Casting Stones

November 8, 2009

Prior to Service:

• Supply “nerf” balls, sponges, or similar soft objects that will not hurt person being hit with object

• Set up boundary for children’s activity (boundary should be small enough that children can easily throw object into the area.)

Lesson Illustration: “Casting Stones”

• Ask for volunteer to help illustrate lesson (if several volunteers are available choose older child that will not get angry when they are struck with objects during lesson.)

• Have volunteer kneel inside circle with instructions that they are not to move or respond in any way once the lesson has begun.

• Ask qualifying questions for other children to participate in the activity. (Keep asking questions until all the children are positioned outside the boundary.)

1. Who among you brought their Bible today? Have children responding in the positive to position themselves outside the boundary

2. Who among you makes straight A’s in school? Have children responding in the positive to position themselves outside the boundary

3. Who among you plays sports on a team? Have children responding in the positive to position themselves outside the boundary (etc., etc., etc.)

• Distribute objects to children outside the boundary with the instructions that on “GO” signal they may throw object at the person kneeling inside the boundary.

• Any child not wishing to throw object at the person may pass object to next person so they can throw

• After time limit (of your choosing) stop activity and have children return to assembly area

Ask the volunteer: How did you feel knowing that you were going to be “hit” in this activity. Give volunteer chance to respond. Feelings may have been fear, frustration, anger, etc.

Ask the other participants: How did you feel knowing that you were going to “hit” the volunteer with the object. Give group chance to respond. Feelings may have been excitement, joy, worry, etc.

Ask the volunteer: Did you think that you deserved to be “hit” during this activity? Why? Give volunteer chance to respond.

Ask the other participants: You had to answer questions that showed you were deserving to throw the objects at the volunteer, did this make you feel you had the right to throw the objects? Why? Give group chance to respond.

Our lesson today tells us of another situation like this. Share Scripture with children.

Have all children stand. You had to answer a question to qualify in order to throw the object at the volunteer. I will ask a question and if the answer is “YES” you must sit down. Once you sit down you will remain seated until I am finished.

1. Who has not stolen anything? Let children respond by sitting down

2. Who has not hit brother or sister? Let children respond by sitting down

3. Who has not disobeyed mom or dad? Let children respond by sitting down

4. Who has never told a lie? Let children respond by sitting down

5. Who has never sinned? Let children respond by sitting down

By now all children should be sitting.

The truth is that all have sinned. Jesus knew that and He made the accusers in the story aware that He knew they were not worthy. No one is worthy but GOD and we should live our lives that way. Jesus loves us and wants us to do the right thing. He is faithful to forgive us even when we fail to do the right thing. Jesus forgave the woman in the story and He will forgive us if only we will ask and believe in Him.