White monks and gray nuns live in a fair abbey built of gems and spices. The ladies are all fair and every month the people all have new clothes. In this wonderful land there is a bubbling fountain. Whoever drinks of its waters never grows old, and if those who are old drink of it they become young and vigorous again, be they ever so old or ugly. Now I suppose all of the little folks are saying they would like to live in that land, but I am sure you would find when you reached there it was not a land of pure happiness. Happiness does not come from having everything done for you. The wise man was speaking the real truth when he gave as his secret message that doing things for others in the name of Jesus was passing through the gates to the City of Real Happiness.
In preparing for this lesson use a piece of plain writing-paper, with a match sharpened to a point write in lemon juice "Be a Christian," and "Do some good thing for Jesus every day." When it is dry it will be invisible. When held up to the heat of a lamp it will become visible so all can read it. In doing this before the class first hold up the paper before them, showing both sides to be blank. At that time tell the story of the wise man and blank paper given to the lad, then hold it before the flame of lamp until the heat has had sufficient time to bring out the writing. Experiment with this while preparing the lesson so you can regulate your talking according to the time it takes to develop the hidden words. There are many other lessons you can give, using invisible ink, that will teach a strong lesson. "What Is in the Heart," can be the title of another lesson. In this case cut out a paper heart, and write the word "Sin" on it. Call the lamp the Holy Spirit, and show that he brings out just what is in the heart.
You can also teach the lesson "The Secrets of the Lord Revealed." Present a piece of paper that seems to be a blank, but it holds a secret hidden from our human eyes. Call the lamp the Word of God. Take the paper to the lamp of God's Word. Through that word he reveals his will to us, so we can read and understand. Lessons will multiply in your mind, as you think it through, which will be of great interest to your listeners.
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FORGOTTEN HOLY NAMES
OBJECTS: A Number of Cards Contain the Names of
Forgotten Bible Characters Written on Them
"Lest we forget" sang the old English poet. Well, we do forget oftentimes some of the worthies of the Old Testament. Perhaps we have never heard of them, then this lesson will introduce us to them and help us not to forget them in the days to come.
Write the names of the people that you mention on a visiting-card, and hide these cards somewhere on the pulpit, and say: "I am about to introduce some strangers to you. A few good people that some of us have forgotten." Look behind the pulpit chair and on the floor pick up a visiting-card and say: "Here is a forgotten friend I want to introduce to you. The Dog."
Did I ever hear of him before? Well his name is among the greatest names in the Bible. He lived in a camp of travelers. He was known as The Dog. Some of us would be insulted to be called a dog. Often we speak of people as being "As mean as a dog," but any one who really understands dogs loves them. The dog is the first to greet you and the first to defend you, he is quick to forgive you, and will be faithful to you to the last.