"Blessed are those who believe"
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Unbelief is the one unforgivable sin!
God has promised to forgive any sin if we go to him with a
repentant heart. There is no way, however, to forgive the sin of
unbelief because the unbelieving person will never go to God with
a repentant heart. We need to be sure that our children fully
comprehend how blessed we are to be given the gift of faith so
that we can and do believe in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
*(For older children) Ask the children how many of them have
been to New York City. If nobody has been there, go on with the
program below. if somebody has been there pick another city until
you have one that nobody has been to. Then, ask the children how
they know that the city really exists. List the reasons they give
on a blackboard or easel; i.e., they see it on a map, somebody
they know has been there, or they have read about it in a book,
and so forth. When all the reasons are listed, discuss each one,
showing them that they believe in the city because of what others
tell them about it. Since they have not seen it with their own
eyes, they must rely on something outside of themselves to believe
it exists.
Now, ask them how many have actually seen Jesus in the flesh.
Ask them how we know that he exists. Again list the reasons on the
board. Primary among the reasons will be the Bible. Lead them to
see that we know that Jesus exists because the Holy Spirit
convinces us that it is true. Even though we have not seen him in
the flesh, we know he is real because of faith that God gives us
through his Holy Word. We are convinced within ourselves that he
is real. This is faith!
*(For younger children) Bring an unusual animal of some kind
to church. Have the animal hidden in a box or other container. Ask
the children if they can guess what is in the box. After they have
guessed, tell them what is really in the box, but tell them that
you may just be fooling them. Create some doubt in their minds.
Then ask the children how many believe what you told them.
Separate those who believe from those who don't. When they are
separated, show them the animal. Ask those who believed to tell
why they believed and those who didn't to tell why they did not
believe. Tie this in to the Gospel message about Thomas not
believing. Remind them that Jesus says those who haven't seen and
still believe are blessed.
Note: If all believe or all disbelieve, it still works well.
The message is the same about the importance of believing without
seeing.
God has promised to forgive any sin if we go to him with a
repentant heart. There is no way, however, to forgive the sin of
unbelief because the unbelieving person will never go to God with
a repentant heart. We need to be sure that our children fully
comprehend how blessed we are to be given the gift of faith so
that we can and do believe in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
*(For older children) Ask the children how many of them have
been to New York City. If nobody has been there, go on with the
program below. if somebody has been there pick another city until
you have one that nobody has been to. Then, ask the children how
they know that the city really exists. List the reasons they give
on a blackboard or easel; i.e., they see it on a map, somebody
they know has been there, or they have read about it in a book,
and so forth. When all the reasons are listed, discuss each one,
showing them that they believe in the city because of what others
tell them about it. Since they have not seen it with their own
eyes, they must rely on something outside of themselves to believe
it exists.
Now, ask them how many have actually seen Jesus in the flesh.
Ask them how we know that he exists. Again list the reasons on the
board. Primary among the reasons will be the Bible. Lead them to
see that we know that Jesus exists because the Holy Spirit
convinces us that it is true. Even though we have not seen him in
the flesh, we know he is real because of faith that God gives us
through his Holy Word. We are convinced within ourselves that he
is real. This is faith!
*(For younger children) Bring an unusual animal of some kind
to church. Have the animal hidden in a box or other container. Ask
the children if they can guess what is in the box. After they have
guessed, tell them what is really in the box, but tell them that
you may just be fooling them. Create some doubt in their minds.
Then ask the children how many believe what you told them.
Separate those who believe from those who don't. When they are
separated, show them the animal. Ask those who believed to tell
why they believed and those who didn't to tell why they did not
believe. Tie this in to the Gospel message about Thomas not
believing. Remind them that Jesus says those who haven't seen and
still believe are blessed.
Note: If all believe or all disbelieve, it still works well.
The message is the same about the importance of believing without
seeing.
