Little Sin, Big Change
The children will understand the gravity of sin and why God requires righteousness.
by Leah Pittsinger
TOPICS:Roman's Road, Salvation, Sin MATERIALS:Strawberries or other fruit (prepared and cut into pieces) DURATION:Approximately 10 minutes |
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PREPARATION:
Check allergy information ahead of time to insure all the children in the class can partake in the object lesson. Put an even amount of fruit into each bowl. Sprinkle a little salt over one bowl of fruit (taste the fruit to make sure the salt is unpleasant but not overbearing). Place the bowls on a table with the plastic plates and forks.
WHAT YOU WILL SAY:
As children arrive, invite them to take several pieces from each bowl and taste-test the fruit. As they react to the fruit that’s been salted, assure them that it’s normal to feel disgusted by such a surprise (and that the salt won’t harm them). Ask the children to comment about which fruit they would rather eat: the “perfect” fruit, or the “bad” fruit. Then rinse the strawberries that were sprinkled with salt so they will be sweet again. Encourage the children to do one last taste test to make sure the strawberries were truly “washed clean.”
Application:
Tell the class that just as a little bit of salt ruins the sweet, pleasing taste of strawberries, sin ruins our chance to ever be righteous, or perfect, before God. Jesus perfect life, death, and resurrection paid for our sins – it’s like the water that cleansed the strawberries. And when we believe in Him, our hearts are washed clean and we become children of God.