Leaving the Past Behind
Key Verse
Philippians 3:13
Additional Verses
Luke 9:62; Hebrews 12:1-2; Hebrews 6:1
Materials Needed
- Deer antlers
Object Lesson
Have you ever had a bad habit that you have tried to get rid of? (Share about a bad habit that you have had.) It is not easy to get over it. Somethings there are things that happen in out past that we just need to leave behind. Maybe it is a bad habit, maybe it is someone who hurt us, maybe it is something else.
(Show the deer antlers.)
Do you know what these are? They are deer antlers. Did you know that deer get a new set of antlers every year? Each year they grow a brand new set of antlers and then eventually fall off and a new set begins to grow. I do since I’ve spent so much time in deer hunting blinds that I’ve actually seen a deer lose their antlers.
Did you know that sometimes we should be kind of like deer? There are certain things that we need to drop and leave behind like the deer leave their antlers behind. We need to leave some bad habits behind. Maybe we need to leave a relationship behind. Maybe we need to forgive someone for hurting us and leave that behind.
In Philippians 3:13 it says that we should be leaving the past behind and look forward to what is ahead. We need to start new habits. Habits of reading and studying the Bible. Habits of prayer and fasting. Habits of helping those in need.
What are some things that you need to leave behind? What things can you work to build in your life that are good and pleasing to God?
Renewing Your Mind
Key Verse
Romans 12:1-2
Additional Verses
2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:22-24
Materials Needed
- Glass
- Container of milk (or juice, soda, or whatever as long as it is obviously different from water.)
- Tall pitcher of water.
- Pan or tray to catch the overflow
Preparation
You will want to test out this object lesson to make sure that you have enough water to fully displace the milk in the glass.
Object Lesson
In Romans 12:1-2 it tells us that we shouldn’t be the same as the world and that we should let God change the way that we think. Many people talk about being “street wise” or “worldly-wise” and that means that you think the way that the world thinks. However, God wants us to think the way that He thinks. He wants you to be renewing your mind.
(Show the glass and place it in the pan.)
This glass is going to represent your mind. The things that you think about. (Fill the glass full of milk.) Now it is full of all kinds of bad thoughts. Things of the world. Basically thinking in a way that does not please God. If you have thoughts about lying, or cheating or doing something wrong those a thoughts that don’t please God.
God wants us to change the way that we think. Everyone look really hard at this glass and let’s make it change into something else just by looking at it. Ready? Go!
(Stare very intently at the milk.)
Nothing happened! How can we change what is in the glass? How do we change the way that we think? By filling it up with something else.
(Show the pitcher full of water.)
This pitcher of water will represent God’s Word, the Bible. (Slowly start pouring the water into the glass of milk, letting it overflow into the pan.) Instead of letting our thoughts be filled with things of the world we should let it get filled with God’s Word. It is so easy to let the world’s thinking slip in. We are exposed to it on TV, movies, music, magazines, the Internet and many other ways. We need to fill our lives with God’s Word.
(The milk should be overflowing, and now it should be noticeably diluted.)
Do you see what is happening? The water is replacing the milk. The same way that when we pour God’s Word into our lives it begins to change the way that we think by replacing those worldly thoughts. (Continue to pour the water.)
The more we let God’s Word into our life the more it will clean us and help us to think the way that God wants us to. Sometimes more bad thinking gets added back in and that is why we need to study God’s Word on a daily basis.
(The glass should be mostly clear.)
Let us read and study God’s Word and let it transform the way that we think.
Turn a New Leaf
Key Verse
Romans 12:2
Additional Verses
2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:22-24
Materials Needed
- Leaf
Object Lesson
On New Years many people will come up with something called a New Year’s Resolution. This is a goal for the next year or something that you want to change about yourself. Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions? (Allow for responses.)
(Show the leaf.)
Some people say that when you make changes in your life that you are turning over a new leaf. (Flip the leaf over.) Why do you think they say that? It is because you are looking at your life from a different perspective. You are seeing things from a different point of view.
In Romans 12:2 it says that we need to change the way that we think. Many times we just try to changes our actions and the things that we do. What God wants us to do it to change the way that we think. When we think about things from God’s perspective then we act in a way that He wants us to. When we turn over a new leaf in our life it should be to start thinking about things the way that God does.
As you make resolutions and think about things that you can change for the new year try turning over a new leaf. Try thinking about things God’s way. How do we think about things God’s way? By renewing our mind which comes from reading and meditating on God’s Word, the Bible.
Christmas Cookies
Key Verse
2 Corinthians 9:15
Additional Verses
James 1:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8
Materials Needed
- Christmas cookies.
Object Lesson
One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is making, and eating, Christmas cookies! Do you like Christmas cookies? What is your favorite kind? (Wait for a response).
I brought some Christmas cookies today that I would like to share with you. (Pass out the cookies).
Many people make Christmas cookies to eat, but they also make them because they make a really nice homemade gift to give to friends and loved ones. Have you ever gotten Christmas cookies as a gift?
Do you know why people give Christmas cookies? Because it is something that is yummy, but also because it is a gift from the heart. When you make something yourself you are not just putting money into it, you are also putting in time, energy and love into it. That’s why people give Christmas cookies. It shows that you care.
God wanted to give us a gift that was from the heart too. He didn’t give us Christmas cookies, but he gave us something that was from his own heart. He gave his son Jesus!
Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life so that he could save the world from sin. He gives us the free gift of eternal life. This is a gift that is straight from God’s heart. It is way better than just simply giving Christmas cookies, because Jesus gave his life for us. He loves us so much that he came to this earth, and ultimately died so that we could be free from sin.
As we give gifts from our heart this Christmas let us also remember the greatest gift that God gave when he sent his one and only Son to this earth to save us.
Christmas Tree Meaning
Key Verse
1 John 4:19
Additional Verses
Matthew 14:31; John 3:16; Romans 5:8
Materials Needed
- A Christmas tree. You can use a full-sized one or just a small one.
Object Lesson
(For more Christmas ornament meanings please check out our heartwarming Christmas story book “The Jesus Tree“)
Many of us will put up a Christmas Tree in our homes and decorate it for the holidays using different christmas lights that can even be purchase online. Some people use an artificial tree and some people will cut down a living tree to use. I always prefer a real tree because it reminds me that Jesus is alive and powerful.
As we look into the tree we see the trunk in the middle and branches that are extending out from it. When I see the branches of a Christmas Tree it reminds me that Jesus is reaching His arms out to us. He loves us so much that he came to the earth so that he could give us eternal life in Heaven.
The tree also reminds me about the cross that he was crucified on. It was made out of the wood of a tree. As Jesus hung on the cross his arms were still spread out wide. Open to us.
In 1 John 4:19 it says that we love Jesus because he first loved us.
Jesus loves us and offers us the free gift of eternal life. As you see your Christmas Tree this season let it remind you of Jesus and that he loves you so very much!
Christmas Bells
Key Verse
Mark 16:15
Additional Verses
Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Acts 1:8
Materials Needed
- Bell. You can use a large bell or Christmas decoration bells. If you want you can get small Christmas bells and tie them to a piece of ribbon to give out to everyone.
Object Lesson
(Shake the bell loudly.)
Don’t you love the sound of a jingling bell? Often times near Christmas we will sing the carol:
Jingle bells
Jingle bells
Jingle all the way!
The sound of jingling bells is a joyful sound and not a sad sound. It is a sound that reminds us that the celebration of Jesus’ birth is near.
What do you think would happen if I took the little metal ball out from the inside of the bell? Or if I hold the bell tightly in my hand? (Hold the bell tightly so that the sound is muffled.)
Does that sound very joyful? No!
We are a lot like this little bell. Jesus wants us to ring out for Him! He wants us to tell the world the Good News about Christmas. The news that the Savior was born in a manger and He came to give us eternal life.
Jesus does not wants us to muffle our bell. (Muffle the sound again.) He wants us to ring loudly from the joy that is inside of us. Just like the bell rings loudly because of what is inside it.
Let us ring loudly for Jesus and tell everyone the Good News about Christmas.
The Naughty List
Key Verse
Romans 3:23
Additional Verses
Romans 6:23; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8
Materials Needed
- Lump of coal
Object Lesson
As Christmas gets closer and closer many people start talking about Santa Claus. The chubby guy in a red suit that delivers gifts to all the good kids in the world. We go to the malls to sit on his lap and tell him all the wonderful things that we want, then we try to be really good so he will actually bring them. But what happens if we aren’t good? What does Santa supposedly bring to bad children?
(Show the lump of coal.)
He brings a lump of coal! That doesn’t sound very nice does it? I sure wouldn’t want to just get a lump of coal for Christmas. But guess what! I am not a very good person. I have done things that I shouldn’t do. In fact, the Bible says in Romans 3:23 that we have ALL sinned and fallen short of God’s standard.
This means that all of us have been on the “Naughty List.” All that we deserve is a big fat lump of charcoal!
However, this holiday really isn’t about Santa Claus, it is about Jesus! It is His birthday that we celebrate. Santa may only be able to give out lumps of coal to people who aren’t very good, but Jesus does something even better!
In John 3:16-17 it says that God sent his Son Jesus to this world to save people. Jesus already knew that all we deserve is a dirty lump of coal, but He wants to give us something MUCH better than that! He wants to make a trade!
Jesus takes our lump of coal for himself and gives us freedom from sin and eternal life in heaven! That is the greatest gift that anyone could ever get.
So Santa may only give our black coal for people who have done bad things, Jesus gives those people the chance to have eternal life. Let us make sure that we remember Jesus and the wonderful gift that He gave us as we celebrate Christmas this year.
Light of the World
Key Verse
John 8:12
Additional Verses
John 12:46; John 9:5; John 3:19
Materials Needed
- String of Christmas lights
Object Lesson
(For more Christmas ornament meanings please check out our heartwarming Christmas Story Book)
(Show the strand of unlit Christmas lights.)
Do any of you decorate your trees or your houses with Christmas lights? Or maybe you will drive around at night looking at all the lights that people have hung up? Some people do some amazing things, others even get glowdecoration sticks just for it! What is the most impressive display you have seen? (Allow for responses.)
How do my lights look? Not too good right now, do they!
(Plug the lights in.)
That’s better isn’t it! No the lights can shine bright and beautiful. Do you know the reason that we have so many lights at Christmastime? We have them so that we can remember Jesus!
In John 8:12 Jesus says that He is the Light of the World! These lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world! That means that he shines brightly into the darkness and brings light!
This Christmas as we decorate our trees and houses with Christmas lights let us remember that they are not just a pretty decoration but that they also reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world!
Legend of the Candy Cane
Key Verse
Luke 2:8
Additional Verses
Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 9:22
Materials Needed
- Candy cane. If you want you can give out candy canes as part of this object lesson.
Object Lesson
(For more Christmas ornament meanings please check out our heartwarming Christmas Story Book)
(Show the candy cane.)
As Christmastime approaches we often will have all kinds of decorations and treats around our homes. One of my favorite things is a candy cane. They taste delicious and you can also hang them on your tree as a decoration.
There is a legend about how the candy cane was made. The story says that a candy maker wanted to make a very special piece of candy to remind the children about Jesus. The red color reminds us of Jesus’s blood that was shed when we died on the cross. But it is twisted with white. The white color reminds us that Christ’s blood will forgive us of all sins and make us clean just like this white color.
The candy is very hard which reminds us that Jesus is the solid rock and that we can depend on him.
(Hold the candy cane with the hook at the top.)
When you hold the candy cane this way it looks like a shepherd’s staff which reminds us of the shepherds who were the first to find out about Jesus’ birth. The angels came to them and send them to find Jesus in the stable.
(Flip the cane over.)
When you look at the cane this way it looks like a letter. Which letter is it? That’s right, a “J.” This J stands for Jesus, the savior of the world who was born in a barn long ago. Jesus is the real reason for the season. He is the one that we celebrate.
It is easy to get distracted at Christmas with thoughts of gifts, food, and decorations, but let us remember Jesus. It is his birthday, and whenever we see a candy cane let us think about him!
Body of Christ
Key Verse
1 Corinthians 12:21-26
Additional Verses
Romans 12:4-5; Philippians 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Colossians 3:14
Materials Needed
- Rainbow Loom style bracelet. These are bracelets that are made by connecting very small rubber bands together in creative patterns.
Object Lesson
(Show the bracelet.)
Do any of you have a bracelet or necklace like this? Have you ever made one before? Do you know what the cool think about these bracelets is? That they are made from dozens of little rubber bands.
(Point to one of the bands in the middle.)
Do you know what would happen if I cut this band here in the middle? (Wait for a response.) That’s right, the whole thing would come all apart. This bracelet is made up of a bunch of small little bands so you would think that some bands might be less important. In reality, all of the bands are important and if just one of them breaks then the whole band comes apart.
The Body of Christ is very much like this. In 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 it talks about how each and every person plays a very important part in the Body of Christ. One part can’t say that it is any more important than another. We are all important to God.
When we are all working together, like this bracelet, then we are in unity. That means that we are working together to do God’s will! God doesn’t want us always fighting with each other. He wants us to work together, because when we are in unity we can accomplish so much more than we can alone.
D5 Creation