Kids love a big ol’ mess and I think it’s safe to say most children’s pastors do too! When it comes to anything slimy, gross or messy, kids want to see it. If you’re looking for a real attention grabber try these squishy object lessons. Get that drop cloth ready and put on some old clothes–it’s time to get messy!
Smash the Banana: Prepare the demonstration area by covering the table with plastic garbage bags or the drop cloth I mentioned earlier. You need a sturdy table for this visual lesson. Place some bananas on a table but leave them in their skins. You also need a rubber mallet and some work goggles. Use this verse for this lesson “In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.” (Psalm 143:12) Tell the kids that God does not want us to get revenge; He says all vengeance belongs to Him. However, if we are His servants, we can call upon Him to defend us. No matter how strong they appear, the enemy can never defeat God. Say, “He is like this hammer and His enemies are like this squishy banana. I wonder what will happen?” Smash the bananas!
Stuck in Slime: Make up a bowl of slime from oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes and green food coloring. However, if you do choose to use the food coloring, remember it can stain clothing and skin. You can find a ton of recipes online for slime. Place several small toys on a plate. Plastic soldiers are perfect! Explain to kids that we are like the small toys and the slime is sin. Pour the sin-slime on the toy soldiers. Eww!! Kids will see that sin affects everyone but we don’t have to stay stuck in sin-slime. We can ask Jesus to forgive us and free us. This is a great verse for this lesson: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1)
Get messy with these silly object lessons with a powerful message!
Another idea your kids will love is our Banana Split Object lesson.
Mimi regularly shares her wacky ideas on her blog, Tools for Kids Church.
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