Beware Of Imitations
Children's sermon
Open My Eyes
More Children's Object Lessons
Object:
An artificial flower, an imitation gemstone; and perhaps a real flower and/or stone for comparison. A picture of Jesus, if available.
Purpose: To remind children not to accept imitations as something real.
Material: An artificial flower, an imitation gemstone; and perhaps a real flower and/or stone for comparison. A picture of Jesus, if available.
Lesson: This morning I want to show you something that I received in the mail (or wherever you might have obtained a cubic zirconia simulated diamond or artificial gemstone). What does it look like? ... (A diamond.) But it is not a diamond and I would be tricked by someone if it was sold to me as a diamond, for diamonds are very expensive, and this cost me nothing. (If you cannot find an imitation gemstone omit this part.) What is this? ... (A rose, or some other kind of flower.) But it is not a real flower, for it is made out of cloth and wire. It reminds me of a rose, but I cannot say that it is a rose for only God can create a real flower. (Show a real flower, if you have one.) Imitations help us to remember what something is like, but we must be careful not to think that the imitation is the real thing. Here is a picture of Jesus, but that is not Jesus. Its only purpose is to remind us of him.
One of our goals in life is to find the real life that God wants us to live. That requires hard work and a lot of learning. There are no shortcuts to the real thing. Anything less
than the real life God desires for us is an imitation. So, remember that one of the reasons you come to church and study the Bible is because you want to find the real life God wants you to have. Your Sunday school teachers and everyone else who is with you each Sunday have that goal in mind for you, and you can help them help you by listening to them and doing what they teach you.
Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home:
• When a child does not want to go to Sunday school.
• When your child is spending too much time with computer games. (A real life is more than games.)
• When a child does not want to study.
• When a child is more interested in watching television than in learning new things.
Scriptural Background: ''For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few'' (Matthew 7:14).
Material: An artificial flower, an imitation gemstone; and perhaps a real flower and/or stone for comparison. A picture of Jesus, if available.
Lesson: This morning I want to show you something that I received in the mail (or wherever you might have obtained a cubic zirconia simulated diamond or artificial gemstone). What does it look like? ... (A diamond.) But it is not a diamond and I would be tricked by someone if it was sold to me as a diamond, for diamonds are very expensive, and this cost me nothing. (If you cannot find an imitation gemstone omit this part.) What is this? ... (A rose, or some other kind of flower.) But it is not a real flower, for it is made out of cloth and wire. It reminds me of a rose, but I cannot say that it is a rose for only God can create a real flower. (Show a real flower, if you have one.) Imitations help us to remember what something is like, but we must be careful not to think that the imitation is the real thing. Here is a picture of Jesus, but that is not Jesus. Its only purpose is to remind us of him.
One of our goals in life is to find the real life that God wants us to live. That requires hard work and a lot of learning. There are no shortcuts to the real thing. Anything less
than the real life God desires for us is an imitation. So, remember that one of the reasons you come to church and study the Bible is because you want to find the real life God wants you to have. Your Sunday school teachers and everyone else who is with you each Sunday have that goal in mind for you, and you can help them help you by listening to them and doing what they teach you.
Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home:
• When a child does not want to go to Sunday school.
• When your child is spending too much time with computer games. (A real life is more than games.)
• When a child does not want to study.
• When a child is more interested in watching television than in learning new things.
Scriptural Background: ''For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few'' (Matthew 7:14).
