This document describes an object lesson for youth about relationships using rubber bands. Participants will each take a rubber band and connect with their neighbors to form a circle. They will then slowly stretch the rubber bands between each other to demonstrate tension in relationships. The lesson discusses how relationships change over time, with both closeness and distance, and the consequences when bonds are broken. It aims to help youth better manage their own relationships, especially with God, family, and friends.

1. Object Lesson for Kids -
Tension in Relationships
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2. Introduction
Relationships often have tense moments. Use
this youth object lesson / creative teaching idea
to discuss the topic of relationships.
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3. Description
Rubber bands will be used as an object lesson for
youth on relationships, stress in relationships,
closeness in relationships and the hurt we can
experience in broken relationships.
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4. Materials
A thin rubber band for each participant. Additional
rubber bands and a few larger, thicker ones.
Preparation
None
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5. What to do
1. Gather everyone in a circle
2. Pass around the rubber bands and have each
person get one.
3. Have participants hook a finger inside the rubber
band and link them together with the person on
the right and left so that they are linked in one big
circle by a rubber band on the left and right.
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6. 4. Have group members gradually step back
stretching the rubber bands between them as far
as possible without breaking them
5. Observe the responses of the participants as the
rubber bands are being stretched.
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7. Discussion
• What will happen if you continue to step apart?
• Who will likely be hurt when the rubber bands break?
• How is the tension like that in relationships with God,
parents, family members, friends and others?
• What are the things that connect us in relationships?
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8. • Make a list of some of the more significant relationships
in your life. Who’s on your list? How are the significant
to you?
• What are the things that draw us closer?
• What are the things that move us apart?
• What are the consequences when we move away from
God? Parents? Family members? Friends? Others?
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9. • Throughout life relationships are always changing.
At times we draw closer to God and others while at
other times we may drift apart or even break the
relationships. At times there will be tension and
sometimes there will even be hurt.
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10. How can we more effectively manage relationships
with others? Is it possible to end a relationship
without causing hurt? What are some ways we can
minimize the pain in relationships? How can we
handle things gently?
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11. • The closer to a person we are, the stronger the
bonds that develop and more connections are
established. This is similar to adding more rubber
bands between a person and thicker rubber bands.
How does this increase the risks for hurt if the
relationship is broken?
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12. • What are some of the biblical instructions regarding
relationships with other Christians? With God? With
family members? With our parents? With the lost?
In general?
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13. Closing Application
What are some ways you can manage your
relationships better? With God? With your parents?
Friends? Various family members? The lost?
Significant people in your lives?
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14. A few of the many Scripture References on relationships
James 4:8 Galatians 6:2
Exodus 20:12 Ephesians 4:26
Philippians 2:3-4 Philippians 2:14
Proverbs 4:1-17 Proverbs 6:20-23
Ephesians 6:1-4 1 Timothy 5:1-3
Matthew 7:12
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15. MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you
need to know when planning your very own
object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed
object lesson ideas and another 200 object
lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms
and Names / Descriptions of God.
Learn More…
Creative Object Lessons
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