(Do not attempt this lesson using a trunk without proper ventilation)
When starting the
lesson, ask the kids if they would like to have a magic show today.
They'll say yes. Have your helpers bring out a trunk big enough to
hold a child, and set it up front where everyone can see it. Say,
"Would you like to see someone escape from this trunk?"
You'll really have their attention now. Ask your selected student to come
forward. Then say, "I'm going to put "Billy" in this trunk and
lock it. Then he will attempt to escape." Open the trunk and tilt it forward to show
that it is a regular trunk with no trap doors or escape hatches. Then ask Billy,
"Are you nervous?" He should say something like, "A little, but I've
seen this on TV
before. It looks easy." Then say, "OK, then, let's get you
inside." Billy steps into the trunk and lays or crouches down. You then close the lid
over him, and lock it with a padlock. Then say, "OK, in just a few
moments, Billy will escape." The child should then move around inside the trunk,
making sounds like he is trying to get out. After a few seconds, ask,
"Billy, aren't you going to escape." He keeps moving around and says,
"I'm trying." Wait a few more seconds and say, "Come on, Billy, we're all
waiting out here." Billy should then stop struggling and say, "I thought
I could get out by myself, but I can't. I need help." At this point, say,
"Kids, this is
exactly what the devil does to us. He makes sin look like so much fun,
and that we can get out just as easily as we got in. Billy got into the
trunk very easily, but now he's locked in and can't get out. That's what sin
is like. It's so easy to get into, but we can't get ourselves out of
it."
Read John 3:16 to the
class:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Say, "God knew that we were going to
be trapped in sin, just like Billy is trapped in this trunk. He also knew that we
would need someone to release us from sin's hold. That's why He sent His
Son, Jesus, to earth to provide us with a way of escape. All we have to do
is ask Jesus to release us from sin, and come to live in our hearts
and lives."
Then turn to the trunk and say, "Billy, would you like to be set free?"
He should say yes. Reach into your pocket and pull out a key attached to a large
key ring that says "Jesus". Hold it up for the kids to see and say,
"Jesus is the key that sets us free." Then unlock the padlock, open the trunk, and let the child out. Ask the class to
applaud him for asking Jesus to set him free.
Copyright 2002 Ron Kelley
rondkelley@hotmail.com
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