Rotation.org Writing Team

The Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness

"Science & Magic" Workshop

Explanation and Summary of Activities

We've titled this workshop "Science & Magic" as a nod to our theme-y Rotation Model fans. As explained in our "Science" workshop article, "science" or "magic" is a fun theme. The teaching technique is really one of "object lesson" or "demonstration of an idea or point using objects."

The "objects" in this lesson are a balloon, a needle, and some transparent tape. The teacher demonstrates the "how to poke a needle into a balloon without popping it" magic trick, and then teaches the kids how to do it.  The demonstration creates a strong memory hook about "preparing ourselves against temptation," and it creates a lesson that older students can reproduce at home.

There are several ways to perform this trick. This lesson uses the "transparent tape patch" method to illustrate a key point in the reflection.

Scripture for the Lesson

Matthew 4:1-11

Key/Memory Verse:  "It is written...."

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives and additional teachable content.

Here's a "starter list" of what the props mean. See the lesson below for much more to say. Feel free to adapt!

• Needle = Things that tempt us, things we do that can hurt our faith, disappoint God, etc.  Wrong choices. Selfishness.
• The Balloon = Me. My hopes. My desire to please/love/obey God. My reputation. Respect people have for me. The strength of my faith.
• Tape = Things we can do to resist temptation. Things God gives to guide and heal me.

Preparation and Materials

• Read the Bible Background and scripture.
• A dozen or more large balloons (12" or bigger. See notes below.)
• Sewing needle (big enough to be seen and handled.)
• Thread (as a safety attachment to the needle and way to tape a list to the needle.)
• Permanent markers to write on the balloon and tape.
• Transparent scotch tape
• Paper
• Assistant for second balloon

Lesson Plan

This lesson has three main parts:

1. First the teacher does the "needle through the balloon" magic trick using two balloons. The balloon gets labeled with good things. The needle get a list of temptations attached to it.  Then the teacher dramatically approaches the first balloon with the "temptation needle."

The first balloon pops, of course, but the second mysteriously doesn't.

The teacher then reveals the trick and discusses the point it illustrates: there's something guarding (resisting, preparing) the second balloon from catastrophic failure.

2. Next, after reading and discussing the scripture passage to discover how Jesus resisted temptation, the teacher attempts the trick with the "Jesus balloon", but each time it simply repels the temptation (Jesus is so awesome he cannot be tempted.)

3. Finally, each student makes their own balloon, tapes it and writes on it, then gets to perform the trick.

Open

Welcome your students and invite them to gather around for your "magic trick."

Begin by blowing up two large identical balloons.

Hand one balloon to a teaching assistant who is seated next to you.

Ask students to start naming out loud a list of "good things a person wants to have or get in their life and God wants for us too." As they share them, write them on BOTH balloons.  

Here are a few examples of "good hopes, desires, dreams" that most kids might want:
good friends, money for something important, reputation, playing time on a team, permission to go somewhere with a friend, a parent's trust, more faith, a better grade in school, feel closer to God, happiness, health.  (You may need to suggest some of these things.)

Try to keep their list centered on "good" things, and not selfish things, like "more money."  A student might say, "popularity" and you might say, "popular for a good reason and not a bad reason, right?  Money to help solve problems and help people in need, right? Use their suggestions as an opportunity to clarify and comment.

Now turn to the needle...

Once you have a good number of things written on each balloon, put aside the balloon YOU are holding for the moment and produce a sharp needle which already has a long thread tied to it. Make a big deal about how sharp it is by pricking your finger. Call it "The Temptation Needle." Invite students to carefully place their finger on the point to get the point.  Temptations can hurt.

While the kids are distracted by touching the needle, your teaching assistant has secretly taped a piece of transparent tape to the side of their balloon facing away from the kids.

Say: Balloons and needles don't mix, do they! Kind of like "good things" and "temptations."   Let's talk about this temptation needle a little bit...

I want you to imagine that this needle represents "the temptation to make bad choices, ...the temptation to do evil, the temptation to be selfish, to reject God's guidance, etc."  

Over here on our balloon we made a list of all the things we think would be good to have.  But what's going to happen when we allow temptation to touch our "good things" balloon? Yep, temptation can create quite a mess when we don't resist it.

Produce a piece of paper and tape it to the end of the THREAD that's looped through the needle.

On that piece of paper, write some common temptations, such as,

• The temptation of Selfishness, Greed, not sharing
• Thinking your behavior doesn't matter
• Breaking a promise
• Hurting someone with your words and actions because you're mad at them
• Not helping a person in need because you are tempted to think they are getting what they deserve, or you are too busy to help.
• Stealing something from a store or robbing someone of their dignity by putting them down
• Mouthing off at a parent.
• Lieing.
  
  Putting off what you need to do

Balloon Popping Time!

Say: Now let's pop some balloons!   With the list visibly hanging on the thread attached to the needle, S-L-O-W-L-Y and DRAMATICALLY move the needle towards your balloon. As you do so, keep talking about all the good things a person wants, and all the tempting things that can pop our hopes and dreams. Build the tension, then insert the needle and watch it pop!

Say:  Okay, are you ready to pop the other balloon? Have your assistant hold up the balloon above their head, while you s-l-o-w-l-y start crossing the room towards the second balloon with your needle. Keep talking about how tempting it is to want to do your own thing, not do the work, not put in the time, not listen to others, not get up for church, etc. etc.

As you get near the balloon, LOCATE THE TAPE PATCH on the side of the balloon (which your teaching assistant has made sure is turned towards you approaching from the side, and not easily seen by the students). As you get close, build the tension and warn the kids of the impending pop, then GENTLY SLIDE YOUR NEEDLE INTO THE PATCH. The balloon will not burst. (Tip: If it does during your pre-class experiment, wet the needle just a little bit.)

The Reveal:  Pretend to be amazed, then ask your teaching assistant, "Why didn't your balloon burst?" That's when they reveal, "It didn't burst because I put "TEMPTATION RESISTANT TAPE" on my balloon!".

Reveal the tape and the trick. Tell your students that in a moment, they are going to get to RECREATE THE TRICK, but first, they need to learn more about this "Temptation Resistant Tape" your teaching assistant is talking about.

Ask: "How does a good person 'resist' being popped/deflated/ruined by temptations? How do they resist evil thoughts and deeds so that they can have all the good things God wants for us? Today's scripture will give us a big clue!! Let's see if you figure out how Jesus resisted temptation...

Scripture Lesson/Reading

After reading Matthew 4:1-11 in a manner of your choosing, ask these questions which lead up to the "Jesus Balloon" demonstration.  

1. How many days was Jesus in the wilderness? (40)
2. What was he doing there?
3. Say: We know he was fasting, which is a spiritual exercise designed to focus your thoughts on God first, and put your own personal desires last.  Fasting in biblical terms meant not eating during the day. This probably means he was praying also.
4. When Jesus answered the devil, what tool to resist temptation did he use?
   (scripture!  and a strong belief in putting God first instead of himself.  We are doing the same today by studying scripture and choosing to be here in Sunday School. Way to go!
5. What would have happened if Jesus had not been prepare to RESIST temptation?
   
   

The Jesus Balloon Demonstration:

Blow up a balloon, draw Jesus' face on it, and write on it these three things that God had planned for Jesus to do: Forgive, Save, Teach.

Now get out your needle again and start moving it towards the JESUS BALLOON. As you do, ask your students (or quote them yourself) what the three temptations in the scripture were again. As they say each one, move closer to the Jesus balloon with your needle.

As they tell you each of the three temptations, ask, "And how did Jesus resist that temptation?" Dramatically move your needle back from the balloon as the kids tell you how he resisted. (The answers were discussed in the Bible study above.)

Conclude by saying, "Jesus was so amazing there was NO WAY that needle would even get CLOSE!!"  But the truth is, temptation is a BIG problem for each of us, and sometimes we "give in" to temptation even when we have tried not to.  

Ask: What happens to us when we fall to temptation?  

The answer is we have help from God, and we also have forgiveness, and healing, and tools to make us stronger. More Tape!   The other answer is that Jesus has rescued us from complete failure. We are saved by his gracious forgiveness forever.

Teaching the Trick, and Adding a Tape Reflection

In this final step of the lesson, you will let each student blow up their own balloon and put several pieces of tape on it. They will WRITE ON THE TAPE and WRITE ON THE BALLOON and then you will pass around the needle (that still has that list attached to it) for them to perform the trick.  

1. On their balloon have them write their own list of "Good things God wants me to do." Remind them of some of the things you wrote on your balloon.

2. Have them then place several pieces of tape on their balloon, invite them to label their tape with something they've learned from Jesus that will help them resist temptation.

Suggestions of things they could write on their tape: Live by God's Word. Pray. Prepare. Do not test God, Worship God! Put God First.  I am forgiven. God saves. God heals.    (For fun, you could also write a few of these key ideas on pieces of tape and place them directly on a few of your students.)

3. Now pass around the needle and let each student slowly perform the trick.

Final thoughts:  The balloon can still pop or leak air, even with our best intentions. We are not Jesus. We sometimes give in to temptation. And no matter how hard we try, WE LEAK! But Jesus promises to save us (repair us), fill us with the breath of God. And help us keep temptations at a distance.

Options:

Younger children have their balloons already blown-up and set aside.  Send younger children home with a balloon they have written/drawn on. Add some words from the lesson for them.  

Safety Note: If working with small children, or in an area where small children may come into, be sure to pick up all pieces of the popped balloons, as well as, leftover balloons and the needle.

Send older kids home with a deflated balloon so they can perform the trick at home.

Tip: Practice this at home to make sure choice of balloons, sewing needle and tape perform as planned.

Written Neil MacQueen for the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright Rotation.org Inc.