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Simple Object Lesson - Let There Be Light

This simple object lesson using a flashlight can be used with any age! The Bible says in 1 John 1:5 “God is light…” It also says we are to “let your light shine before men..” Matt. 5:16. Help students own the idea that God is the source of all light and by plugging our lives into Him, we will therefore shine too!


flashlight object lesson

Object: Flashlight with batteries or charging cord

Scriptures: 1 John 1:5 - “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.”

Matthew 5:14-16 – "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Takeaway:  God is our source of power so that we can be used to shine His light and love.


Simple Object Lesson:

Remove the batteries from the flashlight before the lesson.  Pass it around the group as you discuss times we have need of and use a flashlight.

Finally ask someone to turn the flashlight on.  Ask why it's not working.  Once they say it has no batteries or power, ask why that should make a difference.  A flashlight needs a power source; we need a power source.

The Bible tells us God is Light:

1 John 1:5 - “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.”

John 1:4-9 “Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone. The Light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the Light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. “

John 8:12 “Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

Have the group discuss what they think God is telling us about ourselves, about Him, and how this can make a difference in our lives.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we receive His Holy Spirit...our power source to shine His Light.  He guides us, He enlightens us, He helps us understand the Bible.  He even comforts us with His warm presence. But we can become so busy with the urgents of life we neglect spending time in God's presence reading His Word and praying...connecting to our power source.


flashlight

We Are to Shine His Light

After putting the batteries in the flashlight or charging it, hold it up without turning it on and ask why it's not working now...it has its power source.

Someone will probably look at you like you're crazy and say the obvious that you have to turn it on!  And this is so true in our own Christian lives.  We received Jesus, the Light of the World, at salvation, but sometimes we forget to allow our light to shine for His glory.  We are so focused on other things, we neglect shining His Light so others may see Him and also find hope and guidance.


Matthew 5:14-16 – "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”


Prayer:

Close the Bible object lesson with prayer asking God to shine in and through our lives.

Simple Object Lesson Take-Away Challenge:

Encourage students that each time they see a flashlight or any light, let it remind them that we too must be connected to our Source, God, through prayer, studying the Bible, etc. and also be aware of the people around us who need to see His Light shining through us in this dark world.  


Simple Object Lesson Extenders

Hide & Go Seek

Make the most of these shorter days! Play hide and go seek with flashlights (letting God's light shine in the darkness)! Even as young adults, our kids still love to do this!

This is a great time to memorize and practice Matthew 5:16 -

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Shine Your Light

Have a fun Bible drill looking up Scriptures about light. Give each person a flashlight and when they find the correct Bible verse they are to turn their light on and then read the verse out loud. If you have several people, an inexpensive idea is to use the small artificial candle votives from a Dollar Store.

Light Chaser

This is a fun game that is played in the dark. Give one person a flashlight. Everyone is to run and hide, then another person is designated to yell "Shine your light!" The person with the light turns it on and all the others try to locate them and run to them as quickly as they can. The last one to reach them is the light bearer the next round. Talk about how Jesus said He is the light of the world; we are to run to Him and draw close to Him.


Here's another fun object lesson using headlights and how God shows us just as much as we need to see as we continue walking in faith.

© Copyright 2025 Susan Smart


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