Activity: What's Hiding in the Dark?

Bible focus point: God's love, Jesus, salvation, darkness versus light
Bible focus scripture: "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."  John 8:12 (NLT)
Age recommendation: ages 3 to 12

What's Hiding in the Dark

created by Tarah Hutchinson

Materials:
Large black backpack (or similar deep bag)
Black teddy bear
Flashlight

Introduction:
Jesus told all the people who could hear that He had authority and power, when he said this sentence, read John 8:12.  The word darkness is used in the bible to represent the sins, evil and wrong doings of many people.  Then the bible uses the word light to represent all of the right, good, and shining things that people do.  Just like when you turn on a light switch to remove the darkness, Jesus came, like a bright light, to remove all the darkness of our hearts.

Instructions:
[This activity works best if you are able to dim the lights in the room (not complete darkness)].

1. Prior to the start of your introduction (so the children can't see).  Hide a black teddy bear in the bottom of the backpack.

2. Ask each child to look inside the dark bag and see if they can see what is hiding in the darkness.  Allow each child to respond.

You say:
There IS something hiding in the bottom darkness of this bag.  You can't see it because of the darkness.  This is similar to the darkness we don't know that we have in our hearts.  Perhaps, some of you may have dark wrong thoughts, you hide from your friends and family.  (Restrain from asking for an example.)  Now I want you to see what happens when I add light to the bottom of the bag.

Again, ask each child to look inside the bag as you shine a flashlight into the bag.  Prevent them from shouting out loud what they see in the bag.

You say:
There you see there is something here: a fluffy cuddly teddy bear!  Now is this bear evil, bad, or scary? Allow the children to respond.  The dark thing hiding in the darkness of the bag is found to be cute and cuddly when the light is shining on it.  Knowing who Jesus is and loving Him, does the same thing to our hearts.  When Jesus' light is shining in our lives and hearts, we are capable of being cute, cuddly, lovable, and precious to God.