The Squeeze Test
Object Lesson ·
Early elementary ·
10 min
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The Ark Church
POWERED BY KIDOLOGY
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OBJECT LESSON · Ages 6–8 · 16-22 MIN · Acts 8:26-40
The Squeeze Test
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BIG IDEA
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Baptism doesn't put Jesus inside you — it shows everybody what Jesus has already done inside you.
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SUPPLIES · 6 ITEMS
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2 identical kitchen sponges |
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Clear bowl |
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Hand towel |
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Sealable plastic bag |
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Water |
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A Bible |
| HOW TO SHOW IT |
YOUR NOTES |
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SET UP
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Get the sponges ready
| DO |
Soak one sponge fully in water. Squeeze it gently so it is wet inside but not dripping, then blot the outside hard with the towel. Put it in the sealable bag. Leave the other sponge dry. Set the clear bowl and towel where everyone can see them. |
| DO |
Keep the wet sponge in its bag until this activity begins. If the outside feels wet, blot it again so the children cannot spot the answer early. |
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1
2-3 min |
Two sponges, one question
| DO |
Hold up the dry sponge in one hand. Take the soaked sponge from the bag and hold it in the other hand. Keep the bowl on the table for now. |
| SAY |
These sponges look almost the same. But one has water hiding inside it, and one does not. |
| SAY |
Point to the sponge you predict has water inside. You might be right. You might be gloriously, spectacularly wrong. |
| DO |
Let children point or vote from where they are. Do not call on 25 children one at a time. |
| SAY |
Looking at the outside does not tell us everything about the inside. How could we find out which sponge has water inside without tearing either sponge apart? |
| DO |
Take two quick ideas. If nobody answers, suggest squeezing as the test. |
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2
2-3 min |
Squeeze it and see
| DO |
Invite two children to the front. Give the first child the dry sponge over the bowl. Ask the second child to wait with the wet sponge. Keep the towel under the bowl or beside it to catch splashes. |
| SAY |
First, squeeze this sponge over the bowl. Let’s see what comes out. |
| DO |
Let the first child squeeze the dry sponge. Then hand the wet sponge to the second child over the bowl. |
| SAY |
Now squeeze this one. Ready for the sponge waterfall? |
| DO |
Let the second child squeeze the sponge until water runs into the bowl. Have both children return to their places, then wipe up any splash immediately. |
| SAY |
What did squeezing the wet sponge change? What did it not change? |
| DO |
Let children answer. Land their discoveries clearly. |
| SAY |
The squeeze did not put water inside the sponge. The water was already there. The squeeze showed everyone what was inside. |
| DO |
If the wet sponge gave itself away because it was dripping, say, “You spotted it early! But squeezing still showed us for sure.” Continue without restarting. |
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3
3-5 min |
The man in the chariot
| DO |
Open the Bible to Acts 8. Tell the children that Philip met a man who was reading the Bible in his chariot and needed help understanding it. |
| SAY |
Listen for what Philip talked about, and listen for what the man asked when they saw water. |
| SAY |
Acts 8:30-38 (WEB): “Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He said, ‘How can I, unless someone explains it to me?’ He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, ‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.’ The eunuch answered Philip, ‘Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?’ Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” |
| SAY |
Philip explained Jesus. Then the man saw water and asked to be baptized. |
| SAY |
The Bible does not tell us the exact moment this man began trusting Jesus. It does show us that after Philip told him about Jesus, he wanted to be baptized. |
| SAY |
Later, Acts says he went on his way rejoicing. We are not told the rest of his story. |
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4
1-2 min |
Make the connection
| DO |
Hold up the squeezed sponge where everyone can see it. |
| SAY |
Baptism is the squeeze, not the soak. Going under the water does not make you belong to Jesus. Trusting Jesus does. Baptism shows other people that you belong to him. |
| DO |
Do not add another sponge explanation. Let the picture sit. |
| SAY |
At our church, people who trust Jesus are baptized by going under the water and coming back up. It is a way to show everyone, “I follow Jesus.” |
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5
2-3 min |
What is keeping you?
| SAY |
What might feel hard about telling a group of people that you follow Jesus? |
| DO |
Take two or three answers without asking anyone to say whether they are ready for baptism. |
| SAY |
Who is one person at home who may not know what baptism means? You do not have to tell us their name. |
| DO |
Pause briefly. Let children think silently rather than asking for public answers. |
| SAY |
If you already trust Jesus and have never been baptized, talk with your class leader before you leave today. You can also ask your mum or dad to help you ask about baptism. |
| SAY |
Before Wednesday, tell one person at home what the sponge showed: baptism is the squeeze. It shows what is already inside. |
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THE PASSAGE · Acts 8:26-40
Philip explained Jesus to a man riding in a chariot. When they came to water, the man asked to be baptized. Philip baptized him, and the man went on his way rejoicing.
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TALK ABOUT IT · PICK ONE OR TWO
YOUNGER
How could we find out which sponge has water inside without tearing either sponge apart?
What did squeezing the wet sponge change? What did it not change?
OLDER
What might feel hard about telling a group of people that you follow Jesus?
Who is one person at home who may not know what baptism means?
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BEFORE YOU TEACH IT
Please review and adapt all generated content before use.
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The Ark Church · OBJECT LESSON · The Squeeze Test
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