Scripture: Matthew 5:1-7:29, Luke 6:20-49
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn God about our heart.
- Students will learn actions that appear good cannot cover a heart that is sinful.
- Students will learn although God forgives us of our sins, He expects a higher standard of behavior from us than the world does.
- Students will learn how rusting occurs.
Guiding Question: How does God want us to show Godly behavior and serve others?
Materials: Tablespoons, vinegar, bleach, steel wool, pan
Procedure: Review the story of The Sermon on the Mount. Talk about the importance of dealing with our sin so that we can have a good heart and therefore do genuine, kind things for others. Ask the students what kind of behavior they think God expects from them. Have the students share what they think they can do to hold themselves to that kind of behavior.
Introduce the activity. Review Mat. 6:19-21. Explain that treasures in Heaven are better than on Earth where they can be destroyed by rust or moths. Tell students they are going to experiment with how rust destroys objects. Take steel wool and place in a pan and cover with water. Add a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of bleach which creates sped up rusting. Have the students watch, observe, and discuss what they noticed.
Additional Questions: How can students observe oxidation?
Supplemental Activity: Have students perform an oxidation experiment with different objects: https://teachbesideme.com/oxidation-rust-experiment/