| topic | object lesson | verse |
| grace | pour food coloring into water to represent failures and mistakes; pour bleach to represent God’s forgiveness and grace, | 1 John 1:9- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” |
| protection | fill up a gallon size zip lock with water and stab pencils through it; discuss how bad things may happen to us and hurt us, but God will always be there to protect us | Ephesians 6:11- “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” |
| speaker listener | practice speaker-listener,quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry | James 1:19- “It says that we should listen” (Proverbs 18:13) and understand (Proverbs 18:2) each other before responding |
| guard your heart | put a glass of colored water next to empty glass, fold a paper towel and put both ends into glasses- represents how whatever is in your heart flows into other parts of your life | Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” |
| temptation | pour colored water on plate and drop some pennies to represent temptation, put a lit candle in middle and cover with the glass- the light will go out and water will be sucked up into the glass- representing leaving evil desires behind and racing toward Jesus | 2 Timothy 2:22 –- “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” |
| “uh-oh” feeling | -pour pepper (represents people) onto a bowl of water, rub dawn soap (sin) on finger tip and lightly touch the surface on water- pepper will move away, then sprinkle sugar (redemption) | Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” |
| encouragement | explain that you can teach them how to walk through one piece of paper and that you will encourage them every step of the way- they fold in half “hot dog style” and create alternating slits leaving one inch uncut, they will then cut off all folded portions except the top and bottom- | 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” |
| facts vs feelings | can walk on eggs without cracking them and/or do the physics egg tower drop- | “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”(Prov. 3:5) and John 14:27- “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” |
| triggers | how to calm yourself- teach deep breathing techniques and how to focus on blessings vs pouring into negative thoughts | Numbers 6:25-26 25 “the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” |
| kind requests | difference between kind requests vs commands- grab a happy meal and place into a mixer and ask if they’d still eat, turn mixer on and ask again | Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” |
| spiritual gifts | take Spiritual Gifts Assessment | Romans 12:6-8 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” |
| self image | peel an orange because “Bob” believes what others say about him, drop in water and it sinks; 2nd orange is “Joe” and he doesn’t allow others words define him, he doesn’t sink when placed in water | James 1:17- “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” |
| youth | color pages, define, and act out | 1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and purity.” |
| love languages | identify love languages of every child and parents- list examples of how to love those people well, | 1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” |
| temperments | how God didn’t create us without weaknesses and struggles- we must identify ours and strive to improve, | Song of Solomon 4:7- “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” |
| self esteem | discuss how God and their parents love them unconditionally, regardless of their mistakes or imperfections. | Psalms 139:13-14 13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” |
| confidence | make a poster stating, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t… you are right!” | Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and Psalm 27:3, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.” |
| courage | hold a balloon over a fire and it pops, hold a water balloon over fire and it will put the fire out | 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.” |
| service | grab several different sized items to drop into sink full of water, explain that bigger items represent bigger services and list examples- while items like toothpick represent complimenting someone. regardless of size, there is always a ripple in the water and some may choose to do 100 toothpicks instead of 1 basketball- | 1 John 3:18 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” |
| empathy | watch https://youtu.be/KZBTYViDPlQ, | Romans 12:15- “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” |
| anger | pour lighter fluid on a pile of sand, pour mixture of equal amounts 10g of baking soda and 40g of sugar on top of sand, and light the sand | Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” and Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” |
| internet | draw a bullseye target on poster putting God in the center, family and friends on next level, healthy lifestyle on next, other loves on next level, and desires on outside of target- discuss dopamine release, fill a jar with rocks (God) and ask if there’s anymore room, when they say no, add pebbles (family and friends). ask again, then sand (healthy lifestyle) then add water (desires)- explain that if you add water first, you won’t have room to add the rocks- representing that you could be addicted to those desires | Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” and Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” |
| purity | empty the bathroom trash can in front of them and pour in a Coke, dump Coke into a cup and offer to someone, when they refuse say, “It was just a little but of trash in there and I removed it first.” | Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” |
| wise choices | build houses with pretzels and pipe icing and discuss how waiting until it dries and making a solid foundation will set them up for success | James 1:5- “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” and Matthew 7:24-27, “Jesus states that those who hear His words AND do them are wise builders. They have built their homes on rock-solid foundations. The winds howl, the rains come – even a flood comes – but the house stands firm.” |
| emotional safety | cut a heart out of paper and speak the opposite of traits listed in verse, crumple each time, then ask to flatten paper | Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” |
| repair process | repair process from Danielle- shake a coke bottle for each small hurt and explain that if you don’t release slowly, it will explode | James 3:18- “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” |
| influences | choosing quality friends- 4 bowls of cooked noodles representing different types of friends, add foods coloring to minor and major sins – explain that you can pull someone into your clean bowl, but you can’t save them by entering their bowl- | Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” |
| peer pressure | https://hiphomeschoolmoms.com/science-experiment-temptation-and-the-bible/ wtih water balloon being sucked into bottle after fire goes out- | 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” |
| dating | purpose of dating-make a list of what you hope for and strive to become those very same things | 2 Corinthians 6:14- “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” |
| healthy choices | cut an apple ahead of time and allow to rot, cut an apple during lesson and show that even though outside looks similar, the health of our inner bodies is crutial- even when can’t see what junk food is doing to us- | 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” and 1 Corinthians 6:20- ” God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” |
| enemy’s lies | how to identify- mix water, oil, and different food coloring, stir to represent heart when trusting lies from the enemy, allow to settle and turn off lights, can see through the oil at top- representing God’s truth- | Ephesians 6:12- “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” |
| gossip | give them each a travel toothpaste and allow them to talk poorly about others as they squeeze out the paste- then share how much they’ve hurt the other (whether they heard or not) and ask them to put the toothpaste back into the bottle- | Ephesian 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” |
| anxiety | Fill the glass bowl with 1/2 cup of 91% rubbing alcohol, 1/2 cup of water, and 1/4 tsp of salt. Allow the $10 bill to soak in the bowl for at least 5 minutes, light bill on fire adn explain that fire represents anxiety, whereas the “secret solution” represents God’s peace | Philippians 4:6-8 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” AND Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing” |
| perseverance | tie rope around both wrists of first volunteer and link that rope with the other volunteers tied wrists, allow them to try, then offer guidance as to pulling a portion of volunteer #1’s rope through the inner wrist hole of volunteer #2 and loop over their hand- | Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” |
| struggles | describe potatoes, eggs, and coffee beans; add to boiling water and describe changes. Discuss that all items were added to same struggle and ask which one changed the boiling water into something new and amazing, | Romans 5:3-5 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” |
| integrity | pour a bowl of milk and drop food coloring near center, put dawn soap on Qtip and allow to swirl the colors- | Luke 16:10- “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” |
| optimism | write good things about enemy on tissue, shove tissue in a cup and put into a bowl of water upside down- if done correctly, the tissue won’t get wet (Assume the best) | 1 Corinthians 13:7 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” |
| conviction | cut tea bag and dump out contents representing sin, light bag on fire and other should blow away | James 5:16- “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” |
| honesty | choc syrup in hand represents a lie. Sometimes lies are fun right? They are exciting. Kind of like chocolate syrup. It tastes good in your mouth. It is sweet and yummy. When you lie to get out of trouble, or to avoid a consequence, it feels like you are winning, but leaks through- | Proverbs 12:22- “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” |
| confession | have kids look at themselves in mirror and describe what gifts from God that they are, allow them to write some sins/ confessions on the marker with permanent marker, ask them to wipe clean only to discover that they need more, nail polish remover represents Jesus- | Psalm 103:12- “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” |
| complaining | attach 5 clothespins to everyones shirt and explain that each time they are “Debbie Downer,” they loose a pin, could also offer pins for those that find the positive in a difficult situation- | Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.” |
| boundaries | try to roll a marble (represents life’s choices) on a book, then inside a bowl- (which represents boundaries) | Titus 3:10- “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,” |
| compassion | set up jenga blocks or dominoes to show that your compassion and kindness has a domino effect and can lead to effected person loving someone else well | Colossians 3:12- “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” |
| forgiveness | because its difficult to forgive, blow up a balloon and twist to hold in the Holy Spirit, add it to the top of a bottle that has a face with a flexible straw sticking out of mouth, the pressure from the balloon will cause the dark water to leave the bottle and pour into the cup labeled with a cross | Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.” |
| obeying God | have signs reprenting obeying God and sinning, put an empty jar in the middle and hold an arrow behind it pointing to sin, fill the jar with water (Holy Spirit) and hold the arrow behind, which should now show a reflection that makes the arrow appear to face other way | Psalm 112:1 “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!” |
| obeying wise counsel | https://youtu.be/7Fb4SlKTNoI watch and make a paper boat to float on water | Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” |
| judging others | paint this verse on a rock to throw at others 😉 | John 8:7 “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” |
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