Time
20 minutes
Description
This object lesson shows how God can protect us during times of suffering and temptation. It uses some science and some surprising ways to keep balloons from popping even when pierced or put over a flame.
Scriptures
- Psalm 32:7
Materials
- Balloons (3 per child and 5 for facilitator (includes a few extras just in case))
- Wooden skewers (2 per child and 2 for facilitator)
- Vegetable oil (just a little to dip the skewers in)
- Duct tape (1 roll)
- Candle with a stand (1 set)
- Matches or a lighter
- Medicine dropper (1 – for putting water into a balloon before you blow it up)
- Water (1 cup per group)
- Bible
Preparation
- Get your materials ready.
- Practice the script.
Procedure
Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):
- “Did you know that bad stuff happens to everyone – even Christians?” (Listen for responses.)
- “If you don’t follow Jesus, you’ll be like this balloon when bad stuff happens.” (Blow up and tie a balloon.)
- “This wooden skewer represents bad stuff that happens to them.” (Use the skewer to pop the balloon.)
- “That’s not good! I don’t want to be like that balloon, do you?” (Listen for responses.)
- “But Christians don’t have to worry, because God protects them when bad stuff happens.” (Have a volunteer read Psalm 32:7. Then, blow up and tie another balloon, this time about halfway to two-thirds full.)
- “Even Christians are still like this balloon, but they have something special.” (Put a piece of duct tape over the balloon on two different sides.)
- “They have God’s covering to protect them when bad stuff happens.” (Slowly twist the skewer through the tape, through the balloon and through the other side. Then show it to the kids.)
- “Pretty cool, huh? The bad thing still happened to the balloon, but this time, it didn’t pop, because it had God’s covering.”
- “God know where our weak areas are, and He will protect us in those places.”
- “God protects us in another way, too.” (Blow up and tie another balloon about halfway to two-thirds full. Take one of the skewers, and dip it into the vegetable oil. Carefully twist the skewer into the nipple of the balloon (the thickest part at the very top) and then though the other side close to where you tied the knot.)
- “Oil in the Bible often represents the anointing of the Lord. God anoints us when He has something special and difficult for us to do, and the anointing protects us from Satan’s attacks.”
- “I know one more way God protects us!” (Light the candle. Use the medicine dropper to put one dropper-full of water into a balloon. Blow up the balloon and tie it with the water inside. Hold the balloon over the flame of the candle. You can even allow the flame to touch the balloon where the water settles.)
- “If we will fill ourselves with Living Water by reading God’s Word every day, He will protect us from popping when Satan turns up the heat in our lives.” (Pass out balloons and other materials to the kids, and let them try the three experiments. Help them if they need it to tie balloons, pierce balloons with skewers and hold balloons over the flame. When they’ve all had a chance to try, discuss the Debrief Questions below. You can use the Rhyme Time to reinforce the main point of the lesson.)
Debriefing Questions
- Why didn’t the balloons pop when the skewers went through them?
- How about when you put the balloon over the flame?
- How is this like how God protects us during times of suffering?
- If you have to go through a time of suffering in the future, how will you handle it?
Rhyme Time
We have God’s covering
To protect us when we’re suffering.
Teach Them 