Many families in the world are gearing up for the fall, which inevitably means school, friends, and extra time away from parents. Whereas discipleship happens in little pieces every day all day , here are some concrete visuals you could go over to reinforce some big theme ideas they may face.
Please note some of these are better for older kids, and some better for younger. So adapt them for your age group.
1.WORDS : Block Lesson
Big idea : Words are powerful! They can either build people up or tear them down.
Use any kind of building blocks and demonstrate saying kind things and adding blocks. Then say mean things and take blocks away.
Do a few hypothetical rounds of interactions and conversations and as positive things are said add, and as negative things are said take them away. At the end ask which person’s heart tower was bigger? We want to build people up.
2. FRIENDS : Elevators
Big idea : Friends are like elevators they can influence your ups and downs of life.
Either in an actual elevator or just referencing one explain an elevator only goes where you tell it.
If you went in an elevator and just said “5! 5! 5!” That elevator wouldn’t move. But if you pressed the button 5, that’s where the elevator will go.
Friends can influence us! They tell us to do and go constantly. So make sure you pick friends who influence you towards Jesus and His ways!
Also remember, at the end of the day, you are the only person who can make the choices. Just because your friends tell you to do something doesn’t mean you have to do it. You make the choices of what buttons you press in life.
3. MEDIA : Bathroom Brownies
Big Idea : What we put in our eyes and ears goes into our heart .
Explain that media sometimes can be like a bad batch of brownies.
Imagine you came home from school and I had a plate of warm, gooey, fresh out-of-the-oven brownies. After asking if you can have some I say yes. Right before your first excited bite I tell you actually I put a special ingredient in : dog poop.
You probably, and hopefully, stop in your tracks and refuse to put it in your mouth. Disgusted that I would mix poop into brownies.
I’d go on to say, well it’s not the only ingredient, there’s also the normal flour, butter, sugar, cocoa powder, but also dog poop.
Even with the other ingredients in it, the “bathroom brownies” are ruined, and honestly just not healthy to consume.
Movies, shows, music, and games are similar to those brownies. We consume media not through our mouth but through our ears and eyes. Even just a little bit of vulgar language or inappropriate images can ruin the whole thing. It’s worth and wise to say no, even if it’s just a small amount of filth.
4. PRAYER: Glow Stick
Big Idea : The name of Jesus changes things.
If things ever get dark or scary, remember to pray in the name of Jesus.
Imagine being in a room with no windows. And then all the lights go out. Everyone panics. But you have a glow stick. You can sit with it in your pocket or you can crack it and let the light help you and others see.
This is a picture of prayer, when we pray and say the name of Jesus, instantly light comes to a dark space.
So if you are ever in a place, a conversation, or a thought that feels dark, say in the name of Jesus and instantly release the hope and authority of the kingdom of light.
5. FAVOR : Highlighter
Big Idea : God’s favor sets you apart for His goodness and glory.
Dad and Mom are in covenant with God which means our family is covered by His blessing.
One way He reveals His blessing is through favor. It’s a way to set apart his people so others may see His goodness.
Imagine doing a word search full of names, and I use a highlighter for one name on the page. Then I hand someone the paper and say “what name do you see?”
More than likely it’d be the name in the highlighter!
When you make the soccer team, win the part in the play, or earn a leadership role, that’s not an accident. That’s because the favor of God is on you. His holy highlighter is on your name. And not just to win the game, or be popular. But His favor on you is for you to show His goodness and glory to those around you.
So remember to fulfill that opportunity with the excellency and character of Christ.
There are a plethora of other object lessons you could do. Truly there’s a lesson in everything!
Maybe doing all of these in one sit down would be overkill, but if one of these pop out to you, perhaps it’s worth having a little pause to talk about it.
Obviously it would be more impact fully to have the physical items to demonstrate the concept as you discuss things, but even just the imagery should make a point in their heart and mind.
Cheering You On,
Abby and we
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