Object Lesson

Give the volunteer the script and go over it before class. Just before the presentation, the volunteer should slip out of the room, close the door, then listen carefully to know when to knock. Speak loudly so the volunteer can hear you through the closed door. The volunteer should knock very softly—just barely loud enough for the children to hear—when indicated in the script.

You will need to address the children’s curiosity and desire to answer the door. You may say things like: “They can wait for a little while,” or, “What we are doing is very important.”

In our lesson today, who came to Mary and Martha’s home to visit? Jesus and His disciples.

Read Luke 10:38:

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

Jesus had a close relationship with this family. Do you know that Jesus wants to do the same with us today?

Read Revelation 3:20:

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

Jesus is not talking about a physical meal in this verse. He knocks and calls out to us to open the door to our heart. The door isn’t an actual door like this one. Put your hand on the room door.

The door Jesus is talking about represents the door of our hearts. He wants us to open up our hearts and lives to have a relationship with Him. This verse is often used to show how Jesus knocks on the doors of people’s hearts so they will accept Him as their Savior. This verse was actually written to people who were already Christians, yet they had disobeyed God’s word. Jesus was calling out to them to return to Him.

Volunteer knocks on door.

This is very important; I’m sure that person can wait a minute. Yes, Jesus pursues us patiently because He wants to be included in our lives now on earth and to then live with us in heaven for all of eternity—that means forever! This verse tells us that Jesus stands and waits for us to open the door. He will not come in unless we allow Him to—He will not force His way in. Jesus is someone we can trust to enter every part of our lives.

Volunteer knocks on door.

We are busy right now and can’t be interrupted. You see, as we follow Christ, He will never stop knocking and He will never stop lovingly and gently calling out to us. Does anyone have an idea why? He wants us to have a closer relationship with Him. He wants to enter different areas or “doors” of our lives.

He wants to spend time with us as close friends. He desires to talk with us, and we with Him just like you would with a close friend or a family member. He wants to know our questions and disappointments, our victories and successes, our plans and dreams.

Volunteer knocks on door.

I’m not quite done yet. God created us to be in a close relationship with Him. However, He also gives us a free will to make our own choices. What do you think we should do about that person knocking on the door of our classroom!

Volunteer knocks on door. Choose someone to open the door and let the volunteer in.

Welcome! Thanks for being so patient with us until we opened the door for you! We don’t want to keep Jesus waiting that long, do we!

The question is—will we allow Jesus to enter our lives to share in these personal experiences? He gently knocks and calls out to us today!

Let’s pray. Dear Lord Jesus, we love You and want You to be our closest friend. Help us to open the doors of our hearts to You right now. Please lead us and guide us every minute of every day. Show us what is right and what is wrong. Remind us to spend time reading the Bible and praying so we can clearly hear Your voice speaking to our hearts. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Conclusion: The exciting thing to us is that Jesus wants to spend time with us! He stands at the door and knocks continuously, without end! Like a close friend, He wants us to be able to share our joys and our heartaches with Him. Even if we have sinned and done things wrong, He still wants to be with us! He wants to speak words of life to encourage us and forgive us and strengthen us. Will we make the choice Mary did to spend time with Him?