Looking for a preteen church object lesson? Here is an object lesson to use in your preteen ministry. Enjoy!

Topic: Getting the Most Out of Life
Bible: John 10:10

Supplies: iPad Mini (borrow one from a friend, co-worker or parent if you don’t own one) or a picture of an iPad Mini; a prize for the winner.

Say: Who know’s what this is? (Hold up iPad Mini) That’s right, it’s an iPad Mini. An iPad Mini is pretty cool. It’s just the right size – bigger than an smartphone but not as big as a normal iPad.

Let’s see how much you know about the iPad Mini. At the beginning of each round (before the question is asked) everyone starts out in the middle of the room. I’m going to read some facts about the iPad Mini. The facts are either REAL or NOT REAL. If you think it is a real fact, go to the right wall. If you think the fact is not real, go to the left wall. If correct, you get one million points. You keep track of your own score. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. (Give winner a prize, such as: pack of M&M’s, bag of Dorito’s,

Ready? Let’s go!

1. The iPad Mini has a screen size of 7.8 inches. (Not real – 7.9 inches is the real size)

2. Some apps on an iPad are not available on an iPad Mini. (Not real)

3. The iPad Mini shoots 1080p HD video. (Real)

4. The iPad Mini is 23% thinner & 53% lighter than the iPad. (Real)

5. The iPad Mini weighs less than .75 pounds. (Real – 6.8 to be exact)

6. The iPad Mini’s iSight camera takes 6-megapixal photos. (Not real, it takes 5-megapixel photos)

Well, that was fun. Congrats to the winner and great job everyone for playing!

One of the cool features of the iPad Mini is that it is smaller and lighter than the iPad, yet it is still an iPad. You have full access to the 300,000+ apps available on the iPad. The apps are what make owning an iPad cool.

For example…

(Name some of your favorite apps and talk about why you like them. Also, ask preteens to describe some of their  favorite apps or games.)

An iPad Mini is cool because of all the available apps. Without the apps, you wouldn’t experience the best that an iPad Mini has to offer. A life with Jesus, is like an iPad full of apps. You experience life to the fullest. You get the most that life has to offer!

I’m going to read John 10:10 in a few different translations. As I read it, listen to what you think Jesus is trying to say.

“A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.”
– New Century Version

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
– New Living Translation

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
– New International Version

“A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
– The Message

Ask: What do you think this verse means? (Get responses)

Say: Great thoughts! Jesus was saying that our enemy (Satan) wants to make our lives miserable. On the other hand, Jesus came to give us an amazing life. He wants us to have the best life ever! By surrendering our lives to Jesus and following Him, we start an amazing life with God. And after that, we wake up every day being able to experience a relationship with the God of the universe. When we do life with God in the picture, then we experience the best life possible.

Yes, bad things will happen. Yes, life is sometimes unfair. Yes, you will make mistakes. We live in a messed up world and sometimes others’ decisions will hurt us. But, when we embrace a life with God, then we live a full life. A life filled with God. We experience joy, peace, love and happiness.