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Of Sinful Selves and Crushed Pretzels

Beatitudes Sanctification Object Lessons

Contributed By: Vincent Putnam | Date Posted: 2023-11-20

Scripture: Matthew 5:13 ; Galatians 2:20

Author: Vincent Putnam
2

ILLUSTRATION

Hand out a small ziplock bag with two pretzel sticks covered in salt.  Explain how a pretzel is just a salt delivery device and that a pretzel without salt is pretty sad and worthless.  Have the congregation take out one pretzel stick, then tell them, throughout the remainder of the message, to rub salt off the pretzel everytime they feel convicted of a sin. 

Then walk through the 10 Commandments, traditional numbering: 1. Prioritizing other things over God; 2. Using His name as an expletive; 3. Failing to take a day of rest and reconnection with God; 4. Failing to honor your parents; 5. Harboring hatred and bitterness; 6. Looking lustfully at someone who is not your spouse; 7. Taking something that is not yours or failing to be generous; 8. Talking about others instead of to them; 9. & 10. Being envious of what God has given other people, or failing to be grateful for what God has given you.

If they're honest, no one should have any salt left on their pretzel.  Jesus asks the question, "If salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again?"  Then he answers His own question by saying, "It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet."  Tell people to put the now worthless, saltless pretzel stick back in the bag by itself, zip it up and do what Jesus says to do with it.  Throw it down and stomp on it. 

APPLICATION

That broken worthless pretzel is a picture of what it means to be broken and sinful people.  It is a picture of what it means to be poor in spirit or having nothing to offer God in terms of righteousness.  Salt cannot be made salty again. 

Take your broken, sinful flesh and throw it away.  Bury it six feet deep.

Then realize this: Jesus says that the poor in spirit are blessed and that "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."  Our sinful flesh is unsalvageable, but Jesus makes us a new creation, covered in His righteousness. Now hold up the second unmolested pretzel covered in salt. 

Paul says in Gal 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."  So burying that worthless pretzel is a daily activity.  Everyday we crucify our flesh and live by the righteousness of Christ.

Expanding Spiritually to Look More Like Jesus

Children's Lesson Christlikeness Object Lessons

Source: N/A

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-11-08

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13

Author: Saira Apostolico, Children's Director, SLCC, FL
4

ILLUSTRATION

Object Lesson/Game:  Growing to Be More Like Jesus

Materials:
-    Balloons
-    Music 

Procedures:
1.    Begin with a discussion about our earthly father vs. our heavenly father. Our earthly father is the father of our physical bodies, Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits. 
2.    What are some ways that you are like your earthly father (physical attributes, personality traits, talents, etc)?
3.    Can you become like your heavenly father?  YES!!!  How? BY READING THE BIBLE, PRAYING, COMING TO CHURCH, LEARNING GOD’S WORD, ETC.
4.    Show the children a balloon and explain that just like a balloon grows with each breath of air, we can also grow and expand spiritually as we learn about God and follow his ways. 
5.    How does the balloon change as you blow into it? IT GETS BIGGER; IT LOOKS PRETTIER, YOU CAN PLAY WITH IT NOW; ETC. 
6.    Explain that one of the ways we allow our heavenly father to help us grow is by memorizing Scripture.  Review our two Bible verses: John 3:16 & Romans 10:13. 
7.    Play a game with the kids – Tell the children that when the music starts, they are going to work together to keep the balloon in the air.  When the music stops, the child (children) with the balloon(s) will practice saying one of the verses. You can use 2 or 3 balloons so that many kids get a turn. Play several rounds as time allows.

APPLICATION

To wrap things up – remind children that even though we might look and even act like our earthly father, as Christians, our job is to become more like our heavenly father.  Pray that God would fill us with his love so we can become more like him.

"... until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

And here is a snack idea to reinforce the lesson …..

Materials:
-    Ziplock bags
-    Containers on each table of the following: 
•    Sour Patch Kids – Represents the kids (a little sweet, a little sour)
•    Raisins – Our grandparents, teachers, etc (older and wiser, and maybe even wrinkly)
•    Pretzels – Our earthly parents (wrap their arms around us, loving, filling)
•    M&M’s – God’s influence on our lives (sweetness, makes everything else worthwhile, brings color)

Procedures:
1.    Remind children that they are a child of God and because of that, their life can be sweeter and more satisfying.  Tell the kids that today they are going to make a special trail mix to show all the people and things in their life that help make it wonderful.
2.    Pass out a ziplock bag to each child.  
3.    Explain each part of the snack before the child is allowed to add it to their bag, going through each element one by one. 
4.    Pray and pass out water.  Enjoy a yummy treat!

It's Stinky to Be Unthankful

Children's Lesson Thankfulness Object Lessons

Source: Various

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-11-08

Scripture: Romans 1:21

Author: Illustration Exchange
6

ILLUSTRATION

Have you ever noticed how kids who don't like to share or express gratitude are often called "spoiled." What happens to an egg when it gets spoiled? It might look fine on the outside but let's see what it's like on the inside ...

You need to plan ahead for this object lesson by leaving a raw egg out on the counter for several days. Draw a sad face on the spoiled, “stinky” egg. Draw a happy face on a fresh egg. Explain to the children that the spoiled, stinky egg doesn’t like to share and isn't thankful. Crack the egg in a bowl so kids can smell the stinky insides. In another bowl, crack the fresh egg. Let kids see how the fresh egg looks and smells. 

 

APPLICATION

We might all look the same on the outside, but when we are ungrateful and unwilling to give thanks to God or others, we become spoiled. Our hearts and attitudes can be just as stinky as this spoiled egg. God longs for all of us to give thanks. When we do, our hearts and minds will stay fresh.

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21).

Everything Has A Time Limit

Reward Spirituality Object Lessons

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-10-29

Scripture: Matthew 6:19

Author: Mitchell Dillon
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Eyes On Target

Perseverance Followership Object Lessons

Contributed By: Jon Winkelman | Date Posted: 2015-06-06

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Author: Jon Winkelman
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Like A Shiny New Penny

Easter Children's Lesson Object Lessons

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-04-04

Scripture: Psalms 51:1 ; 1 John 1:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Legend of the Lenten Pretzel

Lent Object Lessons Children's Lesson

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-03-10

Scripture: Joel 2:12

Author: Illustration Exchange
2

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Stuck In A Hole

Compassion Faith Object Lessons

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-10-27

Scripture: James 2:17 ; Galatians 6:2

Author: Unknown
14

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Cut the Rope

Co-Dependency Object Lessons Spiritual Health

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-09-20

Scripture: Galatians 6:1

Author: Illustration Exchange
2

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Elisha's Jars of Oil

Object Lessons God's Provision Youth Sermons

Contributed By: David Gargano | Date Posted: 2014-09-02

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1

Author: David Gargano
1

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