Preteen Object Lesson: God Does the Impossible

In this object lesson, kids will press balloons onto thumbtacks while they learn how God does the impossible.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25

You’ll need:

• 20 flathead thumbtacks
• one 3×5 index card
• transparent tape
• table
• uninflated balloons

Easy Prep

Push the thumbtacks through the index card in a filled-in rectangular pattern with all the points facing the same direction and the heads of the tacks touching each other. Put tape over the heads of the tacks to keep them in place.

Believe the Impossible

Say: God told Mary and Joseph that Mary would give birth to God’s Son, Jesus. To them, that seemed impossible. But God does the impossible. Let’s see what it’s like to experience something that seems impossible.

Set the prepared index card at the front of the room with the thumbtack points facing up.

Give each child a balloon to inflate to about medium size. Help kids tie the balloons closed, if necessary.

Once the balloons are inflated and tied, ask:

• Who believes you could push your balloon onto these tacks without it popping? Have kids explain whether they think it’s possible or not.

Let each child set his or her balloon onto the tacks and push down on it. (You can push a balloon very hard onto the tacks and it won’t pop.)

If there are kids who are afraid to push on their balloons, let them set a balloon on the tacks while you push down on it for them.

Warning: Watch for kids trying to push so hard on the balloons that their hands might hit the tacks if the balloon should pop or slip.

Discuss It

Ask:

• What surprised you about this experiment?

Give kids an example of a time someone told you something that seemed impossible. For example, perhaps you thought it would be impossible for a friend to be healed from cancer or for you to get a job you really wanted.

• When has someone told you something that seemed impossible but it was true?

Allow a few moments for kids to share with a few others nearby.

Say: What God told Mary and Joseph seemed impossible. But God does the impossible. We can trust God to do the impossible in our lives, too.

This object lesson was taken from Sciency-Fun WOWS!: 54 Surprising Bible Object Lessons (ages 8-12). Looking for more object lessons? Check out these ideas!