by Elaine Oliver
Biblical Principle
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Materials:
• Extra Large Sponge
• Clear water – 4 oz.
• Clear water – 4 oz.
• Clear Container
• Water color paint (red, blue, or green)
• Picture of brain in a child’s head
Activity:
Illustrate: Show sponge.
Ask: What is this? What does it do?
Say: It can absorb water.
Illustrate: Soak in water
Say: It can soak in water. What will come out when I squeeze it? Allow children to answer.
Illustrate: Squeeze sponge.
Illustrate: Put drops of paint in water. Hold up container.
Say: What will happen if the sponge soaks in the green (or selected color) water? Allow children to answer.
Say: What will come out when I squeeze the sponge?
Illustrate: Squeeze sponge.
Say: It will squeeze out what it soaked in. Green (or selected color)
Illustrate: Show a picture of the brain.
Say: Our brain, our mind, is like a sponge. Everything we “soak in” – what we see (on TV, videos, books, etc.) and what we hear (music, etc) gets soaked into our brain.
If we see and hear good things, we will speak and act in a good way. In the same way if we see and hear things that are not good, it will show when we act and when we speak.
So be careful what you see, what you hear, where you go, what you touch. Spend time reading the Bible, studying your Sabbath school lesson, memorizing your memory verses, and praying. The more we study about Jesus, the more we will become like Him, and walk like Him, and talk like Him, and love like Him.
Close with prayer. (Ask for volunteers).
References
Adapted from a children’s story heard at the Seminar Schloss in Bogenhofen, an educational institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Austria and for Switzerland.
About the author
Elaine Oliver, MA, CFLE is Associate Director of the Department of Family Ministries for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.