Spikyheaded

 

You will need: a large glass bowl, two pints of water, iodine, spray starch, Ilford rapid fixer, a white cloth heart or person (about A4 size) and a overhead projector. Iodine is available from most chemists, the rapid fixer from a good photography shop and the spray starch from the supermarket. <P>

 

Well before you want to do this illustration cut out a cloth heart or person and spray with the starch and put aside to dry. When dry for best effect staple it to blank acetate so it holds its shape when wet.Here is how it works. <P>

 

Start by saying you are going to demonstrate what Jesus did o­n the cross; put the glass bowl with the water in it o­n an OHP if for a large group. Under the bowl place acetate with God written o­n it so that when the OHP is o­n it can be seen o­n the screen. <P>

 

Talk about how God created us to have a relationship with him, this was perfect like the clear water, unspoilt, unpolluted etc. <P>

 

Pour in some iodine (if done from a reasonable height it mixes in o­n its own, but give a stir if needed) Talk about how we turned our backs o­n God and as a result it polluted the relationship with God (SIN) The iodine turns the water a yucky brown colour. God can no longer be seen o­n the screen because the iodine has blocked it out.

 

Because of this our relationship with God was no longer perfect; man did not trust God and God could not accept us in that state. <P>

 

Place the heart in the liquid and show that it has turned black (comment as you wish).Then place the heart aside. Now you can talk about how this is where Jesus comes in.The o­nly way that we could be made right for God was for someone to take the punishment we deserved. Someone had to make good. <P>

 

So Jesus Gods son came and among us, mixed with us, then died as a way to make amends. Jesus death cleared the blockage between us and God so we could get to God through him. <P>

 

Pour in a mixture of the Ilford rapid fixer and water (4 cups water to o­ne cup rapid fixer) this is a clear solution that represents Jesus. Pour until the liquid in the bowl becomes clean again.This is very impressive and now you can talk about how Jesus was the o­nly o­ne who could do this and how we can come to God o­nly through Jesus. <P>

 

To drive this point home, pick up the now black heart and place it in the solution wiggle if needed and then pull out. The heart is white again.This is a very powerful illustration but is worth practicing a few times first, so that your talk flows. I have o­nly given you the skeleton idea for the talk. There is loads of room for using scripture in this. I have yet to see this done without rounds of applause at the end and loads of discussion. <P>

 

Once used you will use it again and again. (I prefer the heart to a person because it saves from people saying it is a racist illustration).

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