Mentoring Moments

Cleaning Up a Dirty Mind

Illustration Information

Title: Cleaning Up a Dirty Mind
Author: Uncle Steve Severance
Submitted By: Uncle Steve Severance
Submitted On: June 17, 2009
Last Modified: June 17, 2009

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Sin makes our minds dirty. Trying to cover sin with good deeds doesn't work. You must let God clean it all up.

Items Needed:

• 2 clear, sealable Rubbermaid containers

• Nasty looking food/serving spoon (brown and muchy banana and peel, dirt and rotten leaves, food scraps that have been left out too long. spaghetti with charcoal to make it look black and nasty, etc. Just make sure it's nasty enough to turn the kids stomachs a little.)

• Ice cream/scoop

• Paper sack

• Wipes and paper towels to clean hands with

Instructions:

Hold up one clear container (have the other hidden in a different room) and tell the kids that this represents their minds. Have them list off dirty things that they can put into their minds, such as bad TV programs, gossip, bad music, etc., and while they are doing that, put the nasty food in the container (mind). Then put the lid on and shake it up. Open the lid and show it to the kids, and ask them if they would want to eat something like that.

Next, take out the ice cream and show the kids that it is in fact good ice cream. Ask them if they like ice cream.

Say:

"I know how I can make my mind clean! I'll just put some of this good ice cream into my dirty mind and that will make it all better."

As you put the ice cream into the dirty container, talk about how wonderful this is going to be now. Put the lid back on and shake everything up. Open it up and show the kids, and ask them if this is something good to eat since it has something good in it now (It actually looks nastier!).

Hand the dirty container off to an assistant, who takes it out of the kids' view to "clean" it (exchange it, actually).

Say:

Many people feel guilty about their sin, so they try to make up for it by doing and thinking good things. (Point to the ice cream.) But no amount of good things can make up for the bad things that you've done or thought. The only way to get rid of your sin is to give it to Jesus. He can clean up your mind—and life.

Scripture:

Proverbs 28:13—"If you don't confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up." (CEV)

Assistant brings back the clean container. Show the kids how clean it is. ( Optional: Put ice cream in it so they can see that you are now willing to eat out of it.)