~~~ Can DoA Question of Worth If someone offered you a brand new ice cold can of Coke or an empty can,
which would you rather have? Why? Which one would be more refreshing?
How much would you have to pay for a full can? How much for an empty can? If you answered that an empty can doesn't cost anything, then it must not be worth anything, so shouldn't it just be thrown away?
What does it mean to recycle? It is when something old can be used to make something else. But what if the can were crushed? Then it wouldn't be worth recycling would it? Oh it would? But what if it were on the ground and somebody jumped on it several times -- now it can't be recycled--can it? Of course it can! It is the same way with our lives--no matter how
~~~ Riddle: What kind of toys do smart kids like to play with? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ The Ultimate VolunteerIf someone offered a volunteer award certificate for picking up spilled box of building blocks and asked you to pick them up, would you volunteer? Then if that person took out a certificate of appreciation that was completely filled out except for your name and said, "I want to show my appreciation for the help I received and I have this certificate to show it," then filled in the name blank with somebody else's name, how would you feel? This might seem puzzling both to you and to the person whose name was substituted in place of yours. When asked to accept the certificate, the recipient who did not do the work, if honest, would probably feel he or she did not really deserve it! This is just like us getting credit for being righteous and perfect because of what Jesus did for us and we didn't do anything to deserve to get to go to heaven. We get credit for what Jesus did, so we should be grateful to him. We respond in faith to this gift, and do his will, but we should not think that by doing his will we have earned our way to heaven or done something to deserve it. Ephesians 2: 8-9
~~~ Riddle: I show a different face to everyone, but have no face of my own. Who am I? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ (Im) Perfection ReflectionGet a spoon from the kitchen drawer. Look into the bowl of the spoon. Do you see your reflection? What do you notice about it? Are you upside down? OK, so turn it to the back side. Now are you right side up? Do you see your reflection clearly, or are you sort of rounded like you are looking in a carnival mirror? This is a depiction of our understanding of God's will. As human beings, when we are immature in our faith, our understanding is like a poor reflection at first. But as we mature we begin to understand and see things more clearly. When we see God face to face, we will understand fully. Consider the closing thoughts of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, commonly called "The Love Chapter:" ... but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:10-12 (NIV)
~~~ Riddle: What kind of monkey flies? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Don't Look Now, There's a Monkey in the Bag!If someone were to show you a brown paper bag, and pull a softball cap out of the bag, then put the cap back in the bag and ask you if you believe there is a softball cap in the bag, would you say yes? This would not exhibit faith because you would have already seen the cap. But if you were told there was also a monkey in the bag, would you believe it? You might ask to be shown the monkey, but that wouldn't be faith. In order for this to be an honest question, there would have to be some sort of monkey in the bag. Your faith would be in believing that what you have been told about the monkey is based on the truth. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
~~~ Riddle: What do you get if you stick your hand in a pot? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ You are the Clay. Who is Your Potter?Playing with clay is fun. It's interesting to roll a bit of clay into a ball about the size of a golf ball and just squish it in the palm of your hand just to see what kind of shape comes out. Think about that. If you put a ball of clay in the palm of your hand and squeeze it as hard as you can, and then open your hand back up, whose fingerprints will be on the clay? But if you open your hand face up, and just hold the ball, it remains perfectly shaped and round. Picture the perfect round shape being like life in God. When He has access to your life, "palms up," so to speak, He is able to put His fingerprints on it. If we close our fists too tightly and try to be the only managers of our ball of clay (our lives), God has no access, and we will not see the beauty of His fingerprints. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor. 4:7-9 (NIV)
~~~ Riddle: On the ark, Noah probably got milk from the cows. What do you think he get from the ducks? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Get Your Ducks in a RowWhen you see baby ducks swimming in the water, what do you normally see? Do they swim the waters alone? Do they navigate for their fellow brothers and sisters? No, when we see baby ducks swim we know which direction they're going because their mother duck is out front. Well, let's help the ducks out a little bit ... Let's say we want the ducks to go "the other way," so all we would have to do is start at the back of the line-up and sort of "turn them around,"--right? That way, the last duck in line can lead the way with the mother duck bringing up the rear. Right? No, this doesn't work, because just as we can tell which direction the ducks are going by the placement and direction of the mother, so the baby ducks must have their mama out front leading the way, so they know which direction to go. The Ephesians Chapter 6:1-3, the Bible says, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." (NKJV) Isn't that last part interesting when we talk about ducks? How long do you think a duckling would survive in the water without the guidance of its mother? What a great promise. If we obey our parents, we can enjoy the safety of a long life on earth. God intends our parents' instructions to be in place for our safety!
~~~ Riddle: What do you get when you cross pasta noodles with a boa constrictor? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Helping Each Other "Clean Up Our Acts"Imagine you made a mess on your face while eating spaghetti. Then someone in your family offered to clean up the mess. Picture this: You have a choice between families--one family uses a toilet brush for cleaning faces, one a scouring pad, still another steel wool (like S.O.S. pot scrubbers), and yet one more family cleans messy faces with a soft cotton washcloth moistened with warm water. Which family do you want to be a part of? In the family of God, when someone makes a mistake, we are advised to "restore him gently," which would be like cleaning up your face with a warm soft cloth. It gets the spaghetti sauce off effectively yet gently, and your face survives it. You are clean, and also still intact. This is good advice. Galatians 6:1a Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
~~~ Riddle: The apostle Paul was a great preacher and teacher who earned his living as a tentmaker. Is there any Biblical reference to another occupation Paul held? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Letting Go of the Baggage of Old SinWhat if someone tried to juggle lemons while holding some large luggage? It would be impossible. But after putting the luggage down, a juggler could juggle three lemons with ease. Philippians 3:13-14 ". . .I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (NLT)
~~~ Riddle: What was the difference between the 10,000 soldiers of Israel and the 300 soldiers Gideon chose for battle? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ GraceWhat if someone were to present you with an impossible math problem, and told and told you that if you could figure it out you could have a prize? What if no one could figure it out, but a brilliant mathematician solved the problem, won the prize, and shared with everyone? This would be a small-scale example of what God did through Jesus when he solved our sin problem and offered us the prize of the crown of life! Remember: Philippians 3:13-14 ". . .I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (NLT)
~~~ Riddle: What has an "E" at the beginning and an "E" at the end, but only ONE letter in it? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Choosing to Serve GodMake yourself available to Him. Imagine two envelopes--one with a friend's name and address, and the other blank. Our lives are like the letter inside--will the letter inside better reach the friend if it has the proper name and address on the outside, or if the envelope remains blank? It must be a conscious decision on our part to "address" our lives to God. Joshua 24:15 "But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (NLT)
~~~ Riddle: How did the chimp get out of his cage? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Something DifferentWhat if someone walked in a room with a Beanie Monkey on his head? Would you notice something different? You would probably say, "You have a monkey on your head!" If you have Jesus in your life, people will notice something is different. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV)
~~~ Riddle: Where is lottery first mentioned in the Bible? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ Casting LotsDid you know there are several stories in the Bible that mention people "casting lots"? For instance, the guys on the boat where Jonah hid cast lots that fell to Jonah, and the disciples cast lots to choose between to men to replace Judas. When tough decisions are made, sometimes people resort to casting lots. However, important decisions are really made by God and are for His purposes. Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." (NIV) "We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall." (NLT)
~~~ Riddle: What's worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ What's Inside?If you saw two apples at a distance and were asked which one was prettier, and one was bright red and shiny, and the other was dark and dull, you would probably think the bright red shiny apple was prettier. But what if you found out the bright and shiny one was really fake? It would not be very tasty! God knows what is on the inside. People tend to judge from outward appearances, but God knows our thoughts and intentions. 1 Samuel 16:7 b "The Lord doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions." (NLT)
~~~ Riddle: What is black when it's clean but white when it's dirty? See the scroll after the following lesson for the answer. ~~~ God's SolutionWhat kinds of uses can you think of for a paper towel? Usually, they are for cleaning up messes. If you make a mess in your home, who is supposed to clean it up? Here's a hint: YOU ARE! There is an important exception to this rule. That is that Jesus cleans up the mess of human failure. Although we are responsible when we sin, and we need to be sorry, stop, and turn from sin, we are incapable of cleaning up the whole mess when it comes to sin. That is why Jesus sacrificed his life to save us. Isaiah 53:12
~~~ Riddle: What is a fish's favorite musical exercise? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ What God HatesDo you know what God hates? What if you saw a bathroom scale that weighed a five-year-old girl at over 150 lbs? That would be a dishonest scale. Proverbs 11:1 "The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight."
~~~ Riddle: When is it O.K. to lie? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ The Father of Lies
What would you think if someone told you it would be a good idea or a fun thing to stick your fingers in an electrical outlet? That would be a lie! Do you know who told the first lie EVER? It was Satan in the form of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Satan is the father of lies, and the things he tells people are fun or good to do bring pain and destruction. John 8:42-44 (NIV) Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
~~~ Riddle: How does a coffee pot feel? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ Understanding God's WillCan you hold water in your hands? Before you answer the question, make sure you have all the information you need. Cup your hands. How much do you think you could hold? What if before you answer, I told you the water has been first run through an automatic drip coffee maker, and it is hot!? Now do you want to hold it? Now, before you think you have all the information you need to answer the question, what if I told you that all along I meant "how much of this hot water can you hold in your hand inside a styro-foam cup?" With the styro-foam cup in your hand, you could probably hold several ounces of hot water. This is to illustrate that our understanding of God's will is sometimes limited by our human thoughts and ways. Isaiah 55:7-8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
~~~ Riddle: Did Moses ever get a headache? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ What is Important?People have lots of crazy ways to help themselves remember important things. Sticky notes, calendars, strings on fingers and bookmarks in Bibles. All can serve as reminders important things. According to Jesus, here is the most important thing we can remember about God: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (NIV) In Bible times, God's people even wore these memory verses on their hands and heads! We can also commit these verses to memory with our hands (our actions) and in our heads and hearts.
~~~ Riddle: What kind of headlines does vanity worry about most? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ World ViewsWhat kinds of things make headlines in the newspapers? Don't you think that the headlines emphasize the kinds of things the world considers important? But what the world seems to think is important is often opposed to what God tells us is important! Consider the parable Jesus told of the seeds in Matthew 13:22 "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful." We need to be careful that the message the world gives does not overshadow the message of the gospel.
~~~ Riddle: What is easy to get into, but hard to get out of? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ Trust GodWhat if someone had a stapler they claimed was out of staples, and to prove it to you they asked you to risk putting your finger in the stapler to see if any staples came out? Would you do it? Would you trust that person? God didn't just tell us he could John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."
~~~ Riddle: Where did Noah strike the first nail on the ark? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ The Tool of GraceIf you needed to get into the "heart" of a battery pack, would you unscrew the battery housing with your fingers? No, you would most likely need the proper tool--a screwdriver. The screwdriver can be compared to God's grace, if the battery pack is the heart. God's grace is the proper tool for entering the heart to recharge it. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (NIV)
~~~ Lynn: How many controls do you have on your TV set? Kelly: Four; my mom, my dad, my brother, and sister. ~~~ Let God Have ControlWhat if someone told you you need to give the remote control to your Daddy? Surely all Dads would like this idea. God gives us free will over our lives, but we must turn our will over to His, just as Jesus did when he was about to be crucified. Matthew 26:39 (Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane) Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." ~~~ Riddle: What does the courtroom judge wear to work? See scroll under the lesson for the answer. ~~~ Order in God's CourtIn most human systems, the first in line get served first, the biggest and smartest get the most attention. But that kind of human order does not apply in the family of God. Picture this: You are in a room with six kids. A man comes in with six nickels and tells you if you will line up, he will give you each a nickel. Eager to get yours first, you take first place in line. But much to your surprise, the man starts handing out nickels at the back of the line. Next, he tells you that he has four quarters and asks you to line up, and he will hand them out in order--but when he they are gone, they are gone. Maybe you would try again to be first in line to be certain one of the quarters would go to you. Amazingly, he once again starts at the back of the line, so the person eager to be recognized first ends up with no quarter. :o( Well, if then he said he had just one dollar bill, and asked all six of you to line up and he'd pass it out, where then would you stand? Jesus gives us illustrations of this in Matthew 19:30: "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." and in Matthew 20:15-16: "Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?" "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." and in a parable in Luke 14:7-11 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." ~~~
And one last riddle for "good measure": What was the Christian guitar player's favorite chord?
These lessons adapted for this page, and used by permission from their authors. |
| This page was last updated on 11/01/2007 |