While in college, one of my professors (I don’t remember which one or I would give him credit) gave a lesson in chapel one day and I adapted his lesson into the one below for Teen Week at camp.
We began our worship as we usually do and as we got closer to the time for the lesson, we turned off the lights and sang more “spiritual” songs. I asked the kids to close their eyes and then closed the entire time.
Then I told them about Jesus’ life before his ministry. I talked about how his father was a carpenter and he was probably a carpenter. I really elaborated the story talking about what it would have been like for Jesus as a young man working as a carpenter. I talked about the different things he would have made and what the wood shop would have been like. Then finally I talked about what is would have been like for Jesus the last day he was at home before he left to go proclaim the good news. How he would have walked through the shop remembering all of the times with his father and all of the things he would have made. And then, he would have thought to his final piece of carpentry; the cross. And then I went on from there to talk about the cross, his death, and resurrection.
Then I had one of my kids start the song, “Can He Still Feel The Nails.” As he started the song I secretly brought in a cross and slowly hammered in nails while we sang the song. After the song the kids opened their eyes. Then we praised God and offered and invitation. It was one of the hardest lessons to give without choking up. I cried for awhile. I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions just email me.