Ideas that children can do before the programme starts.
Suitable for children's work, where children gradually drop in.

Today God comes to Abraham and Abraham receives Him full of hospitality - a freshly baked loaf of bread, delicious veal, butter, milk, a place in the shade, washed feet. There is no end to it!

What do you need:

- nice pillows / cushions
- A basin with warm water
- towels
- wipes to clean their hands with
- tasty snacks and special drinks

What do you do:

Do:
When the children come in, one of the leaders is ready to wash their feet.

Then they can sit on a cushion and another leader comes to clean their hands with warm towels.
After this they get some nice snacks and special drinks.

It is already a big party and the children who come in later complain that they are so late!

A fun and easy experiment in which we discover that a boiled egg spins harder and longer than an unboiled egg

Take an uncooked egg and a boiled egg. Spin both of them. Which one spins the hardest and the longest? And why? 

Discover the answer in the video below...

How does it work?

The boiled egg is solid and therefore spins more powerfully and for longer. The egg has changed inside and has gained an internal strength with which it can continue.

This is actually a very quick link to the work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us from the inside and gives us the strength to persevere / persist in our faith. Even when it is difficult and things are tough for us...

Ideas that children can do before the programme starts. Suitable for children's work, where children gradually trickle in.

Today we are going to hear a story about Abram who has to trust in God again. First, God asked Abram to go to a new land and leave his old life behind. Now God asks him to trust that one day he will really have a child, even if he is already older than a grandfather.

What do you need:

- newspapers
- adhesive tape
- a book

What do you do:

Twenty-five new gospel magic routines by Rick Lenski

"Hard to believe God has given me enough ideas for book nr. 7 and I am starting on book nr 8. Over 30 years of teaching Sunday school and now in my 70s God is still using me. I pray this be use for His glory, not mine. God gives me ideas in dreams, sometimes just looking at a trick and many ways. He has been so good to me. If this has been helpful to you share it and share your knowledge and train those who are to follow. To God be the Glory."  Rick Lenski

Download booklet

Teach with magic - Rick Lenski.pdf

Title and themes

What happens if you multiply your own money?

In today's parable, an important person gives money to his servants with the instruction to multiply this money. This is an exciting form of work in which you invest in children in a very practical way, with the hope that it will generate something for a good cause.

What you need:

- money

What do you do:

Do:
After you have told the children the story about the talents, give them all 50 cents or 50 pence, or one dollar or pound or maybe five dollars or pounds (depending on your budget...).
Ask them to do something with this talent to see if they can multiply it. All the money they get from this goes to charity. They are not 'allowed' to put the money in a piggy bank or spend it on sweets for themselves! The intention is that in the coming week they will do something with this talent, with this money, to multiply it.

Exciting...

The believers hear the sound of a strong wind. It is the Holy Spirit turning their lives upside down. They are, as it were, blown over by the Spirit. For this game, you need an Airzooka. They are not expensive and will give you hours of fun!

What do you need:

- an Airzooka (you can order one here) 
- plastic cups

Watch a video about using the Airzooka here: 

Tell:
The believers hear the sound of a strong wind. It is the Holy Spirit turning their lives upside down. They are as it were blown over by the Spirit.

For our game today, we need an Airzooka. With this you can shoot a ball of air and blow over cups at a distance.

Do:
Place a number of pyramids with plastic cups on the table and let each child try a number of times whether they can knock the cups over.

Ask:
If you had been one of the disciples, would you have been blown away?
What blows you away about God? Or what do you find special about the Holy Spirit?

Do:
Let the children try again!

The Hebrew word for the Holy Spirit is 'Ruach', which means wind. The believers do not just hear the sound of a strong wind, but the Wind of God has come in them and on them. The Wind of God drives them to tell everyone about God. They 'race' out to tell everyone the Good News.

What do you need:

- lots of Lego to build Lego cars
- large balloons

What do you do:

Watch this video beforehand and make one or more examples so that the children can see what to make.

Do:
Have the children build a Lego car alone or in pairs, which is pushed forward by a balloon.
When everyone has made a car, let them race against each other in pairs.
Which car is the fastest?

Walk-in activity 

A idea that the kids in your children's ministry can do while the program hasn't started yet. Suitable for children's work, where children gradually trickle in.

Today we reflect on the first church. A group of new believers who were all separate pieces at first, and now become a beautiful puzzle in which they are one with each other in everything and share with each other.

There is really a deep unity among the believers, in which they share everything with each other and agree on everything. It really is those wonderful honeymoon weeks of the first church. Everyone has food to eat. Rich people sell their house or a piece of land and give that money to the apostles. The apostles then shared this among the poor.

What you need:

- one or more puzzles (difficulty depending on age)

What to do:

Children who come in may help to make the puzzle or puzzles together. Can you do this in the 5 or 10 minutes we have?

Afterwards
Share: Today we reflect on the first congregation. A group of new believers who first were all separate pieces and now become a beautiful puzzle in which they are all one and share are one with each other and share with each other.

A fun way to tell the story of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus

How to tell the Bible story of the Baptism of Jesus?

In the video below we will show you how to step through a postcard. This experiment is a great way to tell the story of the baptism of Jesus.

What do you need:

-  thick A 4 paper 120 / 160 grams in the following colours: brown, blue, white, gold, black and red.
-  a pair of scissors

What do you do:

You can divide this Biblle story into six parts. Each part has a different colour. There is an activity for each part:

Brown:                 
I can't stand in his shoes.

Blue:                     
Jesus steps into the water and is baptized.

White:                 
The Spirit comes from heaven like a dove.

Gold:                    
God's voice comes from heaven.

Black:                   
John has to go to prison.

Red:                      
Jesus begins his work.

As you tell each part of the story you step through the coloured piece of card, or you could invite a child to come forward each time and step through the card.

Below is a short summary of each part, but of course you can add more detail as you tell it yourself.

Part 1 - Brown

Tell:                      
"Are you the Messiah?", the people asked John. "No, I'm not even worthy to…..’

Do:                        
Take the brown sheet of paper. Cut this as in the video and step all the way through it.

Tell:                      
"not even worthy to untie the straps of his sandals."

Part 2 - Blue

Tell:
"When Jesus was baptized..."

Do:
Take the blue sheet of paper. Cut this as in the video and step all the way through the blue paper.

Tell:
"He stepped into the water and went under."

Part 3 - White

Tell:
"From heaven the Holy Spirit came to Jesus..."

Do:
Take the white sheet of paper. Cut this as in the video and step all the way through the white paper.

Tell:
"...in the shape of a dove."

Part 4 - Gold

Tell:
"And God's voice sounded from heaven..."

Do:
Take the golden sheet of paper. Cut this as in the video and step all the way through the golden paper.

Tell:
"...You alone are my Son. My love for you is great."

Part 5 - Black

Tell: 
"John kept telling King Herod that he did the wrong thing...."

Do:
Take the black sheet of paper. Cut this as in the video and step all the way through the black paper.

Tell:
"...That's why the king had him locked up in prison."

Part 6 - Red

Tell:
"Jesus started his work when he was about thirty years old...

Do:
Take the red sheet of paper. Cut this as in the video and step all the way through the red paper.

Tell:
"...and the Spirit brought him to the desert, but we will hear about it next week.

Probably one of the best object lessons to help you tell the Easter Resurrection story.

What common English word is nine letters long, and each time you remove a letter from it, it still remains an English word? From nine letters all the way down to a single letter?  It's the word 'startling'. 

[ Looking for more Easter ideas? Discover all our Easter ideas here ] 

You can tell the Easter Resurrection Bbile Story in your church, school assembly or children's ministry in such an easy and attractive way using only the letters in the word 'startling'.

Easter Sunday Morning Object lesson:

Just imagine, it's Easter Sunday morning. You ask nine children to come on stage with you. You give each of the children a large cardboard letter or large cards with letters on. The children can hold the letters above their heads or in front of their faces. Together they spell the word 'Startling'.

Each time you tell a part of the story, you take a letter away. You go from the word STARTLING to STARTING to STARING to STRING to STING to SING to SIN to IN and you end with the letter I.

As you do this, you tell the following Easter Resurrection story about Mary going to the grave, finding it empty, thinking that the body has been stolen and meeting Jesus, her risen Lord.

The story with this object lesson:

STARTLING:

Mary makes a startling discovery: the grave is empty.

STARTING:

She is starting to wonder: "What has happened here?

STARING:

And now Mary is staring at the stone that has been rolled away.

STRING:

All the clothers are neatly folded up. Not a loose string in sight.

STING:

Mary is feeling the sting: "Has someone stolen the body?"

SING:

But then she meets the risen Lord and she wants to sing, because she discovers 'Jesus is alive'.

SIN:

Now she knows what happened on the cross: Jesus has broken the power of death and sin. 

IN:

And thorugh His resurrection everyone who believes in Him can be part of God's family.

I:

What do I do? Everybody needs to know! So Mary goes on her way to tell the disciples. 

(This is just a short summary. You can make it as elaborate as you want.)

What do you need:

- Download: 'The Resurrection story using nine letters'
- Download: 'Nine Letters for the word STARTLING'

He is risen - an easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

This Gospel illusion is from Richard Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse: 

Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for He has risen.

Goal:

What is important at Easter.

What do you need:

You need to make eight cards. In order left to right.

#1 Front side, Flowers , back side cross
#2 front side E back side Easter eggs 
#3 front side A back side Easter new clothes
#4 front side S back side Jesus pic
#5 front side T back side candy
#6 front side E back side egg hunt
#7 front side R back side rabbit
#8 front side Flowers, back side empty tomb.

You can use words or pictures for the back of the cards. It would be good to laminate the cards if you are going to use them frequently.

You will be using a magicians force to force the “S” card. This will be explained at the end of the lesson.

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.

Goal:

No limit on the filling of the Spirit.

What do you need:

- Ethereal Salt Magic Trick

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

Double Cross - an easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

This Gospel illusion is from Richard Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Goal:

Jesus died for you.

What do you need:

- Mark Southworth’s Double Cross Magic Trick

With this trick you draw an X on your hand, erase it and it appears on a spectator’s hand. It also has an addition to it to do the same thing with a heart that has to be purchased in addition to the original Double Cross.

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through these video's below here:

A group discussion about Jesus' words on the cross

The leaders of the people and the priests mock Jesus on the cross. They have no idea what's going on. They can only see one piece of the puzzle and are missing the big picture. By means of a special puzzle we discover whether we see the big picture.

This idea is part of a complete Sunday School lesson on the Bible story of the crucifixion of Jesus ( Matthew 27: 39 - 66 )

Download

Download the idea below.

'Can you see the big picture?'

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 5 “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." - NIV 

The first time

God just made the first day. For the first time...
Countless days will follow. But this was the first day.

When something is for the first time, it always feels extra special. For example: your first day at school or in the new class. Your first day in your sports team, your first day in camp.

Question: Who wants to say something about their first day?

To help children, you can let them sit in a circle and give one of the children an object in their hands. The person with the object has to tell something about his or her first day.

After this, this person can walk to someone else in the circle and give him or her this object and then this child can tell something about their first day.

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 5 “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." - NIV 

Opposites

At the very beginning of the Bible - in the fifth verse of chapter 1 of Genesis you come across the first contradiction.

Q: Who knows what an opposition is?

God calls light 'Day' and dark He calls 'Night'. Day and Night are opposites. The first opposites in the Bible.

Question: How many opposites can we think of together?

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 5 “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." - NIV 

The first name

Imagine if we had a world without names. What would your mother and father call you? What about the friends you play with? Do you get a number or do the others say, "Hey, you there!"

Our name is so important. It makes us who we are. Just feel how strange it is when you suddenly have a different name.

Let the children sit in a circle. Give each child the name of a child sitting to the left of him or her.

Have the child sitting to his or her right ask a question with this name in it. For example, "What's your favorite food, Robert?" And so go through the circle.

It's weird to suddenly get the name of your neighbour and discover that your other neighbour now has your name.

Names are very important. And the first name is given by... God.

And do you know who gets the first name?

Light! Light gets its first name from God. God gives light the name 'Day'

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 4 “God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness." - NIV 

God is into seperating 

First God is going to make something. Now He is going to separate something. He pushes the light and the darkness apart, as it were. One becomes two.

In the game we are going to play now, we are also going to separate. No light of darkness, but we are going to separate the group every time.

Hang the word 'yes' on one side of the wall in a room and the word 'no' on the other side.

Let the children stand close together in the middle.

Ask the children a question. If the answer is 'yes', they should run to the wall of the 'yes'. If the answer is 'no', they must run to the other wall.

Ask questions like:
- Are you a boy?
- Are you older than so many years?
- Do you like broccoli?

I think you can think of a lot more and a lot more fun questions yourself. Good luck!

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 4 “God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness." - NIV 

It was good...

Let the children take turns telling you what they are good at. For each child who tells you this, let the other children keep their thumbs up, as a symbol that they also like it.

Holding up your thumb is a powerful symbol. Raising means that you like something. Down means that you think it's bad or wrong.

When God has finished making light, He looks at what He has made and raises His thumb.

God says, "I like it."

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 3 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light." - NIV 

Let there be light.

Bring a beautiful or bright lamp and turn it on.

When God begins to create, he will first create light. As human beings, we cannot do without light. There are parts of the world, in the far north, where there is very little light in the winter. Some people find this very difficult. Some people move to the south in order to have enough light. Light is so important...

And God knows that. That is why God starts with light. Now there is something to see. Now he can continue to create.

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 3 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light." - NIV 

God creates with His voice.

God speaks and it is there. This is something we humans can't do or can we?

Q: What can we as humans create with our voice and by speaking?

For example, a nice or a nasty atmosphere.

How could you create a nasty atmosphere with your voice? And how to create a nice atmosphere?

Let the children try this.

With our words we can also create or destroy something with the other person. With a compliment you build someone up and with a bad remark or a swear word you break someone down.

Actually, we are much more powerful than we think...

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." - NIV 

The Spirit of God was hovering

Have a hairdryer and a table tennis ball. Try this at home first. :-)

Place the table tennis ball on the hairdryer and turn on the hairdryer. If all goes well, the ball will continue to float above the hairdryer.

Personally, I like this image of the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in Genesis 1:2.

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." - NIV 

Formless and empty

At the very beginning, before God begins to create, heaven and earth were formless and empty.

Take an empty canvas and wrap it in brown wrapping paper, but in such a way that you can't see that it contains a canvas. Play with the shape of the package by wrapping newspaper around it.

Now you have a package that looks a bit shapeless. Let a child open the package. Take out the empty canvas.

Q: What is the advantage of an empty canvas?
A: You can still paint anything on it.

Tell the children that at the very beginning heaven and earth were like an empty canvas, if God could start painting on it.

Q: What would He paint first, do you think?

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

God created...

This tip will help you take a look at what "God as Creator" means with the children in your Sunday school, children's ministry, kidmin or in the classroom.

The very first thing we ever hear about God in the Bible is that He makes things. God is a Maker. That means that He finds new things important and that He is creative.

As a creator, it is also important to look ahead and be able to see in your imagination what you are going to make.

Show the children something you made yourself. This can be a drawing, a sweater, an embroidery or even cookies or a cake. Also bring the ingredients you need to make this.

Show the kids the difference between the ingredients and the finished product.
Tell them how you already had in mind what it would look like.

Q: Could God also have had in mind what everything would look like?

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

God?!

What words do children in your Sunday school, children's service, children's work or in the classroom associate with the concept of God? 

The fourth word in the Bible is the word 'God'. When you read the Bible for the first time, you have no idea what this word means. We don't know anything about God here yet.

But fortunately we are thousands of years further and we are no longer at the beginning. All children in our Sunday school class also know something about God.

Take a stack of A4 papers and pens.

Write the word 'GOD' on an A4 paper. Put it on the floor in the middle of the room. Ask children to think of as many things about God as possible. Write each word or understanding on a new A4 paper and put it around the word 'GOD'.

How many things do we know about God?

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

Everyday tip for your Sunday school lesson or children’s ministry

# Object lesson on creation

Bible verse:

Genesis 1: 1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

In the beginning...

How do you explain to the children in your Sunday school, children's service, children's work or in the classroom what 'in the beginning' means?

You could start by asking about their earliest memories. What is the first thing they can remember? That is the beginning for them.

Then take a ball of wool and roll it off slowly. Place the children's memories on the first five centimetres of the ball of wool.

Ask the children what they know about history. As you roll off the ball of wool, you slowly talk through the history of mankind. At the end you come to the beginning. The beginning of the ball of wool, but also at the beginning of creation.

Tell the children that the Bible starts at the very beginning.

Looking for more ideas on 'creation and God as Creator' for your Sunday school lesson or children's ministry?

A short introduction to the Bible story of Joseph meeting his brothers for the first time in Egypt.

Use this science experiment to teach about the Bible story of Joseph explaining the dreams

The baker, the cupbearer, and the Pharaoh have their dreams in their sleep, but they don’t see the meaning of the dream. God gives Joseph the insight to understand the meaning of the dream. As ordinary people we are sometimes not very good at really seeing and understanding things. We look but don’t see. This experiment is a good example of this.

Use this fun object lesson to teach on the Bible verse in Isaiah 43:25

In Isaiah 43:25 we read "But I wipe away your sins because of who I am. And so, I will forget the wrongs you have done."

Do you know UV Reactive Putty? You can use this as an object lesson. You can write with the included UV pen in the putty and you''ll see it change in colour. This means that you can write with the UV pen in the putty. You can write for example the things that you have done wrong in the putty and it will disappear after a minute.

This creates a very easy link to the Bible verse of Isaiah 43.25. Our sins will disappear very quickly from the putty, just as God has promised that He will wipe away our sins!

You can buy this UV Reactive putty here through Amazon.com and here through Amazon.co.uk

Have fun with it!

Use this fun object lesson to teach on the Bible verse in Isaiah 49:16

In Isaiah 49:16 we read "See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands." God has written our names in the palms of His hands.

Do you know UV Reactive Putty? You can use this as an object lesson. You can write with the included UV pen in the putty and you''ll see it change in colour. This means that you can write with the UV pen in the putty. You can write for example your name in the putty, but it will disappear after a minute.

This creates a very easy link to the Bible verse of Isaiah 49:16. Our names will disappear very quickly from the putty, but we may know that our names will be forever written in the hands of God!

You can buy this UV Reactive putty here through Amazon.com and here through Amazon.co.uk

Have fun with it!

Use this creative activity to teach about the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colours

Joseph’s brothers were green with jealousy to see how their father put Joseph first. Joseph, who told on them time and time again, who was given a beautiful coat, and has now told them all his dreams. Yes, they were pretty jealous!!!!!

Use this creative activity to teach about the story of the priest Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel

Zechariah is in the temple. Suddenly the angel Gabriel appears and tells him that he and his wife are going to have a baby. But wait a minute! That’s not possible! They’re both much too old! Can we trust what the angel Gabriel says?

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel, as part of our series for advent and Christmas.

What do you need: 

- an bottle of medicine or a pot of pills

What to do:

Use this creative activity to teach about the story of the priest Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel

In the temple in Jerusalem Zechariah is visited by the angel Gabriel. But who is he?

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel, as part of our series for advent and Christmas.

What do you need: 

- worksheet with the various illustrations of angels - download here: Angels-worksheet.pdf
- pens

What to do:

Use this creative activity to teach about the story of the priest Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel

Zechariah and his wife Elisabeth had prayed for a son. But nothing happened and now it’s too late. Now they’re too old to have children.

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel, as part of our series for advent and Christmas.

What do you need: 

- a beautifully wrapped present

Using this secular YouTube film you can talk with the children about losing hope and go deeper into the meaning of the Bible story of Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel

An old man lives a lonely life. Sitting on a park bench he thinks back on his youth and his wife. He ends the day watching television. He wants to tell his wife something but realises she isn’t there any more. Sadly he strokes the arm of her chair.

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel, as part of our series for advent and Christmas. 

Why does this film go with today’s Bible story?

This film is about sadness, loneliness and lost hope. The man in the video has lost his wife. Zachariah is also a very old man who has lost his dream. He’ll never have a son, the son for which he has waited so long and prayed so hard. Or will he? Is there still hope? But surely that’s not possible?

Important questions:

It’s important to always watch the film yourself beforehand and to ask yourself:

- do I want to show this to the children?
- does this film work in the context and age-range of the children I am working with?

If you choose to show this YouTube video, we suggest you use the following steps:

You can use this as a children’s moment or an introduction to the story of the priest Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel in the temple

This idea is part of a complete Sunday School lesson on Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel, as part of our series for advent and Christmas. 

What do you need: 

- an old fashioned rotary telephone
- a modern mobile Phone

What do you do: 

A fun creative activity about the Bible story of Mary's meeting with the angel Gabriel

Gabriel promised that Mary’s child would be called the Son of God, and that he will reign for ever over Israel. What would you expect? A super hero, or a vulnerable baby?

God turns everything upside down, because He sees things differently to us…..

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Mary meeting the angel Gabriel as part of our series for advent and Christmas.

What do you need:

- magazines
- scissors
- a print out of the download (face).

You can download the face here: Upside-down-face---happy-or-sad.pdf

What do to:

Give the children a mix of magazines – some celebrity/fashion magazines, and also some magazines on Christian mission. Ask them to cut out photos of people who they think are heroes. They could be heroes for different reasons, not just for being famous.

Do:
Show the children the face that you have printed out.

Ask:
Is it happy or sad?

Tell:
It all depends on how you look at it

Do:
Show it both ways. 

Ask:
When is the face the right way round, and when it is upside down?

Tell:
Gabriel promised that Mary’s child would be called the Son of God, and that he will reign for ever over Israel.

Ask:
What would you expect? A super hero, or a vulnerable baby?

Tell:
We like to look at film stars, famous people, kings and queens. God likes to look at ordinary people, people like Mary and people like us.

Ask:
So who is now looking at things upside down?!

A fun creative activity about the Bible story of Mary's meeting with the angel Gabriel

Gabriel tells Mary that she has to give her son the name ‘Jesus’. But what does that mean?

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Mary meeting the angel Gabriel as part of our series for advent and Christmas.

What do you need:

- worksheet with the names of Jesus in many different languages

You can download the worksheet here: Names-of-Jesus-in-many-languages.pdf

What do you do:

Do:
Ask the children if they know what their name means.
Show them the worksheet with the names of Jesus in different languages.

Ask:
Which of them can we pronounce?
Which ones do you like?
Which sound a bit strange to you?
Which languages do you recognise?
Who knows why Mary had to call her son Jesus?
What does the name mean?

Tell:
The name Jesus comes from the name Joshua.

Ask:
Who knows who Joshua was?

Tell:
Joshua and Jesus both mean ‘God saves’. Later in the Bible the disciples go on to tell the
people:
There is no one else through whom we can be saved, because his name is the only one on
earth that can save. (Acts 4:12)

Do:
Look together once again at the worksheet.

Ask:
Why is this name the only name that can save people?

A fun creative activity about the Bible story of Mary's meeting with the angel Gabriel

Gabriel tells Mary that her son Jesus will be the king of Israel and that he will reign for ever. How does it feel to be a king?

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Mary meeting the angel Gabriel as part of our series for advent and Christmas.

What do you need:

- a paper crown, beautifully decorated

What do you do:

A demonstration on how God's love and forgiveness flowed through the cross into our lives.

With this easy-to-do object lesson you can demonstrate to the children, young people and adults in your church how God's love and forgiveness flowed through Jesus death on the cross into our lives!

We at Creative Kidswork are real fans of TheDadLab Youtube Channel. Here is another of his great, short video's on easy-to-do science experiments. 

I love this simple, but powerful object lesson about Easter. It is just a short video, but once you’ve seen it, you can use it to teach kids and adults on the meaning of Easter. It is a wonderful demonstration of how the Father showed His love for us in the cross of His Son.  You can use this easy to do object lesson to illustrate  how Gods love and forgiveness flowed through the cross into our lives! A great way to explain the Gospel with just the use of a piece of cotton string and two glasses. You have to watch this...

What do you need?

- Two glasses
- Water (with added food coloring)
- Absorbent cotton string (needs to be thicker than thread).

What do you do?

- Cut a 2 foot long segment of cotton string
- Soak the string in clear water until it is soaked through
- Fill up one cup to about half way with the colored water
- Put one end of the string into the cup with water and hold the other end above the empty cup
- Hold the cup with water in it, using your finger to keep the string in place at the rim of the glass. 
- Pour the water slowly along the string.
- Be aware that some water will spill, so you may have to clean up afterwards.

An object lesson about looking at things through God's eyes

Do you know this optical illusion? It is a rabbit or a duck? Depends how you turn the picture. This optical illusion can be used as a short introduction to any Bible story in which Jesus or God acts completely different than expected!

What do you need:

A4 print out of the duck/rabbit illustration ( 6MB) download: duck_rabbit_magic_care.jpg

This illustration is special – if you hold it horizontally you’ll see a rabbit, and if you hold it vertically you’ll see a duck.

You show the kids the rabbit and ask them what they see - a rabbit!

Sometimes we can be so sure of ourselves. We think we know the truth and that we always see the truth, but sometimes God looks at things in a completely different way! 

Turn the rabbit ninety degrees and it becomes a duck! 

Today we are going to hear a Bible story in which God / Jesus acts completely different than expected! 

An easy to do gospel illussion on Adam, sin and forgiveness from Rick Lenski 

This Gospel illusion is from Rick Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Goal:

Adam and Eve sinned and tried to hide from God, but God knows all and sees all.

What do you need:

- Wonder Box Magic Trick 

Wonder Box:  This box will rattle at will.

An easy to do gospel illussion on the Holy Trinty from Rick Lenski 

This Gospel illusion is from Rick Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Genesis 1:26  “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that he may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all creatures that move along the ground.”  

Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Goal:

The Trinity, it exists but there is only one God.

What do you need:

- Linking Rings Magic Trick (only three needed)

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Rick Lenski 

This Gospel illusion is from Rick Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Matthew 24:24:   “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

Goal:

Tell about false gods and messiahs that will come.

What do you need:

Trick from Wonder Imagery. It is called “Back Up Bunny”.  It consists of 3 silks. One is a duck, one is a pig and the last is a bunny. You will also get a thumb tip and small top hat. Go to the website to see a video and if you know how a thumb tip works it will go well.

- Back Up Bunny Magic Trick

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Rick Lenski 

This Gospel illusion is from Rick Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This verse says all sin is deadly but God’s forgiveness erases all sin whether we feel they are big or small.

Goal:

Sin, all sin is not acceptable.

What do you need:

- Baffling Boomerang Magic Trick

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Rick Lenski on being silent

This Gospel illusion is from Rick Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Goal:

Read you bible, be patient, listen to what God has to say in His word to you.

What do you need:

- Spelling Bee Magic Trick

This trick uses lettered cards. You spell out a work, let the children mix them up and they rearrange themselves to another word. We start with the word “listen” and end with the word, “silent”

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Rick Lenski on prayer and fasting

This Gospel illusion is from Rick Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Mathew 17:20-21 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Goal:

It’s not always easy, you have to pray and pray and fast.

What do you need:

- Penetration Block Magic Trick

or

- Double Block Penetration Magic Trick (cheaper)

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

Snakebite - an easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion about the apostle Paul getting bit by a snake on Malta and nothing happens to him. This Gospel illusion is from Richard Lenski and can be used in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Verse:

Acts 28:

Goal:

Paul on Malta getting bit by a snake illustrated.

What do you need:

- Rigid Rope Magic Trick

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick. 

Richard Lenski offers you two routines with this magic trick - see below.

Verse:  

Rev 3:15-16 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Patter:

Jesus was talking to about someone’s condition of their heart concerning the Lord.

What do you need:

McComb ½ & ½ silk, any device to put the ½ dyed silk into to make it disappear. Set up per instructions.

- Half Dyed Silks Magic Trick
- Crystal Silk Cylinder Magic Trick

Do you know how this magic trick works?

You can get to know this magic trick through these video's below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

This cube would be a good way to introduce the wordless book and give a salvation message.

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick.

What do you need:

- Color Vision magic trick

Do you know how the Color Vision Magic Trick?

You can get to know this gospel illusion / magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick.

Do you know how to do the Torn and Restored Paper trick?

You can learn how to do this gospel illusion / magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick.

Do you know how to do the Torn and Restored Paper trick?

You can learn how to do this gospel illusion / magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick.

Do you know how to do the Torn and Restored Paper trick?

You can learn how to do this gospel illusion / magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick.

Material Needed:

- Professors Nightmare.

Having the ropes with candy cane stripes would be helpful.  You can find this rope online or make your own with a red marker and white rope. Won’t be easy, but it will look good.

You can learn how to do this gospel illusion / magic trick through this video below here:

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick on the meaning of the Bible.

Verse:

2Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Goal:

To teach that the Bible is more than just a book of religion.

Supplies Needed:

- Bible Production Box or any other silk production device (google 'Bible Production Box' to find one.)
- six 9 inch silks
- 1 streamer 
- a Jesus silk.

The Bible Production Box can be shown empty and still you can produce a good quantity of silks. You can buy these silks on Amazon.com or Ebay.

These boxes are available online but you can make one like this.

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick on the Bible story of Daniel.

Verse:

Daniel chapter 6

Goal:

To teach the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den. How he survived as found in the book of Daniel chapter 6.

Material Needed:

- thumb tip 
- two silks

(this YouTube video explains how the trick works)

You will probably have to make this.  My lion silk is a twelve inch and the Daniel is a six inch silk. Daniel and Lion’s Den silk set and thumb tip. You can also write lion on the larger silk and Daniel on the smaller silk.

Setup:

Start out with the silks ready. Have Daniel in your hand and display it.      

An easy to do gospel illussion from Richard Lenski

You can use this gospel illusion from Richard Lenski in your children's ministry, Sunday school or kidmin. You don't have to be a Christian magician to do this trick on the theme of pride.

Verse:

Proverbs 16:8 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Goal: 

Pride causes you to lose to think you do not need God.

Material Needed:

- Dove pan
- Peacock silk
- Rubber Chicken

God is not far away from us. In Jesus He came so close…

A fun Christmas idea on God coming to us in His son Jesus. You can use this Advent idea at home or in your children’s ministry. 

Put a Lego figure into a small cup of water and put this into a freezer. Once it is frozen take it out and show it to the kids. Explain to them that when we celebrate Christmas we celebrate that God became like us. In Jesus He became a man. God is not very far away - show your hands and move them far away from the Lego figure in the ice. But through Jesus He has come very close – put your hands on the ice block.

By reading the Bible, praying and going to church we can grow closer to Him. This is what God wants for us, because He loves us so much. His love makes you warm. Shall we see if we can make this block of ice warm, so that it will melt. How can we do that?

How can you compare God's guidance with a cornflake?

To find out, you’ll have to watch this surprising TheDadLab video below. It is another one of his great, short videos on easy to do science experiments.

Just as the cornflake is pulled along by the magnet held above it. so we may know that God wants to guide us. He wants to lead us. In Psalm 23 David writes: "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake." (Psalm 23: 1 -3)

But does this work? Is it as easy as the pulling or pushing of a cornflake with a magnet? 

In the Bible we read about lots of people who hear his voice, know his will, are guided by angels. How does this work in our lives today?

Some questions to reflect on with the children:

How do you think God's guidance works?
How does God guide us?
Can you give an example?
How many people in the Bible do we know that were guided by God?

This is a great object lesson to reflect with the children on the theme of God's guidance in our lives.

It is fun and easy to do with the children. They can take turns to try and move a cornflake over the water.

Theme:

God's guidance, hearing His voice, knowing His will, choosing your own path

Needed:

- a magnet
- cornflakes
- a bowl of water

What on earth could be the link between cornflakes, a magnet and the star of Bethlehem?

To find out, you’ll have to watch this surprising TheDadLab video below. It is another one of his great, short videos on easy to do science experiments.

Just as the cornflake is pulled along by the magnet held above it, so the (three) wise men experience the pull of the star. It leads them towards Bethlehem, where they will worship Jesus and present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

"They went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." Matthew 2: 9 - 10

This is a great object lesson to illustrate the Christmas story of the wise men following the star of Bethlehem.

It is fun and easy to do with the children. They can take it in turns to try moving a cornflake over the water.

Themes:

The Magi, the (three wise men, the (three) kings, the star of Bethlehem, God's direction

What do you need:

- a strong magnet
- fortified cornflakes (check the label to see how much iron each serving contains—the more the better!) 
- a bowl of water

You can create a magical moment by bringing a stick figure to life.

This is ideal for when you do a talk about:

Easter
As a visual demonstration of the resurrection of Jesus!

Creation 
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2: 7)

The raising of Lazarus  
Rrecounted in the Gospel of John (John 11:1-44), a miracle of Jesus in which Jesus brings Lazarus of Bethany back to life four days after his burial.

The raising of the son of the widow of Nain
Recorded in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus arrived at the village of Nain during the burial ceremony of the son of a widow, and raised the young man from the dead. (Luke 7:11–17)

Being alive in Christ 
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ  (Ephesians 2:5)

Watch the two video's below to discover how you use this great object lesson!

Fun crafts idea

Of course you can also use it as a fun crafts idea, as shown in the video below!

How does it work?

As you can see in the videa all you need is a whiteboard marker and a flat, shiny surface. Use a whiteboard marker to draw a stick figure on a flat, shiny surface and drop a little water on it. Then you'll see the drawing slowly lift off the surface and become one with the watery bubble.

This is because the ink in a whiteboard marker, unlike a permanent marker, includes an oily silicone substance. Because oil sits on top of water so does this ink, which will also move as the puddle moves. By gently blowing on the puddle the stick figure will swish and dance around according to which way you blow on it.

The final product may look like an intricate optical illusion, but the stick figure comes to life thanks to only a whiteboard marker, some water and a shiny surface.

Themes:

The resurrection of Christ, raising of Lazarus, the resurrecrtion of Lazarus, the raising of the widow's son, creation of mankind, being made alive in Christ

What can you do with a ‘water from a stone’ gimmick?

A what??

A nifty ‘water from a stone’ gadget, which enables you to water your plants when you’re on holiday.

You can use it to tell the story of Moses in the desert, during which water came out of the rock! Or you could use it to talk about the words of Jesus: ‘I am the living water’…..

Themes:

Moses and the Israeiltes in the desert, water from the rock, thirst, living water.

Bible verses:

Numbers 20:1-29, Exodus 17:1-7, John 4

Where do I get one?

You can order the ‘water from a stone’ here

A cool science experiment with hydrogel beads about how we as Christians can be on fire for God by being filled by the Holy Spirit. 

In Ephesians 5:18 Paul writes: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” 

In this object lesson we’re going to use hydrogel beads and a hot frying pan to demonstrate to children that we as Christians can be on fire for God by asking Him to fill us with His Spirit.

Themes:

The coming of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, being filled with the Spirit, the power of the Spirit

Download:

You can download a complete worksheet which will help you to do the object lesson and teach on being filled with the Holy Spirit within your Sunday school lesson or kids ministry.

Download the PDF:     'Being filled with the Holy Spirit - an object lesson'

Re-discover the power of an object lesson:

Here at Creative Kidswork we offer you literally hundreds of fun, Biblical, easy to do object lessons that you can use within your Sunday school lesson or kids ministry. We at Creative Kidswork really believe in the power of the object lesson. Maybe we can get you also excited about them by giving you six reasons why you should use them.



1. They can help you to communicate an (abstract) Biblical truth in a clear and easy way.
The most important reason why we believe in object lessons is that they can help you to communicate an (abstract) Biblical truth in such a way that even small children will understand their meaning. With the help of an object lesson children can suddenly start to grasp the spiritual truths that you are teaching them. Isn’t that great?

2. Object lessons are fun!
They always carry an element of surprise. “What is going to happen this week? Which cool experiment are we going to take part in this Sunday?” And the great thing is: they are often so easy to do and you can find them all here on the site. This makes it fun not only for the children, but also for you.

Re-discover the power of an object lesson:

Here at Creative Kidswork we offer you literally hundreds of fun, Biblical, easy to do object lessons that you can use within your Sunday school lesson or kids ministry. We at Creative Kidswork really believe in the power of the object lesson. Maybe we can get you also excited about them by giving you six reasons why you should use them.

1. Object lessons can help you to communicate an (abstract) Biblical truth in a clear and easy way.

The most important reason why we believe in object lessons is that they can help you to communicate an (abstract) Biblical truth in such a way that even small children will understand their meaning. With the help of an object lesson children can suddenly start to grasp the spiritual truths that you are teaching them. Isn’t that great?

2. Object lessons are fun!

They always carry an element of surprise. “What is going to happen this week? Which cool experiment are we going to take part in this Sunday?” And the great thing is: they are often so easy to do and you can find them all here on the site. This makes it fun not only for the children, but also for you.

3. Object lessons are visual!

Often so much of our Bible teaching in church is based upon the sense of hearing. It is all about listening, but why not use more senses within our teaching and preaching? When children (and adults) can see something, or even better, participate in something like an object lesson, it will hold their attention and it definitely help them to learn better. But not only to learn…...

4. Object lessons will help children remember the Biblical lessons much longer.

Often, weeks later, they will still be able to tell you the spiritual lessons that they learnt from an object lesson. Especially if it comes with an element of surprise, if it is one that the kids can participate in, and if there is a clear link and explanation between the object lesson and the Biblical truth that you want to teach.

5. Object lessons can (very often) be reproduced at home.

This means that in most cases (older) children can demonstrate it at home and show their parents what they have learned that day in Sunday school or in the kids ministry.

6. Object lessons can be of educational value.

What scientific explanation can we give for what happens during the object lesson? Which scientific forces are at work? How does it work and what can we learn from this?

Here at Creative Kidswork we invest heavily in supplying you with as many cool, fun, inspiring and thought provoking object lessons as possible.

If you click on this link you get access to all our object lessons.

A fun game to help the children think about being one, but also being different

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Philippians 1: 1 - 11.

Paul writes in Philippians 2:2 that we have fellowship with and through the Spirit and urges us to be one in mind and spirit. What does it mean to be one? Does it mean that we should all be the same? Or is it actually a good thing that we’re different?

This is fun game on Philippians 2: 1 - 11 about being an unity together while still being all different. It will help the children in your Sunday school lesson, youth ministry, Bible lesson, children’s church or children’s ministry to reflect on this powerful Bible passage.

What do you need:

- a large play parachute

What do you do:

Tell:
In a few minutes we are going to play a fun game together. This game is all about being one and at the same time being completely different.

Ask:
- How can we be one and at the same time be completely different?
- Can you give an example? (like a sports team)
- Why is it important to be one in a sport team? (same goal / same objective / working together / using each other's different strengths)

Tell:
Paul tells the church in Philippi that they are one. They belong together. 

Ask:
- If the church in Philippi would be like a sports team - what would be their goal and their objective?
- If we are like a sports team - what would be our goal and our objective?
- How can we work together to reach that goal?
- Which unique strengths and gifts do we need?

Do:
Put the children in a large circle and get them to all hold on to a large parachute. Practise raising and lowering the parachute together.

Raise the parachute and call out a word, for example ‘boys’. Now all the boys have to run underneath the parachute to the other side.

Try to think of some things that only apply to one or two children, and others that apply to the whole group. Try to think of different gifts, strengths and talents.

Tell:
We can be very different to each other in some things and alike in others, but whether we’re alike or different, we can form one body, just as we are all holding the parachute. 

Small act of kindness go a long way...

In Philippians 2: 4 Paul writes about the importance of looking out for one another's interests, not just our own. Paul says that we shouldn’t think only of ourselves but also of others. Let’s make this practical straight away. 

This is a fun creative activity on Philippians 2 about taking care of others. It will help the children in your Sunday school lesson, youth ministry, Bible lesson, children’s church or children’s ministry to reflect on this powerful Bible passage.

What do you do:

Ask:
Ask the children what they can do to look out for one another's interests, not just our own.

Do:
If you all eat or drink together after your programme or service, ask the children to think about small things they could do for someone else.

Tell:
For example, asking someone what they would like to drink, and fetching it for them. Or clearing up someone’s plate.

Ask:
Get them to think about all the things they could do to care for someone else in that situation.

Do:
Think together if there is anyone in your church who would appreciate some extra care and attention. Perhaps someone who is in hospital, or who is ill.

You could make a cheerful video message for them, sing a song for them and record it, or make a huge card together. 

Take your audience around the world with this self working National Flag card trick.

This is a brilliant object lesson / gospel illusion. Ideal for school assemblies - with the opportunity to share facts about different countries - teachers love that!

Perfect for services - the chosen flag leads you seamlessly into dozens of different stories from the Bible.

And best of all the deck does all the work for you - leaving you to focus on your presentation and message. 

A great new productt from my friends at Mission Magic. . 

Do you know if something is alive or lifeless?

Let's make some music together

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Psalm 150.  It will help the children in your Sunday school lesson, youth ministry, Bible lesson, children’s church or children’s ministry to reflect on this powerful Bible passage.

What do you do:

Do:
Read psalm 150 together.

Tell:
The writer encourages us to sing for God and to make music for God. We’re going to do exactly that – we’re going to make an instrument. You can make many different instruments.

Do:
You can have the children make the same instruments or all sorts of different ones.

You can also give older children a harder challenge.

You could also make small groups of children that can form a ‘band’.

Then they can also think together about which instruments they need to make for the band.

Options to make:

- Drums
- Guitar
- Bottles filled with water
- Pan flute
- Samba balls
- Tambourine

A wooden wonder to wow and win over audiences!

You show the children a long wooden stick, jointed at three points. This seemingly simple prop is used to tell many different stories, as the stick is formed into a wide range of clear, recognisable shapes. The pace picks up, as your switch effortlessly from shape to shape – telling entertaining stories, with memorable Gospel messages!

Children in particular respond well to visual aids, and the Story Stick allows you to bring any story to life – using either the x3 included routines OR making up your own stories and shapes!

A great new product from my friends at Mission Magic. 

This is a cool science experiment that you can use in a class room or Sunday school lesson

A rainbow is a symbol of hope. A symbol that God will keep his promises. So any time you are going to talk about hope, God's promises and God's faithfulness you can create this rainbow.

You can also use this experiment to tell the story of Noah and the rainbow.

But personally we also use this to talk about unity -  we are all different, but still one! 

And what do you think about the fruit of the Spirit? So many expressions of the same Spirit in different colours...

Watch the video below:

Any children’s worker can tell the parable of the Prodigal Son using  the Gospel magic trick of the Dean’s Box

For this you can use the Dean’s box magic trick. I bought mine very cheaply through Alibaba Express. The only problem was that it didn’t come with any explanation as to how the trick works. If you choose yours through Alibaba Express you can send me an email and I will send you a video in which I explain how the trick works. It looks great and it is very easy to do!

Ask two children to come forward as volunteers. Give them each a coloured rope to inspect. The yellow rope symbolises the father The red rope symbolises the son The red wooden box symbolises the house of the father.

The father reconciles himself with his son and they are united! The ropes are stuck together.

But how is this possible?

To explain this you need an energy stick from idea 198. You ask your two volunteers to take hold of the silver ending on the energy stick with one hand. Ask if you are allowed to touch their noses and when you do the energy stick will come alive. This will give a laugh. Especially when they are allowed to touch your nose with their other hand. You explain how the energy stick works with a small current of electricity that we cannot see or feel, but flows through us. It connects us. This is the same with Jesus. You cannot see or feel him, but he connects us with God.

Put the ropes back in the box, tie them on the top to the energy stick, pull the ropes and they are back together again. Amazing!

Make sure your two volunteers get a big round of applause before they leave the stage.

Watch the demonstration video

You can see me doing a full demonstration of this story and magic trick in the video below.

A fun activity that will help you to start thinking about Advent.

Is there someone pregnant in the church or someone you know. Maybe it is a fun idea to invite her to the children’s program, Sunday school lesson or kids ministry.

Maybe she can share what it feels like to be pregnant. Has she even felt her baby kicking? Or even leaping, like Elizabeth? Maybe some children can feel the tummy and see if the baby moves.

How do think this would have been for Mary and Elizabeth? (10 - 15 min)

Scripture reference:

Luke 1:41-42  (NIV)

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

You can use this idea in a:

Sunday School lesson, Sunday school class, Sunday school curriculum, children's ministry, kids time

Who has ever written a letter? Who has ever received a letter?

What sort of letters were they?

Show a few examples of letters to the children:

- a love letter
- an instruction letter
- a thank you letter
- a reminder of an unpaid bill
- a long letter full of stories

Paul wrote letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, and to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Some scholars believe he also wrote the letter to the Hebrews.

What sort of letter are they do you think?

Themes: 

Letters in the New Testament, The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul,

Setting:

Children's Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, children's ministry, kid's time, children's moment in church, Messy church, youth work

What are people called who live in ……?

You can do a quiz with the children in which you name various towns and countries and the children have to guess what the inhabitants are called.

To take some British examples ( you can find examples that are relevant to your children): 

London – Londoners
Glasgow – Glaswegians
Birmingham – Brummies

Finish up with the ancient city of Philippi. This will bring us to Philippians, and is a fun way to start looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Of course you can play this game with Paul’s other letters as well.

Themes: 

Letters in the New Testament, The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul,

Setting:

Children's Sunday School, Sunday school lesson, children's ministry, kid's time, children's moment in church, Messy church, youth work

The only object lesson you can do all over the world.

Really excited about this object lesson! Did you know you can use a balancing Soda Can to tell any Bible story about Jesus healing and restoring people? And the great thing is that you can find a Soda Can all over the world. Wherever you are, you can do this object lesson! 

Just think about the four friends and the paralyzed man or about Bartimaeus, the blind beggar.
But also about the story of Zacchaeus and the raising of Lazarus...

In the video below I demonstrate how you can use the balancing Soda Can to tell the Bible story in John 4 of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman near the well. This woman was like a empty Soda Can - totally empty, lying on its side, blown over by life. A woman who knows what it is to be judged by all the full Coke Cans in her village. The men and women who live such nobles lives and who pour their shame on this broken and emptied woman.

But then something amazing happens. Jesus offers her life to the full. He offers her Living Water. And this woman drinks it all. A miracle happens. She is filled with Living Water and suddenly there is a restored balance in her life.

An fun interactive idea to pay attention to Mother's Day during a children's moment in church

On Mother’s Day take a basket of random household objects with you for the children’s moment in the service. Ask a few children to come forward and choose an object. Ask them to give their own mum a compliment based on the object they have chosen.

For example:

- a bread knife – she makes the best sandwiches

- ear phones – she always listens to me

- a clown’s red nose – she makes me laugh

- a children’s book – she reads aloud to me every evening.

A fun final act that will make people leave with a smile on their faces

This is probably one of my favourite magic tricks. I currently use it as an ending to two of my Christian children's theatre shows. I like it because it is so easy, but it always gives a 'wow' effect. 

Take the red umbrella out of the tube. When you open the umbrella you can show that it is a normal one. You close the umbrella and put it back into the tube. Now show eight different coloured silks to the audience. Then put them into a bag, and suddenly the bag changes into the top of the umbrella and all the silks have disappeared. Pick up the tube and pull the umbrella out. Now the top has been disappeared and instead of the top, the eight silks are hanging on the umbrella.

In your Christmas show you use this trick to answer the question: Who is welcome in the stable? Who can find a place of refuge with Jesus?

Watch the video:

In the video below I will show you how you can use this amazing act during your Christmas service, school assembly or in your Sunday school lesson.

You can buy your copy of the Magic Umbrella Deluxe through the site of Dynamite Magic.

Don't forget – any children’s worker can do this! It only needs a little bit of practice. So give it a try!

A spectacular act that is so easy to do it will surprise you!

The following act is all about the Magi arriving at the stable and giving their presents to Joseph and Mary. It is educational, fun and spectacular with some magic fire at the end of the act. And you know what? You can do this too. It is so easy...

The Magi arrived in Bethlehem and saw Jesus. They worshipped him and give him their presents. To demonstrate the giving of these three presents you use The Incredible Kettle and pour water in the first glass. Somewhere during the pouring the water turns red.

Who knows what the red present was? Incense!

Now you pour the second glass and to your surprise the water turns yellow. This yellow water is a symbol for the second present: gold!

And the third present?

Again you pour water in a glass. This time the water turns green: myrrh!

After pouring the water you lift off the lid, reach in and pull out a long (and bone dry) rainbow streamer! This streamer is a demonstration of the celebration in the stable.

To create a spectacular moment, take a piece of flash paper and light it! This will create a real flame in the air. The boys especially will love this!

You can finish this act with a dove pan and a large sponge cake. 

Watch the video:

In the video below I will show you how you can use this amazing act during your Christmas service, school assembly or in your Sunday school lesson.

Don't forget – any children’s worker can do this! It only needs a little bit of practice. So give it a try!

Use the puzzle piece of the presents to introduce the story line of the Magi.

After completing the several different acts about the shepherds. take the fourth piece of the puzzle out of the folder. It's a picture of a present. You can talk about all the different presents that we hope to get at Christmas. Put this picture on the board and you are ready to start the following act: introducing the Magi.

Use the picture of the present to talk about the Magi who brought their own presents for Jesus: gold, incense and myrrh. It is important to ignore the hole in the middle of the puzzle. Just act like you haven't seen it and don't mention it yet!

This fourth piece of the puzzle helps you introduce the story of the Magi and their presents.

You can do this too during your Christmas service, school assembly or in your Sunday school lesson

In idea 289 I demonstrate the use of the Christmas puzzle as the main story line in a Christmas show

Any children’s worker can tell this story using the Gospel magic trick of the Joker Tube / Stratosphere

Ask a child to come forward as a volunteer and show him/her the Joker Tube and asks if he knows what order the colours are in a traffic light. Red at the top, yellow in the middle and green at the bottom. The child gives you the coloured balls and you put them in the right order into the tube. Then you start telling the story...

"Joseph and Mary have travelled a long way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It’s busy. Lots of people have come to register. Joseph looks at Mary. He knows that she can give birth any moment soon. It’s important for him to find an inn where they can stay.

He knocks on the door of the first inn he comes across. “Hello, do you have a place for us to stay for the night?”

You look questioningly at the child and the child says ‘no’. You lift the covering of the tube and the lights are all mixed up.

Joseph is confused. How can this happen? Mary trusted God. He trusted God and now there is no place for them to stay. No place where the son of God can be born? Joseph doesn’t understand. How is this possible?

Take the three balls out of the tube and put them back again in the right order.

Joseph starts to worry a little now. Quickly he rushes to the next inn. He knocks on the door of the second inn. “Hello, my wife is pregnant. Do you have a place for us to stay for the night?”

You look again questioningly at the child and the child says again ‘no’. You lift the covering of the tube and the lights are all mixed up again for the second time.

Joseph starts to panic. How can this happen? Will God desert them? Is God not to be trusted?

Take the three balls out of the tube and this time you put them back again in a different order: yellow first, then red and then lastly green.

Joseph knows he has one more opportunity. The last inn in Bethlehem. He runs as fast as he can and knocks at the door. “Hello, my wife can give birth any moment now. Please, please, do you have a room for us? Have mercy!”

You look questioningly at the child for the last time and the child says ‘no’ for the third time. You lift the covering of the tube and this time there are two red lights in your traffic light and the green light has disappeared. You’ll hear the amazement from your public and you use this amazement to focus on Joseph’s amazement.

How is this possible? Why has God deserted them? Why? It wasn’t easy for Joseph to marry a pregnant Mary. Everyone in the village had spoken of their shame. But he did it, because he trusted God and now this. How can it be?

And then someone, we don’t know who, shows love and compassion to Joseph and Mary. God does care for them. Someone has a place for them in a stable.

You take the three balls out of the tube and this time you put them back again in a different order: In the stable is some straw: the yellow ball. There is a small manger: the red ball and some blankets: another red ball.

That night Joseph and Mary discover that they can trust God. He does take care of them. That the night the traffic light in Bethlehem turns...

You lift the cover away from the tube.

Green!! Green for Joseph and Mary. Green for us all."

Tthank the child who helped you and make sure he/she gets a round of applause. Then go straight into the end of the Cut and Restore trick and ask the girl who took care of your rope and knot to come forward and demonstrate the birth of Jesus Christ this way. Immanuel - God coming down to earth.

To demonstrate this you keep the rope vertical and move your hand down from the top to the bottom. When you reach the knot half way down the rope you move the knot down as you keep talking about God coming down from heaven.

Ask the girl to open her hands and slowly let the knot drop into her hands. Jesus is born in the stable and I ask her to take care of Jesus. She can keep the knot as a symbol of Jesus being born. Before she leaves the stage make sure she gets a around of applause.

You can do this too during your Christmas service, school assembly or in your Sunday school lesson

Watch the demonstration video

You can see me doing a full demonstration of this story and magic trick in the video below.

Don't forget – any children’s worker can do this Gospel magic trick. It only needs a little bit of practice. So give it a try!

Use the puzzle piece of the candle to introduce the story line of Joseph and Mary 

After your own act about trusting using slush powder it is time to take the second piece of the puzzle out of the folder. It's a picture of a candle.

Put the second picture on the board; you can use the candle to talk about the dark times that the people of Israel were living in. Hundreds of years ago God had made a promise that the people walking in darkness would see a great light, but they couldn’t see anything yet. God still seemed very far away. The Romans were an occupying force that used brutal force to suppress the Israelites. There was lots of poverty. It was a dark time to be living in.

This second piece of the puzzle helps you to introduce the story of Mary’s meeting with the angel. 

You can do this too during your Christmas service, school assembly or in your Sunday school lesson

In idea 289 I demonstrate the use of the Christmas puzzle as the main story line in a Christmas show

Any children’s or Sunday school worker can do this! You don’t have to be a professional to do this show!

You can start your Christmas show with the presentation of the Christmas Puzzle.  In total the show lasts about an hour, but of course you can make the show longer or shorter if you want. You can use a sketchboard / wooden board and velcro to stick the pieces of the puzzle onto the board.

Tell the children that the postman came to bring a parcel that didn’t fit through the post box, so he had to ring on your doorbell. You don’t know what is in the parcel. That’s exciting! Let’s have a look.

Take out the first piece of the puzzle. It's a picture of a Christmas tree. Put the first picture on the board and you are ready to start with your first act on the theme of trust.

In my case this is a ventriloquist act with my puppet Harry, but I have created another easier act for you.

The five pieces of the puzzle provide the main story line within the Christmas show. It helps you to tell all the individual stories and to combine them into one big story.

You can do this too during your Christmas service, school assembly or in your Sunday school lesson

In this idea I demonstrate the use of the Christmas puzzle as the main story line in a Christmas show.

Living life to the full, because Jesus restores the balance in your life

In John chapter 4 Jesus meets the Samaritan woman near the well. This woman was like a empty Coke can - totally empty, lying on its side, blown over by life. A woman who knows what it is to be judged by all the full Coke cans in her village. The men and women who live such nobles lives, who pour shame on this broken and emptied woman.

But then something amazing happens. Jesus offers her life to the full. He offers her living water. And the woman drinks it in. A miracle happens. The woman is filled with water and suddenly there is a restored balance in her life.

A creative prayer idea for working in a creative way with a Bible story / theme.

"He leads us to green pastures."

What do you do:

As you can see there are sweets on the pastures in the prayer room. You can eat one and think about what you're thankful for. God gives us so many good things. Take the time to thank Him for that.

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Psalm 23 and the Bible passage in John 10: 11-18 on Jesus being the Good Shepherd.

This creative activity will help the children in your Sunday school lesson, youth ministry, Bible lesson, VBS, kidmin, children’s church or children’s ministry to reflect on this powerful Bible passage.

Themes:

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the church as a flock

What do you need:

-  plastic grass
-  sweets

Pet a sheep - a creative prayer idea

In this corner of the prayer room  you can find a soft cuddly sheep and a love letter from the Heavenly Father.

Take the sheep on your lap, pet it and remember that the Heavenly Father wants to take you on his lap like this. 

Read the love letter and believe that these words count for you.

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Psalm 23 and the Bible passage in John 10: 11-18 on Jesus being the Good Shepherd.

This creative activity will help the children in your Sunday school lesson, youth ministry, Bible lesson, VBS, kidmin, children’s church or children’s ministry to reflect on this powerful Bible passage.

Themes:

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the church as a flock, God's love

What you'll need:

-  a soft cuddly sheep
-  a love letter from the Father (you can laminate it to make it last longer)

What are the traits of a good shepherd?

Children are going to practice with being a shepherd by taking care of a Faunarium with snails in it.

What do you need:

- a small faunarium
- wet earth
- small dish of water
- a few garden snails

What do you do:

We bought a small faunarium through Amazon. We placed a layer of wet earth on the bottom of the faunarium and a small dish of water. I found 3 or 4 snails in our garden with their shells on. These snails can temporarily live in the faunarium. Make sure they get some chalk and some lettuce or other vegetation.

The children can take in turn the faunarium home for a week to take care of the snails. They only need some fresh water and some vegetables. In this way the children can practice being a shepherd.

This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on Psalm 23 and the Bible passage in John 10: 11-18 on Jesus being the Good Shepherd.

This creative activity will help the children in your Sunday school lesson, youth ministry, Bible lesson, VBS, kidmin, children’s church or children’s ministry to reflect on this powerful Bible passage.

Themes:

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the church as a flock

Having a conversation round the campfire

We’re going to think about the calling of Moses sitting around a campfire.

Themes:

Moses, calling, fire

You can use this for:

Creative prayer idea, creative illustration of a Bible story/theme

Bible text:

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Moses thought: "I will go over and see this strange sight- why the bush does not burn up." (Exodus 3: 2,3)

What do you do:

Tell:
This activity fits in with the story of the calling of Moses.

Do:
The question to ask around the campfire is: "What would you ask or tell God, if you were to meet Him?".

Make a camp fire in a barbecue or on a suitable piece of ground. Using some good bits of wood and firelighters you’ll have a nice fire in no time.

While the fire is burning and the children are standing around it, tell them the story of the shepherd Moses who is walking with his sheep through the desert. Suddenly he also sees a fire. But this is a very special fire, because the wood is not burning up.

Tell:
Tell the story..

God talks to Moses through the fire.

Ask:
Today I have a question for you. Moses met God at the fire:
-  What would you say to God if you were to meet Him,  just like Moses?
-  What would you want to tell Him?
-  Or ask Him?

Create an unforgettable experiment for your Sunday school class

Did you know that you can create the most beautiful colour effects, even a rainbow, in a bowl of milk? The only things you need for this is a bowl of milk, different colours of food colouring (liquid) and a drop of washing up liquid.

This is not just a really fun craft, it is also a cool science experiment that will appeal to both the girls and the boys in your Sunday school class or your children’s ministry.

You can combine this experiment with several Bible stories or Christian themes:

The story of creation - creating something that is beautiful  (Genesis 1)
The story of Noah and the rainbow – creating a rainbow in the milk (Genesis 9:8-17)
The story of the Bethlehem star – creating a star in the milk (Matthew 2: 1-12)|
The theme of light conquering darkness – this works really well if you use lots of dark colours in the milk.
The theme of the cross – maybe it is an accident, but most of the effects in the video below change into a cross.

Demonstrating the love of God through a melting heart of ice

How can we demonstrate the power of Gods love to our children in the church or within our family? How can we make something so beyond our understanding visual and tactile during a Sunday school lesson or as visual aid during a sermon? God's love is so amazing. Can we help our children and teenagers to experience a little bit of it?

Maybe you can use the melting heart of ice.

Discover more below...

It is very easy to do. You take a large silicone heart mould, fill it with chicken wire, add water and leave it in the freezer for 48 hours. After two days you take it out of the freezer and you got yourself an heart of ice.  You attach a wire to it, hang it from the ceiling and place a container underneath. 

During a Sunday school lesson, a sermon or during family meeting at home a you create a moment of silence. Hopefully the only thing you'll hear is the water dripping down from the heart of ice into the container.

This melting heart of ice is a brilliantly simple illustration to show that God’s love can melt the hardest of hearts. His love can break through to the hardest hearts. And God's tears are like the drops of water  that flow from this heart. 

Use it as a creative prayer opportunity

It is important not only to show this melting heart of ice, but also to give everyone the opportunity to feel this melting heart for themselves. We all know someone who is in great need of God's love. As you touch this melting heart of ice and as you feel the drops of water you can pray for this person. Maybe it is you. Then you can pray for yourself or ask someone else to pray for you.  

Something that any Christian children's or youth worker can do

In the video below we will demonstrate how you can tell any Bible story that contains a problem and a solution with this cool science experiment. As you can see in the video, it is slightly different from idea 248. 

If you click on the following links, iodine, ironing spray, and sodium thiosulfate, you will automatically be linked to a site where you can order these products. 

Themes:

Iodine and sodium thiosulfate reaction, miracles, any Bible with a problem that needs to be solved

Watch the video below:

Probably one of the best object lessons of all time

We think that this toy is maybe one of the best object lessons of all time. You can buy it for a few dollars or pounds on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk

It works very simply.

Invite a few children to come forward. Ask them to stand in a circle and hold hands. Take the energy stick in your right hand and take the hand of the child on your left. Leave the circle 'open' by not taking the hand of the child on your right. Then ask the child on your right to also take hold of the other end (the silver end) of the energy stick. When they do this, something amazing happens. Lights go on and you hear a funny noise. What's happening?

There is a small current that you don’t feel and that you can’t see. This current flows through the whole circle as long as everyone is holding hands. It connects through the circle of hands to the other side of the energy stick and then the electrical circuit is complete.

But how can use this in different ways within your kids ministry?

Multiple uses within Christian ministry

Some of the teaching points that you can make using the energy stick are...
- the importance and power of unity
- everybody belongs to the group
- everybody is important
- if one part of the body suffers, we all suffer
- the power of the Holy Spirit
- the existence of God
- God’s amazing love that flows through us

There is hope to be found in the names of God

In this video we use the rainbow of snow experiment to illustrate to children the wonderful names of God.

This video is part of a series of seven which demonstrate the different stories and themes you can illustrate with the rainbow of snow.

The complete series covers the following themes:

Idea 162.  Demonstration video with links to webshops
Idea 163.  Rainbow of snow – the promises of God
Idea 164.  Rainbow of snow – the story of the Jesus calming the storm
Idea 165.  Rainbow of snow – the names of Jesus
Idea 166.  Rainbow of snow – the diversity of the church
Idea 167.  Rainbow of snow – the fruit of the Spirit
Idea 168.  Rainbow of snow – the names of God

(This video was first recorded for the Dutch website. Therefore the audio is not in sync with the video. Our apologies for this.)

How many Biblical truths can you communicate with a rainbow of snow?

Below is a video demonstrating how you can easily make the rainbow of snow yourself.

To do this you need a large pot of Instant Snow (you can order it here) and food colourings (you can order these here).
For safety reasons I have used edible colourings, but you can also use non-edible colourings.

This video is part of a series of seven which demonstrate the different stories and themes you can illustrate with the rainbow of snow.

The complete series covers the following themes:

Idea 162.  Demonstration video with links to webshops
Idea 163.  Rainbow of snow – the promises of God
Idea 164.  Rainbow of snow – the story of the Jesus calming the storm
Idea 165.  Rainbow of snow – the names of Jesus
Idea 166.  Rainbow of snow – the diversity of the church
Idea 167.  Rainbow of snow – the fruit of the Spirit
Idea 168.  Rainbow of snow – the names of God

Introduction:
How many stories about water in the Bible do you know?

- the story of Noah and the water that kept pouring down (Genesis 6)
- the story of Hagar and Ishmael sent away (Genesis 21)
- the story of Eliezer meeting Rebekah at the well (Genesis 24)
- the story of Isaac digging wells (Genesis 26)
- the story of Jacob opening the well for Rachel (Genesis 29)
- the story of the bitter water at Mara (Exodus 15)
- the story of Moses hitting the rock (Exodus 17)
- the story of Moses hitting the rock twice (Numbers 20)
- the story of Elisha healing Jericho's waters (2 Kings 2)
- the story of the healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5)
- the story of Jesus meeting the lady at the well (John 4)
- the story of Jesus healing the paralysed men at the the pool of Bethesda (John 5)
- the promise of the river of life  (Revelation 22)

Did you know that you can tell all thes above stories (and many more) using the Lota Vase? 

In the video below I will show you how I use the Lota Vase to tell some of these stories.

So far I have used the Lota Vase:

Idea 148 - To demonstrate God's unending and overflowing love
Idea 149 - To tell the story of the prophet Elisha and the widow’s oil 
Idea 150 - To teach children on how they can spiritually grow
Idea 151 - To show children the importance of developing their talents
Idea 152 - To tell the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow at Zarephath
Idea 153 - To teach children about Jesus' promise of living water
Idea 154 - To tell any story in the Bible about flowing water

Watch the video:
Underneath I will also show you where you can buy your own version of the Lota Vase.

An ideal object lesson for baptisms

You show a large silver bowl that is empty. When you turn it upside down nothing comes out. When you pick it up again and start tip it up, water will pour out of it!

Something from nothing, liquid from mid-air! This can be repeated again and again, with the vase continually filling with water.

Being able to produce water from nothing time after time makes this trick ideal for telling different Bible stories, such as:

- Moses getting water from a rock (Num 20:11)
- the widow's endless jar of oil  (2 Kings 4:4)
- Jesus being baptised (Matt 3:13). 

It is an ideal object lesson for baptisms.

You can also colour the water with red food dye and use it to symbolise the blood of Jesus that was shed for all.

Where to buy

You can buy your own sets of Lota Bowls here on Amazon. 

Rocky Raccoon and the ZigZag trick

We are always looking for new ways to tell Bible stories. One of these ways is through the use of Rocky the spring puppet. 

Rocky is very easy to bring him to life. Spring animals are puppets that consist of a large spring covered with fur. You hold the spring raccoon in one hand, moving the head with your thumb and first finger. It gives the animal a very realistic effective, and it's not uncommon for people to mistake it for a live animal!

In the video below we will show you how you use Rocky and the ZigZag trick tol tell the Bible story of Jesus healing the paralysed man who was lowered through a hole in the roof made by his four friends.

Themes: 

Jesus has the power to forgive sins, Jesus forgives sins, Jesus heals the paralysed man, finding new ways to bring people to Jesus, perseverance, don't give up, friendship, Jesus puts us on our feet

Buy your own spring puppet:

There are several places where you can buy your own spring puppet. You can buy them for example on Amazon. 

If you are looking for the ZigZag trick that we use 'to cut Rocky into three parts' have a search on Google.

Use this powerful object lesson to demonstrate what it means to have faith

You take an seemingly empty cup. You fill the cup with water. When you turn the cup upside down, no water comes out.

How can this be? It is not because of the cup, but because of what is in the cup. It is a very easy Gospel magic trick that we will explain below.

Why call it gospel magic, and not just a trick?

Because you can use this trick to explain to children, teenagers and adults what it means to have faith:

You ask a child, teenager or adult to sit on a chair. You fill the cup with water and you promise them that you will turn the cup over above their heads, but that no water will come out. They don't even have to blink their eyes. Can they trust you? It is hard to trust when everything inside you screams the opposite.

This is what faith is. 

You can combine this trick with stories in the Bible where people had to show great faith before the miracle happened.  Stories like the building of the ark, Abram sacrificing his son, Moses in front of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho, etc, etc.

Themes: 

Trusting, having faith, unbelief, doubt

What do you need:

The stuff that you will need to do this trick is called 'Slush powder' and you can buy it through our friends at Mission Magic or here on Amazon. 

A tricky question about Bible study...

How do you tell a Bible story to a group of children or teenagers for whom the Bible story is so well known that they can probably tell it better than you? 

That is a tricky question! At the same time the answer is very, very simple: ‘You don’t tell the Bible story.’

What!? You don’t tell the story?

No, you let them tell it to each other in such a way that it is fun, everyone participates, and the only thing you have to do is to ask good questions and share your own story.

Below we look at the ‘Bible study cards’ method.

The ‘Bible study cards’ method

It is so easy to keep telling Bible stories to children and teenagers, but there comes a point at which it is more important to help them learn from the Bible themselves. Telling stories is good. Teaching children and teenagers (and adults) to read and learn from the Bible themselves is better.

To help us do this we have developed ten questions that you can ask yourself when you read a story in the Bible.

These ten questions are specifically focused on the four gospels.

When we used these cards we were doing weekly Bible studies with a group of teenagers from troubled backgrounds. Some of them would and did end up in prison. We wanted them to know a few questions for if they ever found themselves with a Gideon Bible in a prison cell. So we took half a year to go through the gospel of Mark. Each week we gave them all a piece of paper with a short passage from Mark. Then they would pick one of the ten Bible study cards (without looking at it first) and that would be their question about the passage that we were going to look at.

The ten questions on the ten cards are:

1. Read the Bible passage out loud.
2. Tell the Bible story in your own words
3. Which part or words from the story don’t I understand?
4. What does the main character do in this story?
5. What does Jesus or God do in the story?
6. What can we learn from the main character in the story?
7. What can we learn from Jesus or from God in the story?
8. What surprises me in the story?
9. What does this story mean for us today?
10. What did I learn from this story that will make a change in my life?

Because they couldn’t see which card they picked, they had a different card every week. Although they started to grumble about the method after a few months, we persevered. Hopefully they learned to study the Bible for themselves by using ten very easy questions.

How does it work?

You show the children / teenagers ten Bible study cards. If you have more than ten children / teenagers in your group you need to make a few more question cards. Each child / teenagers takes a card without looking. This means that each child / teenager in the group has a minimum of one card. The cards are numbered and as the leader you ask: “Who has card number one?” Once the child / teenager has read the passage out loud you move to card number two. 

As a leader it is your task to ask ‘dumb’ questions when kids give pat answers. Don’t be too nice. Don’t accept an easy answer. The key to this is to ask a few good questions following every answer given. Make them work hard at it! But do it with a smile and a joke! 

Download:

You can download the ten cards here:  'Bible Story cards'