Convinced Faith

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Want to Tell Somebody?

Theme Verse: Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV)

Objects Needed:large rat trap, hot dog or pencil

Preparation: Prepare ahead of time by locating the pressure spring on the trap. Practice setting the trap and then setting it off. Practice setting the trap while at the same time moving the spring arm off of the metal apparatus so that there is no pressure on the mechanism. Simply lift up on the spring arm and place it down onto the base next to the apparatus. When setting the trap be sure to give the impression that the pressure is still there. Remember, to practice, practice, practice!!! You CANNOT make a mistake with this illustration! The pressure spring must be released when you have a volunteer to assist you!

Application:

(At the beginning, slightly lift on the apparatus and allow it to snap back against the wood base while you talk.) How many of you have ever seen a rat? It looks like a large mouse doesn’t it? This is a rat trap. It’s made so that when a rat is caught in it, it will die. Watch closely as I set the trap. (Set the trap and be sure to keep your fingers out of the way! Pick up the hot dog.) What do you think would happen if I placed this hot dog onto the set trap? (Using the hot dog, set off the trap.) You can see how powerful the trap is. (While you continue, release the spring.) Which of you trusts me? You must really trust me! (Choose someone to help. And set the trap with the pressure spring RELEASED!) I want to assure you that this trap cannot hurt you. Do you believe me? It will not hurt you. So far I have used two very important words since I’ve had the trap. I asked, Who TRUSTS me? and Do you BELIEVE me? Trust and believe are good words, but the best word to describe what we are learning now is, FAITH. You have faith in me. You have faith to believe that when I say that the trap will not hurt you, then the trap will not hurt you. You have faith to know that I would not let any harm come to you. This is similar to the faith that we must have in Jesus and His promises to us. This Bible tells us that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Another translation uses the word convinced, for sure, or certain. You must be convinced that what I am telling you is the truth. This trap will not hurt you. You saw what it can do to a hot dog, but it will not hurt you. I want you to touch the end of the trap. Can you do that for us? (AGAIN, BE SURE THE PRESSURE SPRING IS RELEASE!!!) Allow the child to touch the trap. Most children will slowly move their hand toward it, then slightly touch it and quickly pull it away.) That’s wonderful, you had true faith in me. The trap didn’t hurt you, did it? I fixed the trap, so that it would hurt you, though you didn’t know that until now. All you knew was that I had told you that you would be alright. You were convinced that what I said was true. We must have that kind of faith in Jesus. Though we cannot see Him right now, we must be convinced that He is the Son of God. Though we cannot see the answers to our prayers yet, we can be absolutely convinced that everything God has said in His word is true. We can have complete faith in Him and His promises. (Thank your volunteer for their assistance.) (Pray.)