Freedom from Baggage | Skit
This is an object lesson that can help you teach your class about how we are only free when we let go of the baggage that is holding us down!
Needed:
Several bags, suitcases, or backpacks (4–5 total, in various colors and sizes), labels or tags for each bag: Party/Sin, Lies/Pride, Fear/Sadness/Anger, and Unforgiveness, optional props inside the bags such as a party hat, toy money, tissue box, weights, or fake chains to represent the emotional or spiritual weight they symbolize, a trash bin or cross prop to represent giving things to God, and background music to help set the mood for the final moment of freedom and worship.
Before class, prepare the bags with their labels and contents. Each bag represents a different kind of baggage that weighs us down spiritually. Arrange them where the kids can see them, either stacked in a pile or lined up beside you. If you have multiple teachers or helpers, assign one person to play the baggage carrier, someone who tries to worship or move around while struggling under the weight of all the bags. Another teacher plays the encourager, helping the class understand what’s happening and guiding the main character to freedom.
Begin with energy and joy, as if you’re starting a song or activity. Encourage everyone to stand, clap, and get ready to worship. Then, right before you begin, have one teacher enter carrying all the bags. Make it funny and dramatic, the person should be clearly struggling, tripping, and weighed down. The other teacher pauses and asks what’s going on. Let the baggage carrier explain that these are their bags, they carry them everywhere. Each bag represents something from their past or something they’re holding onto.
As you walk through each bag, pull them out one at a time and describe them in simple terms kids can understand. The Party Bag represents sin. It started out as fun, but what looks fun at first often turns into guilt and shame. The Lies and Pride Bag came next. This one shows what happens when people try to cover up wrong choices or pretend everything is fine when it isn’t. The Fear and Sadness Bag follows, full of worry, loneliness, and anger that come from carrying guilt. Finally, there’s the Unforgiveness Bag. This one represents hurt or bitterness when someone has done you wrong. It’s often the hardest to let go of because people think holding onto it will protect them, but it only keeps them from real freedom.
Encourage the kids to notice how tired or weighed down the person looks. Ask, “How can you jump, sing, or clap for God when you’re carrying all that baggage?”
Explain that Jesus came to set us free. He died on the cross to take away every one of these burdens, sin, fear, anger, guilt, and unforgiveness. Tell the children that freedom begins when we repent. When we ask God to forgive us, He takes the baggage away.
Guide the baggage carrier through the process. Have them start by giving up the Party Bag. Explain that repentance means being sorry and turning away from wrong things. Next, let go of Lies and Pride. Remind the class that baptism in Jesus’ name washes away our sins and makes us clean. Then comes Fear and Sadness. Explain that when we receive the Holy Ghost, God’s Spirit gives us joy and peace inside. Finally, Unforgiveness. Tell the kids that forgiving others can be hard, but it’s part of living free. God forgives us when we forgive others.
As each bag is laid down, the baggage carrier should start to stand taller, smile more, and move easier, until finally, they’re completely free.
After all the bags are gone, lead the class in a joyful moment of worship. You can even reprise a song like “Freedom” by Eddie James or any upbeat worship song the kids know. Encourage everyone to clap, jump, and celebrate that Jesus takes away our baggage and gives us new life. Finish by reminding them that God doesn’t just help us put down the baggage, He takes it away for good. When Jesus sets us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36). Encourage the kids to pray quietly and thank God for taking away their burdens. Tell them that they can give anything, sin, sadness, fear, or unforgiveness, to Him in prayer anytime.
