Leader Guide

Active Object Lesson

Several containers of modeling dough of one color
Several containers of modeling dough of a variety of colors
Toothpicks, craft sticks, or pencils—one per child, plus extras
At least two cookie cutters that are the same shape (For larger classes, add more cookie cutters.)
Tables and chairs
Plastic sandwich bags
Bibles or Superbook Bible App

You Choose: Discuss being transformed versus conformed.

Give each child a chunk of dough of the same color. Have children share the cookie cutters. Demonstrate how to flatten out the dough so the cookie cutter can be placed on it and fill the mold, then take it out to show the class. Have each child press the mold into the dough, remove it, and then pass the mold to another child. When all children have finished, have them hold up their shapes. Discuss how they are all basically the same.

Read Romans 12:2a:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.

The Israelites in Jeremiah’s time chose to turn away from God and act like the nations around them. Imitating or copying the world around us becomes a problem when the world’s standards are different from God’s standards. His ways are always good and true. The world’s ways can be harmful and lead us into sin, as in Jeremiah’s time. God sent Jeremiah to warn them of His coming judgment if they did not repent for worshiping idols and disobeying His Law.

Read Jeremiah 18:1–6:

¹ The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, ²“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” ³So I did as He told me and found the potter working at his wheel. ⁴But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. ⁵Then the LORD gave me this message: ⁶“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand."

God likened Himself to a potter. He wanted the people to return to Him and put themselves in His hands to start over. If they obeyed, He would reshape them, restore them, and transform them!

Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “I want God to transform me.”

Now, you will each be potters.

Place toothpicks and/or pencils on the tables. Give the different colors of modeling dough to the children. Have children crush the last “cookie cutter” dough shape, then use it to create a unique figure of themselves. If possible, the figures should be three-dimensional, rather than just flat. Children may use the different colors of dough, along with toothpicks and pencils, to add details. Emphasize that they should be creative and make what pleases them! When finished, have the children hold up their figures for all to see.

A few minutes ago, I read the first part of Romans 12:2. Now I’ll read the entire verse.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Who remembers what the word “transform” means? To be completely changed.

Look at everyone’s clay figures—no two are alike. God wants to transform each of us into the special individual He created us to be. He wants us to follow His special plan and to live according to His standard—not to conform to the standards of the world.

Conclusion: It is our choice. We can allow ourselves to be squeezed into the world’s mold and conformed to the ways of the world that are not pleasing to God. Or, we can place ourselves in God’s hands to be transformed into His likeness—unique and pleasing to Him. Even when we sin and make mistakes, God is faithful and merciful; He waits to remove any blemishes or mistakes and reshape us into His desired creation.