A Lesson for KIDS CHURCH

Transcription

1 Lesson Summary: A Lesson for KIDS CHURCH Lesson Title: Seeing God in the Mirror Text: Genesis 1:26-27 This lesson by: Karl Bastian One of the profound statements in the entire Bible is found in the first chapter - God made man in his image. While many religions teach we can be a god, and while the essence of sin is making ourselves our own god, the unpolluted truth is that we were created like God. That is precisely what makes us human. Those who reduce man to animal miss the profound truth of what makes us different from all other creatures: a creative and free mind capable of love. Animals can t create - or we'd have birds with air conditioned nests and cats with toilets. Animals have no free will, only predictable instincts that guide their actions. Love? Only humans have the capacity for self-sacrificing love. God made us like Himself: creative, free, and longing for love. Main Point: God created us to be like him. We daily must choose: God's way, or our own? ELEMENT DETAILS MATERIALS / TECH Intro Glass frames Markers Gus Molly Game Funny Faces: The kids will love this. You need several frames with glass only in them. (Simply purchase certificate frames and remove paper and backing, secure glass so it won't fall out.) You will also need some markers that can write on glass well, probably white board markers. Have several adult leaders come up front and give each a frame to hold up in front of their face. Then choose a child (older, good at drawing) for each leader. Their job is to decorate the leaders face by drawing on the glass. They can add beard, glasses, freckles, etc. Encourage them not to over-do it, as you still need to be able to see the leader. The audience will vote the best one. After they are done, have the audience choose the best one by volume of applause. Have fun switching them from leader to leader, and holding them up to yourself, and to the kids who drew them. Talk about how the image of the person was altered by what was drawn on the glass. God created us to be a perfect image of him, but too often sin marks us up and changes that image of what God intended. While these altered images were funny, the consequences of a marred image of God in life, can be tragic and difficult to live with. OPTIONS: 1) Have pre-drawn faces that you hold over volunteers faces. 2) Get a full length mirror(s) and draw on them with black marker board, mustache, glasses, etc. and let the kids take turns looking at their image in the mirror altered. Has a list of inventions but they ve all already been invented. He describes a vacuum, a microwave, a garage door opener. Karl points out that God gave us the ability to create to imagine, and to invent! It is part of God s image in us. Gus final idea a device that looks like a person, but made out of cloth and is really operated by a person and made to talk and move but could be used to teach and explain things. Would be a lot of fun. Goes on describing a puppet as exiting. Molly does not want to come out, she is embarrassed. Finally peeks out. Leader sees nothing wrong. She thinks she has zits all over her face, and is trying to hide them, but there is nothing wrong with her. She actually looks very pretty. Finally she says, I can see them all over my face on the mirror! Leader asks to see mirror and there are red spots all over the mirror. She really didn t look that bad it was the stains on the mirror that were altering her view of herself. Explain to the puppet that sin does the same thing to us. God created us to be perfect and to reflect his image, but sin puts stains on that image, so when people look at us, we do not represent Him very well, because they see us with the sin-stains. Many people who have rejected God have only done so because they have rejected the God they think they saw in a person who said they were a Christian. If they could see the real God they might accept Him. The puppet needs to clean her mirror, and we need to clean up our life! Doh What I Doh Choose 4 kids from the audience. Each is given a tub of Play- Doh. Then each is shown an object (but the audience can t see the object) and they compete to make the best one. The audience votes by clapping volume. The Point: It is hard to make a perfect image out of Play-Doh of objects made of Drawings on Plexiglas Inventions list Mirror with red spots on it Play Doh

2 Toybox Tale finer materials, like metal or wood or plastic, just as it is hard for us to be an image of God since we are imperfect but we should do the best we can! Kermit introduces Scientist to prove cloning is impossible but he misunderstood and has a cloning machine, needs a volunteer, several come and audition (to Kermit s distress) and are rejected (Jar Jar) but then Arnold Schwarzenegger is chosen (2 identical figures needed) The clone comes out, and gets into a fight with the original, can t tell which is which and both think they are original In the tussle, Kermit gets bumped into machine, a double comes out Miss Piggy comes by, real-kermit has new Kermit go off with her. In the end Arnolds still arguing over who is original and saying I ll be back NO, I ll be back finally say together, We ll be back Kermit declares the episode a disaster but points out that while cloning is not possible, we can be duplicates of God in our character and actions by being like God little versions of God, being Christ like so others can see what God is like. Props Puppets Puppet Show: Mirror, Mirror! (see below) Skit Salesman Comes door to door trying to sell a large mirror. (comedy) Mirror Object Lesson In a mirror we see a reflection of our self. It is not really us we see, just a reflection. In fact, you may not realize it, but it is a backwards, or inverted image of yourself that you see in a mirror. The Bible says in Genesis 1:26 that God created us in his image. This means that we are not God, we are a reflection of what God is like. The things that make us different from other creatures is because of this image of God in us. But that image gets tainted sometimes. And we need to clean it up. Read James 1:23-25 When we look in the Bible, it shows us the stains on the mirror of our life. It shows what is 'out of place,' what we need to 'clean' or 'cut' or 'remove' or 'adjust.' Just like when you get ready in the morning and look in the mirror and see what needs to be fixed before you are presentable to the world. God's Word shows us what we need to fix to be presentable to God and others, what we need to do so that our reflection of God is clear and untainted. But this passage says that the person who does not listen to the Word of God and make the changes it shows is like a person who after looking in the mirror in the morning, goes out for the day without changing anything. He will be a disgrace. So will we if we do not read and heed God's Word! How's your image of God? Are there some things you need to fix? If there are, don't be like that foolish man - get them fixed today through confession and repentance! Lesson I. Made in God's Image a. Creative b. Free will Skit Verse Story Assignment II. III. c. Capacity for love A stained image a. Freedom risked it b. Sin altered it c. Freedom can fix it A daily struggle a. Choose your image So Yesterday Needed: 4 girls 4 girls are talking about Anna (the popular girl) and how she had on a knit cap yesterday, so they must be in, the 3 girls put on knit caps. Anna walks by (with no knit cap) where winter gloves, and see the girls with the knit caps, and with distain says, That is soooo yesterday and leaves. The girls then rush to get winter gloves, but Anna shows up without gloves wearing red clown nose. you should get the pattern. They do whatever Anna does, and she always has something new and looks at them and says, That is so yesterday. They finally give up! The Point: You can spend your life trying to be like others, OR trying to be like God, and the good news is, God is never yesterday in fact, he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. (Heb. 13:8) We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. (paraphrased) Learning Activity: Write the verse on a tall standing mirror with an erasable marker. Say the verse over and over each time allowing a child to come up and erase one word. By the time you get to the end, they will know the verse word perfect. The Most Precious Treasure (see below) Give each the Reflections Sheet (below) and ask them when they get home (or in class if possible) to write on each one word that describes God. (loving, kind, forgiving, etc.) Encourage them to think of traits of God they need to work on in their own life so that they can be better images of God to others. Then instruct them to tape them to their mirror so that when they get ready in the morning and look at the outside and what needs to be fixed, they will also think about what needs to be fixed on the inside. See Karl buys Mirror from salesman for the object lesson 4 girls props Kid James to pop out and give Hebrews 13:8 when Karl says God is never yesterday Kids James Take Home Sheet

3 ILLUSTRATIVE STORY: The Most Precious Treasure Maybe now she could finally open it. It had sat on her shelf for the past nine months, though never forgotten. But for the past several weeks, she had carried it everywhere she went, even putting under her pillow at night. Her mother had been so serious when she gave it to her, that she treasured it, wondering often what was inside. She had thought this day would never come, prayed it would never come, but as she walked out of the church on this cold rainy day, she felt in her pocket the tiny box. She could feel the small gems in the side, and the lock that held it closed. In her other pocket, her fingers played with the key. As she walked down the stairs at the front of the church and looked around at all the people dressed in black and wearing sad faces, her memory drifted back to that day at her mom s side in her bedroom. Her mom had just gotten back from the hospital, where she had been for several weeks, and she didn t seem the same. She was much weaker and much quieter. And so much more serious, but not in a mean way, almost in a more intense loving way. It was in one of those serious moods she had given her the little locked box and key. I want you to have this. Her mom had said looking her daughter straight in the eye. Can I open it? the daughter had asked in return. Not yet, but you will know when. Her mom had answered with just a hint of a smile. It s beautiful. the daughter said, as she looked at the colorful decorations all over the little box that was only about an inch long and a little less wide. It seemed like it must be less than an inch deep. Is it a jewelry box? What s inside? Her mother took her hand. Inside you will see the most precious thing in my life. It is very valuable, priceless. I want you to keep it for me forever. And whenever you miss me, look in this box and know that what you see is what I loved the most in all the world. Then she had closed her eyes and laid back. She looked like she wanted to cry, but she didn t. She simply smiled and closed her eyes tight to stop the tears. Now it was nine months later and the funeral was over. She already missed her mom so badly. Could this be when she was supposed to open the little jewelry box? She climbed into the backseat of their car. Her dad was still outside talking to someone. She reached in her pocket and took out the little shiny box and key. As the key slipped into the lock, her heart began to speed up. What could her mom have put in this little box that was so valuable, and yet so small. A diamond ring? A precious gem? What could she have loved so much that she wanted her daughter to keep it forever? As she turned the key there was a small click. She lifted the lid and eagerly peered inside. But it was empty. The sides were lined with beautiful red velvet and in the bottom lay a small mirror filling the bottom, but nothing was inside the box. Had her mom forgotten to put it in? Had someone stolen it? Maybe it had fallen out as she carried it around these past few days? She lowered it to her lap in disappointment. As she looked down in her lap she reflected on her moms words, Inside you will see the most precious thing in my life. Suddenly a tear began to form in her eye and began to run down her cheek, for as she looked down into the little box she suddenly saw what her mom was talking about. She saw herself in the mirror. She was the most precious thing in her mom s life. As she looked into that little mirror it suddenly became so clear. The most valuable things in life are not the things we can buy with money, they are the people we love. As she closed the box she whispered, Thank you, Mom. The Point: When you look in the mirror, you see the most precious thing to God: YOU. He made you in His image.

4 Mirror, Mirror! Copyright 1995 Summary: Andy learns from his mirror that honoring your parents can impact how long you live on the earth! Our words and attitudes should reflect our life with God. Setting: Andy is in his bedroom standing in front of his mirror. Mirror Mirror, That I see, How old will I live to be? Mirror: Andy, Andy, Can it be? You will live to be 103! Cool! Mom: (from off stage) ANNNDY! Yea, Ma? Mom: (entering) Don t forget to take the garbage out before you leave for school. Uh, yea, right mom. (Mom exits) Garbage marbage. (yells) YO LINDSEY! Lindsey: (irritated) What Andy? Take out the garbage and I won t tell mom about... Lindsey: (interrupts) O.K. O.K., don t even say it! Heh, heh! Little slave sister, bet she won t live long! (back to mirror) Mirror, Mirror, repeat for me, how old I will live to be? Mirror: As I said just before, you will live to 94 Hey! You said 103 before!! Mirror: I make no mistakes, 94 it is. Whoa! 9 years! Gone just like that! Oh, well. Dad: (entering) Andy, remember, after school today I want you to do all your homework before you go over to Reggie s to play. O.K.? Sure, Dad. (Dad exits) Homework, Smomework. Why do during my prime play hours what I can do on the bus on the way to school the next day? Father, Smother... I bet I ll live longer than him! (to mirror) Mirror, Mirror I asketh Thee, how old will I live to be? Mirror: I ll tell you fast, for you re almost late, that you will live till your 78! Hold on a second here! What happened to 94? Your math is about as good as my parents brains! Mirror: I hate to tell you, but it s true! Now you ll live to be !?! What s going on here? I bet my mom messed you up! She s always breaking my things! (to mirror) No more nonsense, now you tell me! How old will I live to be? Mirror: I d better tell you while you re still alive, now you ll live till 45. Oh, great! Now you ve made me late for school, which means, by the way, that my dad will invent one of his new lame brain punishments or restrictions to inflict on innocent ol me! I m gonna ask you just one more time, Mirror Mirror, please tell me, how old will I live to be? Mirror: Andy, Andy, don t get sore, but you ll now live to be just 34. How old? Mirror: 34. How old was that? Mirror: I told you, 34. How come you didn t subtract any more years? Mirror: Because you haven t dishonored your parents in word or deed since you last asked. What s this have to do with my dumb ol parents? (pause) ooops... Mirror Mirror, what s it now? Mirror: I really do hope that you re though, because now you re down to 22. Gulp! Wait a minute! I just remembered a verse from Sunday School, it went something like, Honor your father and mother that it might go well with you and then there was something like that you may dwell long upon the earth. Mirror: Good thing you figured it out! You were almost a goner! I d better start earning some of those years back! Mirror: Good idea! You can start by getting to school! And by doing my homework right away after school. Mirror: And... I know Together: THE GARBAGE!

5 CRAFT OPTION Frames Tin Foil Mirrors. Give each child a square of tin foil, and a ruler. They can make a frame out of construction paper and paste/tape the tin foil (by the edges, not underneath) to cardboard and frame it. Then with a ruler they can flatten out the tin foil and make a mirror. On the top of the frame write their name, and along the bottom, Created in the Image of God. (Genesis 1:26) GAME OPTION Needed: Two small mirrors and one large mirror. Choose two volunteers from the audience. (upper elementary) The object of the game is to write a verse in mirror image on a poster board. They can use the small hand mirror to help them. After they are done, hold the posters so that the audience can read them, give a prize to the one that is the neatest, or has the fewest mistakes. A good verse to use: We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. (paraphrased) OBJECT LESSON OPTION R2-D2 ROBOT and/or PT Cruiser Remote Control Both are a copy of the original, not the same, but very much like in many ways. How are they similar? How are they different? We also can be LIKE God we can not be God or just like Him, but people who meet us should get an idea of what God is like.

6 We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. We all reflect the Lord's glory and are being transformed into his likeness. INSTRUCTIONS: Write in each box a character trait of God that you know you need to work on. Then cut them out and tape to mirrors in your house so that when you look in the mirror you will be reminded that you were made in the image of God and should reflect his character.