I have been doing object lessons for years and this blog is in support to my continuing efforts to do so. I hope these object lessons and themes will be useful for family devotional time, Sunday School, youth ministries or family home evenings. I hope you’ll enjoy today’s lesson.

One does not have to yell to be heard. Today’s theme is on how we can make a positive influence on others that does not require making a scene. Think of all the people who you respect. Discuss some of the examples who came first to your mind. Think about a specific person and give precise examples of what he or she did that made you admire that person. If you have examples of actions throughout their lives that have inspired you give some of those examples.

Some of the examples may touch upon how they lived their lives. If one example is Christ than you might discuss how Jesus lived his life and what he taught by word and example. You can touch upon his mission on earth and the Garden of Gethsemane and what his death on the cross accomplished.

If you have parents who have been a strong influence in your life, you might touch upon how their counsel has led you to make better decision. You might touch upon how their personality contributed to them being a great father and mother. If you learned a skill or craft from a parent, maybe touch upon how their instructions and practice with them as a mentor helped you improve your own skills.

Let’s say a hero of yours was a person in history. You might touch upon what challenges that person faced throughout their lives. If you have examples of how he/she performed specific actions to achieve a victory in their goals then maybe got into some detail of one of those events. You can also touch upon how you do certain things in your life in imitation to the actions of the person you respect.

Activity One: Volume Control

Age: All ages

Objects: Volume control to radio, TV or IPod.

Have everyone sit near the radio or TV. In advance chose a specific example of something that you know the family members or class would enjoy listening to. This might be an excellent piece of music, a comedy or something else of value. If you’re using the TV put a towel in front of the screen so that the family cannot recognize what they’re seeing. This lesson is based upon listening only.

Start with the volume at the lowest setting. As you turn up the volume have a contest to see who can recognize the subject matter the soonest. As soon as you get the first correct guess, turn down the volume and have that person explain what the recognized about the music. Have them discuss how they recognized it and what they liked about the subject.

Return to turning up the volume until the item of your listening can be heard by all. Now everyone can discuss virtues about what they’re listening to. It might be upon the skill of a composer creating a wonderful piece of music. It discussion might touch upon someone that can understand human nature enough to make people laugh. Etc.

Now touch upon how when the volume was hard to hear how everyone in the room strained to listen to what was being heard. They thirsted after knowledge. Just as people strain to listen to something they wish to hear, so people will strive to listen to people they respect. Now members of the family discuss what positive traits that can make them leaders of themselves, their community, and perhaps more.

I hope this lesson will be of use for devotional studies, Sunday school, family home evenings, family counsels or family activities.