Blow up several balloons before hand to stretch it and practice slipping a balloon nozzle over the neck of the cold-drink bottle.

Put the funnel into a dry cold-drink bottle and add four teaspoons of Baking Soda into the bottle.  You may need more depending on the bottle so experiment with the amount needed beforehand.  Remove the funnel and pour about 200 ml of clear Vinegar into the bottle and quickly slip the balloon nozzle over the neck of the bottle.  The Baking Soda reacts with the Vinegar to make Carbon Dioxide gas and this will blow up the balloon!

A white powder is put into the bottle to represent Jesus coming into Mark's life and making him clean inside.  And then a clear liquid is added to represent the Holy Spirit filling Mark with joy.  His joy overflows and blows up the balloon!

NB:  If you have sufficient materials, this is a good activity for the children to share with their friends and family!

 

Mark was excited as he was going to a new Sunday School with his best friend.  Peter had been telling him for weeks about his cool teacher in the Grade Six class.  He could hardly wait until Sunday arrived.  He walked into class with Peter and sat down and looked around at the happy expectant faces of the other kids.  The lesson that day was about Nicodemus who came secretly to Jesus one night.

Mark listened to how Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again.   This puzzled Mark until the teacher explained that no one could enter the Kingdom of God unless he has his sins forgiven and asks Jesus to be his Saviour.  Jesus promised in John3:15 that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.  "Let's say the next verse together," said their teacher and so they said John 3:16 together:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

Mark was so excited that he yelled, "Hey Teach!  I need Jesus in my heart!"  The teacher was pleased and asked the children to bow their heads and pray.  "Mark, ask Jesus to forgive you for all the bad things you have done," said the teacher, "And then ask Jesus to make you clean inside, and come into your heart as your Saviour."

Mark prayed the prayer and then looked up with a great big smile.  "I know Jesus heard me because I really meant what I said!"

Let's put some of this white Baking Soda powder inside this bottle to represent Jesus coming into Mark's life and making him clean inside ( Put the funnel into the plastic cold-drink bottle and add the amount of Baking Soda you determined in the Preparation section ).

"Good," said the teacher, "Jesus is your Saviour and you now a child of God.  Now ask Jesus to fill you with His Holy Spirit so that your life will bubble with joy.  The Holy Spirit fills you with God's love so that you can grow as a Christian, and care for other people, and tell them about Jesus."

Mark prayed again, so I'm going to pour some of this clear liquid representing the Holy Spirit into Mark's bottle and put a balloon over the opening ( Pour about 200 ml of clear Vinegar into the bottle and quickly slip the balloon over the bottle's opening ).  See how the Holy Spirit is filling him with joy to overflowing and it's filling up the balloon!

Well, Mark went home that day with joy in his heart.   His parents and friends were amazed when they saw how Jesus had changed him, and made him into a kind and caring person.

Find a partner, then one of you can do the experiment while your partner tells the story.  While you set up your bottles I want you to think about asking the Holy Spirit to fill your life with joy until you overflow like Mark!  Jesus will be only too pleased to answer your prayer!

God bless!