Time
10 minutes
Description
This object lesson teaches about how appearances can be deceiving when it comes to salvation. Just because we go to church and hang out with Christians doesn’t mean we are necessarily going to be saved, and it’s what is inside us that makes the difference.
Materials
· Bag of Magnetic Marbles from www.stevespanglerscience.com (about $4)
· Box of multi-colored gumballs
· Magnet (just about any kind will do)
· Clear container in which to mix gumballs and magnets
· Display table
Preparation
· Pour both the Magnetic Marbles and the gumballs into the clear container and mix them thoroughly. (If you look closely, it’s possible to see differences in them, but they are not noticeable from a distance.)
· Position the container on the display table where it can be seen by everyone.
· Practice the script.
Procedure
· “I have here a bucket of gumballs.”
· “What you may not be able to tell is that not all of them are regular gumballs.”
· “In fact, some of them are very, very special. They’re magnetic!”
· “I wonder how I could figure out which ones were magnetic….” (Pause to allow the kids to make recommendations.)
· “Oh, yeah! I could put a magnet down inside and see what it pulled out! Perfect!”
· “I’m going to need a volunteer, though.” (Select volunteer from the audience.)
· “Okay, I just happen to have this magnet with me.”
· “Take this, and put it down in the gumballs to see which ones it attracts.” (Allow volunteer to search through gumballs with the magnet. The magnetic marbles should come out easily.)
· “Isn’t that interesting? The magnetic gumballs look a lot like the normal gumballs.”
· “But we know they can’t be the same because they act differently from the others.”
· “They’ve got something different on the inside that the real gumballs don’t have – a magnet. And that magnet is attracted to this magnet.” (Thank volunteer and let him/her return to his/her seats. Put magnetic gumballs back into the container, and mix them in.)
· “You know what else is interesting? We’re a lot like those gumballs.”
· “If you are a Christian, you have something inside of you that is attracted to God, and that something is also God.”
· “Christians have Jesus in their hearts, and He changes their heart so that it is attracted to God.”
· “Once you have Jesus in your heart, you want to get closer and closer to God.”
· “But just looking at all of you, I can’t tell which of you are Christians and which of you are not.”
· “You come to church, but that doesn’t make you a Christian.”
· “You own a Bible, but that doesn’t make you a Christian.”
· “You look like pretty nice people, but that doesn’t make you a Christian.”
· “There is only one thing that makes you a Christian. Can anyone tell me what that is?” (Listen for responses.)
· “Right. You have to believe and accept that Jesus died for your sins. That makes Him your Savior.”
· “So, it’s possible for us to look the same on the outside but be very different inside – just like these gumballs.”
· “But God is like this magnet. He knows who trusts in Him and who doesn’t, and there’s coming a day when He will call all His people to join Him in heaven.” (Put magnet back into gumballs and pull out the magnetic marbles.)
· “Even though we may look the same, God knows which of us are His children and which aren’t, because He can see our hearts.” (Have someone read 1 Samuel 16:7.)
· “Only those who believe in Jesus will be called, so make sure you tell Him you want to be one of His gumballs!”
Teach Them 