The Lightning And The Current
Children's sermon
That Seeing, They May Believe
52 Children's Object Lessons
Object:
An electric lamp and a piece of white paper cut to represent a bolt of lightning
Purpose: To stress our need of Jesus to show us how to do good
things.
Lesson: These two objects remind us of something that we see and
use often. Every time we have a thunderstorm, we see the powerful
destructive stabs of lightning ripping through the wet air. Most
of the time, we look out upon the storm from a warm, well-lighted
house where we are safe from the storm.
Now, the lights in our home and the lightning in the storm are
charged with the same kind of power, namely, electricity. In one
form, it is dangerous and destructive. In the other form, it is a
quiet and steady current that makes it safe for us to walk around
at night.
We also have great powers within us; powers that can be used
for good or evil. We have the power to think, to move, to speak
and to act. All these powers have been given to us by God. With
these powers we have also received the responsibility to use them
in a proper way.
In the Christian faith, we believe that no one can learn the
proper use of these God-given powers alone. Therefore, we turn to
Jesus for the perfect example of what it means to use the gifts
of God as they were intended to be used. When Jesus
acted, miracles were performed; and there is no greater miracle
than the act of kindness and compassion. When Jesus spoke, people
replied, "No man ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:46) for he
spoke the truth. As we follow Jesus, we too shall learn how to
use our God-given powers for good instead of evil. Jesus said, "I
am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Every life, regardless of age or
condition, has great powers for good within it, if that life is
lived under God's direction.
Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home:
* During a thunderstorm.
* When a child has used his abilities in a wrong way; perhaps
hurting someone or destroying something.
* When a child thinks that his or her abilities are small and
unimportant. (The lamp is more useful than the powerful bolt of
lightning.)
things.
Lesson: These two objects remind us of something that we see and
use often. Every time we have a thunderstorm, we see the powerful
destructive stabs of lightning ripping through the wet air. Most
of the time, we look out upon the storm from a warm, well-lighted
house where we are safe from the storm.
Now, the lights in our home and the lightning in the storm are
charged with the same kind of power, namely, electricity. In one
form, it is dangerous and destructive. In the other form, it is a
quiet and steady current that makes it safe for us to walk around
at night.
We also have great powers within us; powers that can be used
for good or evil. We have the power to think, to move, to speak
and to act. All these powers have been given to us by God. With
these powers we have also received the responsibility to use them
in a proper way.
In the Christian faith, we believe that no one can learn the
proper use of these God-given powers alone. Therefore, we turn to
Jesus for the perfect example of what it means to use the gifts
of God as they were intended to be used. When Jesus
acted, miracles were performed; and there is no greater miracle
than the act of kindness and compassion. When Jesus spoke, people
replied, "No man ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:46) for he
spoke the truth. As we follow Jesus, we too shall learn how to
use our God-given powers for good instead of evil. Jesus said, "I
am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the
Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Every life, regardless of age or
condition, has great powers for good within it, if that life is
lived under God's direction.
Possible Times To Use This Illustration In The Home:
* During a thunderstorm.
* When a child has used his abilities in a wrong way; perhaps
hurting someone or destroying something.
* When a child thinks that his or her abilities are small and
unimportant. (The lamp is more useful than the powerful bolt of
lightning.)
