Spirit-Controlled II
Supplies:
1 hardboiled egg (boil more than one in case of breakage)
1 raw egg
1 small clear glass
This object lesson can be given without decorating
the eggs, but since they represent Christians, it will add more
interest and meaning to draw the face/body of a person (male or
female) on each egg (see picture below). The lesson works best if you draw them as
similarly as possible because you want them to look much the same on
the outside. Make an undetectable mark on the boiled egg so that
only you can distinguish between the eggs.
Place the eggs in a small bowl or candle holder to
protect them and to keep them from rolling around, and set them in a
very visible place so your class members notice them as they enter
the room. Don’t tell them anything about the eggs, but do suggest
they don’t handle them so there’s no risk of the eggs getting
broken. Just let them observe them to create anticipation of how
they will fit into your Bible study.*
Lesson
Launch:
The eggs represent two Christians in a congregation. They both carry
their Bible to church. They dress in the church’s accepted dress
code. They both know the appropriate spiritual lingo to use. On the
outside they look the same, and from all outward appearances, we
might make the assumption that they are both mature, spiritual
believers.
Select the egg you know is the raw egg. As you hold
up that egg, you might want to continue your comments about how the
outward persona of this person gives us the impression that she is
spirit-controlled, and then break the egg into the clear glass.
Explain to your class members that the yolk of the egg represents
the individual, and the white of the egg represents the Holy Spirit.
Ask your class, “Which part of the egg do you notice the most?”
Because the white of the egg is uncooked and clear, it is the yolk
that is most noticeable.
Since the Holy Spirit is obviously inside this
person, we know she is a believer, but the Holy Spirit has not been
given any visible presence in her life. Now that the broken outside
shell has revealed the heart of this person, we see that she is
definitely self-controlled, not Spirit-controlled.
As you remind your class that the yolk represents
the individual (self) and the white represents the Holy Spirit,
crack and peel the boiled egg. Once again, by removing the outward
appearance of the shell, we are able to see into the heart of this
person. Ask your class, “Which part of the egg do you notice the
most?”
In this case, only the white of the egg is visible.
It completely surrounds and hides the yolk. This represents a
believer who is controlled by the Holy Spirit. Self has been
crucified and has taken a back seat to the Holy Spirit.
Ask the class, “How many of you recognized the
difference between these two eggs when you walked in today?” Though
some will respond that they knew all along, tell them that just like
the raw egg, believers can quite often dupe other Christians into
thinking they are more spiritual than they really are. They carry
the right Bible translation, they dress appropriately, they adhere
to all the unspoken rules many churches impose on their members, and
they know how to “talk the talk.” They deceive everyone around them,
and quite often, they even deceive their pastor. Sadly, in many
cases they even fool themselves. Just because they attend every
scheduled church service, volunteer for every possible activity and
fulfill all that’s asked of them, they often equate that as being
spiritual. That’s why they are quite often called on to lead in
prayer, to head up a committee, to teach a Sunday school class or to
serve as a deacon. But when you take away the external spiritual
camouflage, their innermost heart is exposed, and it reveals that
they are not “walking the walk.”
Though the Holy Spirit is present, He has not been
allowed any control. Remember how difficult it was to see the
uncooked white of the raw egg in the glass? One has to look close to
see any evidence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
But in the person represented by the boiled egg, the
Holy Spirit is totally in control. In truth, the exterior shell is
representative of the person she is inside. Her relationship with
the Lord is paramount in her life, and it is revealed by her
lifestyle. In this case, her outward appearance is a reflection of
what is going on inside her heart. She’s not trying to appear
spiritual, she is spiritual. She’s authentic. That’s the person you
want leading in prayer, teaching a Sunday school class and heading
up a committee.
Ask your class members to ponder these questions,
“Which type of Christian are you? Are you faking your Christianity,
or is it real? Is it authentic? If your outward shell was peeled
away and your heart was exposed, what would be revealed about you?”
Potential Scripture References
Romans 12:1-2
Galatians 2:20
Ephesians 5:18-21
Colossians 3
1 Samuel 16:7
*The last time I used this object lesson, I
increased the interest of the participants by telling them there was
something particularly significant about the eggs. If they thought
they recognized what it was, I told them to keep it to themselves
and not tell anyone. Can you tell what it is?
What I wanted the class members to notice was that
the green and orange colors and the “U” logo I placed on the collar
of the dresses represented the University of Miami Hurricanes. Out
of a group of about 25 participants, only one person figured it out,
and she was given a prize.
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