salvation
now browsing by tag
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.
One Way
Key Verse
John 14:6
Additional Verses
Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 22:16
Materials Needed
- One Way Sign
Object Lesson
Have you ever been driving down the road with your mom or dad and you see a sign that looks like this (hold the sign up). What does this sign say? One Way!
What does that mean? It means that you can only drive in one direction on that road, right? You cannot have cars driving one way and cars driving the other way, right? If you happen to be going the wrong way on that road, then you are in big trouble because you might crash or it might be a one lane road and your car might not fit next to another car that’s going the other way.
It might be a big mess and a dangerous situation too. Well, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way to God.
In John 14:6, Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Some people believe that there are many ways to God. Some think that if they do a lot of good things in their life and if they are mostly a nice person, then they will get to go to Heaven. But they are wrong and they are going the wrong way!
Some people believe that if they trust in Buddha or Muhammad or another god that they will get into Heaven, but they are wrong. Jesus is the Son of God and he proved that in many ways which we talked about today. Jesus is the one that we can trust to tell the truth and he said that He is the One Way to the Father God.
Incoming search terms:
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/one-way
Torn Apart
Key Verse
Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:9
Additional Verses
Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10; Galatians 5:16
Materials Needed
- Newspaper
Object Lesson
How many of you have ever made a mistake before? Many times in life we do things that are very wrong and we say that we made a mistake. The problem is that we often call our sins “mistakes” when really they are much more than just a mistake. A mistake is something that you make on a test because you don’t have the right information.
When we sin we are often doing it on purpose, it’s not a mistake. We often do those bad things over and over again. Do you know what happens when you sin? It destroys relationships. (Take the newspaper and tear it in half.)
This paper is now destroyed and that’s what happens when we sin. How would you feel if one of your friends told you a lie or stole something important to you? You’d probably be really upset and hurt. It would hurt your relationship. How would you feel if they came to you and said “sorry” but in a way that shows they aren’t truly sorry for what they have done? You would probably realize that they aren’t truly sorry.
In Romans 6:23 it says that the wages of our sin is death. That means that our sin have destroyed our relationship with God. It was more than just a mistake, it was sin. But in 1 John 1:9 it says that if we confess that sin to God, He will forgive us.
The first step in restoring our relationship with God is simply admitting to him that we realize we have done something wrong.
Jesus is our Life Saver
Key Verse
Romans 10:9
Additional Verses
Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38
Materials Needed
- Package of Life Savers candy.
Object Lesson
Imagine that you are out on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean. Everything is calm and beautiful and then you see some dark clouds out on the horizon rolling in. They are getting closer and closer and you see the flashes of lightning and hear the clap of the thunder. Before you know it, the boat is getting tossed and thrown by the violent waves. As you are making your way across the deck a huge wave hits the boat and carries you overboard into the cold ocean water below.
As you struggle in the water, you realize that you need help. What do you think could help you? (Wait for responses).
Maybe a life saver? I just happened to bring some with me!
(Take out the roll of life savers and show everyone.)
I heard that these can save you if you ever fall over board but I am not really sure how well they would work. Do you think these would work very well?
Well, I guess these life savers won’t work to save you from drowning in the ocean but they might save you from having bad breath! (If you want to you can hand out a life saver to everyone).
The Bible says that we all have sin in our life and that sin will result in death. We need to be saved. Now one of these life savers won’t help us very much but we have Someone who can save us from the sin that tries to drown our lives. His name is Jesus Christ.
The way we are saved from sin is by doing what it says in Romans 10:9. It says that we have to say that Jesus is Lord and believe that in our heart. That’s it. It isn’t very complicated at all. Jesus is our life saver and the only one that can save us from sin and death.
Incoming search terms:
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/jesus-is-our-life-saver
- lifesaver bible verse
He Took Away Our Sin
Key Verse
1 Peter 2:24
Additional Verses
2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Hebrews 9:28; Matthew 8:17; Galatians 3:13
Materials Needed
- Large shirt that you don’t mind ruining. A button up shirt will probably work the best as it is easiest to put on and off.
- Black washable marker (In case it should bleed through)
Object Lesson
(Call up a volunteer and have them put the large shirt on.)
Here is my friend and just like you they have sinned against God at times. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that we have all sinned, so let us think of some different sins that this person may have committed. (You can ask for sins if you want, or you can just write down the ones that you want to.)
Stealing. Maybe this person was at a store and really wanted a pack of candy and instead of paying for it they just snuck it into their pocket. That is a sin, and we will write it down. (White “stealing” on the shirt in permanent marker.)
Maybe this person told a lie also, so let’s write that down as well. (Write “lying” somewhere else on the shirt.
Perhaps they were taking a test and they decided to cheat, do you think that would please God? No! Let’s write down “cheating” as well.
Maybe they were playing ball with some friends and they all started bullying someone else who wasn’t playing the game as well. Let’s write down “bullying” too.
(Feel free to write down as many as you want to.)
Wow! Look at this person! They are covered in sin, aren’t they? Do you think that they can wipe all these sins off?
(Instruct the helper to try to wipe all the sins off of the shirt.)
They may scrub and wipe and struggle, but there is nothing that they can do to remove these sins that we have written down. There is no way to make themselves clean again.
(Have another volunteer come out and play Jesus, or you can play it.)
What Jesus did when he went and died on Calvary was he took the sins away from us. God could not be near sin and since we were covered with sin God could not be near us. So Jesus took our sins and put them on himself.
(Have the helper remove the shirt. Have “Jesus” put it on himself, or put it on yourself.)
Then when God saw Jesus all he could see was the sin. Jesus died on the cross wearing all of our sin on his back. When Jesus died sin and death could not hold him any longer. (Take the shirt off and throw it far from you.) Jesus came back alive and left the sin in the grave. He is now alive and offers us freedom from the sin that once held us captive.
Incoming search terms:
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/took-away-sin
Book of Life
Key Verse
Luke 10:20
Additional Verses
Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 21:27
Materials Needed
- Guest Book. Even a plain notebook will do.
Object Lesson
Have you ever been to a really nice restaurant before? When you go to a nice restaurant you don’t just barge in and sit down wherever you want. You usually have to go up to a counter and they ask for your name. Some really nice restaurants even want you to call in a reservation before you come.
(Show the guest book.)
The receptionist will write your name down in the book and let you know when they will seat you. Once they are ready with a table for you they will call you and let you come and sit down and enjoy your delicious meal.
If you just came running in do you think they would give you a table? No! Because you do not have a reservation.
Did you know that Heaven has a reservation list too? It is called the Lamb’s Book of Life. The Bible teaches us that anyone who believes that Jesus is Lord gets their name written in that Book. Once day when we get to Heaven before they let us in they will check to make sure that our name is in the Book of Life.
If your name is in the Book because you gave your life to Jesus then they will let you in. But the Bible says that if your name is not in the list you will be cast out of Heaven and will not be allowed to enter.
If your name in the Book of Life? When we believe that Jesus is Lord and say that with our mouth then God puts our name in the book and makes our reservation for our home in Heaven.
Incoming search terms:
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/book-of-life
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.
Incoming search terms:
- bible lesson about winter
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/christmas-cookies
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.
Helmet of Salvation
Key Verse
Ephesians 6:17
Additional Verses
Isaiah 59:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8
Materials Needed
- Helmet (it can be a military helmet, knights helmet, football helmet or motorcycle helmet) or a large metal pot. Keep in mind that you may damage whatever you decide to use.
- 2 pieces of fruit that can fit in the helmet (cantaloupe, watermelon, or even a pumpkin)
- Hammer or sledge-hammer
- Log on end to put the fruit on or anything that it sturdy enough to hold the fruit while it’s being smashed.
Preparation
The idea is that you will take a piece of fruit and smash it. Then cover it with the “helmet” and try to smash it again, but it is protected because the helmet is covering it. Depending on the place you are presenting this in you may want to cover the floor with plastic.
Object Lesson
(Hold up the melon.)
I have a melon here and today this melon is going to represent you! In John 10:10 it says that the Devil comes to destroy you. He will put bad thoughts and temptations in your head and he will try to get you to do all kinds of bad things.
(Place the melon on the log or whatever you are using.)
So here you are minding your own business and then the devil comes to tempt you. (Pull out the sledge-hammer.) This hammer represents the devil as he comes to tempt and discourage you. (Hold the sledge-hammer high and then slam it into the melon completely smashing it.)
That didn’t work out so well for the melon did it? When the devil came with temptation it has no protection at all! Well, God wants to protect us from the attacks of the enemy. In Ephesians 6:17 we read about a piece of the Armor of God called the Helmet of Salvation.
(Take out your helmet.)
Do you know what a helmet is used for? (Wait for responses.) That’s right! It protects your head! The Bible says that we have a Helmet of Salvation and this will protect our head and mind as well. When we trust in Jesus for our Salvation we are protected from the thoughts of the evil one.
(Place the other melon on the log but this time cover it with the helmet.)
This melon is prepared for the attack of the devil now! It is covered with the Helmet of Salvation and it protected. What do you think will happen when it is attacked? Let’s see!
(Try to smash the melon again, but it is protected with the helmet. Then take the helmet off to show that the melon is still intact.)
See! The melon is fine. The helmet took the blow and protected the melon from getting hurt at all. When we are wearing the Helmet of Salvation we are protected from the thoughts and temptations that the devil sends our way. Let us put our trust in Christ and always wear the Helmet of Salvation.
Incoming search terms:
- Helmet of Salvation Lesson
- helmet of salvation object lesson
- helmet of salvation lesson for kids
- helmet of salvation
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/helmet-salvation
Beautiful Feet
Key Verse
Romans 10:15
Additional Verses
Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15; Ephesians 6:15
Materials Needed
- Your feet
Object Lesson
How many of you like feet? Do you like how they look? Do you like how they smell? I’m going to show you what my feet look like.
(Take off your socks and shoes and shoe off your lovely feet.) 🙂
Take a look at my feet! Aren’t they SO beautiful? Would you like to smell my feet? (Wait for a response.) I didn’t think so!
Feet are usually not the most beautiful feature of someone’s body. We may think someone has a beautiful face or hands, but we usually think that someone has beautiful feet.
Sometimes feet have fungus. Maybe a foot might have a yellow or black toenail. Some feet have warts or bunions. A lot of feet smell pretty stinky. These things are certainly not beautiful.
Do you know who likes feet? God does! In fact he says that some people’s feet are beautiful! In Romans 10:15 it says that God think your feet are beautiful if are telling people the Good News about Jesus! It doesn’t matter if you have a big wart, a yellow toenail and if they stink like a skunk! God says that your feet are beautiful!
Have you ever told a friend about God? Have you ever invited someone to church? Have you ever helped someone who was in need? Have you ever prayed with someone? God loves it when we do this! God wants us to go and make disciples of all people and tell them about the Salvation we can get through Jesus.
How do your feet look? Does God think your feet are beautiful?
Incoming search terms:
- https://freebiblelessons net/object-lessons/beautiful-feet
D5 Creation