Can You Trust Your Senses?
Supplies
- A Bible
- Two large cards or pieces of poster board
- A thick marker
- A printed list of the listening challenges below
- Optional scientist costumes for a teacher and helper
Preparation
Prepare two reading cards. Arrange the words as shown, keeping the repeated THE on separate lines.
Card 1:
A
BIRD
IN THE
THE BUSHCard 2:
PARIS
IN THE
THE SPRINGThe duplicate word is intentional. Many readers recognize the familiar phrase and overlook the extra word.
Practice presenting the questions naturally without emphasizing the clues. Keep the activity playful and encouraging: these are attention challenges, not actual hearing, eyesight, or intelligence tests.
1. Introduce the challenge
Say: “Today we’re going to find out how closely we listen and look. Sometimes we feel completely sure about something—and still miss an important detail!”
Invite the children to participate. Explain that getting tricked is part of the fun.
2. Try the listening challenges
Use all five questions or choose a few to fit your available time. After each answer, repeat the wording and point out the clue.
Moses and the ark
Ask: “How many of each kind of animal did Moses take onto the ark?”
Answer: None—Noah was associated with the ark, not Moses.
Explain: “We heard a familiar Bible story and may have answered before checking the name!”
The train driver
Say: “You are the driver of a train. There are thirty passengers. At the first station, ten get off. At the second station, five get on.”
Ask: “What is the name of the train driver?”
Answer: The person answering gives their own name, because the question began, “You are the driver.”
Explain: “The numbers distracted us from an important detail at the beginning.”
The broken watch
Say: “It is noon. You look at your watch. The little hand points to three, and the big hand points to six.”
Ask: “What time is it?”
Answer: Noon—the watch is not showing the correct time.
Explain: “We focused on the watch and may have forgotten what we were told first.”
The green light
Have everyone spell STOP several times.
Ask: “You come to a green traffic light. What do you do?”
Answer: Go, when it is safe.
Explain: “Repeating one word can make us answer automatically instead of listening to the next question.”
What cows drink
Have everyone spell SILK a few times.
Ask: “What do cows drink?”
Answer: Water. Young calves also drink milk, so acknowledge that if a child mentions it.
Explain: “The sound of one word can make another answer pop into our minds!”
3. Try the reading challenges
Show the first card briefly and invite someone to read it aloud. Many people will say, “A bird in the bush.”
Ask: “Did we read every word?”
Show it again and point to each word slowly, including both instances of THE. Repeat with the second card.
Say: “Our eyes saw the words, but our brains expected a familiar sentence. We skipped something without realizing it!”
Give everyone time to notice the repeated words. Celebrate careful observation rather than embarrassing anyone who missed them.
4. Connect the activities to Scripture
Read 2 Corinthians 5:7:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Say: “These games remind us that our first impression is not always the whole picture. Following God means trusting Him even when we do not understand everything we see.”
Explain that our senses are useful gifts. The lesson is about recognizing that we can misunderstand information and need to look carefully, listen thoughtfully, and seek God’s guidance.
Say: “Something can sound convincing and still need checking. When someone tells us what God says, we can open our Bibles and read carefully.”
5. Practice checking what you hear
Connect the lesson to situations children recognize:
- A friend repeats something about God that sounds unfamiliar.
- A social media video makes a confident claim about the Bible.
- Someone quotes only part of a verse.
- A child hears two different explanations and feels confused.
Teach this simple response:
- Pause: Avoid answering or agreeing automatically.
- Check: Read the relevant Bible passage carefully, including the surrounding verses.
- Ask: Talk with a parent, pastor, or Sunday school teacher who can help explain it.
- Apply: Choose actions that honor God and reflect what Scripture teaches.
Say: “Asking an honest question is a good way to learn. We don’t have to pretend we understand everything.”
6. Encourage personal Bible reading
Ask: “What would happen if we always depended on someone else to tell us what a sign said?”
Allow responses.
Say: “It is good to learn from others, but we also need to spend time in God’s Word ourselves. If you are still learning to read, ask a trusted adult to read with you.”
Encourage children to begin with a short passage, talk about what it means, and consider how to put it into practice.
Discussion questions
- Which challenge surprised you the most?
- Why did the repeated words make the signs tricky?
- Have you ever felt sure about an answer and then learned something new?
- What can you do when you hear something about God that you do not understand?
- Who can help you study the Bible?
- What does walking by faith mean when you do not know what will happen next?
Closing challenge
Say: “This week, slow down, listen carefully, and make time for God’s Word. When you have a question, check the Bible and ask for help. We can trust God even when we do not understand everything!”