Anybody at Home?

Keeping our lamps shining for Jesus.

Materials Needed:

An miniature oil lantern or a small torch.
An opaque bowl (large enough to cover the lantern).

Age Group:

Grades 4 - 8 (10 to 14 years).

Somebody is at Home:

Every home in Bible times had a lamp which was left shining at night.  These lamps were small oil-filled bowls with a wick that burned like a candle.  The lamp was set on a high stand to show that people were living in the house.  Jesus said that we are:

"The light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.
 
In the same way, let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in Heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Good Deeds:

What did Jesus mean?  He said that we are like my lantern (or torch) that will shine right into the corners of this room ( Display your lantern and shine it around the room ).   If it were dark, then the lamp would shine much brighter.   Just like we switch on bright lights at night in our homes so that we can see clearly.

Jesus said our good deeds that we do are like a lantern.  They show to everyone that He lives in our hearts.  Jesus wants our light to shine out into this world that's so dark and wicked.   He said we cannot be hidden.  When people see our good deeds they will realise we serve our Heavenly Father.  If we don't do good deeds, then we are like my lantern has been hidden underneath this bowl.  ( Place the lantern under near the opaque bowl ).  Now it's useless as it's light has been cut off.

Real Love:

The Bible tells us that Christians are known by their love.   Jesus said that you can tell true Christians by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).  That means our actions speak louder than our words.  So try to be kind to everyone you meet and be careful not to say anything nasty.  What other good deeds can we do to please Jesus? ( Let the children respond ).

Is the light of Jesus shining out of you?  Make sure that it does and that Jesus is at home in your life!

God bless!

Extract from one of our Object Lesson books