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.