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Quick Object Lessons 
Make Great Sermons for Kids or Adult Devotionals

These quick object lessons are drawn straight from Scripture.  Each includes a primary Bible verse which mentions a particular everyday object, the lesson it teaches, and a quick prayer. 

Being short and simple, these are easy lessons to pull out for family worship time, a children's sermon, a quick devotional for kids, youth or adults, Awana message, etc. 

They are also great to introduce Bible lessons, and most can fit in a bag for a surprise effect!


sermons in a bag

Photo by Lisa Fotios @ Pexels

Quick Object Lessons

Scripture is filled with quick object lessons!

An everyday object helps us identify through something we already know about and also helps us remember the lessons we find in God's Word.  These short and simple lessons can capture the learner's attention in a unique and interesting way.


Quick object Lessons from
The Old Testament

Many quick object lessons can be found in the books of Psalms and Proverbs since these are books of poetry and wisdom writings.  We have also included a few from other Old Testament books. 

It's fun to be on the look out for illustrations which can be used in this way for quick object lessons to keep on hand for moments when there's little time for preparation.


Psalm 31:15 - Watch - "God's Got This!"

object lesson watch

"My times are in your hands;

    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,

    from those who pursue me." NIV

  • Demonstrate

Look at your watch and announce what time it is or ask kids if they have a watch and can tell you what time it is. 

  • Illustrate

Read Psalm31:15.  This verse talks about our times are in God's hands...even our bad times.  God is in control; He is sovereign.  When hard times come and we feel like others are against us, we can know God is on our side and working on our behalf.  We, and our "times", are safe in His hands.

The next time you look at your watch or a clock to see what time it is, let it remind you that our times, both good & bad, are safe in God's hands.

  • Pray

Father, thank you that nothing takes You by surprise. We can know that whatever is happening in our life, You are near, You are in control, we can trust You!


Psalm 34:3 - Magnifying Glass - "Seeing God!"

object lesson magnifying glass


"Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

and let us exalt his name together!" ESV

  • Demonstrate

Show the magnifying glass; ask what it is used for.  Answers may include "to make things look larger," "to help us see things better," etc.  

  • Illustrate

Read the Bible verse.

This Bible verse speaks of magnifying the Lord.  We can help others see God better and how big He is when we exalt or praise His name together.  We become like a magnifying glass!

Let's think of some ways we can do this.  Others will see God better when we are kind, when we talk about Him and what He is doing in our life, when we love and care for each other, when we take time to go to church to worship or stop and pray before our meal, etc.

The next time you use a magnifying glass, may it remind you how we can magnify God for others to see how big and wonderful He is!

  • Pray

Dear Lord, please help us live in a way others can see You more clearly. Help us remember each day how big and wonderful You truly are.  May we magnify you with our actions and our words!


Psalm 91:1 - Shadow - "Draw Close to God"

shadow object lesson

Photo by Jeffrey Czum @ Pexels

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." ESV

  • Demonstrate

Bring a flashlight so that you can demonstrate shadows with your hand or other objects.  Have a volunteer step several paces away and attempt to place their hand into the shadow.  Next have them come close and place their hand into the shadow.

  • Illustrate

Read Psalm 91:1.  This verse says we can dwell in the shelter of God and abide in His shadow.  Dwelling in His shelter points to God's protection and how He provides for us like living with our family in a house.  Abiding in His shadow though points to the closeness of His presence like when our family is with us in that house. Our volunteer was only able to reach my shadow when they were closer to me and I to them.

God wants us to know that He not only wants to provide for and protect us, He wants to be near us. We can feel safe, secure and loved as we abide in His nearness - His shadow.

  • Pray

Dear God, thank you for your presence.  Help me remember when I am afraid, lonely or worried that You are near and I can rest in Your shadow.


Quick Object Lessons
Psalm 119:103 - Something Sweet - "God's Word"

object lesson sweets

Photo by Irina Edilbaeva @ Pexels

"How sweet are your words to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!" NLT

  • Demonstrate

Quick object lessons can even come from things we taste! Use honey, candy or anything sweet for a taste test.  Ask kids to close their eyes, taste and describe the taste.  Or begin by talking about their favorite sweet thing to eat.

  • Illustrate

Read Psalm 119:103. This Bible verse says God's words are sweet, even sweeter than honey!  We would never know how good honey or candy or anything sweet tastes unless we actually taste it.  In the same way, we won't know just how sweet and valuable God's Word is to our life unless we taste it by reading or listening to it.

The next time we eat something sweet, let it remind us how good and sweet God's Word is too and let's take time to read it.

  • Pray

Father, please help us take the time to taste and see just how sweet Your words are and how they can make our lives sweet too.


Psalm 147:3 - Bandaid - "Healing Hurts"

object lesson bandaid

"He heals the brokenhearted

    and bandages their wounds." NLT

  • Demonstrate

Hold up a bandaid or give one to each child.  Ask when was the last time they needed a bandaid and for what.

  • Illustrate

Read Psalm 147:3.  This Bible verse tells us that God will heal our broken hearts and bandage our wounds.  What are some things that may break our heart or wounds we may not see?  God sees all our wounds, even the unseen like losing someone we love, having our feelings hurt, etc.  He wants to give us comfort by being near us.

The worst hurt or wound He sees though is when we are separated from Him and alone.  This is why Jesus came to live and die for our sin.  Sin hurts us.  We can ask Jesus to forgive and heal our hearts by trusting in Him.  That's better than any bandaid or medicine!

The next time you use a bandaid, let it remind you of how much God cares and wants to heal your heart with His love.

  • Pray

Dear Jesus,  thank You for loving me and coming to this world to die for my sin.  Thank You that You can heal my heart and bandage my wounds with Your peace, forgiveness and presence.


Proverbs 16:24 - Honey - "Words We Speak"

object lesson honey

"Kind words are like honey—

    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." NLT

  • Demonstrate

Hold up a jar of honey and ask what we use honey for.  How does it taste?  Honey is healthier for us than sugar; many people use it to sweeten their tea or in recipes for a sweetener.  Honey can also help when we have a cough or a sore throat. And you may not know this, but honey has even been used to treat wounds or burns!

  • Illustrate

Read Proverbs 16:24. Not only is God's Word sweet like honey, but our words can be too when they are kind and encouraging to others. Our words can be good for their health and make others feel better.

When we speak, let's think about if we are using "sweet" words or "bitter" words.

  • Pray

Dear God, help me think before I speak. Please help me remember my words can be sweet like honey and help others feel better or they can be bitter and hurt.  May I choose to be like You even with my words.


Isaiah 49:16 - Your Hand - "God Doesn't Forget"

quick object lesson

"Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; 

your walls are continually before me."

  • Demonstrate

Ask each one in the group their name; then ask for suggestions on how you can remember these.  What about writing your names down? Take out a pen and begin writing each name on the center of the palms of your hands.

  • Illustrate

Read Isaiah 49:15-16.  God is sharing here with the Israelites how He could never forget about them!  He even says He has "inscribed or engraved" them on the palms of His hands.  These words mean for something to be written as a lasting record.  God assures us over and over in the Bible that He will not forget us or forsake us.  He will always be there for us.

  • Pray

Dear LORD, thank you for always promising to remember us and be with us.  In the good days and the bad days, You are near and watching over us.  Help us to remember we can always turn to You and call out for Your help.  Thank You that my name is written on the palm of your hand!


Quick Object Lessons
Jeremiah 29:11 - Puzzle - "God Has Plans"

quick object lessons

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." NLT


  • Demonstrate

Give each child a piece of a puzzle while you hold the top of the box with the full picture toward you.  Ask if they can guess what the picture is the puzzle will make when all put together.  It's hard to guess when you only have a few pieces.  Point out that you can see the whole picture on the box top even though they can't.

  • Illustrate

Read Jeremiah 29:11; this verse is similar to our puzzle. We are only able to see small pieces of our life like pieces of the puzzle, but  we can trust God sees and knows the whole beautiful picture or plan for our life.   

  • Pray

Father, thank You that you have a wonderful plan for my life and I can trust You see and know and are in control.  Thank You for watching over me; please help me always remember you are near and at work putting the pieces of my life together for good.


Quick object Bible Lessons from
The New Testament

The New Testament writers loved including Scripture illustrations. These are perfect for quick object lessons for kids, youth & adults.  Jesus was a master of using parables in helping us understand the Kingdom of God and spiritual lessons!

Quick object lessons are great to use as attention grabbers as well as tools to help us remember God's truth during our everyday lives.

Matthew 10:42 - A cup - "Small Matters"

object lesson cup

Photo by Valeria Boltneva @ Pexels

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” NIV

  • Demonstrate

Pass a cup around while asking what each would enjoy drinking out of the cup.  Would this cup hold a lot? Not too much, a cup is small.  A pitcher or tall glass would hold more.

  • Illustrate

Read Matthew 10:42.  Jesus said these words to His disciples one day.  He wanted them to know that even the smallest things we do to serve and show His love to others matter.  We don't have to be older, more talented, rich, or famous to make a difference in this world.  Even if we give a little child something small like a cup of cold water out of our love for Jesus, we are pleasing God.  In what small ways can we serve others and show God's love for them? (a smile, a hug, kind words or deeds, helping our parents or siblings, etc.)

  • Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you that I am not too small to show others your love and make a difference in the world around me.  When I drink from a cup or see one, help me to think of small ways I can serve and love others for you.


Quick object Lessons
Luke 12:7 - Hair - "God Knows!"

quick children sermons

Photo by RODNAE Productions @ Pexels

“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

  • Demonstrate

Ask students to tell about who cuts their hair.  Pull a strand of your own hair out if possible or have kids hold on to one strand of their own hair.  Ask - "Does the person who cuts your hair know how many hairs are on your head?"  "What about your mom or dad or best friend?"  The Bible tells us God knows though!

  • Illustrate

Read Luke 12:7.  Jesus is encouraging his friends not to be afraid.  He says they are so special to God that He even knows the number of hairs on their heads.  God know this about each of us too!  We are so special to Him and we can trust Him to care for us each and every day.

  • Pray

Dear God, you are amazing! Thank you for caring enough about me that you even know how many hairs are on my head!  When I am afraid, help me remember how special I am to you and that you love me so much.


Quick Object Lessons
John 6:35 - Bread - "Daily Jesus"

short object lesson

"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty."

  • Demonstrate

Tear off a piece of bread to give to each person and tell them to eat it. Ask how often they eat bread.  In Bible days, bread was at least one thing most people did have to eat. Ask - "Will regular bread keep you from ever being hungry again?"

  • Illustrate

Read what Jesus said in John 6:35.  Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life.  The people He was speaking to were familiar with eating bread just like we are.  What happens when we eat bread?  We take it into our mouths and our body makes it become a part of us.  Jesus wants us to receive Him into our lives through faith; He then lives in us through His Holy Spirit.  Regular bread can fill our hunger for a time and give us a bit of energy, but Jesus says here that He gives us life that will fill us forever!

  • Pray

Jesus, thank you for becoming the Bread of Life.  Thank you for coming down from Heaven to give Your life for us.  Help us to share you with others so they won't have to hunger and thirst after other things that can't give them life.


Quick Object Lessons
2 Corinthians 2:15 - Fragrance - "Smell Like Jesus"

short object lessons

Photo by Mareefe @ Pexels

"For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:"

  • Demonstrate

Allow each person to smell perfume, fragranced soap, etc.  Ask if they know someone that smells good. What do they smell like?  If you were to hug them or sit close to them, would you begin to smell like them?  More than likely you would!  If the situation allows, you could also wear perfume or cologne yourself and hug them so they smell like you. 

  • Illustrate

Read 2 Corinthians 2:15.  Paul is saying our lives as followers of Jesus should be spreading the Gospel just like someone spreads a fragrance.  First we must spend time close to Jesus, and then we go out a spread His fragrance to others. When we spend time in God's presence reading His Word and talking with Him in prayer, we become more and more like Jesus.  Others will begin to not only see Jesus in us, but smell His sweet fragrance of hope found in Him.

  • Pray

Dear God, help me to spend more and more time with You so that others around me will come to know and trust Jesus and the hope found in Him.  Thank You that when I draw close to You, You will also draw close to me!


A longer lesson version is also available - "A Nose Knows."


© Copyright 2022 Susan Smart

More Quick Object Lessons

object lessons for kids

For longer Bible object lessons or more ideas for quick object lessons, visit our Object Lesson Index where object lessons are organized alphabetically and by topic!

Also see - 

Object Lessons for the Holidays - All Year Round

Object Lessons from the Kitchen to the Outdoors


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