God's Word: Our Best Recipe

Objects Needed: Apron, chef's hat, recipe card, ingredients to make a drink such as instant lemonade, cups & tabasco sauce and other gross stuff that isn't in the recipe.

Preparation: Have fun with this one. The idea is to add to the directions on the package and mess up the recipe so badly that it is not drinkable. Do this by adding more or less of the ingredients than the recipe calls for. If the recipe calls for one cup of water, put in four cups of water or whatever. Add tabasco sauce and other "different" ingredients.

(Begin the lesson by donning apron and chef's hat) Welcome, Christian soldier, to the Mess Hall. I'm excited today because I'm making my Ultimate Thirst Quencher. (read the directions on the package) Oh, MY recipe is better than that! I'll mix up a batch of my very own Special Blend Ultimate Thirst Quencher. (start putting in ingredients. Say stuff like, "Let's see here, the recipe says to put in one cup of sugar….. but I think three would be much better". Exaggerate the addition of the ingredients and stir it.)

Anyone want a drink? No? What do you mean, no? I know it's good. It's got to be good, since I know what I'm doing. (pretend to take a taste, then pretend to spit it out) YUK!

Hmmmmmm -- I wonder what I did wrong? What do you think? (allow them time to tell you that you should have followed the directions) Well, maybe I shouldn't have added that tabasco sauce. I guess maybe I should have followed the recipe. (take your apron and hat off, and sit down to talk with the kids)

God gives us instructions in the Bible. We must be careful not to add to the instructions He gives us, or change them, even if we think it would be better. We must follow the instructions very carefully, the way God gives them to us. If we try to make the recipe our own way, we will soon find out that God's way is always better. The Bible tells us that He knows the beginning from the end. That means that he knows ALL THINGS. We must trust that He knows what He is doing.

Isaiah 46:9-10
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.