This is the place where I will either teach a new trick, or actually perform one for/on YOU! These will most likely not be EARTH-SHATTERING tricks, but I think you will agree that the lessons they are designed to teach are extremely valuable, and very practical for children's workers!

This page is dedicated to anyone who has ever had to teach children, and wondered, "what am I going to speak on this Sunday??". All materials are commonly available, and should cost little or nothing to gather up and use.

This is a great routine for any type of utility device, such as a change bag, a dove pan, or an Indian Sweet Vase.  If you don't have any of these commercial items, you can make your own "Bag O' Plenty" for free!  If you have questions about the types of equipment above, or would like to purchase something of your own, please e-mail me, and I'd be happy to help you make the best selection.

Effect:

Three envelopes are loaded - two with useless information, and one with a $5 bill.  They are all placed into a bag, mixed up, and two spectators are given a free choice of which envelope they want.  If they get the $5 bill, it's theirs to keep.  The magician keeps the envelope not chosen.  After making their choices, it is revealed that the spectators chose the useless papers, and the magician ends up with the $5 bill every time.

Needed:

You will need a utility device, as described above, and 4 matching envelopes.  I use the small, coin envelopes that can be purchased in quantity at any stationery store.  You will also need 3 sheets of paper with funny, but useless messages written on them, and one $5 bill.

Setup:

One of the envelopes, with a useless message, is loaded into one side of the utility prop.  The audience is unaware of the presence of this envelope.

Presentation:

Select 2 spectators to come and help you, and in their presence, load all 3 remaining envelopes with one item each.  Two will hold useless papers with silly messages, and the third will have the $5 bill.  Place the envelopes, one at a time, into the bag (or utility device), making sure that the first two (holding useless papers) go into the same side as the hidden 4th envelope.  The envelope with the $5 bill is placed in last, in the section opposite the other envelopes.

Now shake the bag, and offer each of the spectators a "free" choice of any of the three envelopes.  What they take is what they get, and you will keep whatever is left over.  Allow them to take any of the useless envelopes, and once they have made their choices, you reach in and take out the envelope holding the $5 bill.

Gospel Presentation:

"How can we know for sure that Jesus is the only way for man to get to heaven?  What if eternal life were just a game of chance?  And if it were, what would the odds be?  Let's run a little "experiment", shall we?

"Here are 3 envelopes, each one identical to the others.  We'll load each of the them with something... only two of the "somethings" will be worth "nothing".  The third envelope will be loaded with a $5 bill, and for the purposes of this illustration, the $5 will represent heaven.  The goal of this experiment is to pick the envelope with the $5 bill!

"I'll pick two helpers, and we'll place all three envelopes into this bag.  Let's shake them up so no one knows which one is which, and then each of you may select any envelope you want.  Just remember, whichever one you take is what you get... and *I* will get to keep whatever one is left behind, okay?"

(Spectators select their envelopes, and magician gets the one with the $5 bill)

"Okay - everyone has been given a fair chance to get the prize - now let's see what each of us ended up with.  The first helper's envelope has a piece of paper that reads, "Confusious Say, `all the wisdom of man is foolishness to God'".  Hmmm... looks like it's between you and me - and yours says, "Chances are, if your grandparents didn't have children... neither will you!".  Wow - let's see if in fact I got the prize - I did... WOW!

"Isn't it great that God doesn't make our eternal reward just a game of chance?  What's that?  How can we know?  I'm so glad you asked!  You see, 1John 5:13 says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

"That's our confidence!!  We can KNOW where we are going!  It's not a gamble... it's a promise!"

Notes:

This is a FABULOUS routine idea, and one that I have used in many, many programs over the years.  Of course, I have only given you the outline here, but you can fill it out to suit your performance style.  Have a great time with this!

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