Time
15 minutes
Description
When we carry negative emotions in our heart, it places a burden on our spirit. While we may not feel this burden in the same way we feel the weight of carrying something physically heavy, it still has the potential to exhaust us, to take away our joy and to cause us to lose hope. Participants will carry heavy buckets of rocks that help them to understand the weight of carrying negative emotions like bitterness, hatred, fear, guilt, and others.
Audience
- Children, Youth, Adults
Scriptures
- 1 Peter 5:7
Materials
- 2 large buckets with handles. Each bucket should be labeled, “YOUR HEART.”
- 30 lbs or more of large rocks, each labeled with words like, “Bitterness,” “Hatred,” “Fear,” “Guilt,” “Sadness,” “Unforgiveness,” “Rage,” “Shame,” “Stress,” “Worry.”
- Thick marker for making labels
- Notecards or paper for making labels
- Tape for making labels
- Bible
Preparation
- Label the buckets and the rocks, and set everything out in the teaching area.
- Practice the script.
Procedure
Use the following script and instructions (or modify to suit your needs):
- “Sometimes we carry some heavy burdens in our hearts.”
- “Burdens like…” (Pick up a rock and read the label. Then put it into one of the buckets. Pick up another rock and do the same, but this time, put it into the other bucket. Repeat the process until all the rocks are in the buckets.)
- “These buckets represent our hearts, and all these rocks represent the burdens that pile up in them over time.”
- “When we carry negative emotions in our heart, it places a burden on our spirit.”
- “Who would like to try carrying these burdens?” (Allow a participant to carry the buckets (both at one time if possible) to see how far he or she can carry them. While doing this, ask the volunteer the following questions.)
- “How does that feel?” (Listen for response.)
- “How long do you think you could carry it?” (Listen for response.)
- “Now, set it down. How does that feel?” (Listen for response.)
- “Why don’t you take the rocks out of the buckets and lift them again?” (Allow volunteer to do this, and then ask the following question.)
- “How does it feel to carry them now?” (Listen for response. Then, thank your volunteer, and allow him or her to take a seat.)
- “While we may not feel the burdens in our hearts in the same way we feel the weight of carrying something physically heavy, they still have the potential to exhaust us, to take away our joy and to cause us to lose hope.”
- “We remove them from our hearts by forgiving those who hurt us and by taking our burdens to God and asking for His help to let them go.” (Have volunteer read 1 Peter 5:7.)
- “God cares for you! He knows about your burdens, and He is just waiting for you to ask Him for His help.”
- “So bring Him the heavy rocks in your heart, and let Him lighten your load.”
Teach Them 