52 Object Lesson Scripts

1. World Map - Object Lesson on God’s Plan

For Our Lives
Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11
Big Idea: We can trust God with our lives.

Object Lesson Text:

Tada! It's a map. The world is so big you can go so many places, and if you've ever
been on a trip, you know you have to have all the places you visit mapped out so you
don't get lost. So let's say that we were going from here to here. What roads would you
take? Where will you stop for gas? Where will you spend the night? These kind of things
have to be planned out for a fun and safe trip. Have you ever thought of our lives being
like a map? We like to have everything we do planned out for the future. Where will we
go to school? Where will we live? What will I be when I grow up? But sometimes instead
of a place we can pinpoint on a map, we end up with a big question mark. God doesn't
always give us the answers to those questions right away. The world is big, and there
are lots of places we can go to live, or go to school. Sometimes we don't know where
that will be. Does that mean we have to worry? No! God is still taking care of you and he
will reveal the road to your next stop in his own time. The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11,
“for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to
harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” How many of you have plans for the
future? Well, as we just read, God has plans for you too. It may be that God's plans are
different from yours, and you may not like that. For instance, normally our plan would be
to go sit at lunch with friends, but what if God's plan for you is to make some new
friends? You may not want to do it at first but I think you'll find out that God's plan is
always the best plan. After all, he is God, isn’t he? So next time you look at a map
remember that God is looking at one too- the map for your life. Enjoy the ride. Even if
you don't know where you're going yet, and if you're listening, God will tell you what the
next stop is.

———————

2. VHS, DVD, & Blue-ray- Object Lesson on

God’s Faithfulness

Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 2:13

Big Idea: God is faithful.

Object Lesson Text:

I have some movies here. Well what’s different about them. Well they’re all in different
formats aren’t they? This one is a VHS, you need a VHS player for it. This one is a DVD
and you need a DVD player for this one. And this one is a Blue-ray, you need a Blue-ray
player to watch it. All this has been invented in the past 20 years. What do you think
you’d invent next? When a new version is made the old one stops being made.
Eventually no-one will want a VHS anymore. SO people who want to watch movie or tv
shows will have to keep up with the change. Everything changes. There is always
something new coming. It can be hard to stay with the latest trends, be it clothes music
or even what words we say. Don't you think it would be funny and a little weird if I said
groovy all the time, like it was the 1960s? But if I said “cool” that would be totally normal
right? Well this world is constantly changing what’s cool doesn't stay cool forever.
People changed too. But do you know who always stays the same? God. You can see
in the Bible that God stays consistent. You can always count on him to stand by his
word, and you can always count on him to love you. If you feel alone this week,
remember that God is always there for you he is unchanging 2nd Timothy 2:13 says, “if
we are faithless he remains faithful he cannot deny himself.” So be thankful today that
God isn't like the world as if there are a new version of him every few years. God
doesn't change at all.

———————

3. Valentines- Object Lesson on Loving

Others
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Love everyone everyday, not just on Valentine’s Day.

Object Lesson Text:

Hello. You know what this is right? It’s a Valentine! Every Valentine's Day hundreds of
thousands of these are made and given to friends or loved one. Some people hand
make them others like to buy them at the store. I made this one myself, do you like it?
Have you ever felt nervous about giving a Valentine to a friend? It can be pretty scary
and you might get embarrassed or not know what to say. But when you give a Valentine
to a friend, it makes them feel special and they know that you care about them. You
know, what if we told someone that they were special or that we cared about them
every day instead of just Valentine's Day? Think of the difference you can make in a
person's day. I know that telling someone you love them or showing that you care can
be a hard thing to do. We're afraid of rejection or embarrassment. But God calls us to
love one another. Have you ever heard the command to love your neighbor as yourself?
While your neighbor isn't just the person who lives next door. Your neighbor can be
anybody, could be a bus driver, or your teacher, or maybe it's the friend that you play
with down the street. If you love them every day, you’re obeying God's command. Now I
know you give Valentine's to people you like.But what if you gave them to people you
didn't like? Doesn't seem to make sense, right? But God says to love your enemies too.
Now I'm pretty sure you know who your enemies are, but do you know how to love
them? If they said something mean to you, would you say something mean to them
back? If you love them you would say something nice instead? If they did something to
hurt you, would you hurt them too? God calls us to love our enemies and pray for them.
Praying for them is like sending them a Valentine. And when they see you loving them,
they'll see Jesus. So next time Valentine's Day comes around, just remember to love
people every day instead of just Valentine's Day.
———————

4. Vacuum- Object Lesson on God’s Love

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: God will never give up on us.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you help with the vacuuming in the house? For those of you who have
vacuumed or watched your parents do it, let me give you a scenario. Let me know if
you've seen or done this before. You're going along vacuuming the floor and you see a
large piece of lint or something on the floor. You run the vacuum over it pull it back and
the lint still there. You stop. It shouldn't be there. You you run the vacuum over it again,
still there! You try it again and it's still! There so what do you do? You put the vacuum in
the upright position, you pickup the lint, you look at it, and then you set it back down on
the floor so you can try again. Kind of silly isn't it? You've picked it up in your hands.
Common sense would say to throw that piece away in the trash can. But no; you gave
the vacuum a second chance. Sometimes it lets you down even after you've lent it a
hand, but other times that little bit of movement is just what the vacuum needs suck up
that piece of lint. In a funny way this little scenario reminds me of how God is with us.
God puts people in our lives so we can share the gospel with them through our words
and our deeds. But we walk on by and don't do anything, but God gives us another shot.
But we let them down again and again and again so God steps in and gives them or us
a nudge so we can have a second chance. It must drive God nuts sometimes the way
we keep missing the moments he gives us. If it does, he doesn't show it, he just keeps
on giving us another chance. God knows we're not perfect, that's why he died. To pay
the price for our sins. That's why he still gives us second chances. It's embarrassing to
think of all the times you might have failed him, but we can take comfort in this, God will
never ever give up on us, so long as you're willing to follow him he will always be willing
to give you a second chance.
———————
5. Sunglasses- Object Lesson on Purity
Bible Verse: Philippians 4:8
Big Idea: Protect your mind and heart.

Object Lesson Text:

Oh hey, how's it going? Like my new shades? They're really helpful on a super sunny
day. They block out the Sun and the harmful UV rays that can affect your eyes. It also
helps you see better when you're doing things outside, plus they're also just fun to wear
and they look great. So wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from harmful rays and
helps you see better. You know that makes me think that there are other ways we can
protect our eyes because sometimes what
we see you can have bad effects on our minds and our hearts. Do any of your parents
not let you see r-rated movies, or do they have special programs that block certain
things on the internet? It
may feel frustrating to you but your parents are trying to protect your eyes from things
that will harm your mind. In Philippians 4:8 it says, “finally brothers whatever is true
whatever is noble whatever is right whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is
admirable. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Doesn't that
sound great? I mean who wouldn't want to think of those things? But the world often
turns away from all the things
that are good and pure. The reason why Paul, he's the guy that wrote Philippians, asked
us to think about things that are right and lovely and admirable, is because if we think
that way, we become that way. If you want to be excellent and praiseworthy, you have
to avoid the things that will harm your mind and heart. You can do this by protecting
your eyes from things you shouldn't see. So use wisdom, kind of like you would use
these sunglasses to protect your eyes if you're not sure about a movie you want to
watch or a book you want to read, think about Philippians 4:8 ask if it's lovely, right and
admirable. Just like you wouldn't go outside on a sunny day without sunglasses, don't
go outside without wisdom to protect your mind and heart. And that is the end of the
story
———————

6. Stationary- Object Lesson on Giving

Thanks
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Remember to always thank God.

Object Lesson Text:

Have any of you ever seen one of these in your house? There maybe once stuffed in a
drawer somewhere. This is a box of stationery. Inside you have small sheets of paper
and matching envelopes. People used to use stationery quite frequently. They would sit
down and write letters to each other. One of the most common of which was the thank
you letter. Fewer and fewer people are using letters. Most people use email or text
messages to stay in touch, and with our busier than ever schedules, who has time to sit
down and write an actual letter? It’s getting harder and harder to find stationery for sale,
but there are still people who use it in spite of changing communication habits and
technology. These people still know the importance of a handwritten letter. There's
nothing like a handwritten note of thanks to show just how much someone appreciated
a gift. Stationery may be old-fashioned and out-of-date to some people, but giving
thanks is never out of date. When someone does something nice for you you should
thank them: be it verbal or written, and when the Lord blesses you you should take the
time to thank him. Giving thanks isn't a time-consuming difficult thing we simply close
our eyes and say Lord, thank you for your blessings. You know what he's done for you
so thank him specifically for every blessing and never forget what he's done for you.
———————

7. Shirt Tag- Object Lesson on Temptation

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Cut off bad influences in our lives.

Object Lesson Text:

Hey guys! I just got a new shirt. I was almost going to wear this morning, but I decided
not to because as you can see, it's still got the price tag attached to it. Now obviously, if
I wanted to, I could wear it with the price tag attached, but I don't think that would be a
very good idea. The price tag isn't part of the shirt. It’s there for a little while when the
shirt is still in the sales rack but once it's mine, the tag is no longer needed. Sure you
can keep the tag attached, but if you did you'd be itching the back of your neck all day.
The little paper tag and the plastic strip that keeps it together is pretty irritating.
Thankfully, this is an easy problem to fix. One snip and the tag is gone. When the
Israelites moved to the promised land, their brand new home. God gave them similar
instructions cut off the people who already live there. Get rid of them, get rid of their
idols, leave nothing. Cut them off and get rid of them. Unfortunately the Israelites didn't
do as God said. The people and the gods who inhabited the land before Israel
constantly irritated Israel and their God. The Israelites let the Canaanites lead them
astray, worshipping false gods instead of the one true God. The Old Testament teaches
us what happens we don't cut off bad influences in our lives, they will never leave us
alone and they will always be a snare for us. Some of you may need to cut some ties in
your life. Maybe it's a so-called friend who's a bad influence, or maybe it's a habit.
Whatever it is it'll constantly rub and irritate you until you cut it off. Get the scissors, cut
the tag, and toss it away. Only then will you be free from the temptations that are
holding you down.
———————

8. Sealed Jar- Object Lesson on Perseverance

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Trust in God.

Object Lesson Text:

Have any of you ever gone to the pantry to get some jelly or a pickle and couldn't open
the jar? It's pretty frustrating, isn't it? You're hungry and the only thing separating you
from a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich or crunchy pickle is a tiny piece of metal on
top of a jar. Thankfully for you guys, there's something you can do with that tightly
sealed jar. If it won't open for you what do you do? You take it to mom and dad. A
grown-up with bigger hands and more arm strength is like the Mighty Eagle on a tight
lid. If you can't open it, mom probably can. If she can't open it, dad probably can, and if
dad can't open it, well dad will probably find some other creative way to get it open.
Some situations in life are like the stuck jar. You can try and try all you want but you can
never get it to work out the way you want it to. It'd be so nice to have God come flying
down from the sky and save the day, but God doesn't work that way. Sometimes God
has a plan in the waiting and the struggling that we can't see when we're in the middle
of it. Take the story of Joseph for example. Joseph was sold into slavery and then
tossed into prison. God could have crashed into that prison and sprung him out anytime,
but if God had done all that, Joseph would not have been at the right place and the right
time to save Egypt and his family from a famine. If God was in the business of saving us
every time things went wrong, we would never learn anything ourselves. We just sit
back and wait for the quick and easy rescue, and never learn to trust in the Lord
ourselves. We never learned to soar on our own. The next time you come across a
stuck jar. take a moment to thank God for the way he teaches us to trust in Him through
waiting. Ask him to give you perseverance and to prepare you to do his will then go find
mom and dad to help you.

———————

9. Salt & Pepper- Object Lesson on Friendship

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Be a true friend.

Object Lesson Text:

Can someone tell me what this is? It's a salt shaker, and I bet every time you sit down to
eat there's one on the table. We see them at home, and at restaurants. Even the
cheapest fast-food joint has a salt shaker on the table. We expect it. But let me ask you
something, is that the only thing we expect to see on the table? Who sets a table of just
salt? If you're going to have a salt shaker on the table, you're going to need a pepper
shaker too. Salt and pepper are complements to foods that come together like peanut
butter and jelly. Salt and pepper are usually in similar containers, but on the inside, they
don't look alike at all. They don't taste alike either, and yet in spite of their differences,
salt and pepper go together perfectly. True friendship is like salt and pepper. People can
have number of differences; but in spite of those differences, they can find a common
ground to share good times and bad. Salt and pepper can take a bland, boring meal,
and turn it into something delicious. True friends can take a bad situation and turn it into
something wonderful. You'll never find salt without pepper. And like salt and pepper, true
friends are the ones that'll stick with you no matter where you are, what situations you
face. You don't have to be exactly alike or have everything in common, you just have to
be willing to be there.
———————

10. Road Maps- Object Lesson on God’s Plan

for Us
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: God has a direction for our lives.

Object Lesson Text:

Have any of you ever come across some of these at your home? These to be pretty
common around your house and in the glove box. Well these are maps, as you can
probably tell specifically road maps. Roadmaps help people find their way from place to
place. If you moved into a new town, you'd buy a street map to help you figure out how
to get to work, school, or church. If you went on vacation, you need an interstate map to
help you get from home to Disney World, and once you got to Orlando, you need
another street map to help you find your hotel. And once you get to the park, you need a
map to help you find all the rides. Imagine if you were to get lost and all you had to find
your way were these maps. You have to search and search to find where you are, and
then you have to search and search to find the right road. If you're lucky you find a place
to stop and ask for directions. You can probably imagine how many arguments moms
and dads would get into on the way to Disney World. If Dad got lost it wouldn't stop and
ask for directions. All these maps are now obsolete thanks to smart phones and GPS.
Now almost everyone has an app on their phone that don't only give some directions,
but also tells them where they are at all times. If you've ever walked into a bookstore,
you'll find that one of the largest sections it's a self-help section. They have books on
everything from making money, to finding love, to being happier. But just like these
maps, those books are not necessary. We have a source in God and God's Word. And
he can tell us where we need to go. What's more, God knows where we are. There's no
getting lost. God knows where we are, how far off the path we are, and what it takes to
get us there, and God will never say no when we ask for help. He’ll always be there to
help us find our way back. One day we may find we won't need our phones to get
around anymore. Our map apps will be as out of date as these maps. But one thing
never changes, and that's God's love for us. God has a direction and a plan for your life.
All it takes is a willing heart to follow his lead.

———————

11. Red Ballpoint Pen- Object Lesson on

Accountability
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Be a friend that God wants you to be.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you get a cold shiver when you see this pen? Or rather, how many of you
get nervous when you see the ink from this pen on your schoolwork?
The general rule is, the less ink you have on your paper, the better your grade. When
you see a paper covered in red, you could be in trouble, couldn’t you?
How many of you have had a teacher who let you grade each other’s papers? You trade
papers with the person next to you, you both pull out a red pen, and you grade one
another’s paper. It almost seems like a nice favor the teacher is doing for you, but the
reality is that the teacher’s having you do his or her work so the teacher doesn’t miss his
or her favorite show.
Let’s say the person next to you is your best friend. If your best friend is grading your
paper and you have a lot of wrong answers, would you rather your friend mark them all
or help you cheat by not marking the wrong answers?
If your friend doesn’t mark all the wrong answers and the teacher doesn’t catch it, you
could end up with a better grade. It’s a grade you don’t deserve, but it’s still a better
grade.
But what happens if the teacher double-checks your paper? Your grade will go down,
and both you and your friend could be in trouble if the teacher knows your friend did it
on purpose and you knew about it!
Some people think a simple act of cheating like this is being a good friend. Some people
think friendship is lying to your parents to help you sneak out or do something that they
told you not to do. But the truth is that being a real friend—especially a Christian friend
—means that sometimes we have to correct one another.
As you continue to grow up, you’re going to face bigger temptations than cheating on a
paper. You’re going to face temptations that could put your health, your future, and even
your life at risk. What kind of friend do you want by your side when those temptations
come and everyone else is doing it? Do you want the friend who’s going to go along
with you, lie for you, and let you take chances? Or do you want a friend who is willing to
say, “This isn’t right”?
Put another way, are you going to be the friend who just goes along with the crowd? Or
are you going to have the courage to remind your friends of the way God taught you to
live?
———————

12. Plunger- Object Lesson on the Cross

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: God used the cross to do a very dirty job and wash us white as snow.

Object Lesson Text:

Have any of you had the pleasure of learning how to use this little tool? When you were
a kid, this was one of those things you always wanted to get your hands on. It’s fun,
because you can stick it to a wall and make it hang in the air. But any time Mom caught
you with it, she freaked out and made you wash your hands.
Plungers are a dirty tool for a dirty job. When the toilet gets stopped up and the water
starts rising, you need something to unblock the clog. Flushing won’t help because
it will only make the mess worse, and if you wait too long, the water backs up and
overflows on the floor.
That’s why you keep the plunger right there by the toilet. When the water starts to rise, it
takes a plunger to open the clog and flush the mess away.
The plunger is a useful reminder of another dirty tool: the cross. The cross was a tool
used to execute the worst of criminals. It was a terrible, filthy way to die, full of dirt,
splinters, and blood.
And yet the cross was the only way that God could unclog the mess in our lives known
as sin! Like a dirty toilet, sin can overflow in our own lives, and no amount of work on
our part can undo the mess. There’s only one way to get rid of the mess; we need the
cross to break the clog and wash us clean. It’s a dirty tool. It’s a gross, dirty analogy.
The real cross was not shiny and gold like the ones we wear. God chose the cross to do
a dirty, filthy job and wash us white as snow!
———————

13. Plastic Bottle- Object Lesson on

Cyberbullying
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Christ wants us to love everyone, in person or online.

Object Lesson Text:

Plastic is one of many man-made inventions that make our lives easier. Plastic, such as
this bottle, makes it easier for us to buy, store, and use things like drinks, food, and
other necessities. The problem with plastic, of course, is that it is non-biodegradable.
Can someone tell me what that means?
If something is biodegradable, that means that it will break down easily when it is buried
in
a landfill. It turns back into natural materials very easily. But non-biodegradable
materials like this plastic bottle do not break down. Some materials can last for
hundreds of years without breaking down. Others break down into chemicals and
materials that can be harmful to the planet and to us.
Plastic like this bottle can be recycled—a process that allows us to reuse the material
rather than burying it in a landfill. But many people still don’t recycle even though they
should. One of the reasons they don’t is that they don’t see the harm that throwing
plastic away can cause. They’ve never seen a landfill. They’ve never seen the
disgusting mess that is made when people throw recyclable materials into the garbage.
If you don’t see it, you don’t know the harm you have caused.
I wanted to share this story with you because I want you to think of this plastic bottle
whenever you’re on the Internet, especially if you’re on Facebook or any other social
networking site. The Internet has brought many wonderful things into our lives, just like
plastic. But there is also a lot of bad on the Internet, and one of the worst things that has
happened on the Internet is cyberbullying. This is when kids (or adults) use Facebook
and other websites to make fun, call names, and put down other people. Even good
kids, who would never say a bad word to another person to their face, can write horrible,
mean, and hurtful things on the Internet without thinking twice about it. Why? Because
they don’t see the damage they are doing to another person!
When you can’t see the people you’re calling names or gossiping about, it’s a lot easier
to go too far. You don’t see their hurt reaction. You don’t see them cry. You don’t have
the peer pressure of other kids to make you stop. Just like throwing plastic in the
garbage, you don’t see the damage you’re doing—not until it’s too late.
Cyberbullying is bullying. It is cruel, mean, and harmful to the person being bullied. In a
few sad cases, cyberbullying has even led to kids committing suicide—taking their own
lives because of what other people said about them. This is not what Christ expects of
us. He taught us to love our neighbors. And who is our neighbor? Every kid, every
person we meet, in person or online.
———————

14. Pillow- Object Lesson on Rest

Bible Verse: Matthew 11:28
Big Idea: God provides total rest.
Object Lesson Text:

Does everyone see this? It’s a pillow. We use pillows to rest our heads on when we
sleep. We wouldn't be very comfortable without a pillow to rest our heads or neck on.
And our back would start hurting and we wouldn't get that much sleep that night. Getting
a good night's sleep is really important, especially if you want to be energetic and active
the next day. Sleep helps our body in a lot of ways. It helps our muscles rebuild and
gives our stomach time to digest all the food we ate that day. Sleep is necessary.
Without it we wouldn't survive. You know kind of like this pillow, God also provides
comfort and rest. But I'm not talking about sleep for our bodies, I'm talking about rest for
our souls. Do you know what a soul is? Our souls are spirits that live forever and when
we die, our spirits live on. When you accept Jesus into your heart, you accept his
promise that your soul will live forever in heaven. If you don't accept Jesus, your soul
will end up in hell. That's not a very nice place to be. So it would be nice to know for
sure that we're going to heaven. I think I would lose a lot of sleep if I didn't know where I
was going when I died. Fortunately, Jesus said he will give us rest. In Matthew 11:28,
Jesus says, “come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” If we
love Jesus and follow him, he will give us rest and comfort. We can be assured that we
will spend an eternity with God in heaven. We'll never have to be tired, or stressed, or
worried. So get a good night's sleep tonight, and when you lay your head on your pillow,
remember that God provides a total rest in heaven.
———————

15. Permit- Object Lesson on Doing What’s

Right
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should do it.

Object Lesson Text:

I’m going to show you something that will one day change your whole life. It’s not a very
big object. It’s small—only about an ounce in weight. As a matter of fact, it’s just a piece
of paper—not even a full sheet, but a little slip. But this slip of paper will be your first
step into a whole new world. What is it? It’s a learner’s permit. If you have one of these
with your name on it, it means you are finally old enough to learn how to operate a car.
When you have this piece of paper in hand, you will be able to sit in the driver’s seat,
start the car, put it in gear, and drive—so long as you have a licensed driver in the car,
of course. A learner’s permit is a legal document stating that it is permissible for you to
drive. It is one step away from a full-fledged driver’s license. When you have your
permit, you’ll learn to drive on your street, park in your driveway, parallel park, and even
navigate the interstate. Let me ask you a question: How many of you think it would be
wise to take the car out on the interstate your very first time behind the wheel? No
practice on side streets, no practice on local roads. Just merge onto the interstate and
take it up to 70 miles per hour. Would that be legal? Sure! If you have a licensed driver
in the car, it’s legal. That permit says you are allowed to drive on the interstate. But it
would not be a wise decision for an inexperienced driver who has no feel for being
behind the wheel to hit the interstate on day one. The apostle Paul talked about how
some things are permissible but not beneficial. As you grow up, you’re going to discover
that a lot of things are permissible but not beneficial, just like driving on the interstate for
your first driving lesson. When you turn 18, it will be permissible for you to smoke
cigarettes, but given the health risks that come with smoking, it would not be beneficial.
You will also be permitted to get a credit card when you turn 18, and the credit card
company would be happy to permit you to max out your card on the very first day. But
would it be beneficial to put yourself in debt for $500, $1,000, or more when you’re still
in high school? No way! Having permission to do grown-up things is exciting, but with
growing up comes more responsibility. You’re going to find a whole world of things that
are permissible. But it’s crucial that you stay close to the Lord so that you’ll know when
something permissible may not be beneficial.
———————

16. No. 2 Pencil- Object Lesson on

Preparedness
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Be prepared for tests you may face in life.

Object Lesson Text:

Can someone tell me what this is? It’s a pencil, but specifically what kind of pencil? How
many of you have a stack of these in your desk at school? How many of you got cold
chills when you saw that #2? Anyone? The #2 pencil is important. Why? Because it’s
the pencil required to take any kind of standardized, fill-in-the-bubble tests. You’re going
to be using a lot of these pencils from now until the end of college, and you better have
them handy at all times! It would be a bad idea to show up on test day without a #2
pencil! As Christians, we are going to be tested, but this isn’t the kind of test you take
with a #2 pencil. Your faith will be tested by people who do not believe in the Bible. You
will meet people who believe Jesus was a good teacher, but not the Son of God. You
will meet people who do not believe in the creation story. You will meet people who will
tell you that God and the Bible are nothing but a myth. How can you as students
prepare for that kind of a test? When you have a test coming up in school, what do you
use to help you prepare? You use your textbook! And the Bible is the very first place we
can look for answers. There are also many books that have been written about God, the
Bible, Jesus, and our faith that will help you answer some of the tough questions for
yourself and others. You can also turn to other believers when you have tough
questions. Your pastor, your Sunday school teacher, and other adults have all faced
questions like these, and they’d be happy to help you search for answers. Don’t forget
about your parents. They’ve probably faced these same questions, and they’d love to
help you do the same. The Bible says that all of us will be tested. Even Jesus was
tested when Satan tempted him in the wilderness. But you don’t have to be unprepared.
Start seeking answers now, and you’ll be more than ready when life throws you a
surprise test.
———————

17. Newspaper- Object Lesson on Sharing the

Gospel
Bible Verse: Matthew 28:19-20
Big Idea: Tell the Good News until everyone has heard.

Object Lesson Text:

Has anybody ever picked up one of these? It's a newspaper, isn't it? Probably not your
favorite thing in the world to read, unless you read the comics. But newspapers are very
important. Every day, millions of people pick up the paper to learn what's going on in the
world. The first section is usually full of big, important news like what's going on in
America and the world. Then there's state news, local news, weather, dining, entertain-
ment, and sports. Everything a person might want to know about their world and their
community, newly printed and updated every day. You know, newspapers have been
around a long time. Back before television, radio, and the Internet, the newspaper was
the ONLY way to find out what was happening in the world. And newspaper companies
would hire kids like you, called "newsies," to stand on the corner. The kids would shout
out: "Extra! Extra! Read All About It!" to get people's attention. There was news to be
read. This newspaper reminds me of some very important news we need to share: the
good news of Jesus Christ. You know the story of Jesus is over 2000 years old, but it's
still new today. Why? Because Jesus keeps on changing people's lives. And even
though we have the printed word of God that never changes, Jesus wants us to tell his
good news on every corner, in every town. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave us the
Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you." Remember, when it comes to the good news of
Jesus, we are God's "newsies." Let us tell the good news until everyone has heard.
———————

18. Mystery Meat- Object Lesson on the

Gospel
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Know what the Bible says.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you can tell me what that is? Does anyone have a guess?
I’m sure all of you have seen something like this in your school cafeteria. The truth is
that no one knows what it really is. It could be meat. It could be something made to
taste like meat that has no real meat in it whatsoever. These foods go by many names
—chuck wagon or beef patty, for example—but for decades, the universally accepted
term for this kind of food is mystery meat. While we may never know what mystery meat
is, we can say with almost certainty what it is not. It is not chicken or pork or beef. How
do we know this? Because we know what chicken, pork, and beef look like. We know
what they smell like, and we know what they taste like. When you smell burgers on a
grill or fresh fried chicken, you don’t need someone to tell you what you’re about to eat.
You know. Your mouth starts to water and your stomach growls. When you smell
mystery meat, your stomach makes noises too—but not good noises. Mystery meat is
not the real thing. And just as there are foods made to look like the real thing, there are
people teaching false gospels that sound like the real thing. Since the days of the early
church, there have been people who take the words of Christ and twist them for their
own selfish reasons. They can be very persuasive and sound sincere, but how do you
know if what they’re teaching is the real thing or not?
You know mystery meat when you see it because you’ve eaten enough real meat to
know what it’s supposed to taste like. In the same way, you can get to know Jesus by
spending time with him. Make prayer a daily part of your life, and learn to listen when
you pray. Another way you get to know the true gospel is to read the gospel. Read the
Bible daily, get into a Bible study with other believers, and memorize Scripture that will
help you remember the teachings of Jesus. The more time you spend with the Lord, the
better you will know his Word. You’ll be able to smell a false gospel a mile away.
———————

19. MP3 player- Object Lesson on Purity

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Don’t fill your mind with bad things.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you have an MP3 player? MP3 players are one of the most innovative
products of the last few decades. Before the MP3 player, you could carry one CD at a
time in your Discman. Before that, you could carry one tape at a time in your Walkman.
Check your parents’ storage boxes in the basement to see if they still have one of those.
You’ll be amazed at how bulky they seem compared to an MP3 player. A Discman could
carry 74 minutes of music on a CD. The Walkman could actually carry 16 more minutes
of music on a 90 minute cassette. Do you know how many minutes of music an MP3
player can carry? A 4 GB player can carry over 4,000 minutes of music. That’s 66 hours
or 2.75 days. A player with 64 GB can carry more than six weeks of music! As
astonishing as that is, there’s something that carries far more music than your MP3
player ever could: your own mind. Every song you’ve ever heard has a file in there. In
fact, your mind carries not only the songs you love, but also the songs you hate—songs
you would never, ever put on your MP3 player.
Your mind doesn’t just carry music, of course. TV shows, books, magazines, websites,
movies, and any sort of media can be stored away up there. How many of you can
quote scenes from your favorite movie?
Now here’s the challenge question for you today: What kind of content are you storing in
your mind? Are you storing things that are good and pure and holy, or are you filling it
up with garbage?
Your MP3 player can certainly give us a clue to that. What kind of music do you have on
your MP3? What’s the ratio of good stuff to bad? And what do you listen to most?
It may not seem like a big deal to you, but the truth is that the things we watch,
consume, and listen to make a difference in how we act. If you listen to things that are
good and holy, you’re going to be more in tune with the Lord and better prepared to love
others.
If you’re listening to garbage, how do you think that will affect your attitude and your
actions toward others?
Next time you scroll through your music, take a good long look at the kinds of things
you’re listening to. And don’t be afraid to ask, “Is this really good for me?”
———————

20. Movie Ticket- Object Lesson on Accepting

Christ
Bible Verse: Romans 3:23-24
Big Idea: You have to accept the ticket to get to heaven.

Object Lesson Text:

I have something this morning that I'm sure all of you have had at one time or another.
Do you guys recognize this? It's a ticket stub. I got this ticket the last time I went to see
a movie. (Tell what movie, and when.) You guys can see the movie name, date, and
time are all still on the ticket.
Any time you go to the movies you have to have a ticket. And there are lots of other
places that require tickets? If you've ever been to a play, you need a ticket to get
admission, don't you? Or how about an airplane? Have any of you ever flown on a
plane? They won't even let you through security without a ticket.
Has anyone ever been to Disney World? Or Six Flags? Just like the movies and
airplanes, they won't let you into the parks unless you have a ticket. Why is that?
The reason we have tickets is because movies, amusement parks, plays, and airplane
flights all cost money. But rather than having you pay right when you walk in, you can
buy a ticket that gives you admission when the time comes for the movie, the flight, or
your vacation. What happens if you don't pay for a ticket? You can't get in, can you?
You know one day, we're going to have a chance to go to Heaven. We'll have a chance
to walk on streets of gold, to see all of the great heroes of the Bible, and best of all ... to
see Jesus. But guess what? You can't just walk into Heaven. The Bible says, "For all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24) What does that
mean to you?
It means there's a steep price to get into heaven. Because we are sinners, we deserve
to die. But Jesus, who was without sin, died in our place. He paid the price for our sin,
and in doing so, he bought our ticket to Heaven!
But there's one thing that remains: you have to accept the ticket. If your Mom or Dad
offers you a movie ticket, you have to take it in order to see the movie. Jesus has
offered you the gift of salvation, but in order to get into Heaven, you have to accept that
gift.
———————

21. Mouse Trap- Object Lesson on the Way to

God
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Jesus is the only way to God.

Object Lesson Text:

Has anyone ever seen one of these? I kind of hope you don't have them around the
house. They're a little dangerous, and if someone's put them out, it means there are
mice to be caught.
You know a mouse trap is a very simple device. It's just a piece of wood with a few tiny
pieces of metal and a spring. To set the trap, you pull back on the spring and lock the
metal bar into the catch. It's not very secure, so when the mouse touches the bait, it
doesn't take a lot of movement for the trap to release and catch the mouse.
This is a very old design, and people have tried for years to invent better traps for mice.
But a mouse trap is so simple, it's hard to improve on it. Have you ever heard the
phrase, "He's trying to build a better mouse trap?" When people say that, they usually
mean someone is doing something the hard way rather than the simple.
You know, there are a lot of people who try to build a better way to God. In fact, the
world says there are many ways or roads to God. But the Bible says there's only one
way to God, and that's through Jesus Christ, his son. Jesus said that he is the way and
the truth and the life. And no one can come to God the Father except through him (John
14:6). Jesus made becoming a Christian very simple; he simply said "come to me." Let's
make sure we show people the right way to God, and not try to build a better mouse
trap.
———————

22. Mirror- Object Lesson on Reflecting Jesus

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Show Jesus to others through your actions.

Object Lesson Text:

Can you see yourself? This is a mirror. Mirrors have been around for hundreds of
years and they pretty much have one purpose: to reflect. They can reflect light, colors,
and images. Can you imagine what it was like before they invented mirrors? They
probably only had a lake or a pond to look at? And even then, it wasn't an accurate
reflection. I don't think you have blue or green skin. The best mirrors are flat and they
have the perfect reflecting surface. They can show things the way they really are. God
wants us to do the same thing. Except he doesn't want us to reflect ourselves, he wants
us to reflect the image of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ was the only perfect
being, who came down to live on this earth. We're not all perfect and we accept God's
grace because of that. If you reflect Jesus with your actions and what you say, people
will see what it's like to become a Christian, and they may want to become Christians
too. Some people may not like what they see. There are a lot of Christians around the
world who are not liked because they reflect like Jesus and not themselves or the world.
You have to use Jesus as your role model and he will reflect himself
through you. He can make you the perfect mirror so that people will see what he is like
and what is Jesus like. He is kind and thoughtful. He doesn't do bad things, and he
loves all people. Can he be like that? I know it's hard sometimes, but just like a mirror
has to be in front of the object it's reflecting, you had to stand in front of Jesus to reflect
his image. So next time you look at yourself in a mirror, think about how you can reflect
Jesus's face today.
———————

23. Level- Object Lesson on Balance

Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes
Big Idea: Make God the center of your life.

Object Lesson Text:

Has anyone had a chance to use one of these tools? What is it called?
A level is a really special tool. You can see it has a small tube of liquid with two lines
marked on it and a bubble inside. When the bubble is directly in the center of the two
lines, the level is perfectly balanced with the center of gravity. Can anyone tell me when
you might use this and why it would be so useful?
If you’ve ever helped your mom or dad hang a shelf or a picture, you know how
important a level can be. When you’re hanging a shelf, you want it to be balanced and
level to the ground. If it’s not balanced, what happens when you put things on the shelf?
They can slide off! And depending on what you put on that shelf, that can create quite a
mess.
The level is a good reminder that we need to have balance in our lives. In Ecclesiastes,
Solomon talks about how there is a time and a season for everything. Right now, your
lives are pretty simple. There’s a time to play, a time to do schoolwork, a time to be with
family, a time to spend with the Lord, and of course, a time to rest. As you grow older,
you’re going to have more things taking up your time: sports, music, school clubs,
volunteer work, jobs, and, of course, more homework. It’s going to get more and more
challenging to make time for all the things you want to do and have to do.
So how do you keep balanced? Let’s look at the level. We know the level is balanced
when the bubble is in the center of the two lines. Just like the bubble, we can keep our
lives balanced when we keep God in the center of our lives. When you put God first,
God will give you the wisdom to know how to keep that balance. You’ll learn to make
time for the stuff you have to do—like homework, practices, and jobs—with the stuff you
want to do—like playing and having fun—and the stuff you need to do—like spending
time with God and your family.
When God falls away from the center, things can get out of balance very fast. But when
you keep God in the center, you’ll find you have more than enough time to do the
important things in life!
———————

24. Letter and Postage- Object Lesson on

Prayer
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: We can talk to God freely because of Jesus

Object Lesson Text:

Do you know what this is? It's a letter. We send letters to people who are far away.
Maybe you send letters to family members you don't see very often or maybe you have
a pen pal that lives in a different country. Have you ever received letters from your
parents when you were at camp? I personally love getting letters. There's something
about a handwritten letter that makes it more special. In order to send a letter though,
you had to put a stamp on the envelope. You have to pay for the stamps because it
costs money to send mail. The same thing goes for the other ways we communicate. A
lot of us are more technological and like to use our phones to talk to people who are far
away, or maybe your parents use email from their computers. Either way, you have to
pay for those services to use those gadgets: yep even email. Guess what. You know
you and I pray to talk to God. Well, that isn't free either: but rather it wasn't free before
Jesus came down to earth. In the old times, in order for God's people to come before
God and ask forgiveness for their sins, they had to sacrifice animals and give offerings.
That wasn't exactly cheap for the families, but it was necessary if they wanted to talk to
God. However, when Jesus came down to earth, what did he do? He died on the cross.
He became the sacrifice, and since the final price was paid we can now talk to God
freely through our prayers. And Jesus sends our messages to God kinda like the mail
man man picks up our messages. So next time when you pray remember that the price
is already paid and thank God for it in your prayers.
———————

25. Legos- Object Lesson on Foundations

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: God wants us to build on a firm foundation.

Object Lesson Text:

You guys may not know this, but grown-ups do a lot of research and study on how to
make toys. The big toys that they push every year at Christmas are what they call watch
me toys. These are toys that do one thing and nothing else: singing Elmos, Mickey
Mouses, walking monsters, crying dolls. These are the kind of toys that toy companies
wants you to buy every year. You know why? Because after you've watched them do
their thing for a while you're bored with it. The batteries die and the toy ends up in a
yard sale and you're ready for another. One the best toys aren't watch me toys, they're
creative toys. These are toys that allow you to create and do an unlimited amount of
things. Toy companies don't push these very hard because once you buy the toy they
don't get old and you never have to replace them. And as far as creative toys go, there's
few as fun as Legos. With Legos, you can build cars, airplanes, and submarines. Legos
are not a toy at the moment, they're a toy that lasts they're a toy that will grow with you.
Legos are also educational. I know you probably don't want to hear that, but it's true. Let
me give you a sample Lego lesson. How many of you have ever built a house out of
Legos? Is this small piece good enough to use as my foundation? Is it big enough to
build an entire house on? Why not? One brick isn't going to do it. If my house isn't built
on a firm foundation, it's going to collapse. It's a great picture of what Jesus is teaching
in his parable of the wise and foolish builders. A foolish builder doesn't know how to
begin. He picks one brick and builds an entire house on top of it, completely unaware
that the entire house will soon collapse. A wise builder plans ahead. He establishes a
firm foundation and builds on it. Next time you're playing with LEGOs, test me, see how
big a building you can erect with one single brick, and then lay a wider foundation and
see how high you can go. It's just a great picture of how much we need to build our lives
on a firm foundation.

———————

26. Lawn Mower- Object Lesson on Joy

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: If you remember to keep God first, nothing will ever rob you of the joy God
gives.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you have been introduced to the lawn mower at your house? How many
of you have grown up to the point that Mom and Dad have said, “It’s time for you to cut
the grass.”
That was a big moment, wasn’t it? Ever since you were a child, you’ve watched your
mom or dad cut the grass. You might have even had a toy lawn mower of your own.
Most of us grew up watching the lawn mower thinking, “One day, that will be me. One
day, I’ll be big enough to cut the grass!” Using the lawn mower is a milestone in growing
up. It’s something you can’t wait to do, especially when you’re little.
Then the day comes. And what did you learn? Pushing a lawn mower kind of stinks.
It’s hard. It can be extra hard on hot days, and it can be miserable on cold days. There
are no shortcuts either. You have to cut one row at a time. If you’re lucky, you have a
riding mower so you’re not walking the whole time. If you’re unlucky, your mom or dad
has put in all sorts of trees, flower beds, swings, and other obstacles that just make it
that much harder!
It looked like a lot of fun, pushing the lawn mower. But then you grew up, and you
learned what hard work it could be. And when you’re out there in 110 degree weather,
you wish you were too small to push the mower again.
You all will be making some big choices in the next several years of your life. There are
other milestones ahead, like driving and graduation. And as wonderful as those seem,
there’s a downside to those moments as well. When you start to drive, Mom and Dad
are probably going to want you to work. And after you graduate, you’ll have to decide on
a college, learn how to live on your own, and eventually go to work!
It’s okay to dream about the future. As a matter of fact, it’s a wise idea to plan ahead for
these big moments. But don’t let your desire to grow up keep you from enjoying today.
As tough as being a kid may seem, it’s only going to get tougher. And those big
moments that you expect will make you happy—like cutting the grass—will not give you
a joy that lasts.
The one thing that will give you lasting joy—no matter what happens in your life—is a
relationship with Christ. You may become a famous singer or an important doctor. You
might become a bus driver or a life guard. If you remember to keep God first, nothing
will be able to rob you of the joy he gives.
———————
27. Ice Tray- Object Lesson on Patience
Bible Verse: Hebrew 10:36
Big Idea: When we have patience, the wait will be worth it.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you, when you sit down to dinner, like a nice cold drink with ice? Ice
makes our drinks taste better. Why is that? Do you guys have ice makers in your fridge
at home? Ice makers are nice because they're always making new ice without us ever
having to do anything, don't they?
How many of you guys have seen one of these? This is an ice tray, and if your fridge
doesn't have an ice maker, I bet you can find several of these in it. Ice trays are pretty
simple. Each one has all these little pockets that you fill with water. Then you stick it in
the freezer, and in a few hours, you have some nice ice cubes.
The problem with ice cubes is that it does take a while to freeze. If you pull it out too
soon, the cubes may only freeze on the outside, and when they melt, your drink will get
all watery. And that's no good, is it?
But we all like cold drinks better than warm, right? I mean who likes a warm Coke, or a
warm KoolAid? Sometimes we have to be patient in waiting for ice. Especially on a hot
day? We will wait for the ice cubes to freeze because they are worth it.
You know there are a lot of things in life that require patience. Sometimes it's hard to
wait for the end of the school day, isn't it? Or maybe we can't wait for the weekend.
Some of you guys may find it hard waiting for your favorite sports season, or Christmas.
And how about growing up? How many of you can't wait to be old enough to drive?
The Bible teaches us that we need to learn patience. Many things in life take time, and
the more patient we are, the more we will enjoy life. Because if you spend all your time
being impatient, you 're going to miss out on what God has in store for you each day.
Good things come to those who wait.
The Bible tells us that patience is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Hebrews
10:36 tells us, "For you have need of patiem:e, that, afier you have done the will of God,
you might receive the promise." Next time you feel impatient, remember the ice tray.
And remember, the wait will be worth it!
———————

28. House Key- Object Lesson on

Responsibility
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: We have a responsibility to keep this world clean and all of God’s creatures
safe.
Object Lesson Text:

How many of you have one of these for your home? How old were you when your
parents gave you one? Why did your parents decide you needed a key?
What rules did your parents give you when they gave you a key?
There’s a great deal of freedom that comes with having that key, isn’t there? You can
get into the house without the help of your parents (or someone else inside). But there’s
also responsibility that comes with having a key. When you leave the house, what do
you have to do? You have to lock up! You have an obligation and a responsibility to
keep the house safe.
Can you loan your key out to a friend? No! You also have a responsibility to keep that
key to yourself and not to let your copy or any others get out. Your family’s safety and
possessions depend on that.
Way back in Genesis, God gave Adam and Eve the keys not only to their home, but also
to the whole world. God placed them in charge of the animals and the plants that he
made to fill the world. He gave them these things for their pleasure and enjoyment, but
he also gave them the responsibility to keep them safe and to protect them.
How do you think we, as their descendants, have done in that job?
When you look at the pollution, the litter, and the harm that has come to the planet, it’s
pretty clear we haven’t lived up to the responsibility. That’s not to mention all the
endangered and extinct animals whose very existence depended on our care!
God gave us this world to enjoy. He gave us food to eat and beautiful sights to take in,
from waterfalls and mountains to the turning leaves of autumn. But we can’t take these
gifts for granted. We have a responsibility to keep our world clean and keep all God’s
creatures safe.
———————

29. Hourglass- Object Lesson on Time

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Don’t waste the time God has given you.

Object Lesson Text:

Does anyone know what this is? Do any of you have one of these in your home? The
hourglass is kind of an out of date technology. It's not good for telling time, but it is good
for timed activities. The most common use of an hourglass these days is in games like
Cranium. When you use the hourglass to limit the time, players have to draw or guess.
Cranium is not the only game with a timer of sorts. In college and pro basketball, they
use a shot clock to limit the amount of time a team can hold the ball without trying to
score. This keeps the team from holding onto the ball and slowing the game down.
Same goes for the play clock in football. As soon as the play is whistled dead, they start
the clock and give the offense a limited amount of time to get set, and run the next play.
Shot clocks, hour glasses, and timers are unrelenting. They keep moving, even though
we want to stop and take a breath. There's no turning the clock back or flipping the
hourglass over. You play, you finish, and the game moves on. Basketball and football
players going to make the most of their time and not waste it, if they want to win.
There's no shot clock in real life; not normally anyway. It's a shame because maybe if
we had a ticking clock to remind us of time that's passing, we wouldn't waste so much of
it. We spend time on the computer and in front of the TV that could be spent in the
Word. We spend time goofing off instead of ministering to others. And once that time is
gone, we will never have it to give again. My prayer for you today, is that you will live as
if you had an hourglass in front of you. You only have so much time, and God wants you
to make the most of it. There's a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to
reap, a time to cry in, a time to laugh. Don't waste this precious gift that God has given
you.
———————

30. Highlighter- Object Lesson on Memorizing

Scripture
Bible Verse: Psalm 119:105
Big Idea: The more of God’s word you highlight in your heart, the more you will start
walking with him.

Object Lesson Text:

Has everyone seen one of these before? Has anyone ever used one. It's a highlighter.
And what do we use highlighters for?
Highlighters are an important tool. Students use highlighters when they're studying for
school. If you're reading your notes or a book and come across something you want to
remember, you might highlight that section. Then when you go back and study, that im-
portant passage will jump out at you because it's a different color.
Sometimes a person at their job might use a highlighter to mark something they want to
remember. Or, if they're reading a long report for their boss, they might use the high-
lighter to mark something very important for their boss to see.
Can anyone else give me an example of where we might use a highlighter?
Has anyone ever seen someone mark their Bible with a highlighter? That can be a very
valuable tool for us as we study God's word. If you find a verse that's really meaningful
to you, you can highlight it so it will catch your attention, or so you can find it again.
But you know, there's another way we can highlight scripture in our lives, and that's to
memorize it. Memorizing is just like highlighting scripture in your heart. When you're
feeling down, you can remember a verse about joy. When you need to resist temptation,
you can recall a verse about standing strong with God.
Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Just as a
highlighter brings the words on a page to light, God's word lights the steps of our lives.
Sounds like a good verse to highlight in our hearts, doesn't it? Repeat it with me. "Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
Repeat that same verse tonight, and every night this week. Then every week, recite that
verse at least once. Then start memorizing other verses. The more of God's word you
can highlight in your life, the more you will find yourself walking in his light.
———————

31. Gum-ball Machine- Object Lesson on

Kingdom of God
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Remember what God gave up for you, so you can enter his Kingdom.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you guys like to hit the gumball machines when you see them? It’s always
so tempting when you see those brightly colored gumballs stacked in the glass ball.
That’s why they put them in glass, you know—so you can see all those pretty colors
calling
to you!
I want you to imagine for a moment that at the top of this stack of gumballs, right in the
center, is the shiniest, prettiest, best-tasting gumball in the entire world. This gumball is
so amazing, it won’t lose its flavor, and it won’t make your jaw tired. If you put a quarter
in the gumball machine, what are the odds you would get that gumball on the first try?
What if you put two coins in? Three? Four? Since the gumball’s way on top, it’s going to
take a lot of coins to even get close to the magic gumball. You could very well end up
purchasing every other gumball in the machine before you get to it. If the gumballs cost
25 cents apiece, it could cost you a lot of money!
In the Bible, Jesus tells a story a lot like this illustration. There was a man who saw a
pearl of priceless value. When he saw it, he had to have it. He went and sold everything
he had just so he could have that one pearl.
Can you imagine selling everything you have for a gumball? You wouldn’t have a bed,
toys, food, a house, or even clothes to wear. But you’d have a gumball that would never
lose flavor or make your jaw tired.
Jesus didn’t compare the pearl to a gumball. He compared it to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus was saying that having the Kingdom of God—a place where we will live with him
forever—is worth more than all our possessions combined. We could be homeless,
penniless, and have nothing at all to our names. If we have the Kingdom of God, we
have a greater treasure than all the world’s treasures combined.
The good news is that we don’t have to sell everything to get the Kingdom of God.
Jesus paid the price on the cross so that all of us could come to him and gain entrance
to his kingdom. But one thing still remains: We have to accept that invitation.
Have you accepted the invitation to God’s kingdom?
———————

32. Glass of Water- Object Lesson on Purity

Bible Verse: Proverbs 22:1
Big Idea: Always be careful to tell the truth, be obedient, and live like Christ.

Object Lesson Text:

I have in my hands a glass of water. I got this water from a bottle of sparkling spring
water. It's clean, free of impurities, just plain pure water. On a hot day, a nice, cold glass
of water like this looks pretty good, doesn't it? But what happens if I do this?
(Using an eyedropper, drop a few drops of food color, dye, or ink into the water.)
What's happened to the water? It's not pure any more, is it? You can still see through it,
but it's become polluted. If I drop more in here, it'll become even cloudier. It's not so
appealing any more, is it? You'd have to be pretty desperate to drink this water.
You know, we can add more water to the glass and reduce the pollution. But no matter
how much more water we add, it's still going to be polluted.
A clean glass of water is like a good reputation. If people know you to be honest, polite,
a person who obeys their parents and follows rules, they see you like the clean glass of
water. But it only takes one lie, one act of sin, to pollute the water. Suddenly, people
don't see you the same way, do they? And you can work and work all you want to im-
prove your reputation, but that sin is still going to be there. The only way to truly restore
this glass of water is to dump it out, rinse it, and fill it up again. The only person who can
do that for us is Jesus.
Proverbs 22: I says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed
is better than silver or gold." It's hard to maintain that good reputation, and none of us
stays perfectly spotless. But it's a lot harder to clean up a bad reputation once it's gone
bad. That's why we must always be careful to tell the truth, to be obedient, and live a life
like Christ so that our reputations don't become polluted by sin.
———————

33. Gift- Object Lesson on Gifts

Bible Verse: Colossians 3:23-24
Big Idea: God gave you special gifts for a reason.

Object Lesson Text:

See what this is? It's a gift. You know if you get something covered in pretty paper or the
big bow, you're getting something pretty special. We give each other gifts on birthdays
and holidays, because we care for that person. They may be a family member or a
friend. We love gifts. They're usually something we want. Your family member
specifically picks out that gift with you in mind, because they want you to like it. Well
when you were born, you were given gifts specifically picked out for you. These gifts
were given to you by God. We also like to call them talents. The talents God has given
you can be whatever you're good at. Sometimes it involves a sport, maybe you have a
musical talent, or maybe you're good at science and math, or maybe you are more
artistic and can draw really well. Whatever the case, God made you good at something
for a reason. He wants you to serve Him with your talents. The Bible says in Colossians
3:23-24, “whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for
men since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward it is
the Lord Christ you are serving.” What that verse says is that with your gift you can
serve the Lord. It doesn't matter what other people think of you, as long as you're doing
what God wants you to do. So don't be ashamed of your gift, or try to use a different gift
that's not yours. Use the talent God gave you and you can bless others with your talent
just as if you're giving them a wrapped gift. No way!
———————

34. French Fries- Object Lesson on

Stewardship
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Money isn’t really ours, it’s God’s.

Object Lesson Text:

I don’t think there’s a person alive who doesn’t like french fries. When they’re hot and
fresh and crisp and golden like these, they’re pretty hard for anyone to resist. How many
of you get french fries any time you go out to eat?
Now let me ask you this: Have any of you ever had to pay the french fry tax?
The french fry tax is not a government tax. It’s a Mom and Dad tax. It’s what happens
when Mom or Dad reaches over across the table and takes a french fry out of your box!
Some people might consider this stealing. The french fry was in the box that came with
your Happy Meal! But let me ask you another question: Who paid for the french fry?
Who paid for you to have french fries with your meal?
Unless you already own your own business or unless Grandma grabbed the bill first, the
answer is probably Mom and Dad.
It was Mom and Dad who earned the money to buy your french fries. So when you think
about it, is it your french fry or is it Mom and Dad’s fries that they allow you to enjoy?
The french fry tax is a good reminder that the blessings we enjoy are not ours but are
gifts from the Lord. That goes not only for our possessions, but also for our money. Yes,
we work hard to earn money, but the Lord gives us money—along with everything else
he gives—to manage for him. He wants us to use our money, our talents, and our
possessions for him. And a big part of using our money for him
is giving!
Does anyone know what a tithe is? A tithe is 10 percent of the money you make, and in
the Bible, we are told that we should give a tithe—10 percent—back to the Lord. That
means for every dollar you make, you should give a dime to the church.
Most people don’t give even close to that. We like to use money for ourselves, and we
don’t like to give it away. But remember the lesson of the french fries: The money is not
really ours. It belongs to God. Is it too much to ask that we give back at least 10 percent
to God?
———————

35. Folding Chair- Object Lesson on Seeking

God
Bible Verse: Matthew 6:33
Big Idea: Give God everything you do.

Object Lesson Text:

(You will need a real folding chair for this illustration. Bring the chair out, and ask for a
volunteer. Hand the chair to the student without unfolding it and give the student the
following direction.)
Sit in the chair.
(The student will try to open the chair. Stop him or her! Do not let the student open the
chair. Firmly repeat your previous instruction to sit in the chair, but do not let the student
open the chair. When the student resists, ask him or her why he or she is not listening to
you and sitting. When the student tells you he or she has to open the chair first, you can
take the chair back and let the student sit down. As the student does so, go on with the
lesson by asking the following.)
Does anyone think [he or she] can do what I asked? Can anyone sit in this chair without
opening it?
You can’t sit in a folding chair unless you open it. A folding chair has four legs to support
you. Folded, the chair has only two legs touching the floor. Without those other two legs
and the seat down, you can’t sit in a folding chair.
I wanted to do this to illustrate something to you: Sometimes in life, there are times
when you want to jump ahead. You want to dive in and do something exciting. But you
can’t just jump in and do what you want. For example, you can’t run on the football field
and play wide receiver if you’ve never practiced with the team. As another example, you
can’t perform surgery in a hospital without first going to college and medical school. You
have to take care of first things first.
What’s sad is that there are people who jump ahead and do what they want without
putting first things first. And the biggest thing most people forget to do first is to seek the
Lord.
If you have an important decision to make, you should first take it to the Lord. If you are
starting something new that will require your best, you should pray about it. Even if
you’re going to start a new project to serve God—be it volunteering or starting a band or
whatever—you need to seek the Lord first.
Am I saying that God will booby trap you if you don’t go to him first? No! But God knows
you and your heart better than you know yourself. He has a plan for you, and if you
want to live that plan to the fullest, you need to get right with God.
Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek God first, and “all these things” will be added to us. That
doesn’t mean we’ll get everything we want. In fact, when we seek God first, sometimes
he brings our plans to a screeching halt. But if that happens, it’s because God has
another plan—a plan that is bigger and better than anything you could imagine.
But first things first: You need to seek the Lord.
———————

36. Flip Flops- Object Lesson on Servanthood

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: We need to serve others.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you have a pair of these at home? How many of you wear flip-flops every
day you can when it gets to be spring and summer? It feels good to get those heavy
shoes off after a long winter and go almost barefoot, doesn’t it? You can wear flip-flops
and sandals just about anywhere, and it feels good to have them on.
There are lots of good things about flip-flops, but there are a few bad things. For
example, how clean are your feet after a long day of being in flip-flops? Not very clean!
There’s no shoe or sock to keep the dirt out, so by the time you get home, your feet are
filthy and probably stinky.
In Jesus’ time, they didn’t have shoes and socks. Everyone who could afford shoes
wore sandals. You can imagine what a stinky mess this would have made. In fact, it was
such a mess that a tradition formed: If you were invited into someone’s house, one of
the servants would wash your feet.
Do you think there were many servants volunteering for that job? Probably not! We’ve
already established just how dirty these people’s feet could get. Who would want to
wash the feet of 20, 50, or 100 people?
Do you think the principal of your school would do that for your class? Do you think the
president of the United States would wash the feet of his dinner guests?
Washing feet was servant’s work, and only the lowliest of servants were made to do it.
So when Jesus got on his knees and washed the feet of his disciples, it was a big deal.
Jesus was their teacher, their master. They had left everything to follow him. He was
more important than a principal or even a president would be to us. They truly believed
he was the Son of God.
Seeing the man they believed was the Messiah wash their feet sent a powerful
message to the disciples and sends a powerful message to us too. Jesus is the King of
Kings, and if the King of Kings would wash the feet of his own students, how then
should we treat our friends, our neighbors, and even our enemies?
Washing feet is a dirty job. It was one of the dirtiest jobs a servant could do. But it was
not too dirty for Jesus. If Jesus was willing to wash the feet of men who were his
followers, we need to be willing to serve others in the same way.
———————

37. Flashlight- Object Lesson on Being the

Light of the World
Bible Verse: Matthew 5:15-16
Big Idea: You are the light in the darkness.

Object Lesson Text:

This is a flashlight. If you're going someplace you know will be dark, you're gonna want
to bring one of these along. For instance, if you're going camping where there aren't any
electric lights, you can just switch this on. You're going to need a flashlight to see when
the sun goes down. You might use a flashlight to see things where the light can reach,
like underneath the table or a shelf. Has the power ever gone out in your house
because of a storm? Flashlights are really helpful then. Did you know that God wants us
to be lights. I know we don't actually glow like light bulbs, but he's talking about a
different kind of light. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 15 through 16, “neither do people
light a lamp and put it under a bowl instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to
everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may
see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” So you see God wants us to
use our words and actions to shine the light of Christ. If people see that you're a good
and faithful person, they will wonder what makes you that way, and that's how you shine
the light. You tell them that Jesus makes you that way. When you shine the light in
darkness, what happens to the darkness? It disappears. The light takes over. Some
people live in the darkness. They don't know how to have joy or goodness because
they've been in the dark so long without Jesus Christ. But if you come near them and
live life with them, you can act like this flashlight, and shine light into their darkness.
Don't ever be afraid because God always provides the light.
———————

38. Doorknob- Object Lesson on Temptation

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Run away from temptations.
Object Lesson Text:

Have any of you ever seen a doorknob out of the door? It’s a pretty fascinating piece of
hardware. The knobs or handles on either side are just part of this amazing little tool.
The two knobs are connected by a bar called a spindle, and that spindle runs
perpendicular through a much thicker piece of metal that sticks out the side of the door.
This piece is called the latch, and when the door is closed, the latch slides into a hole in
the doorframe, which holds the door in place. When you turn the knob or handle, the
knob pulls the spindle back into the door, which in turn pulls the latch and allows you to
open the door.
Long story short, there is no way you can “accidentally” open the door, is there? If you
want to open a door, what do you have to do? You have to put your hand on the knob,
turn it, and then open the door. Doors cannot open by accident, and they do not just
open by themselves.
Let me ask you another question: How many of you, when confronted with something
you did wrong, have ever said, “I didn’t mean to” or “It’s not my fault” or “It was an
accident,” when it really wasn’t? We live in a culture that doesn’t like to take
responsibility. People who do bad things like to blame their actions on their parents or
friends or unfortunate circumstances.
But what did we learn from the doorknob? There are no “accidents” when it comes to
making choices. We make the choice either to open a door or not to.
It’s no different with sin. Sin is an intentional act that we choose to do or not do. There
are no accidents, no excuses.
No one can force you to sin. Either you give in to temptation and open the door or you
listen to the Holy Spirit and resist temptation. Do not merely resist, but flee from that
door and never go near it again. It’s your choice, and only you can decide what to do.
———————

39. Dollar Bill- Object Lesson on Heart

Changes
Bible Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7
Big Idea: Let God change your heart, so that people will see the heart of a true Christ
follower.

Object Lesson Text:

Would anybody like one of these? This is a dollar bill, isn't it? Doesn't anyone want a
dollar bill? You know I could hand you this dollar bill and let you take it to a store, but if
you tried to buy anything with it, it wouldn't work. You know why? Because this is Mo-
nopoly money. It's only good for paying bills in a Monopoly game, isn't it?
(Pull out a real dollar bill.)
Now I bet all of you would like to have this dollar, right? This is a real dollar bill, right?
How can you tell? It's larger than the Monopoly money. It's a different color. It has
printing on both sides. It says United States Treasury written on it, and George
Washington's portrait.
You know, as distinct as this dollar bill is, there are people out there who still try to copy
it. They can copy the paper, the ink, the colors, and the designs to make counterfeit
money. But even if they do all that, you can tell a real dollar bill not by the outside. You
see, every dollar bill has security thread inside the fibers of the bill. Did you know that?
This little fiber, made of plastic or metal, depending on the size of the bill is actually
woven into the dollar bill. It's almost invisible when you look at the dollar, but if you hold
it up to the light, you can see that security thread appear as a solid line. So we can say
this is a dollar bill not because of the outside, what we can see, but what's inside.
You know the Bible says something similar about us. We can go to church, sing songs
to God, put money in the offering plate. But God doesn't just look at these outward
signs. He also looks where? At the heart. The Bible says, "The LORD does not look at
the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at
the heart." (1 Samuel 16 :7) In other words, you can't fool God.
I want to challenge you guys not to be counterfeit Christians, but real. Let God change
the inner fibers of your heart so when people see you, they don't see just a smiling face,
but the heart of a real Christian.
———————

40. Dog Treats- Object Lesson on

Worshipping God
Bible Verse: Job 1:21
Big Idea: We should always praise God, in good and bad times.

Object Lesson Text:

I brought along some snacks this morning. Anybody here like .... doggie treats?
Eww,pretty gross! Especially this box of treats! Look at the flavor. Doesn't sound very
good, does it? I bet you guys would much rather have cookies or fruit, right?
You know who does love these treats? Dogs. Do any of you have dogs? I bet they love
treats. A dog will do just about anything for a treat. They will sit, lay down, roll over, play
dead, fetch a ball. If the dog knows he or she is going to get a treat, that dog will do
whatever you want.
But you know something? When a dog does something for a treat, they do it for selfish
reasons, don't they? When you first train a dog, the dog becomes conditioned to do
tricks because they receive a reward. If you weren't waving one of these yummy treats,
they might just walk away and ignore you.
You know sometimes we respond to God that way. We act nice and we pray because
we want God to give us a treat, don't we? But God doesn't want us to love him like that.
Whether we have good times or bad, God wants us to love him, and thank him for all
the things he's given us. A man named Job modeled this kind of love. God decided to
test Job, and he took away every good thing Job had. But Job refused to walk away
from God. Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be
praised." (Job 1 :21)
When good things happen, we should rejoice and thank God. But let's not forget to
thank God in the bad times, because no matter how bad things are, he is still God.
———————

41. Dirty Paintbrush- Object Lesson on

Washing Away Sin
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Jesus washes our sins away and make us clean.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you like painting? Have your mom and dad let you help with painting
around the house yet? If you haven’t gotten there yet, you probably will soon. What
tools do you need if you’re going to paint a room?
You need a good brush if you’re going to paint, right? Let me ask you this: How many of
you would want to use a brush like this?
(Show the paint-covered brush.)
If I handed you this brush and said, “Go paint that wall over there,” what would you say?
It’s kind of hard to paint with a dirty paintbrush, isn’t it? The brush is coated with paint
that’s dried on and hardened. It won’t soak up new paint, and it won’t spread paint on
the wall. Most likely, if you tried to paint with a brush like this, you’d get an ugly wall with
some dried bits of a different colored paint stuck in it. It would not be very pretty.
This dirty brush reminds me of what sin does to our lives. The more we fall into sin, the
more we are covered by it. And just like dried paint, sin can get hard and keep good
things from penetrating our lives. What’s more, we’re completely useless to the Lord if
we’re covered in sin! God can’t use us any more than we can use this dirty paintbrush,
and any work we try to do will be stained with our sin.
But the good news is that even a brush like this can be cleaned. With the right solvent
and lots of water, you can clean that brush good as new.
God can wash us clean from our sins and make us new as well. He can break through
the hard layers of sin and wash us clean. Only then he can use us to reach others with
the same love that washed our sins away.
———————

42. Crayons- Object Lesson on Bullying

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Love everyone, including the bullies.

Object Lesson Text:

Anybody remember when these were a daily part of your life? You’ve probably moved
on to markers and colored pencils by now, but when you first started school, I bet every
one of you had a pack of these. How many of you had the small one, the 12 pack? The
24 pack? Who got to have the big one with ALL the colors?
Crayons are a lot of fun, but there’s a problem with crayons. (If you have some, break
one in half now.) They break. They break very easily. And the bigger you get, the easier
it is to break them. The bigger you get, the more careful you have to handle crayons if
you don’t want to break them.
If you’re not careful, pretty soon you won’t have any crayons left. You’ll have a bunch of
crayon pieces. Can you still color with them? Sure. But it’s not as easy, and the smaller
they get, the harder it is to play with them.
You know, people are a lot like crayons. We can be broken very easily, just like these
crayons, if people mistreat us. Some of you may know kids who are in the habit of
mistreating others. They think they can get what they want from people who are smaller,
weaker, or just different than they are. They push others around. They call them names.
They hurt a lot of people. Has anyone ever mistreated you like that?
Unfortunately, bullies are not just a problem you’ll find in school. Bullies are everywhere,
and everywhere they go, they leave broken people behind. The sad thing is that these
bullies could have several friends if they wanted. But instead
of trying to be nice to other people, they push and shove and break the people around
them.
Pretty soon, what do they have left? A bunch of broken people. Yes, they can still push
those broken people around. But do you think any of them really care for the bully? Do
you think the bully has any real friends?
I want you to remember just how fragile these crayons are, because I want you to
remember to treat others with kindness. What’s more, I want you to be aware of the
people around you—not just the bullies, but the people whom the bullies are
mistreating. Nothing heals a broken person like love, and a little love can make a lot of
difference in someone’s life.
And don’t forget, God wants us to love the bullies too. They may not look like it, but
most of them are broken people too! Show a little love to a bully and you might make a
real difference in your school.
———————

43. Clothing Iron- Object Lesson on Suffering

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Let God make something beautiful with your life.
Object Lesson Text:

If you have a lot of nice clothes in your closet, you probably have some that require
ironing. Ironing is kind of a hassle. You have to set up the ironing board, and wait for the
iron to heat up. You have to keep the iron moving so you don't leave burn marks on your
clothes, and you also have to be careful not to drop the thing. Ironing boards are not the
most stable piece of equipment in your house. But if you think that's bad, think about it
from your shirt's point of view. You're not the one being straightened out by scalding hot
iron. That's a level of pain I'd rather not experience. We make a mistake that requires us
to admit a fault, or right or wrong. Maybe we have to endure some sort of punishment or
consequence for our actions. But when the hard times go away, we're not the same
wrinkled people that we were before. God is able to use that pain, straighten out our
lives, and make us like new. That's a hard thing to see and understand when we're
hurting, but when the pain goes away, we look back and see that God was in control the
whole way. When painful times come into our life, our first reaction is just to pray that
the pain will go away. Well God will get us through the pain, but not before he uses that
pain to straighten out our lives. We've all got lots of wrinkles and some will only come
out with a little ironing. Let God have his way and he will make something beautiful of
your life.
———————

44. Christmas Tree Base- Object Lesson on

Christmas
Bible Verse: Isaiah 9:6
Big Idea: Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Object Lesson Text:

(Keep the base hidden to start.)

How many of you have Christmas trees up at your house? Christmas trees are wonder-
ful symbols of the season, full of reminders about the first Christmas. But there's one
part of the Christmas tree that is more important than any other. Can you tell me what it
is? It's not the lights, or ornaments, or even the angel or star on top of the tree.
(Show the tree base.)
Surprised you, didn't I? Most of you probably never look at the Christmas tree base. We
only see it when we're putting the tree up ot taking it down. Most of the time it's hidden
by the tree and the tree skirt. But without the base, the tree wouldn't stand, the orna-
ments and lights wouldn't stay up ... and we'd have a big mess in our living room.
There are so many things that happen at Christmas, it's easy to overlook one other im-
portant part of the season. We get so excited about time off from school, presents,
Santa, family and parties, it's easy to forget about the baby Jesus. But without Jesus,
there would be no Christmas. His birth was so important, Isaiah wrote about it centuries
before it occurred: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government
will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
This Christmas, I want to urge you to look behind the lights, the ornaments, the pre-
sents, and the tree. Look to the foundation of Christmas and our faith: Jesus. Let's re-
member what Christmas is really about, and thank him for the gift he gave us!
———————

45. Chess & Checkers- Object Lesson on Gifts

and Talents
Bible Verse: 1st Corinthians
Big Idea: God is using your special gifts and talents for a purpose.

Object Lesson Text:

What's the difference between playing checkers and chess? In checkers all the pieces
are the same. They look the same they move the same. They travel in the same
direction. They take things one step, or one jump at a time. Some checkers get to be
kings, but even the kings move one step, one jump, one diagonal direction at a time.
Chess is a little more complex. You have eight pawns who move one place at a time, in
one direction, kind of like checkers. But then you have all these pieces in the back row:
bishops who travel as far as they want on a diagonal, rooks who move from side to side,
forward and back, Queens, who can move just about anywhere, and then there's the
knight who kind of moves in an L, or is it a J? A lot of people think the church should be
like checkers. We should all think the same, act the same, pray the same, and worship
the same. But that's not what the Bible teaches. Paul says in 1st Corinthians that the
Church is more like a chess set. We all have our different abilities and our talents, but
we all come together for the same purpose: to seek out the King of Kings. Doesn't
matter if you're a pawn, a bishop, a rook, a knight, or a queen. Whatever your talents
are, you're a vital part of God's family. God has made you with a special purpose. Place
those talents in God's hands and you'll be amazed at what He can do with all these
different gifts.
———————

46. Calendar- Object Lesson on Making

Mistakes
Bible Verse: Psalm 103:12
Big Idea: Jesus fixes our mistakes.
Object Lesson Text:

Does everyone know what this is? It's a calendar. How many of you have a calendar
hanging up in your house?
Calendars have many uses, don't they? We use calendars to mark time. We keep track
of fun things like holidays, and not so fun things like doctor's appointments and then
there's the dentist. We schedule vacations on a holiday, and birthdays. What else do we
do with calendars?
A calendar is a very valuable tool, isn't it? But there's a problem with this calendar. Can
anyone tell me what it is?
This calendar is out of date. It's old, isn't it? And an expired calendar is really no good.
Why? Because the dates in this calendar have already happened. It's in the past.
You know, this calendar reminds me of my own past. There are times in my life I wish I
could forget, times when I sinned or made mistakes. If this calendar held a record of the
mistakes I made this year, I'd be embarrassed to show it to you. I bet all of you would
say the same.
But here's the thing about calendars. They usually go on sale in the fall, in anticipation
of the new year. But once the new year comes, what happens? People mark the
calendars down by fifty percent off, and sometimes seventy-five off Eventually, any
calendars that don't sell get thrown away. Why? Because they're expired.
No one would think of keeping an expired calendar in their house. But many times we
keep the memories of our past mistakes and sins, don't we?
But we don't have to if we believe in Jesus. You know why? The Bible says when we are
saved, Jesus takes our sins away. Psalm 103: 12 says, "As far as the east is from the
west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
So let's remember what the calendar has to teach us. The mistakes of the past don't
need to stay with us today. Give your mistakes and your sins to Jesus, and he will take
them away, just like an expired calendar.
———————

47. Box- Object Lesson on God’s Power

Bible Verse: 1st Corinthians 2:9
Big Idea: With God, anything is possible.

Object Lesson Text:

See this box. It's just a regular cardboard box. But you can store all sorts of things in it.
They're especially useful when you move to new house, and have a lot of things to
pack. Boxes are mainly for storing things, but, when you pack you want to stay
organized, so you know which things go into which boxes. You might put your toys in
one box, and your books in another. You want to separate the kitchen stuff, from the
living room stuff. Boxes are great for organization, but you have to make sure they're
the right size. I mean you
couldn't put a vacuum cleaner in a box like this size. You know sometimes we try to do
that with God. God is huge he's bigger than the earth, the Sun, and the universe. He
created the universe. Our minds can't even fathom how God does what he does. He's
all-powerful. He's everywhere at once. So why do we try to put God in a box? What I
mean by that is a lot of times we think God can't do something. For instance, have you
ever prayed for the salvation of a friend? Maybe a family member? Have you ever
prayed for the salvation of your city? What about your state? What about the whole
country? If you don't believe God can save your city, you're putting God in a box? Don't
forget, he's the one that created the world. Know that God has no limits. You can trust
him with anything. If you have something big on your heart that God has asked you to
pray for it, don't put it aside or think it's impossible. Just pray. You'll be amazed at what
God can do. 1st Corinthians 2:9 says, “however as it is written: no eye has seen, no ear
has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Don't put God in a box. Pray as big as you can so you and your faith can grow.
———————

48. Battery- Object Lesson on Love

Bible Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Big Idea: Without love we are nothing.

Object Lesson Text:

Does everyone see what I have in my hand? It's a battery, and it's something I bet all of
you depend on every day. Batteries are little power packs that let us run all these things
without having to be plugged into a stationary power source. We use batteries in all
kinds of devices: cell phones, iPods, wireless microphones, toys. Even cars run on bat-
teries. What other things can you think of that require batteries?
There's nothing more frustrating than playing with your favorite toy or talking on the cell
phone when all of a sudden - the battery dies! It doesn't matter if it's the coolest,
flashiest toy or the most expensive phone available. If the battery goes dead, it's com-
pletely useless.
Batteries remind me of something Paul wrote about love. In 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1-
3, Paul said, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am
only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can
fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body
to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
As you grow up, you're going to discover the talents that God has given you. You can be
the greatest singer, the smartest teacher, the most brilliant preacher. But as you do,
remember this battery. And remember that without love, you are no better than a dead
cell phone.
———————

49. Baby Food- Object Lesson on Growing in

Christ
Bible Verse: Ephesians 4:14-15
Big Idea: Seek God with all your heart.

Object Lesson Text:

Is anybody here hungry? I know sometimes it's hard to sit through church without a
snack, so I thought I'd bring a little something along this morning. Are you guys hungry?
All right, who wants some ... strained peas? Or maybe mixed vegetables? Or look,
broccoli!
What's the matter? Is there something wrong with this food? You bet there is. This is
baby food, isn't it? And you guys don't want to eat this any more? Why? Because you 're
not babies! You 're all grown up, and you can eat grown up food.
What's your favorite food? Is it pizza? Or maybe hamburgers? How about hot dogs or
macaroni and cheese? I love all that stuff too. I wonder, though, do any of you like
oysters? Or how about salad? Anyone eat salad? What about Indian food? Or Japanese
food?
Some of you guys might grow into that food one day, but right now, you've found your
ideal menu, haven't you?
You know something? This baby food reminds me of when I first became a Christian.
The Bible says when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are born again.
That makes you a baby Christian, doesn't it? And everyone knows a baby needs ....
baby food.
But there's something else we can learn from this baby food: we have to grow up some
time, don't we? Because you don't see your parents sitting down to a nice jar of strained
peas, do you?
That's why it's important that you don't stop learning about Jesus after you accept him
as your Savior. You need to study the Bible, spend time in prayer and Sunday School,
and worship God. This is the spiritual food you'll need to grow up strong in the Lord, just
as real food helps your body grow.
I want to challenge you guys: don't get stuck in the baby food stage. Seek God with all
your heart, because if you do, the Bible promises that you will no longer be "infants
tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of
teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead,
speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is,
Christ." (Ephesians 4: 14-15)
———————
50. Apple Seeds- Object Lesson on God’s
Protection
Bible Verse: John 16:33
Big Idea: Trust in God.

Object Lesson Text:

How many of you guys like apples? Apples are great food because you can do so many
different things with them. You can make apple sauce. You can make candy apples. You
can make apple pies and apple cakes. You can use them in salads with fruits and
vegetables. You can make apple juice and apple cider to drink. Or, you can simple pick
up an apple and eat it by itself.
Have you ever accidentally eaten an apple seed? They're usually stuck in the core of
the apple, and it's not easy to get to, but sometimes it happens, doesn't it? Well, here's
something you might not know: apple seeds are poisonous. Each apple seed has just a
little, tiny bit of poison in it. It's not near enough to hurt you. You'd have to eat LOTS of
apple seeds to even begin to feel sick. But it's still in there.
You know, sometimes in life, we encounter hard times. Bad things happen, we get sick,
we struggle. But just like the apple seed, God promises never to give us more than we
can handle. If you accidentally swallow an apple seed, it's not going to hurt you, be-
cause it's no more poison than your body can handle. And when hard times come, God
promises he will help you through them, because he won't give you any more than you
can handle.
Before he was crucified, Jesus said to his disciples, "I have told you these things, so
that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Let's take a moment to thank God for that
promise.
———————

51. 35mm Film- Object Lesson on Prayer

Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: We can talk to God.

Object Lesson Text:

I wonder if any of you can tell me what this is.

This is a roll of 35mm film, and up until the early 2000s, it was the primary way people
took pictures. The process of taking photographs was invented and perfected in the late
1800s. Photographers loaded film into cameras that were specially designed to take
and imprint images onto the film. A photo developer then processed the film in a
darkroom and turned it into a negative. This was a very delicate procedure because if
the undeveloped film was exposed to light, you would lose all your photos! Once
developed, the negative would then be used to make the prints that people put in
picture frames and photo albums.
For more than 100 years, people had to buy film, send that film off for processing, and
make prints, 24 pictures at a time. But odds are that your own kids will never even see a
roll of 35mm film. Why?
Because of digital photo technology!
In the days of 35mm film, you were limited to about 24 photos per roll of film. Now we
have cameras that can take literally thousands of photographs! What’s more, with digital
technology, there’s no film to develop and no negative required. You can upload images
to your computer and print them by the hundreds at a fraction of the cost of developing
film and making prints!
New parents used to have to budget their film when taking photos of their new baby.
They’d take a photo here, a photo there, and once a roll of film was done, they’d have to
wait a few days to even see their photos. Now they can snap hundreds of pictures at a
time, whenever and wherever they choose, with no limitations!
The Bible tells us that going to God used to be a very difficult process. People could not
go directly to the Lord in prayer. They had to go to a temple. They had to go through
ceremonial washings. They had to purchase a sacrifice. Then they had to take that
sacrifice to the priest, who took the sacrifice to the altar for them and asked forgiveness
for their sins.
But thanks to Jesus, we no longer have so many obstacles between us and God. When
we pray in the name of Jesus, who was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, we can pray
directly to God. We can commune with God all day with no limitations.
———————

52. Binoculars- Object Lesson on Reading the

Bible
Bible Verse: N/A
Big Idea: Don’t forget to study God’s word.

Object Lesson Text:

See these? Pretty cool aren't they? They're called binoculars, and we use them to see
things that are far away. For instance, if you are going bird-watching, you bring one of
these along, so you can see the birds up close. If the bird is high up in a tree, you can
look through these and see every detail of the bird. You can see its color, what kind it is,
and how it acts. Binoculars can be a very important tool for some people. You can be far
away but still see things up close. You know binoculars remind me that we need to look
closely at the Bible. A lot of times we read the Bible just because we think we have to, or
because we're told to. We never stop and read a verse so we can find out what it
means, or why God wrote it. The Bible is full of examples of how we should live. The
stories in the Old Testament aren't there to just teach us a history lesson, they are there
to help us find out how to live with each other, and how to obey God in every situation.
The New Testament is an amazing place to find God's promises, and the message of
the Gospel in
the best news in the world. With all these amazing chapters in the Bible, just
think what we can learn if we looked a little bit closer, and spent a little bit more time
reading and studying God's Word. If we skim through the Bible, we won't learn what
God is trying to teach us. If you're having a bad day, how can you discover a verse
about joy without stopping to read God's Word? You may be needing some advice on
a relationship. But how can God speak to you if you don't look closely and examine the
examples God gave in the Bible? So remember these binoculars, and remember to take
a closer look at the Bible.