Strong Bond

“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”  Mark 10:6-9

You shall not commit adultery.  Exodus 20:14

Props: 2 paper hearts, duct/packing tape

God created families.  He came up with the idea of a husband and a wife to be joined together with a strong bond.  (Attach two hearts together, back-to-back, with strong tape.  Press them together as you speak to insure they are securely bonded.)  Once a husband and wife are joined together, nothing should separate them.

Sadly, though, sometimes a husband and wife allow themselves to be separated by arguments, problems, or unfaithfulness to each other.  This makes God very sad because He knows that if they separate, they will hurt themselves, each other and their family.  (Invite a few volunteers to try to separate the hearts without damaging them.  When they cannot do so, tear the hearts apart, showing the damage that it inevitably causes).  See how each of the hearts was hurt by separating.  That’s because they were never supposed to separate.  They were brought together by a strong bond.  That bond was supposed to hold them together for the rest of their lives.  

Sometimes families are separated and hurt like this.  But the good news is that you can make a decision to be faithful to your family and that when you get older, you will be faithful to your husband or wife.  Also, know that even if your parents are separated, God can heal your heart.  He is a father who is always faithful and will always keep His promises to you.  He loves you and will never leave you or abandon you.

You can choose now to be faithful to your family.

Lead the kids in prayer for their families, being sensitive to their needs. 

The Commitment

 Props: household pet (real pet or a stuffed animal)       

 “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14 (NIV)

 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33 (NIV)         

            (Bring out pet and play with it as you speak).

            Almost every kid has the dream of owning a pet.  Most of you have probably asked your parents for a pet at one time or another.  And they probably all said the same thing: “Having a pet is a big responsibility.  You have to feed it, bathe it, and clean up after it.”  You being the responsible children that you are probably promised to do all of those things.  (If applicable, tell the story of your own childhood pet, how you asked your parents for it, how you had to take care of it, etc.)

            Having a pet is a big responsibility.  It’s not always fun to take care of an animal.  But if you love your animal, it’s worth it. 

            Today we’re talking about respecting marriage.  Marriage is a big responsibility and commitment.  It takes a lot of hard work and it’s not always easy.  But if you love God, it’s worth it.  God will bless people who keep their promises.

            Do you wonder why we’re teaching you about marriage even though you’re so young?  Learning about marriage commitment now is important.  You can pray for your parents and family members who are married.  You can ask God to help them keep their promise to each other.  You can also begin to pray now that when you grow up, God will help you choose the right husband or wife and will help you keep your promise to be faithful in marriage.

The Fireplace

Props: cardboard fireplace display, box of matches

(As the teacher tells the story, have a helper act out the scenes).

 ”You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14 (NIV)

             There is a story about a man who had a beautiful fireplace in his house.  Each night he would come home, light the fireplace, and be warmed by the beautiful fire.  The dancing flames and the glistening embers captivated him.  Some nights, he would stay by the warmth of the fire for hours, just watching the sparks. 

            One evening, he decided he wanted more than just one fire.  He wanted another to enjoy.  (Helper exits).  So he took a box of matches to his bedroom, struck one of the matches and dropped it to the floor.  Suddenly, a large ball of flames began to grow right there in the middle of his bedroom.  It burned up the rug, scorched the bed, charred the walls and didn’t stop until the whole house was engulfed in flames and destroyed. (Optional explosion sound effect).

            The man didn’t understand why the fire in the fireplace was so beautiful and warming, when outside of the fireplace it was so destructive. 

            Today we are talking about the seventh commandment.  This commandment talks about marriage.  God created marriage for a man and a woman to share together.  Marriage was meant to be a blessing, just like fire can be a blessing.  God created boundaries for marriage, just like a fireplace is a boundary for fire.  If the fire stays in the fireplace, it’s a beautiful thing.  And if a man and a woman don’t go outside of God’s boundaries for marriage, it is a beautiful thing.

            The man in our story today didn’t understand boundaries.  He thought he could just throw fire around and everything would be okay.  But he ended up destroying his house.  There are many men and women who don’t understand the boundaries for marriage.  They think they can get married and then have boyfriends or girlfriends on the side.  They end up destroying their homes and families because they don’t follow God’s boundaries for marriage.

            Marriage is supposed to be a wonderful, beautiful blessing in the life of one man and one woman who get married and stay faithful to each other.  God meant it to be a good thing.  Today’s commandment teaches us how to make sure marriage will be the blessing God created it to be.  Let’s learn that commandment now.

The “Love” Family (skit)

…love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4         

Props: masking tape, Bible, scissors 

Setting: A family—the “Love” family – comes to the stage. Mr. and Mrs. Love – along with their children, Brother and Sister Love — appear normal except for one thing:  they’re all taped up.  The family members have tape around their wrists and ankles and over their mouths.   

Narrator:  Not too long ago in a town not too far from here there lived a family not too different from some families you might know.  (Enter the Love family, hobbling on stage while taped up).  Mr. and Mrs. Love lived with their children, Brother and Sister Love in a lovely little home.  They were a lovely family with lovely lives.  There was only one problem:  They didn’t know how to show their love for one another. 

 Anytime they tried to say anything to one another… 

Love family: Mmmmmpppphhhhh… (progressively louder and more emphatic).   

Narrator: Things just never quite came out right.  And anytime they tried to do anything for each other or give anything to each other…. 

Love family: Swing hands around and become frustrated to the point of half-accidentally hitting each other.  Meanwhile, make noises of frustration. 

Narrator:  Well, that just didn’t turn out well, either.  And whenever they tried to go anywhere as a family… 

Love family:  Head in the same direction, but fall all over the floor as a result of your ankles being tied together.   

Narrator:  This went on for years until one day… “Love Man” appeared. 

“Love Man,” an ordinary boy, enters.   

Narrator: Wait a minute… you don’t look like a Superhero. 

Love Man: I’m not.  I’m just an ordinary kid. 

Narrator: Then what are you going to do to help this family in distress, in dire circumstances and desperate conditions…? 

Love Man: I’m going to tell them about the love of God, and He will teach them how to love each other. 

Narrator:  Hmm…

 Love Man: (Holds up Bible and speak to family) The Bible says that love is kind.  God has been kind to you and it’s time for you to be kind to one another. 

 (Family mumbles in response).

 Love Man: First you must accept God’s kindness.  Are you ready to do that?

(Family mumbles yes and nods).

 Love Man: (cutting the tape from each of them) God’s love will make you free to love others.

 Love family: (embracing and speaking to one another simultaneously) “I love you!”

 Narrator: From that day on the Love family really did live a life full of love for each other, a love that they showed to each other in their kind words and actions. 

(Love family exits, doting all over each other).

Honor with Your Heart

Honor your father and your mother.  Exodus 20:12

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Colossians 3:20, 23, 24

Props: two pieces of fruit that both look good, one fresh and one rotten

            (Read Exodus 20:12).

Maybe you’re thinking, “Cool, I’ve got this commandment down.  I always do what my parents tell me.”  And that’s great; you should be obedient!  But that’s just part of honoring your parents.  To honor your parents means to obey them with a good attitude.  It’s not enough to just do what they say.  You have to have a good attitude, too. 

            Some of you may think it doesn’t matter what your attitude is like, but that’s the most important thing.  Look at these pieces of fruit.  (Show fruit).  Don’t they both look so nice?  It looks like you could just bite into either of these fruits and enjoy them.  But let’s take a closer look.  (Cut into each piece of fruit, commenting on its inward appearance).  Even though both pieces of fruit look nice, one is fresh and one is rotten.  It really matters what’s on the inside!   

            Colossians 3 says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  When your parents ask you to do something, you should do it as if Jesus himself asked you to do it.  You should clean your room like you’re cleaning it for Jesus.  You should do your homework as if God Himself is asking you to do it.  You should share with your brother or sister as if God is telling you to. 

            When you obey your parents with a good attitude, you are like this fresh piece of fruit.  Your heart is right before God.  But when you have a bad attitude, even if you do what your parents say, your heart looks like this rotten piece of fruit to God. 

            God wants you to obey, but He is also concerned about the attitude of your heart.  Are you obeying just to stay out of trouble, or are you obeying because you truly honor your parents and God?

Remember, honor your parents.  Honoring means to obey with a good attitude and from your heart!

Honor by Helping

Honor your father and your mother.  Exodus 20:12

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.  Proverbs 10:1

Props: backpack (stuffed with paper to appear heavy)

As you teach this lesson, carry a “heavy” backpack on your shoulders.  Have a helper follow you around and lift/push down the backpack at alternating times.

            Your parents have a tough job!  When you were a baby, they rocked you, fed you and got up with you in the middle of the night.  (Not to mention what they had to do when you had a dirty diaper!)  They have to work and make sure the bills get paid.  They make your meals and clean up the house.  Your parents make sure you have clean clothes to wear, that you have your homework done and that you get to school.  They are responsible for teaching you, providing for you and protecting you as best they can. 

            The Bible teaches us to honor our parents.  One way to honor them is by doing your part to help them.  (Helper begins following you around and lifting/pushing down on the backpack at your cues).  My helper here can do one of two things while he’s following me around: he can either lift up my backpack and make it easier for me to walk, or he can push down on it and make it harder. 

            When you listen to and obey your parents and have a good attitude, you make it easier for them to do their job—especially if you do what you need to do without being asked.  But if you are disobedient, disrespectful and rude you make it harder for your parents.  If you don’t clean your room when you should, they have to stop what they need to be doing to remind you.  If you are fighting with your brothers and sisters, they have to constantly correct you and it puts added pressure on them.  What about if you argue with your parents?  That can add loads of stress on them! 

The Bible says that a wise [child] brings joy to his [parents], so bring joy to your parents by doing your part through obedience with a great attitude!