Trust & Rat Traps

1st Angle

2nd Angle

What you need:

• Rat Trap
• Stick or pencil
• Bag
• Candy or other enticing items

Lesson:

Does anyone know what this is?

Hold up the rat trap.

This is a rat trap in it is used to trap rats. Does anyone know how we are able to trick a rat into getting into the trap?

There will be a variety of answers.

That’s right. You put something that they cannot resist in the trap and once they try to get it, it’s all over.

Set the trap and then dramatically and with a lot of flair use the pencil to set off the trap and allow it to break the stick in half.

Did you see that! This thing is very, VERY dangerous why would a rat ever come close to it! Let’s try something.

Put the trap inside of a cloth bag that you cannot see into and pretend to set the trap. DON’T actually set the trap that make it look like you did.

So that trap is now in this bag and along with it I’m going to put some really good stuff.

In the same bag put a variety of candy bars, some dollar bills, and perhaps a couple of toys. Just anything that a kid would really want. Show each item to the kids before you put it in the bag so they can build up a desire for it.

Now who wants these things?

Of course, everyone will want them. Call up one of the eager volunteers.

Ok, to get all of this good stuff, all you have to do is put on this blindfold and reach your hand into this bag and grab what you want. THAT’S IT! Oh, and don’t let the trap break your hand in half while you do it.

Unless your volunteer is a lunatic, they will NOT want to do this!

Why not?!?! There is some really good stuff in here!

Argue with them for a little while and then teach the following:

You know, that is just like what the devil does to us. He is out to get us and tries his best to get us in his traps. The best way he knows how is to put BAIT in that trap. He sets up the trap of addiction with the bait of the thrill of drugs, peer pressure and good feelings. He sets up the trap of lung cancer with the bait of smoking, looking tough and peer pressure…

You can also use this lesson to teach about trust. You show them that the rat trap is real and then pretend to set it, place it in a bag that also has other goodies and then tell them, “Trust me, reach in and get what you want!”  You have to know WHO to place your trust in!