Best Angle:

Odd Angle:

What you need:

• 3 styrofoam cups (larger size is better)
• Super absorbent polymer [SAP] – The one I use can be found in large quantity on Amazon at the link below
  • Science Educational Products – Superabsorbent Diaper Polymer 1 Lb Sodium Polyacrylate – One Pound of the Superabsorbent Polymer
  • To purchase this in smaller quantities (roughly enough to do the lesson 3-5 times) you can purchase it from the online store here at apostolicsundayschool.com (CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE)
• Small container with enough water in it to fill each cup roughly half way
• Small bowl or other basin to pour water into

Prep:

Set out the cups in front of you in a row.  Into the bottom of one of the cups pour about 1 tablespoon of the super absorbent polymer.  You don’t need to measure this exactly but cover the bottom of the cup with solid layer.  If in doubt, add a bit more 🙂

Lesson:

This object lesson / magic trick, based on science, is a great way to teach young people about how God can help us with our problems if we just give them all to Him.

You start out by explaining that the cups represent people.  Everyone is given an opportunity to live for God but sadly some people don’t take advantage of that opportunity.

Into each life rain must fall so we explain that in each of us, unfortunately, no matter how good or bad we are, we all have problems.

Pour water into each cup roughly filling them halfway. The cup with the Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) will solidify and when turned upside down will no longer leak ANY water at all.

Have someone pick one of the three cups.  Once they do, ask them if they would like to change their mind.  Once they settle on a cup, do the following:

1. If they choose the cup WITH the SAP, say, “Ok, you chose it…” this is then the cup we are going to use.”
2. If they choose a cup WITHOUT the SAP, say, “Ok… so you wanted this one to be taken out..”  Then go to the next 2 cups and have them pick again.
   • If they choose the cup WITH the SAP, say, “Ok, you chose it…” this is then the cup we are going to use for our demonstration.”
   • If they choose a 2nd cup WITHOUT the SAP, say, “Ok… so you wanted this one to be taken out also.”  With those 2 eliminated, you will then use the cup WITH the SAP.

This is called a “force”.  It is a way of making the audience choose the cup YOU want them to pick.  No matter which one they choose, you will always end up with the one you want; the one with the SAP in it.

You then talk about how they were all given opportunity to live for God but, sadly, the other two people wasted it.  They decided that they could make it on their own and deal with their problems alone.

Pick up each of the two cup containing water only and show that though they tried to make something out of themselves on their own, they were still FULL of problems.

Pour the water out of each of the “water-only” cups into the basin, showing that they were indeed STILL full of water or problems.

No matter how much we try, we can never fix ourselves… we need God’s help!

This other guy though (HOLD UP THE CUP WITH SAP), wanted God to help him.  He went to an Apostolic church, repented, was baptized in Jesus name and received the beautiful gift of the Holy Ghost.  Jesus came and lived inside of him.

While living for God doesn’t make us immune to problems and certainly doesn’t mean that we never have any, He WILL help us deal with the issues of life.

This guy here is now living for God with all of his heart and now!!!

Slowly and dramatically start to pour him out.  The troubles that filled his life were gone!  God was now helping him deal with all of that!

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*** This lesson can doubtlessly teach many other topics.  Please let me know what you would do with it and I will add it here***