Demonstration
Someone begins giving a discussion about the characteristics of the human heart, while eating something from a clear plastic bag (chips or candy etc), but is interrupted as soon as the bag is empty. The first interruption is by someone looking for her stereo. She grabs the plastic bag and holds it on her shoulder like a radio. The second interruption is by someone looking for a shoe. She snatches the bag from the person using it as a stereo and puts the plastic bag on her foot like a shoe. The third interruption escalating the chaos is by someone looking for his car – he holds the plastic bag like a steering wheel. Finally the speaker they interrupted takes the bag away and tells them it is just a plastic bag.
Debrief
The plastic bag is representative of our life. We are a reflection of that which fills our hearts. For some it is music, for others beauty, and still others it is possessions.
Provide a plastic bag for each person. Let volunteers use the paper bag to demonstrate something that is important to them or place something in the bag that is important to them.
What fills your thoughts? What actions fill your life? What words fill your silence? What have you made of your life for others?
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.
If we do not bear the cross of the Master, we will have to bear the cross of the world, with all its earthly goods. Which cross have you taken up? Pause and consider.
–Sadhu Sundar Singh
Needed
For each group you will need forks, knives, spoons, and a silverware tray with compartments molded to the shape of each utensil. Add extra miscellaneous tools that don’t fit in the silverware tray. Alternatively, you can use a tool box that has plastic molds conforming to the shapes of the tools.
Activity
Let the groups or individuals compete to be the first to place all the items in the correct compartments. You might choose to have more than one attempt to see if they can speed up their times. Award the group with the fastest time.
Linking ideas
1. Ecclesiastes 2:1-24; The silverware fits right into the spaces provided in this tray, but if we try to put a hammer or screwdriver in the compartments they don’t fit. Discuss how King Solomon also tried to fill in the holes in his life with pieces that didn’t fit. That’s because only God can fill the voids in our lives.
2. Blaise Pascal said that inside every man there is a god shaped vaccuum that only God can fill. We can try to fill that void in our lives with many things, but only God will bring us contentment and happiness. Only those things of God will truly fit and make us complete.
3. We are each created with different tools and spiritual gifts. Our goal in life is not to try to fit ourselves into another person’s mold, but discover our own place.
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.
Creative Youth ideas: 1700+ Resources for youth leaders, pastors, ministers to help plan camps, retreats, and meetings using games, illustrations, Children's Worship, Bible Studies, object lessons, sermons, creative ideas,creative activities
MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
