Torn and Restored Heart Object Lesson

This is a magical object lesson that illustrates how God can restore a broken heart. (Perfect for Valentine's Day or Sweetest Day!)

Setup: Prepare two identical valentines like the drawing here. Tear up the front valentine, putting the pieces behind it. Unfold the front valentine to hide the pieces, showing that the heart is restored.

Lesson:

1. God’s Perfect Creation

Genesis 1:27-31 "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

Say: In the beginning, God created the world with love. He made the earth, the sky, the animals, and His most special creation, humans. (Hold up the intact heart.) Everything was good, and God’s love filled the world. Man and woman lived in perfect harmony with God.

2. The Fall of Man

Genesis 3:1-6 - "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made... When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye... she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

Say: But then, something went wrong. The serpent, Satan, came to deceive Adam and Eve. (Begin to tear up the heart.) They disobeyed God by eating the fruit He told them not to eat. This act of disobedience brought sin into the world, tearing apart the perfect relationship between God and humans.

3. The Consequences of Sin

Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Isaiah 59:2 - "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear."

Say: Sin has consequences. It separates us from God, just like this torn heart. (Show the torn pieces.) Sin brings pain, sadness, and death into the world. Our hearts are broken, and we are far from God.

4. God’s Plan of Redemption

Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Say: But God’s love for us never stopped. He had a plan to fix what was broken. (Begin to restore the heart.) He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary restored our relationship with God. (Unfold the heart to show it restored.) Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for our hearts to be made whole again.

5. The Victory Over Sin

1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 10:9 - "If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Say: Satan thought he had won, but he was wrong! (Hold up the restored heart.) Jesus conquered sin and death. His love is greater than anything, and He invites us to come to Him. When we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, our hearts are restored, and we can have eternal life with Him.

Conclusion:

Say: God’s love for us is unending. Even though sin tried to tear us apart from Him, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross restored our relationship. (Hold up the restored heart one last time.) Let’s remember that no matter what happens, God’s love is always there to make us whole again.

Optional Prayer:

Pray: Dear God, thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus to die for our sins. Thank You for restoring our hearts and giving us new life in You. Help us to always remember Your love and live for You. Amen.