Hollow Without Jesus
Key Verse:
Ephesians 3:19 (NLT) May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Additional Verses:
Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:19-20
Materials Needed:
A Hollow Chocolate Easter Bunny
Preparation:
Remove the chocolate bunny from the packaging.
Object Lesson:
We’re a lot like this Easter Bunny (Hold the hollow bunny and take a bite out of the ears or break them off). I’m sorry that I can’t share this with everybody. We’re hollow, empty. (Show that the inside is hollow). Going around day to day, waking up, working a job going through the motions, but we feel empty inside (e.g. going to school, sports, homework, etc. Use age-appropriate examples for your group).
We feel bound by addiction, our past, we’re held back. We feel like we look good on the outside, but on the inside we know that there’s something missing. We know that we are not experiencing all that God has for us. Empty.
So how do we get rid of that empty feeling? The Bible says in [Eph 3:19 NLT] 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
It’s understanding how much God loves us that fills us up. He loves us so much that we can never fully understand it. He loves us more than our parents, brothers, sisters or friends could ever love us. His love completes us and gives us power to live a full life.
Maybe you’ve been going around depressed, or with anxiety, anger or feelings of rejection. Jesus is saying that you don’t have to stay that way any longer. You don’t have to feel that emptiness or loneliness any longer because God wants you to know that He loves you. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for you and Jesus rose from the grave. He gave Jesus life and He wants to give that life to you. There’s nothing you can do to deserve it, it’s a free gift that He wants to give to you.
It’s not because you’re a nice person or a good-looking person or because you dressed up for Easter. That’s not why He wants to give you salvation. It’s because of His great love for you.
D5 Creation