**The following is an object lesson useful in ministry to children. You will find additional resources to help support this wonderful illutration at the bottom of this page.
NEEDED FOR OBJECT LESSON:
One box of 8 crayons
One piece of white cardboard, foam, etc.
One packet of mustard seeds
Velcro (sticky)
Easel
BEFORE THE MEETING:
Attach eight strips of the sticky side of the velcro to the piece of poster board at different angles in a random fashion. Attach two larger pieces for the packet of mustard seeds and the crayon box itself. Attach strips of the rough side of the velcro to each of the eight crayons, the back of the mustard seed packet and to the back of the crayon box. As you tell the story below, attach the items onto the cardboard at the appropriate time.
LESSON:
The Bible tells the story of God’s creation and His love for mankind. It is filled with many promises. Using this box of crayons and this piece of white cardboard, I am going to share God’s story of love with you.
This blue crayon reminds me of the beautiful blue sky that God created. But it also reminds me of one of the many promises in the Bible. It reminds me that God has created a place called Heaven. Jesus told us about that place when He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). This place called Heaven is not for everybody. Only those who are Christians can go there.
The yellow crayon in my box reminds me of light and faith. After God created the earth, He created the sun, moon, and stars so that we would not have to live in the dark. God also provided light for our hearts when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to the earth to die for our sins. This yellow crayon also reminds me about faith. Faith is believing for something even though I cannot see it. In one of Jesus’ many parables, he talked about having faith the size of a mustard seed. Even though the mustard seed is brown, the mustard that I put on my hot dog is yellow, so I use this color to remind me that faith is what helps me to believe in Jesus even though I can’t see Him. Look how tiny this mustard seed is. Jesus said that my faith only has to be this big to move a mountain. Wow!
This black crayon is dark and dreary. It reminds me that man sinned against God. That sin created a big space between God and man. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But as dark and ugly as the color black might be, this next color is a powerful reminder of God’s plan to bring man back to God.
This red crayon reminds me of the love that God has for us. John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much that he was willing to send His son to the world as a sacrifice for our sins. Red reminds me of the blood of Jesus Christ as He died on the cross. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” according to Romans 5:8. The color brown, like this crayon, also reminds me of the sacrifice that Christ made as I think about the color of the crown of thorns they placed upon His head and the cross on which He died. Man’s sin began when He ate fruit from a tree even though he had been told not to eat it. But it was also a tree that formed the cross on which Christ died to take away our sins.
But just because Christ died on the cross does not mean that I am automatically saved. Romans 10:9 states clearly that we have to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. Then, God says, we will be saved. When we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, the blood of Christ washes away all of our sins. Just like this piece of white cardboard, we become white as snow. We are made clean, free from sin. Praise God for His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son!
My box of crayons also has an orange crayon. This color reminds me of the rising and setting of the sun and God’s gift of each new day. The Bible reminds us in Psalms 113:3 that “from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” The sunset or sunrise should remind me to give praise to God for all that He has done for me. Orange is often used as a warning sign. So when I see the orange shades in the sunset, I need to also remember that sin can still find its way into my heart. I need to take time to ask God for forgiveness for anything that I may have done that day that didn’t please Him. And when the sun rises, I need to be reminded to give the day to God and to ask Him to guide me in everything that I do.
The green crayon in my box reminds me of nature and growing. Just as our bodies grow as we feed them, we must feed our hearts and minds so that we can grow in Christ. We are instructed to “…grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18 NIV). One of the best ways to make sure that I continue to grow in Christ is to read my Bible and pray every day. The last crayon in my box is this beautiful, majestic purple crayon. When we think of purple, we often think about royalty–kings and queens. In fact, God’s word tells us that we are God’s children. We are heirs along with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17). When we accept Jesus and follow His commandments, the Bible promises us a rich welcome into His eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1:11). So when you use the purple crayon, be reminded: You are a princess; the daughter of the King of Kings. And heaven is prepared only for those who are part of God’s kingdom! With my crayon box in hand, I am reminded that these colors tell the powerful story of God’s love. I am also reminded that I must share this story with others. Acts 1:8 says, “…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Let’s ask God to give us the power to use these colors to share His message of love.
