Christian Object Lesson - Visions of Christ

Christian
Object Lesson
- Visions of
Christ
www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
www.CreativeObjectLessons.com

Refining our gifts, skills, talents
and abilities, striving for
excellence, is a very important
and noble task, that gives Christ
more to work with. But
regardless of our level of ability,
everything we have is to be used
for His glory so that others see a
vision of Christ when they look at
us. This story and Object lesson
reminds us that we must live a
life that is so close to Christ, that
like those in Antioch, we are
called Christians – “little Christ”.

Object Lessons
Instead of displaying an object
lesson for the youth to learn from,
we will be providing a variety of
objects for youth to use as object
lessons. They will be creating the
object lessons.

1. Collect a variety of small items from
your office or home. A pencil, a
piece of paper, a sticky note, a
stapler, a sugar packet, a thumb
tack, an envelop, a letter opener, a
coin, a key, a ring, a bottle cap, a
ruler, a knife, a shoe lace, a breath
mint, a piece of candy, a cup, a
plate, a napkin, a nail file, a name
card, a clothes pin, a screw, a nail, a
paper clip, a magnet, a towel, a
battery, a toothbrush, a comb, and
just about anything else you can
find. Use whatever you have
available. Make sure you have
enough items for the entire group
to each have a different item with a
few to spare.

2. Ask the youth to each take
one item that represents
something about God. What
truth about God or Christ
does it bring to mind? What
is something about God it
could represent?
3. Let the youth share what the
item represents about God
or what it reminds them of
in relation to God.
4. After all the youth have
shared, tell the following
story.

An Illustration
In the 18th century there was a
German sculptor by the name of
Johann Heinrich von Dannecker.
Legend says that he could almost
bring stone to life with his skills as a
sculptor.
At the height of his career, he
decided to do something very special
with his gift. He dreamed of shaping
a piece of lifeless stone into a statue
of Christ that would come to life as a
witness to his world.

He chiseled, scraped and polished the
marble for almost 2 years. When he
was convinced that his statue carried
the likeness of his Lord, he wanted to
test the statue on eyes that would not
lie.
So he went out to the street, and
brought in a young girl. He took her
into his studio, and he set her down
in front of the shrouded sculpture.
Uncovering it, he asked her, “Do you
know who this is?” “No, sir!” she
replied. But he must be a very great
man. And Dannecker knew that he’d
failed. The statue was good enough
for kings and nobles, but it wasn’t
good enough to be a testimony of
Christ.

He was discouraged. He was
disheartened. He was depressed. But
he knew that he had to try again. So he
set his hand to the task. It took him six
years this time, every day,
painstakingly, shaping, carving and
polishing. Finally, once again he felt he
was done. And again, he brought in a
child as his first critic.
He took off the shroud, and asked her
gently, “Who is that?” Legend has it
that tears came to her eyes as she
recognised Jesus. It was enough.
Dannecker had finished his task. He
had created his masterpiece. He had
given visible shape to his faith.

Later, to a friend, he told the secret of
those last six years. It was as if, he
said, Christ had joined him daily in his
little room. He felt the nearness of his
Lord. He sensed the glory of his
Presence. All Dannecker had to do,
really, was to transfer the vision of
Christ that he received to the block of
marble.
I am not sure if the story is true, but it
is a powerful story with a profound
message. And…
There’s more to the story.

Some years later, the French emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte saw Dannecker’s
work. He was so impressed, he sent
for the sculptor and offered him a
commission. “Make me a statue of the
goddess Venus.” It was considered an
incredible honor to be chosen as the
creator of such a work of art! Who
could refuse? But you know what?
Dannecker did! He refused the
commission. He gave up that honor.
And you know why?
His responded to Napoleon: “A man
who has seen Christ can never employ
his gifts in carving out a pagan
goddess!”

Take it to the Next Level
Make it Spiritual
• What are some of the gifts,
talents, skills, and abilities that
we have in our group?
• How can these be used to teach
others something about God?
How can they be used to bring
Glory to God?

Make it Personal
1. I think the true secret to making
Christ come to life in my lifes, to be
truly Christlike, is to spend lots of
time in His presence and to project
the very presence and nearness of
Christ in my personal life.
2. Like Johann Heinrich von
Dannecker many of us have failed
at times, some of us decidedly
more toward the disastrous rather
than the masterful. But I truly
believe that if we keep our hearts
focused on Him, that like with
Danneker, God can use our labours
of love, our gifts, talents, skills, and
abilities to touch the hearts of
others all over the world and open
doors to sharing the gospel.

Make it Practical
1. List some of your talents, skills,
abilities and gifts.
2. How could these be used to bring
Glory to God?
3. What is something you can do
this week to be more Christlike,
to let others see a vision of Christ
in you this week?

4. If everything you did, was done for
God’s benefit, was done to please
Him, glorify Him, would your
actions change? Would you do
things differently?
• Would you speak to people
differently?
• Would you treat others
differently?
• Would you do different things?
• Would you do things
differently?
• If God were your employer,
your teacher, your parent,
your constant companion
would anything change?

Scripture
“Each one should use whatever
gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms. If
anyone speaks, he should do it as
one speaking the very words of
God. If anyone serves, he should
do it with the strength God
provides, so that in all things God
may be praised through Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory and the
power for ever and ever. Amen.” –
1 Peter 4:10-11

“Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men, since you know that you will
receive and inheritance from the Lord
as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.” – Colossians 3:23-24
In The Parable of the Talents (Matthew
25:14-28), 3 servants were given 5
talents, 2 talents and 1 talent
respectively. In those days talents
referred to money. But today when
someone speaks of talents, we think of
the great scientists, artists, musicians,
actors and athletes. From the story we
learn that God has given us each
different talents and abilities that he
expects us to use for his benefit.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you
need to know when planning your very own
object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed
object lesson ideas and another 200 object
lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms
and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…
Creative Object Lessons
www.creativeobjectlessons.com

Christian Object Lesson - Visions of Christ

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Christian Object Lesson - Visions of Christ