered, “I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” (John 14:6)

It doesn’t really matter what I believe?
… those who do not know God … and those who do not obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ … will be punished with a destruction that continues forever. They will not be allowed to be with the Lord, and they will be kept away from His great power. (2 Thess 1:8,9)

I don’t need God
It is worth nothing for a person to have the whole world, if he loses his soul? (Mark 8 :36)

Life is quite meaningless.
I came to give life, life in all its fullness. (John 10:10)


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Where the Fire Has Been

H. A. Ironside once told the following:

“One of the first gospel illustration that ever made a real impression upon my young heart was simple story that I heard a preacher tell when I was less than nine years old. It was of pioneers who were making their way across one of the central states to a distant place that had been opened up for homesteading. They traveled in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and progress was necessarily slow. One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely, and was coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have an understanding as to what should be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it. As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror. “Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?” The leader replied, “My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!”

On Him Almighty vengeance fell,
Which would have sunk a world to hell.
He bore it for a chosen race,
And thus becomes our Hiding Place.

The fires of God’s judgment burned themselves out on Him, and all who are in Christ are safe forever, for they are now standing where the fire has been.

Source: Robert G. Lee, SERMONIC LIBRARY, pp. 105-06.

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Why

Check out his incredible video. The singer is Nicole Nordeman.
Why

Thanks to Charissa Ee at The Orange Chalk for pointing me to this.


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Recall Notice

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units, code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed, ” Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality”, or more commonly known as ” S-I-N “. It is primarily symptomized by loss of moral judgment. Some other symptoms:

  • Loss of direction
  • Foul vocal emissions
  • Amnesia of origin
  • Lack of peace and joy
  • Selfish, or violent, behavior
  • Depression or confusion in the mental component.

The manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service, free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The number to call for the recall station in your area is:
P-R-A-Y-E-R Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN by pressing R-E-P-E-N-T-A-N-C-E. Next, download J-E-S-U-S into the heart. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, the JESUS repair will replace it with:

  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Longsuffering
  • Gentleness
  • Goodness
  • Faith
  • Meekness
  • Temperance

Please see operating manual, ” HOLY BIBLE ” for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human unit without correction, voids the manufacturer’s warranty, exposing owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

For free emergency service, call: J-E-S-U-S

DANGER: The human units not receiving this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace.


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Ticket to Heaven

Materials
a piece of paper and scissors

Description
(drama/object lesson, visual – Use caution when discussing Hell with young kids)

Preparation
Fold the top right corner to left side of paper, forming a triangle, then the point at the top left over to the right side of the paper. Now it looks like a house with a pitched roof. Now fold the paper in half and hold it at the crease side rotating it around so that it is oriented like the last image below.

ticket_to_heaven.jpg

Lesson
1. Tell the story of a man who sees another man with a ticket to heaven and how he demands a portion of the ticket. At the open end of the paper, cut piece #1 off, bottom to top, and say how the piece was given to the man who demanded the ticket.
2. Then tell how the man felt – if he had more of the ticket, he would receive more reward and demanded even more of the ticket. At the open end, bottom to top, cut off piece #2 and give to the demanding man.
3. The story goes that the man with the pieces of the ticket went before God and presented it to Him. He took the pieces [Arrange the pieces as below] and said, “This ticket shows me you are not of My son”

ticket_to_heaven2.jpg

4. Then, the man who gave the pieces away, presented his ticket to God and when it was opened, it reveals a cross. God told him this shows you are one of my Son’s own, welcome to heaven.

Application
Jesus suffered and sacrificed Himself for our sins and offers us the only way to heaven. Do you have your ticket?

Variation
You can also do this story as a skit, choose one of the kids as an assistant. 
Two friends die and stand before God and God asks them why he should let them into heaven.
One responds “I have my ticket” while the other looks at him puzzled.
“Oh You don’t have a ticket?” “Oops I guess I never told you anything about a ticket.”
“Here, have a peice of my ticket.” (Tear off a third of the piece of paper (piece #1) and give it to yor volunteer.
Look at your peice and then at the volunteer’s piece.)
Oops, my peice is much larger. Are you concerned that you ticket isn’t big enough?
“Here, have another piece?” (Tears off another third (piece #2) and give it to the volunteer.
Then present your tickets to God. (another teacher or helper)
God lays out the pieces to spell “hell”
Look at your friend as to show you are very sorry. Very sad.
Then present your ticket to God. When the remaining piece of the paper is unfolded it forms a cross.
Summarise: Jesus is the only way. Its a choice we have to make now. If we wait until we stand before God it will be too late.


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The Doors of Hell

God does not condemn us to Hell; God wishes all humans to be saved. He will love us to all eternity, but there will exist the possibility that we do not accept the love and do not respond to it. And the refusal to accept love, the refusal to respond to it, that precisely is the meaning of Hell. Hell is not a place where God puts us; it’s a place where we put ourselves. The doors of Hell, insofar as they have locks, have locks on the inside.

Kallistos Ware


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Dorothy

During the second month of nursing school, a professor gave his students a pop quiz. One conscientious student breezed through the questions, until he read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. He had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would he know her name? He handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank.

Before class ended, another student asked if the last question would count toward everyone’s quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello”.

He never forgotten that lesson. He also learned her name was Dorothy.

Source: Unknown

 


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Salt

Salt adds flavor, creates thirst, In the days before modern medicine, salt was often used to disinfect a wound. When it’s applied to the wound, it stings. People won’t always appreciate your witness, because it will sting the wounds of their sin.

We often use salt as a pinch of zest for our food. Salt, as Jesus was speaking about it, was the salt of the earth- not merely to season our food and satisfy our taste buds, but the sodium chloride which kills bacteria, preserves our food, heals our wounds, and makes us buoyant upon the seas of life. The salt of the ocean waters is the salt of the earth.

Ancient Roman baptisms included placing salt on the baby’s tongue as the infant received water. Salt is an essential life-enhancing element! This baptism with salt is not unusual. Armenian babies are salted at birth. Jewish babies are cleaned, salted, and wrapped.

In this short statement Jesus was also warning his disciples to avoid two errors. First, he was saying that Christians must not forsake the world and go into isolation. Why? Salt will do no good to meat unless it is rubbed into it. Only then will it function as an antiseptic. We are to be in the world so that the world may benefit by our difference from the world. And second, he was saying that Christians must also avoid the error of being one with the world and embracing its values and ways.

To be the salt of the earth is to help make our living upon this earth a little more buoyant; it is to lift up the brokenness of the world and tend to it with the same grace which has been given us.

Read Mathew 5:13; Col 4:5-6; I Peter 3:15-16; I Tim 4:2

When I accept Jesus’ call to be the salt of the earth, I give flavor to the world around me. I help conserve God’s goodness in the events and people I encounter.
* Who do I know that needs Christ?
* What can I do with my life to create a thirst for Christ in theirs?


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Dynamite Fishing

dynamite.jpgA game warden heard about a local fisherman that was illegally using dynamite to fish at the local lake. So the next day he decided to investigate and mayby catch the fisherman in the act. At about 6 a.m. he arrived at pier dressed as a fisherman himself and noticed a gentleman climbing into a small boat with a tackle box but no fishing pole.

Thinking that this must be the culprit, he asks if he might join the fisherman and come along for the ride. “Sure” says the angler “I could use the company. It’ll be nice to have someone to talk to while I’m fishing”.

So the game warden climbs aboard and off they row to the middle of the lake. As soon as they reach the middle the fisherman reaches into his tackle box and pulls out a stick of dynamite, lights it and tosses it overboard… CABOOOM!! up float a bunch of dead fish which the fisherman scoops up into the boat.

The game warded pulls out his badge and identifies himself. “I’m the game warden and you’re under arrest for fishing with dynamite!”

About this time the old fisherman lights another stick of dynamite, hands it to the game warden and says,
“You gonna talk or fish?”

When it comes to evangelism, are we just talking, or are we fishing?
Are the methods we use for evangelism effective or do they simply cause a lot of collateral damage?


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Fishing for Men

fishlure.jpg
Materials

1. Cardboard box or a sheet hung across a barrier to hide the other side.
2. A pole with a string and bent piece of wire shaped into a hook.
3. A variety of items with loops or hooks attached.

Activity
Place the items in a large box. Make sure the box is big enough so that no one can see into the box. Give them their fishing pole with the hook and allow them to fish items out of the box. Have some items that are nice prizes while others that are jokes such as an old shoe. Wire or rattan baskets with handles can also be used with items placed inside. Wire loops can be attached to items that otherwise might be difficult to snag. For an added application, attach scripture verses to the items.

Discussion
1. What are the things the world values? What things does the world go fishing for?
2. What are we to fish for as Christians?
3. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never goes fishing?
4. Is a person a fisherman if he never catches a fish?
5. Is a person a true disciple of Jesus Christ if he never attempts to win a soul for Christ?
6. As a fisherman, do we cast our nets in our backyard or do we go to a place where fish can be found? Jesus never suggests that the world should come to the church but commands the church to go into the world to witness. Jesus has given us the example – he goes to the people, he never waits for the people to come to Him.

Applications
1. Matthew 4:17-22 – We are to be “fishers of men”
2. Use for a lesson on evangelism.
3. How is telling others about Jesus similar to fishing?
4. Lures are attractive to fish. How can you make the good news of Jesus attractive to your friends?

Closing Activity
As a closing gesture, give each kid a fishing lure as a reminder of the fact that we should be fishers of men (Remove the hooks for safety and tape them to a card with a key phrase from the passage in matthew 4:17-22.)
“I hope you will be good fishers of men each day!”


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Capsized

stormy_sea.jpgOnce, there was a storm in Holland, and a boat capsized in the wind and rain and fog. A Rescue Team went out and worked to exhaustion recovering all but one survivor. They came back and the team was exhausted. “Who will go?” someone shouted. Then 16 yr-old Hans said “I will go!” His mother begged him not to go: “Your father died at sea 10 years ago. Your brother Paul was lost at sea just three weeks ago. I can’t take any more heartache. You are all that I have left.”

Hans explained: “I have to go. What if everyone said, Not me. Let someone else do it’?” Hans went out to try to rescue the last survivor.

An hour passed anxiously for his mother and everyone. Then a voice came through the fog. Hans called out: “Tell my mother that I have rescued my brother Paul!”

Source: Unknown


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The Stranger

At Christmas time there was a man who looked so out of place,
As people rushed about him at a hurried sort of pace.
He stared at all the Christmas lights, the tinsel everywhere,
The shopping center, Santa Claus, with children gathered near.
The mall was packed with shoppers, who were going to and fro,
Some with smiles and some with frowns and some too tired to go.
They rested on the benches or they hurried on their way,
To fight the crowd for purchases to carry home that day.

The music from a stereo was playing loud and clear,
Of Santa Claus and snow men and funny-nosed reindeer.
He heard the people talk about the good times on the way,
Of parties, fun and food galore and gifts exchanged that day.
“I’d like to know what’s going on,” the man was heard to say,
“There seems to be some sort of celebration on the way.
“And would you tell me who this is, all dressed in red and white?
“And why are children asking him about a special night?”

The answer came in disbelief,– “I can’t believe my ear!
I can’t believe that you don’t know that Christmas time is here.
The time when Santa Claus comes around with gifts for girls and boys,
When they’re asleep on Christmas Eve, he leaves them books and toys.”
“The man you see in red and white is Santa Claus, so sly,
The children love his joyful laugh and twinkle in his eye!
His gift-packed sleigh is pulled along by very small reindeer,
As he flies quickly through the air, while darting there and here.

The children learn of Santa Claus while they are still quite small,
When Christmas comes he is the most important one of all!”
The stranger hung his head in shame, he closed a nail-pierced hand,
His body shook in disbelief, and he did not understand.
A shadow crossed his stricken face, His voice was low but clear:
“After all these years, they still don’t know …”

And Jesus shed a tear.

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Bait!

Materials
Fishing Lures (no hooks for safety’s sake.), Fishing pole or net, other fishing gear, tackle box, etc.

Activity
Does anyone know how to use this equipment?
Has anyone here ever been fishing?
Has anyone ever caught a fish?
This is a fishing pole, and you cast the line out in the water and hope to catch some fish. (Do this if you have room but remove the hook from your lure to avoid catching some poor fellow’s toupee.)
Display and describe important equipment used in fishing such as fishing rods, fishing line, waders, floats, weights, and hooks.

But the most important thing is missing – a fishing pole and fishing line by itself won’t catch fish. You need bait!

Select some common fishing lures and explain how each is used.
1. Some lures sink to the bottom where catfish and bottom dwelling fish can be found.
2. Others such as a fly float on the surface.
3. Some move through the water and have spinning parts and reflectors to attract the fish.
4. Some look like worms while others look like shrimp or other live creatures the fish like to eat.
5. Some people may not use lures but instead use live bait.

Application
Read Matthew 4:17-22
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?

Jesus 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 loves 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.

Extra
As closing gesture, give each kid 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.

Food for Thought
Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches fish? Is a person a true disciple of Jesus Christ if he never wins a soul for Christ? Jesus never suggests that the world should come to the church but he commands the church to go into the world to witness. Jesus has given us the example – he goes to the people, he never waits for the people to come to Him.


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The Key

Materials
Many different kinds, sizes and shapes of keys: old-fashioned keys, keys on funny key rings, car keys, a huge honorary key (as “a key to the city”), hotel keys (both the traditional kind and the plastic card kind with the electronic code), etc. Have a one lock which can be opened by one of the keys.

Activity
Ask kids to identify what all the objects have in common. Of course they are keys. Then ask them what each key might open?
The keys represent things to us
House keys – a home
Skeleton key – something old/ antique
Key ring – lots of opportunities
Car Key – going places
Hotel Key – Vacation / Holiday
PadLock Key – Security for your valuable possessions

Then show them the padlock and let them identify which key might open the lock?

Application
Some people say there are many different ways to GodBut the Bible says the only way to God is through Jesus. Which is what Jesus meant when be said, “I am the way” in John 14:6.

He is the key to heaven and eternal security with God. Like the house key, he is the key to our heavenly home. Like the car key, he is our way to go there. Like the padlock key, he opens up the riches of God to us. Jesus didn’t say he pointed to the way, or that he knew the way, or even that he could teach the way. He said he is “the way.”


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Taste It For Yourself

Materials
Some delicious fruit

Activity
Pull out a piece of fruit, such as an apple, and begin eating it while you’re in the midst of your discussion. Continue your discussion as you normally would. Stop occassionally and tell the others how delicious the fruit you’re eating is! Then continue again with your discussion. After stopping and telling the others about your delicious fruit several times, ask if someone else would like to try the fruit also. Have someone else try the fruit. After they agree that the fruit IS delicious, make the following application:

Application
As you have just demonstrated, you can tell others how “delicious” the Gospel is, and they can believe you …trusting in your testimony of it. But, they will never truly know and understand “how delicious it is,” until they taste it for themselves.


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Egg testimony

Materials
Make a jello egg by making a small hole in each end of an egg using a needed or penknife. The hole can be about 1/2 cm in diameter. You can then blow through the other hole and empty the contents of the egg. Use some water to rinse the inside of the egg until the water exits clear. You can then make ordinary jello and fill the eggshell with jello. Once the jello has set you can remove the shell and you have a jello egg. You may wish to leave the jello in the egg and use a little white toothpaste to cover over the holes.

Prepare another egg just as above, but instead of filling it with jello, leave it empty.

Activity
Use the jello egg, empty egg, a raw egg, a soft boiled egg, and a hard boiled egg. Each of the 5 eggs are placed in separate zip-lock bags. The youth then get to feel the eggs and test the firmness of each one.

Application

The Jello egg is a great example of testimony or faith that is based on the continuous changes in life. It is solid. It is firm. It retains it’s shape and identity. Yet it gives a bit and adjusts to changes around it, which may include guidance from a parent, teacher, or church authority; experiences with others; revelation; inspiration; etc.

The empty egg may symbolize the vaccuum we have wthout Jesus in our life.

raw egg might represent a new Christian and lacks the firmness in his convictions.

soft-boiled egg might represent a Christian which is firm in some things, but still has some core issues unresolved.

The firm egg may represent someone who is legalistic or rigid in his faith.

A great change occurred in Nebuchadnezzer’s life. His heart was very hard and unyeileding to God. So God crushed his shell by giving him a time of difficulty. During this time King Nebuchadnezzer lost his senses and lived among the wild animals and acted like one of them. He ate grass like cattle do, his hair grew to look like the feathers of an eagle and his fingernails grew to look like the claws of a bird. But in Daniel 4 he turned to God and something special happened. Like the eggs of birds that hold many surprises, God can break us out of a shell and change us if we will put our trust in him.

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Nebuchadnezzar Testimony

Materials
In the middle of your meeting room, lay out as many of the following items as you can find to be used as props: a packet of seeds, a flower, a pencil eraser, a pencil, a blank sheet of paper, several balloons, a fork, sandals or tennis shoes, a telephone, a newspaper, several pieces of wood bubbles, a dust rag, finger paints and paper grocery bags, a brick, a pillow, a banana peel, a flashlight, a harmonica, an empty cup, and a bar of soap. Add other things as you wish. You’ll also need Bibles.

Introduction
Read aloud the story of the change that occured in King Nubuchadnezzer in Daniel 4.

King Nubuchadnezzer’s story of how he began a relationship with God is exciting, but it’s no more unique than your story. Take a few minutes to think about how you became a Christian. Then think about ways you might use one or more of these props to explain to others the story of how you became a Christian.

Activity
Form two teams. Have as many kids who are willing use as many props as they can to tell the whole group how they became Christians. Allow only the same number of kids from each team to share. Award teams 1,000 points for each prop used by its team members. Props may be used more than once but not in the same way that someone else previously used them. After each person has had a turn, tally the points and congratulate the winning team.

Debrief
Next have kids choose a partner from the opposite team to form pairs. Wrap up the game by asking pairs to discuss these questions:

1. Why do we sometimes get more excited about “extraordinary” conversion stories like King Nubuchadnezzer than “ordinary” ones?
2. Are people better or worse Christians based on how they were before they became Christians? Explain.
3. What are some creative ways to tell others about how you became a Christian?
4. Why is it important to use different methods in telling how we became Christians?

Application
The fourth chapter of Daniel tells the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s turning to God. He told his testimony voluntarily and enthusiastically:

1) His life before he turned to God. He begins by telling us what happened eight years before. “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my place, contented and prosperous.” But his ease and prosperous condition did not last long because he says, “I had a dream that made me afraid…” Then he shared how he suffered from a mental condition.

2) How he turned to God. “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my sanity was restored. He repented and turned to God.

3) The results of turning to God. “At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom… and I became even greater than before.”


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 Price is Right

Materials
Various objects from the store with the price tags on them.

Activity
Divide the class into several teams. Then display one of the items but with the price tag concealed. Each team must try to guess the price of the item without going over. The closest team to the actual price is rewarded a token, a one cent coin, or play money. Continue through all the items you have brought. Then have a package of candy or similar item that all the kids can share as a final reward. Allow kids to purchase the items using their tokens, coins, or play money. But set the prices impossibly high so that even if one team won all the tokens they still would not be able to get the final prize. When they have discovered it is impossible then give the prize to the class as a gift from you they can share.

Application
The Bible says it is impossible for us to reach heaven by our own efforts, but God gives us the free gift. The cost is too high. It cost God his one and only Son. Yet God gives us salvation as a free gift. All we have to do is trust in him.

Variation
Add some items for the price guessing that are sentimental in value. You could use a package of baseball cards, a special pokemon monster which is rare, a rare “Star Wars” figure, a rare collectible, or even one of the “hello kitty” dolls from McDonalds or “Muppet Babies” which were such a hit. While these items had a set price, there are people willing to pay much more. This is because the wish to complete their collection or because of the rareness of an item. Baseball cards may be only worth about 20 cents each, but some baseball cards can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. They are just a picture on a piece of cardboard. Yet some people collect baseball cards and if they want a particular card, and there aren’t many of them, they may have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to get one. We can identify the worth of something by how much someone is willing to pay for it. Our salvation is priceless because we could not acheive it ourselves and because God gave that which was of greatest worth to him so that we could have salvation as a free gift. He gave us his life so that we might be saved.


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Ready for the Salvation of God

Materials
Several items from the list below. (This activity may also be done by drawing a simple picture of each object or showing a photo.)

Safety Belt – If you knew that you were going to be in a terrible car accident, you would be sure to wear your seat belt and make sure you were safe!

Steel Toed Boots – If you knew you were going to accidentally drop a brick on your foot you would wear protective shoes

Life vest – If you were going out in a boat on the sea and knew that the boat was going to sink you would be sure to wear your life vest so you did not drown.

Goggles – If you knew that some small pieces of metal were going to fly into your eyes, you would be happy to have googles to protect your eyes.

Bandage – If you knew that you were going to cut your finger you would be happy to have a bandage to stop the bleeding.

House – If you knew a hurricane was going to hit town today, you wouldn’t go to the beach for a swim; you’d shut yourself up in the sturdiest room in your house and be ready!

Hard Hat – If you knew a board was going to fall from above you would be happy to wear a hard hat to protect your head.

Boat – If you knew there was going to be a terrible flood, you would be happy to have a boat to excape the danger.

Hell – Light the match to show flames.

Reveal the cross – Salvation through Jesus is the way to escape the danger of hell and be ready for eternity!

Application
If any of you knew that you were headed for danger, you would be sure to be ready. Explain to students how to be ready for eternity using your favorite Gospel Presentation.

Use this series of object lessons to remind youth that we need to be prepared for eternity. (Matthew 24:44)



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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Who Needs to be Saved?

Activity
Ask the kids if the following people need to be saved?
First, only say the first half… then after a dramatic pause, and perhaps some “no’s” from the audience, add the second half! (Works great drawing it on a whiteboard too!)

1. Guy swimming in the ocean?
(no?) add a shark!
2. Girl driving in car?
(no?) add a cliff for the road to drop off!
3. Man reading book on the sidewalk?
(no?) add Piano falling from a window!
4. Kid walking to school?
(no?) add teacher w/ Pop Quiz!
5. Youth tanning on the beach?
(no?) add a tidal wave!
CREATE YOUR OWN SURPRISES

Finally
X. Kid riding bike?
(no?) add the 10 Commandments and the Book of Life or add the verse of Romans 3:23

OPTION
Draw the first half on the whiteboard… then draw the second half after your pause. The additional information changes everything! Or reveal the 1st half of a predrawn picture and then the later reveal the second half of the picture.

INTRO TO SALVATION LESSON
The Bible says that everyone needs to be saved – only most people do not realize it. They think they are “fine,” just like the man reading the book- he needs to look up and realize it isn’t just a clowdy day. People need to see the things in this world that show that there is more to it, and that they are indeed in need of being saved. (Romans 6:23)


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Missions Scavenger Hunt

Activity
Scatter about the room objects that represent various countries and geographic localities. Have youth try to find as many of the objects as possible and identify the countries they might represent.

Some possibilities are: 
ice-iceland, pyramid – Egypt, pizza – Italy, hammer – russia, flags from various countries, tulip – Holand, Elephant – India, Bhudda – China/ Asia, french baguette – France (French fries weren’t invented in france but instead in the USA), hats or clothing from various contries, maple leaf- Canada, photos from various places, sarong – Malaysia, etc.

Use your imagination and take a look about your house. Reward students who match the hidden items with the correct countries. The more items, the better.

Debrief
All the places represented have one thing in common – they all need to know Jesus.

See Conducting Scavenger Hunts for help, Hints, Safety Considerations, Rules, and other useful information to make your scavenger hunt a wild success!


scavenger_hunts_ebook_sm.jpgCreative Scavenger Hunts: Once Lost, Now Found

is a 160 page e-book that explains everything you need to know to easily plan your very own scavenger hunt: Item Lists, Rules, Riddles, Safety Tips, Guidelines, Scoring, Tips for Facilitators and MORE! There are more than 50 complete ideas (scavenger hunts, photo hunts, video hunts, amazing race, etc.) to use at home, around the neighborhood, at the mall, in the park, on the beach, at church, and around town!

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Get Lost

candy.jpgMaterials
A piece of candy or reward for each participant.

Directions
Promise a prize to those that win this game!

Form groups of three. Based upon different criteria one person will be told to “get lost” To begin, have youth alphabetize their first names and tell the person with his/her name closest to “A” to “Get lost!” Those who are told to get lost must quickly join a different pair. The last person to reach a pair AND the two people in that pair are eliminated from the game. Then tell youth to find out from each other when they were born. Direct the oldest and youngest in each trio to tell the middle youth to “get lost!” As before, new trios are formed and the last person to reach a pair and the remaining pair are eliminated. Continue to play with new criteria for getting lost until only one trio survives. Then you tell this trio that for being so cut-throat competitive that they must all “Get Lost!”

Criteria for Getting Lost: (or make up your own)
1. name closest to letter “A”
2. Niether the youngest or the oldest in a group.
3. Has the most colorful socks
4. has the oldest living grandparent
5. has the most cousins
6. has the least # of pets
7. has the largest pet.
8. Is the tallest
9. Has the longest hair
10. Has the shortest fingernails
11. has the biggest foot.
12. has the longest finger
13. has the darkest skin tone
14. has the smallest nose
15. lives farthest from the church
16. lives on the highest floor
ETC…

Application Point
Tell youth they all “LOST” but in grace you are going to consider them all the victors and give each a prize. Grace is actually an “undeserved gift.” In the book of Romans we discover that all men are “lost” because of our sinful nature. Like some of the characteristics in the game, part of our sinful nature we have no control over… it was passed down as a result of Adam and Eve’s fall. But other aspects of our sinful nature are due to choices we made so that we are without excuse. But through Grace, God pardons our sin so that we are no longer lost, but saved! Instead of getting lost, let’s “get saved”. Through God’s grace. Let me tell you how…


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…