Grace & Mercy | Object Lesson
Needed:
- A tiny squirt gun (small and harmless-looking)
- A large Super Soaker (hidden until later)
- A $10 bill (or play money)
Lesson:
Grace and Mercy—two words that get thrown around a lot in church, but if you asked most people to explain the difference, they’d probably struggle. That’s where this lesson comes in. Instead of just talking about it, we’re going to make it real with a challenge.
Pick a volunteer and tell them they have a chance to win ten whole dollars—real money (or play money, if you’re not feeling that generous). The rules are simple: they must answer all three questions correctly to win the prize. However, if they miss all three, there will be a consequence.
At this point, casually hold a tiny squirt gun in your hand or leave it sitting on the table. Don’t call attention to it, just let it exist. The implication is clear: this is the consequence. It’s small. It’s nothing to worry about.
Now, begin the challenge.
- First Question (Super Easy):
“What color is the sky on a clear day?” (Let them answer—blue.) - Second Question (Also Super Easy):
“How many legs does a dog have?” (They will obviously say four.)
At this point, nod approvingly. Let them feel confident. They’re crushing this game. This money is practically in their hands.
Now, lean in slightly. Lower your voice like you’re about to change their life forever.
- Third Question (Nearly Impossible):
“How many minutes are in a year?”
Pause. Let them process the absolute absurdity of the question. Maybe they laugh. Maybe they try to throw out a guess. Whatever they say, shake your head solemnly.
“Ooooh, so close… but the correct answer is…525,600… but you were close!”
Act disappointed but sympathetic. They were so close to winning, but alas, they have missed all three questions. The rules are the rules.
Once the three questions are missed, ask if they are ready for the consequence. Set the tiny squirt gun aside and, without a word, reach under the table or behind something and pull out a massive Super Soaker.
Pause. Let them react.
This was never part of the deal. This was never in the rules. This changes everything.
Look at them and say something along the lines of, “I said you would get squirted… but I never said which squirt gun I’d use.”
The panic should set in. The Super Soaker isn’t just a punishment—it’s an escalation. The tiny squirt gun was manageable, but this? This is disaster. Hold the Super Soaker up like you’re about to unleash a flood. Maybe even ask, “Are you ready for your punishment?” Wait until they’re absolutely resigned to their fate. Then, lower the Super Soaker and shake your head.
“Because I am trying to teach something here… I am going to do what God does for us all the time!!! I am going to show MERCY! God, in His mercy, doesn’t always give us what we deserve. Instead, He offers forgiveness when we repent. You see, Mercy is when you don’t get what you do deserve. You agreed to the rules and by those rules you deserve to be squirted but I am going to show you MERCY instead….”
“In fact I am going to do something even bigger.” Instead of spraying them, hand them the $10 bill.
This is Grace.
Grace is when you receive something good that you don’t deserve. They didn’t earn the money. In fact, they lost the game completely. But they’re still walking away with the prize.
That’s exactly how God works. He not only withholds the punishment we deserve (mercy), but He also gives us blessings we haven’t earned (grace).
God’s grace is seen in salvation. None of us deserve forgiveness, the Holy Ghost, or eternal life, but God gives these gifts freely when we follow Him.
To make sure the lesson sticks, go over the two key points:
- Mercy is when we don’t get what we do deserve (punishment for sin).
- Grace is when we do get what we don’t deserve (blessings and salvation).
Encourage the students to think about times when God has shown mercy in their lives—when they were spared from consequences they fully deserved. Then, have them think about times when God has given them grace—blessings they never could have earned.
