Practice repentance

To complete this science experiment, you will need these supplies:

a white cotton cloth
berries (fresh or frozen blueberries, blackberries or raspberries)
lemon juice
measuring cups
a cookie sheet
a spoon

  • Prior to beginning the experiment, create a stain on the cotton cloth using the berry juice.
  • Invite your children to try to wash the stain out using water. (Bath time is an ideal time for this activity!) Point out that the berry stain is like sin; no matter how hard we try, we cannot get rid of sin on our own.
  • Next, place the stained cloth on a cookie sheet. Have your children pour lemon juice on the stained area, one teaspoon at a time. As you do so, explain that the lemon juice represents God’s power.
  • Read 1 John 1:9 and rinse the fabric with water. Explain that our job is to confess our sins and that God is the one who purifies us (or washes our sins away). You may need to pour hot water through the fabric if it is a tough stain.
  • Use the questions provided below to prompt discussion. Finish by taking time to pray together, asking God if there is any sin in your lives that He wants to remove. Personal confession can be done aloud or quietly.
Questions for discussion
  • Could you wash the stain out using your own strength?
  • How do we get the dirt off the outside of our bodies?
  • Can we wash our insides?
  • What did get rid of the stain?
  • Who does the lemon juice represent?
  • What do we need to do to get rid of our sin?
  • What is the difference between a proud person and a humble person?
Key concepts

It can be hard to admit that we have sin in our hearts. It can also be difficult to accept the fact that we cannot get rid of our sin using our own strength. The berry stain is like our sin. We cannot get rid of it on our own. Jesus did not sin, so He was able to be the perfect sacrifice and take the punishment for everyone’s sins.

The great news is that God will forgive the sins of anyone who asks and will purify our unrighteousness. A proud person will not admit they have sin in their lives and they will refuse to ask for God’s help. A humble person will confess their sin and ask God to wash their sin away.

Relevant Scripture

Acts 3:18-20 “But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.”

Hebrews 9:14, 27-28 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! …Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

1 John 1:6-8 “If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Helium and the Holy Spirit

Take care to supervise this activity closely if young children are involved – balloons pose a serious choking hazard.

On your next shopping trip, purchase some helium-filled balloons and some regular balloons. At home, use a regular, breath-inflated balloon to play a simple game of “keep the balloon in the air” by batting the balloon upward as it nears the floor. (Be sure to play in a large open area that is free of obstacles.)

Explain to your children that the self-inflated balloon is like people who try to make themselves feel joyful by filling their lives with things they think will make them happy – things like food, fun activities, being with other people, toys and other material possessions, and doing things to make themselves feel important. Each time a player bats the balloon, encourage them to name something that a person might use to try make themself feel happy. Ideas might be ice cream, a new toy, candy, parties, play dates, new clothes, a puppy, cookies, games and TV.

Point out that when we try to fill ourselves with joy, it only works in the short term – like the balloon going up in the air and then back down again. Compare the self-inflated balloon to human efforts to be joyful and the helium balloon to God’s Holy Spirit, who provides continuous joy. Pray and ask God to curb your desires for “things” and the momentary pleasure these things provide. Also ask that He fill your hearts with the long-lasting joy of knowing Him.

Relevant Scripture

Galatians 4:6 “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ ”

Galatians 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Droopy plants

In Psalm 37, the wicked are described as withering plants while the righteous are described as well watered grass that is cared for by God. To illustrate this truth, here are some suggestions:

Spring / summer option

You will need two containers of dirt, grass seed and water. Plant some grass seed in two different containers. Water both containers until the grass comes up. Then stop watering one container while continuing to water the other.

Fall / winter option

You will need two houseplants, one that is well watered and the other one neglected. Find an already withered plant or let a houseplant go without water so that it begins to droop.

These plants become object lessons. Show your children the plants and explain that God will let the wicked wither, but will take care of those who are righteous.

Talk with your children, giving examples that would be applicable to his/her life. In your discussion, contrast wickedness with examples of doing what is right. For example, wickedness would be calling someone a name, teasing, leaving someone out or hurting someone. Kindness would be defending the child who is being picked on, sharing, including all friends in playtime, and considering the feelings of others.

Use the questions provided to enhance learning. The key teaching point is that although it is tempting to be envious of those who seem to be getting away with wrongdoing, God is watching and will care for those who do what is right.

Questions for discussion
  • Which plant would you like to be?
  • Which plant looks like it has been cared for?
  • Do you ever get upset when someone does something wrong?
  • Who promises to care for you?
Relevant Scripture

Psalm 37:1-4 “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

Water fun

This illustration is based on Luke 6:45. The goal is to illustrate how actions and speech flow out of the attitude of our heart.

You will need two clear bottles with lids, some dirt or sediment, and water.

  • Fill two clear bottles with water. Leave one full of clean water and put the lid on it. In the second bottle put your dirt or sand and close it. To add interest, you can draw faces on the outsides of the bottles.
  • Begin by showing your children the two bottles of water. Tell them one bottle is like a child who has God’s kindness in their heart, while the other one doesn’t. Explain that even though they look similar, when they get shaken up they will be able to tell the difference between the two.
  • Explain that when problems come up we can tell what is in someone’s heart. Difficulties might be a fight over a toy, a disagreement over who gets to choose a video, who gets the best seat or the biggest piece of cake. Use an example that is applicable in your household. Tell kids these are life’s “shake ups.”
  • Then shake the bottles of water to show that during these difficult times, what is in our heart shows. The bottle with dirt in it will become cloudy, whereas the one that is pure will still appear clear during the shaking. Talk about how someone with a kind heart will react in the different situations.

Read some of the Scripture verses to reinforce this Biblical truth. Review the discussion questions and close your time by praying and asking God for a pure heart and kind speech.

Questions for discussion
  • Can you clean your own heart?
  • Can Mom and Dad clean it for you?
  • Who can clean it?
  • Think of someone you like being around. How do they show kindness to you?
Relevant Scripture

Luke 6:45 “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored in his heart.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Proverbs 22:11 “He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.”

Kindness is contagious

At an early age, kids learn to be germ-aware. Parents regularly mention concerns about hand washing, nose blowing, nose picking, nail biting and covering mouths when coughing or sneezing. Begin by reviewing basic hygiene rules and expand your discussion to tell your children that there is one germ that they are welcome to spread all over the place: the kindness germ!

Kindness is as contagious as the common cold. Explain that when we are kind to each other, it softens our hearts and makes us want to be kind to others as well.

Discuss ways you can spread “kindness germs” everywhere! Throughout the course of your study, whenever your children wash their hands, cough, sneeze or blow their noses, it can be a reminder to ask God to wash away any unkindness and to ask Him to help you spread kindness germs instead.

Shining for Jesus

You will need some dirty pennies, two small bowls, salt, vinegar, cotton swabs (the double-ended stick swabs) and a copy of these paragraphs to serve as your “instructions.”

  • Begin by telling your children that you need to clean some pennies and you have read that you can use vinegar to clean them.
  • Put some pennies in the bowl. Dip a cotton swab in vinegar and try to clean the pennies. (You might see a slight cleaning effect, but nothing significant.)
  • Pretend that you are disappointed in the results. Then say, “I guess I should have read the instructions more carefully.” Consult your instructions and then say, “Now I understand! I was supposed to mix salt into the vinegar.”
  • Now have your children help you stir 1 tsp. of salt into ¼ cup of vinegar. Have them stir until the salt is dissolved.
  • When the salt is completely dissolved, allow your children to put the pennies into the mixture. You may need to stir the solution a bit, but the results will be startlingly different – your efforts will produce some clean and shiny pennies.
  • Explain that we are like the vinegar and the salt is like the Holy Spirit. We can try to be obedient on our own, but it is hard to obey when we try to do it in our own strength. It is much easier to obey when we ask God for help from His Holy Spirit.
  • Give each of your children a shiny penny to remind them how brightly their righteousness shines when they obey God.
  • Pray with your children, asking God to give them a desire to obey.
Question for discussions
  • What did I do wrong the first time?
  • Which instruction did I not follow at first?
  • Where do we find God’s instructions?
  • Who can help you obey God’s instructions?
  • What does the Bible say about children obeying their parents?
  • What does God promise to children who do obey their parents?
  • What does God say He will do for those who choose righteousness?
Relevant Scripture

John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth…

John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Psalm 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.’ ”

Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”

Body parts working all day, every day

Examine a children’s version of an anatomy and physiology book and talk about how all the parts of the human body work together.

Explain how the respiratory system brings oxygen into our bodies and how the digestive system processes the fuel (food) we eat. The circulatory system then carries this fuel to the rest of the body. The skeleton is like a frame for the body, but it can’t stand up on its own, so the ligaments, tendons and muscles support it. Without messages coming from the brain, the muscles couldn’t move our skeleton, nor could we breathe or eat.

In the Bible, we read that Christians are all part of the “body of Christ,” with Christ serving as the “head” (1 Corinthians 12:27). God planned for us all to have different roles. God has given us different things we are good at and we are to use our abilities to honour Him.

Questions for discussion
  • What would happen if your eyes decided to quit working? (Ask the same question concerning other body parts.)
  • What has God made you good at?
  • How can you honour Him with this gift?
Relevant Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Ephesians 4:15-16 “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Romans 12:4-5 “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Mouldy attitudes

This experiment is a hands-on illustration of how attitudes of self-centeredness and pride precede disrespectful behaviour, which then spoils relationships.

You will need a piece of bread (stale is ideal), a re-sealable freezer bag, a water spritzer, water and dust.

  • Send your children on a dust hunt. Give them a slice of bread and have them gather dust from dusty areas of the house on the bread. Tell your children that the dust represents selfishness and/or pride.
  • Spritz the bread with warm water so that the slice is damp and place it in an airtight bag.
  • Place the bag in a warm place for three days to allow mould to grow. After you have successfully grown some mould, take some time to discuss how disrespect “spoils” relationships as the mould spoiled the bread.
  • Compare a fresh slice of bread and the mouldy slice. Ask your kids which bread they would prefer to eat. Tell them that the mould represents disrespectfulness.
  • Then read Romans 12:16-18, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:3-4 and discuss how attitudes of selfishness and pride can cause people to treat each other disrespectfully. For example, if we are thinking only of ourselves, we will be more likely to push in front of someone in a line up. If we are proud, thinking that we are more important than others, we will be tempted to treat them poorly. On the other hand, if we are considerate of others, we offer to let them go ahead of us. If we consider other people to be valuable, then we treat them with kindness and respect.Use the discussion questions to help your children discover we all prefer to be around people who are kind, thoughtful and loving, than those who are out to please themselves.
  • Pray together, asking God to enable you to think of others instead of yourselves and to show proper respect to everyone (Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Peter 2:17).
Questions for discussion
  • Which slice of bread would you want to eat?
  • The mould has spoiled the bread. How does failing to show respect for others spoil relationships?
  • If you are thinking only of yourself, what will you do when someone pushes you by mistake?
  • Who would you rather be around – someone who treats you as a valued friend or someone who always wants the best for themselves?
Relevant Scripture

Romans 12:16-18 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

1 Corinthians 10:24 “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Preserving nature

If the season allows, go for a walk where you will see wildflowers but ask your children not to pick any. Explain that if all the wildflowers get picked, there will be none left for others to enjoy. Teach your children that allowing the flowers to grow shows respect for the beauty God made. This can extend into a discussion on caring for the environment so that the animals God created can continue to thrive.

If your children enjoy learning about animals, consider doing some research and finding children’s books on how to preserve the environment of their favourite animal on the potential extinction list. Some Canadian animals listed as endangered or vulnerable on the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list include the polar bear, sea otter, northern fur seal, great white shark, wolverine, wood turtle, spotted turtle, and many whales, fish and birds. To begin your research, visit your library for children’s books on the topic of extinction and endangered species.

Fire safety rules

This activity compares fire safety rules with “sin safety rules.” It can be used alone, or in conjunction with three other hands-on options: “firefighting,” “five-bell alarm” and “detecting temptation.” As you engage your children in this activity, ensure that they understand that playing with fire is very dangerous and that they are never to try any of these activities without parental permission and supervision.

Plan to go camping, or stay outdoors until late evening, and have a campfire or a bonfire. Alternatively, simply use a candle and extinguish the flame with a small cup of water or a spray bottle. Review some basic fire safety rules as you travel to the location where you will build a fire, or as you set up your candle. As you discuss these rules, invite your children to think of similar rules for dealing with sin – the “sin safety rules.” Explain that sin, like fire, is dangerous. Just as rules help us stay safe around fire, other rules can keep us safe when we are around sin and temptation. (Sample ideas for “sin safety rules” are provided in the chart that follows.)

As you start your campfire, have your children consider what a fire needs in order to burn. First, explain that all fires need oxygen (from the air) and fuel. Then have your kids identify potential sources of fuel. Typically, wood is used to fuel a fire, but candles use a wick and wax as fuel. Over the course of your fireside time, show your children how the fire goes out if the air or fuel is removed. (For example, watch how the fire dies down if it isn’t fed, or snuff out your candle, then eventually dump water on the fire or spray your candle with water to put it out.) Use these questions to discuss the danger of sin and fire:

Questions for discussion
  • How do you stop a fire from burning?
  • If your clothes catch on fire, how could you put the fire out?
  • How is sin like fire?
  • How does temptation turn into sin?
  • Can you fight small temptations using your own strength?
  • How could Satan trick you into thinking you are strong enough to fight all temptation on your own?
  • If you feel tempted to sin, what is the best way to snuff out the temptation?
  • What needs to be present in order for a person to sin?
  • When you have anger that is burning like a fire, how can you stop it from causing you to sin?
Key concepts

Sin is a lot like fire, because the more we “play” with it, the more we can get hurt. Explain to your children that you can blow on a candle and remove enough heat to end the fire. You can also put a small cup upside down over a candle to make it go out quite easily. A candle is like “a little bit of temptation;” Satan can fool us into thinking that we are stronger than sin or fire and able to deal with it in our own strength. However, if we were to try to blow or snuff out a large fire, we would soon realize that the fire is much stronger than we are.

Just as fire safety rules help us stay safe around fire, God gives us the Holy Spirit and the Bible to help us avoid the dangers of sin. God is way more powerful than Satan and when we pray and ask for help, God is always there to “provide a way out” and rescue us.

Relevant Scripture

Romans 6:16, 23 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? . . . For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

James 1:13-15 “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Fire safety rules

Sin safety rules

Don’t play with matches and lighters. If you see matches or a lighter where you can reach it, don’t touch it. Go tell a grown-up right away. If something is tempting you to sin, ask an adult to help. For example, if you see cookies left out on the kitchen counter after snack time is over, ask an adult to put the cookies away so you are not tempted to take one and disobey your parent’s rule: “Ask before you eat a sweet treat.”
Ask your parents to install smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. Smoke detectors can save lives. Ask your parents to show you where each one is located. Remind your parents to pray with every day, asking the Holy Spirit to help you recognize or “detect” temptation.
Remind your parents to test your smoke detectors every month. Everyone in your family should be familiar with its piercing sound. This sound means danger, and that you must escape quickly. When your conscience makes you aware that there is temptation close by, pray as soon as possible to escape the danger of being lured into sin.
When your parents change the time on your clocks for Daylight Saving Time, ask them to change your smoke alarm batteries. With fresh batteries, your smoke alarm will stay awake and watch for fire while you are sleeping. Listen to your conscience. Don’t let your conscience become “dead” like a smoke detector with a worn-out battery or no battery at all, because you have told it to be quiet too often.
In case of fire, don’t hide! Go outside! Fires are scary, but you should never hide in closets or under beds when there is a fire. Just because you are tempted to sin, doesn’t mean that you are bad! Don’t hide; go find Mom or Dad or ask Jesus for help!
To escape during a fire, fall and crawl. It’s easier to breathe in a fire if you stay low while getting out. Use the back of your hand to test if a door is hot before you open it. If it is hot, try another way out. To escape from the power of sin, get on your knees! Be humble and pray, asking God for help!
If your clothes are on fire, stop, drop and roll until the fire is out. Shout for help, but don’t run. Running makes fire burn faster. If you know you have sinned, God will forgive you and help you out of it! Stop sinning, drop to your knees in prayer.
Have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Find two ways out of every room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke. Practice escaping by both routes to be sure windows are not stuck and that screens can be removed quickly. Know your sin tendencies or weak areas and have an escape plan set up for when Satan tempts you to sin. A great “escape plan” is to have a Bible verse memorized that you can say when Satan comes prowling around.
Choose a meeting place outside so you will know that everyone has exited safely. Never go back into a burning building for any reason. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They have the equipment to safely rescue people. Just as you’d never try to put out a fire or enter a burning building to rescue someone on your own, never try to fight temptation and sin without God’s help. God is the one who has power over Satan and sin. He will rescue us from sin when we ask.
This is the local emergency number: ________. Put this phone number on your refrigerator and on every telephone in the house. If there is a fire at your house, choose one family member to call the fire department from a neighbour’s phone. Know that you have a direct line to Jesus any time you need to call. You don’t need to have memorized an emergency number to get in touch with God!