Temptation comes for us all, big and little but recognizing it and understanding how to overcome it requires some training. Some kids don’t even realize they are subject to temptation! 1 Corinthians 10:13 reads, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. When I need to demonstrate such issues, I reach for an object lesson.” (NIV) So according to the verse, kids should know that everyone is tempted, God only allows a certain degree of temptation and he will provide you with a way to overcome it. Have fun with these object lessons!
The Fishing Pole: You can bring a real fishing pole or a toy one. I like the toy ones with the magnets on the end so I don’t have to worry about kids getting hooked. Also, you can cut out paper fish and attach magnets to them fairly easily. Write different temptations on the fish like lying to parents, cheating on a test or stealing some change. Explain to kids that our enemy tosses out these temptations to everyone but we don’t have to get hooked. Resisting temptation keeps us from sinning.
The Snares and Traps: I grew up with Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote so I am familiar with snares and traps but I discovered my kids aren’t. Improvise a trap with a cardboard box, a short piece of rope and a slice of pizza or some other treat that would tempt a kid. Attach the rope to the box by punching a hole in it, sliding the rope through and tying a knot in the end of the rope to secure it. Turn the box on its side or prop up one end with a rock or a stick. Put the “temptation” under the box but where kids can see it. Engage kids in a conversation about temptations and then tug on the box. This easy object lesson gives children an accurate picture of how quickly the trap will fall on kids that succumb to temptation. (Put the rope away when you are finished with it to prevent accidents.)
Kitten and the String: Most kids know that kittens love string but a video snippet of kittens playing with a string might help. Talk about how kittens can’t resist playing with a piece of yarn. You could even show a piece of yarn to your class. Tell kids that kittens cannot think or reason like we can. When they paw at a string, they are obeying their instincts. As people, we can resist these instincts through obedience to God and His word.
Read more from Mimi by visiting her blog at Encouragement for Christians.
Object Lessons on Temptation
