Aren’t object lessons mainly a method for children? We often think of object lessons as a teaching method to use with children. Yet, if you think about it, Jesus, the Master Teacher, used objects in His teaching which focused primarily on adults.
Using Object Lessons with Adults?
The basics of presenting an object lesson are the same when using them with children or adults so the Tips for Using Object Lessons Worksheet could apply to teachers of both children and adults.
Most books with object lesson ideas focus on children. Just look under resources on the Object Lessons Teacher Training Resources page and you will see what I mean. Some of the ideas in the books geared to children or youth could work with adults with a few tweaks but if you allow yourself to think even just a little bit creatively, you can probably come up with some of your own ideas.
An object lesson, especially for adults, doesn’t have to consume the entire lesson.
Use object lessons to hook their attention as you introduce the lesson. Think of how a candle can be used to introduce a lesson related to lifestyle evangelism.
Or perhaps, use them to illustrate a truth within the lesson. Think about how a chair can be used to illustrate faith.More Questions about Object Lessons as a Bible Teaching Method
In addition to some thoughts on using object lessons with adults, the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions responds to other questions that could be useful to teachers of adult classes wishing to use object lessons as a teaching method.
- Where can I get ideas for object lessons?
- Is it possible to use object lessons with large groups?
- What are some tips for developing an object lesson?
The handbook answers a total of 153 questions covering 49 different topics — a handy resource for teachers of any age group.
Dearly Beloved, Please I will to know or see any lecture on using a chair in teaching children bible lessons. Am having challenges on that. Thank you and God Bless.
Hello, Emmanuel Chibuzo. The idea behind using a chair to illustrate faith is that there are many things in life, like a chair, that we trust will do what it is supposed to do. When we sit on a chair, we usually don’t think, “Will this hold me?” Chairs are made to be sat on. If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, why can’t we trust Him to do what He is able to do? Unlike a chair that on rare occasion could break when you sit on it, God will never fail.
One of the challenges in using object lessons with children is that they cannot be too abstract. Children, especially younger children, have a hard time thinking symbolically. They are concrete thinkers, meaning that they think literally. They have a hard time making the connection from an abstract or symbolic concept to their current reality. This post that references the use of a chair to illustrate faith is about object lessons for adults. If using it with children, you must be careful that they are able to understand the meaning. God is not a chair. We do not literally sit on God.