Keeping Your Life In Balance

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 12 large nails (about 6″ long or so; can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot)
• Block of wood with nail stuck straight out of it

DEMONSTRATION:

The object is to balance the 12 nails on the head of the nail stuck in the wood.  There is only one way to do it and you have to be shown how the first time.

• Lay one of the nails down (the central nail) and then place 10 nails one after another at 90 degrees to this nail with the heads just hooked over the body of the central nail.
• Alternate every other one so there is equal weight distribution on either side.
• Place the final nail on top of all of the nails parallel to the central nail.  The head of this nail should be opposite that of the central nail’s.
• Pinch the two parallel nails together and slowly pick them up.
• Once the nails all dangle and stop wiggling you can place the whole assembly on the head of the nail in the block of wood (see the images for further example).

How to teach the lesson:

“Who here knows there are LOTS of things in life to be concerned about?”
What are some of those things?

• School
• Relationship with parents
• Brother
• Sister
• Relationship with God
• Prayer life
• Reading your Bible
• Work (if you have a job)
• Health
• Friends
• LOTS OF THINGS!!!

It is really hard to balance ALL of these different things

Have volunteer come up& have them try to balance the nails on the nail in the block

When you don’t know how to keep everything in balance…

When you don’t know how to keep on top of everything…

CALL THE ONE WHO KNOWS HOW!!! JESUS! He will help you figure it all out!

Show them how the demonstration is performed