Happy Thankful Thursday to you! I have been anxiously waiting all week to share this with you. I told you about our new children's ministry at church a few weeks ago. It's called Elevate and we use the ingenious curriculum from
Ed Young Ministry. I had six first and second graders this past Sunday and wow did we have the coolest of cool experiments. It is by far one of the neatest ways to teach children about salvation that I have ever seen. All six were wide eyed and amazed. I hope that they remember this forever, I know that I will. I had goosebumps upon goosebumps sharing it with them. I wanted to share it with all of you. Please, share this with children that you know! It is life changing!
Okay, you need 4 containers. I used 3 small mason jars and one clear vase. Fill one jar and one vase halfway with water. Label the jar with water: "Adam & Eve" and the vase should be labeled "Us." The second jar should be labeled "Sin" and be filled to the halfway point with Iodine. The third jar should be filled to the halfway mark with bleach and be labeled "Jesus." Here are pictures of the jars and vase:
I asked the children who was the first man and woman...they lived in the Garden of Eden? Adam & Eve...right! We talked about how the devil came into the picture in the form of a serpent and tempted Eve to sin. (I ask them if they know what sin is...can they give an example of sin...etc.) This is what happened to their life (which was pure and clean before) when they decided to sin:
(Pour the "sin" into the "Adam and Eve" jar.)
Because they decided to disobey God and sin, this is what their lives look like now:
Their lives are full of sin, not pure and clean anymore. Because we came after Adam and Eve, in essence we are their children, our lives are full of sin too. (Pour the contents from the Adam and Eve jar into the "us" vase).
Our lives are not clean or pure because we sin too. Ask the children what sins they have done before. (One little boy said he sinned because he poked his brother in the eye when his mom told him not to do it, even though his brother deserved it.)
Then we talked about how we want our lives to look like Jesus. We want to be pure and clean, just like Him. Compare the "Us" vase with the "Jesus" jar. They are different. Jesus was without sin.
I reminded them that Jesus is God's Son and that "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
We talked about Jesus dying on the cross and that he didn't stay in the grave because He rose again in 3 days. If we admit that we have sinned, believe that He is God's Son and that He died and rose again to save us from our sins, and then if we choose to ask Him to forgive us and be our Savior, then He comes into our hearts, our lives. When Jesus comes into our hearts, we are clean again because we are forgiven. (Pour the contents of the "Jesus" jar into the "us" vase and watch what happens!)
Immediately, there is a visible change and that is how our lives look when we ask Jesus to be our Savior and to forgive us for our sins.
We look pure and clean, just like Jesus!
I have goosebumps all over again, just from looking at these pictures. I talked about the experiment in more detail and they had questions. It was one of those days where you just know that you are right where God wants you to be and you are joining Him in something too incredible for words.
My oldest nephew is still asking questions about becoming a Christian. He is so close!!! I told Mr. Incredible that I wished A had come to church with us. I wanted him to see this. Guess what? They met us for lunch and after lunch, Aunt Kiki got to show him the experiment from the back of her suburban! He was amazed by it too. I keep praying for that glorious day when I can call my little nephew my brother in Christ. We have been praying for this day since the day that He was born.
I hope you enjoyed this awesome visual. I didn't come up with it, but I just knew that I had to share it with all of you. Isn't it the coolest?
Joyfully,
Kristi
" />
" />
" />
" />" />
Look out team, here I come!
She was Bat-girl! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-bat girl!
Me, I'm going as a tired college student, just kidding! I think I'll catch the half time band show and then work on a few papers in between answering the door to little trick or treaters.
Brenda @ Queen of Good Intentions! Woo Hoo!!!
We picked five of our most favorite families to Boo!
We brought flashlights so that we could conquer one of the 12 acre mazes. The trail we chose was an hour long, but being the overachievers that we are, we finished it in 30 minutes. But, we aren't competitive or anything! Take that maze...conquered in 30 minutes flat!
Ready? Aim? Fire!
I think we have a new tradition. We can't wait to go back! 
