Time
10-15 minutes
Description
This object lesson helps children understand that God will help them get through difficult times and situations. He never allows us to go through more than we can bear, and He never leaves us alone.
Materials
· Large balloons (at least 5-6, but you might want more just in case)
· Wood skewers (available in the barbeque area of the supermarket)
· Duct tape
Preparation
· Practice the trick several times before you go live. It can be tricky to get it right.
· Inflate five or more balloons. (Inflate the first three until they are taut. You are going to pop these. Don’t fill the last two until they are taut. You want the rubber to have a little give to it.)
· Practice the script.
Procedure
Use the following script, or modify to suit your needs:
· “How many of you have had bad stuff happen to you before?” (Demonstrate that you are looking for a show of hands.)
· “Yeah, me, too.”
· “Bad stuff even happens to Christians, but God won’t ever allow you to go through more than you can handle, because He loves you.”
· “Here’s how I know.” (Have volunteer read 1 Corinthians 10:13.)
· “God always provides a way out of difficult situations.”
· “I’m going to demonstrate this, but I’ll need a volunteer.” (Select volunteer from the group.)
· “Okay, let’s say that you are this balloon.” (Hand volunteer the balloon, and have him or her hold it at arm’s length so that it won’t pop in his/her face.)
· “And let’s say that this skewer is a bad thing that’s about to happen to you.”
· “Now, even though the skewer is going to go right through you…” (Try to put skewer through the balloon. The balloon should pop.)
· “Oops! That wasn’t supposed to happen. Let’s say that this balloon is you. And this skewer…” (Give a second balloon to your volunteer, and have him/her hold it at arm’s length again. Then pop it with the skewer.)
· “Wow! That almost never happens! Okay, let’s say that this balloon is you. And…” (Do the same procedure to pop the third balloon.)
· “Something’s really wrong here! Hmmm….. What’s wrong? What’s wrong…Oh! I’ve got it! These balloons don’t have the covering of the Holy Spirit.”
· “I can help with that. You see, in the Bible, oil often represents the anointing of God. Let’s anoint this skewer so that it can be used of God.” (Dip skewer into oil. Then insert it into a balloon through the tie-off area and out the very top. These are the areas where the rubber of the balloon stretches the least, so they are more likely to receive the skewer without popping. If the balloon pops, laugh nervously and grab another balloon – kids love it when things don’t go the way an adult plans them.)
· “Look at that! God’s anointing was all it took.”
· “You see, if God allows bad stuff to happen to us, He anoints it so that it ends up doing His work in our lives. God knows where you can handle the bad stuff, just like I knew just where the balloon could handle the skewer.”
· “Now, sometimes, God allows bad stuff to happen to you where you are weak, but He won’t allow it to happen unless He has reinforced you in that area.” (Grab a new a balloon, and put a piece of duct tape across both the front and back sides of balloon. Then slowly poke a skewer though – not the one with the oil. You can repeat this several times for dramatic effect.)
· “Sometimes during tough situations, you might feel like you could just burst.”
· “But remember that God knows just how much you can take, and He won’t let you go through any more than that.” (Thank and dismiss volunteer.)
Teach Them 