Table Talks: Object Lessonsنموونە

Keeping Your Tank Full

[Items to Gather: Place a glass, a spoon, and a pitcher on the kitchen table. Fill the pitcher with water, but make sure the glass has only a small amount of water in it.]

Say This: We live in a busy world, and our lives and schedules seem to get more hectic by the minute. This isn’t just true for adults. Kids are busier than ever, with a seemingly endless list of sports and activities. So what should we do to keep up with the demands of our lives and keep our tanks from running empty?

Say This: Our lives are a lot like this cup and spoon. Imagine the cup represents your life, and the water in it represents all of the mental, emotional, and spiritual fuel you have to give. The spoon represents all the different things in your life that require some of your energy (Friends, family, job, church, school, sports, hobbies, etc.).

(Begin to slowly spoon out some of the water from the glass onto the table)

Everything in our lives, even the good things like our family and church, require something from us. These things compete for our time and energy and will take as much as we allow them to have. If we aren’t careful, life will take and take from us until we are completely drained and empty. This is not God’s design.

Read John 15:4-5: 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Say This: Here, Jesus reminded His disciples that they were completely dependent on Him and that apart from Him, they could do nothing. The same is true for us. If we try to fill our tanks with anything other than God’s presence, or if we try to operate out of our own strength and ability, eventually, we will dry up.

Say This: Now imagine that the cup represents our lives, and the pitcher of water represents God and the life-giving fuel that He offers through our relationship with Christ. God’s design is for us to be refueled by walking with Him on a daily basis. This includes things like reading His word, prayer, worship, and using our spiritual gifts.

(Begin to pour water into the cup. You are trying to create a dramatic moment, so allow it to slowly overflow onto the table as you talk.)

Say This: If we allow God to fill us with His goodness and grace each day, it will overflow into the lives of others. When our hearts and lives are filled with the love of Christ, it will have an impact on the lives of those around us. It will make us better fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and friends.

Ask This:

1. What parts of your life sometimes make you feel like you’re “Running on Empty?” Is there anything our family could do to help with this?
2. What are some ways we tend to rely on ourselves instead of God?
3. We must be regularly seeking God if we expect Him to renew/refuel us. What is one step each of us could take that could help us grow in our faith?

Pray This: Dear God, we are grateful that you never intended for us to go through life on our own. Forgive us for the times that we try to do things our way or in our own strength. Remind us of the promises of Psalm 23, which tell us that you are the God who ‘refreshes our soul, and guides us along the right path.’ Help us to seek you daily so that our lives will overflow with your love. In Jesus' precious name, we pray, amen.