Object lessons are a lot like parables. In an object lesson, common everyday things are used to teach a lesson that has a deeper spiritual meaning. The way the objects are used and their familiarity help make the lesson engaging and memorable. Here are two examples that are easy to prepare and carry out. They illustrate the great teaching value of object lessons.
“The Bible is Our Guide”
The first is an object lesson that Joshua and Amy Lagasse used with the CYC of the Norfolk, Virginia, Ecclesia. It involved jigsaw puzzles, so it took a bit longer than most object lessons to carry out. The activity was a big hit though, and the spiritual lessons were immediately obvious to everyone. They called the lesson “The Bible is Our Guide”, and here is how Josh describes it.
“In a recent CYC class, Amy and I led an activity that involved three groups of young people, each with a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle to solve. Each group was given a different puzzle, and they were assigned the task of seeing how much of it they could complete in a 30-minute time frame. There was, however, one significant catch as our CYC’ers soon found out! One of the puzzles came in a box with the correct picture on it; the second was in a box that had an incorrect picture on it, and the third puzzle came with no picture at all.
“Our CYC scholars are an extremely bright bunch, so it did not take long for the group with the wrong picture to realize that they had been grossly misled. They soon discarded their box and proceeded to work without it. The group with no picture to go by also worked brilliantly. They quickly pulled together as a team in order to overcome the obstacle. But, as you would imagine, there were some grumpy bears in these two groups!
“All of the groups completed their puzzles. Nevertheless, the lesson was self-evident. The value of working with a true guide in order to meet a goal was demonstrated. When we have a true guide, we are able to navigate through the rough areas of life more efficiently and understand God’s plan for us more easily. If we are misled by a lie or take our own path instead, we will have difficulties throughout our entire life. The Scriptures have been given to us as truth so we can know God’s plan and purpose for us; we can also appreciate what has been done for us and what we can do to please our Heavenly Father.
“Questions for discussion:
- Which group had the easiest time putting their puzzle together? Why?
- What do you think is the point of this exercise?
- How is the Bible like the correct picture on a puzzle box?
“Bible readings: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psa 119:9 NKJV) [This passage was selected because the object lesson was used to emphasize the right and wrong way for young people to obtain guidance regarding sex – Ed.] “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psa 119:105 ). Also read Prov 29:18 in two or three different versions.’
“Whose Voice Will You Follow?”
The second example has a similar theme. It works well in a Sunday school setting and takes about ten minutes. I am indebted to James Walker of the Simi Hills, California, Ecclesia, for providing the idea for this lesson. All you need are two willing students, a blindfold, and a candy bar. Here is how this object lesson works.
Tie the blindfold on one of the students. Explain that there is a reward to be found if he or she exactly follows your instructions. Once the blindfold is securely in place, put the candy bar where everyone else can see it and start giving instructions to the blindfolded student: “Take two steps forward and stop. Take one step to the right, etc.’ If the student obeys your voice, he or she will move steadily toward the location of the candy bar. This, of course, is the reward.
After you have given two or three instructions and the blindfolded student is making good progress, have the other student (by prearrangement) give a couple wrong directions that would turn the blindfolded student away from the reward. It is no longer your voice. Will the blindfolded student follow a new and different voice? Let the conflicting voices continue, one or two valid instructions followed by one or two wrong ones. Then have the blindfolded student stop and tell if he or she can explain what is happening. Does he or she know which voice to trust?
Questions for discussion:
- Have all the students give reasons why we can trust the voice of Jesus.
- How can we hear his voice?
- What are some of the wrong voices that we hear in the world?
- What is the reward for following the right voice?
Bible readings: John 10:27-28; Eph 4:14-15, 5:6-12; 1Kgs 18:21, and Prov 8:32-36. Let the students do the readings and explain what the Bible is teaching us.
Some things to keep in mind
Object lessons can be effective with children of all ages. They can often be carried out with an entire Sunday school and involve many of the children as participants. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when planning and carrying out an object lesson:
- Keep it simple.
- Have a clear Biblical message.
- Involve the children in doing and interpreting the lesson.
- Always have a few Bible passages to look up, read and discuss.
There are several ways to involve the children in object lessons.1
- Volunteers can be recruited to help carry out the lesson. In fact, many object lessons can be designed around the children so that their active participation is necessary to make the lesson work. This can be a lot of fun for everyone if it is kept simple.
- Everyone can be drawn into the discussion when the follow-up question is asked: “What do you think this lesson means?”
- Everyone should open a Bible and find the relevant passages. Older children can help younger ones with this if necessary. Volunteers can be encouraged to read the passages aloud. The Bible passages should be carefully selected to drive the lesson home.
Object lessons do not have to take long to carry out. In a Sunday school setting they are often used as openers or wrap-up activities. In either case, ten or fifteen minutes is a good time frame to shoot for. The impact of the lesson can be lost if it drags on too long. Josh and Amy’s half-hour CYC lesson worked because it included total group participation throughout. There was little chance that it would lose its punch. In Sunday school, an object lesson is usually short and sweet (some even offer candy bars!). The obvious point the lesson helps to make it engaging and memorable.
Do you have an object lesson to share? I would be pleased to hear from you.
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