Does God's Word Change? (Red Cabbage Chemistry)

A question children have is why are there so many different types of Bibles? The AWANA's Leader Guide, "What" attempts to answer this question. Below is an object lesson with talking points that mixes ideas found in the AWANA book, the Steve Spangler Science website and my original thoughts. Kitchen Science is one of my favorite ways to bring the Bible to life. Enjoy.

BEFORE CLASS
Make Your Own Cabbage Juice. NOTE: Red Cabbage has a very strong and distasteful odor. Things you will need: Red cabbage, a Blender, a Strainer, Water and a pitcher
1. Peel off six big cabbage leaves and put them in a blender filled half full with water. Liquefy it!
2. Pour the purplish cabbage liquid through a strainer to filter out all of the big chunks of cabbage. Doesn't cabbage juice smell great?
3. Save the liquid in a jar with a lid for the experiments to follow.
4. Optional: Label pitcher "The BIBLE" or "God's Word"

You will also need to make a solution of Bleach and Water. Things you will need: Oxy Clean (bleach), Water and a pitcher.
1. Fill pitcher with water and add at least two scoops of bleach
2. Stir until bleach is dissolved
3. let sit still to help settle the mixture, eliminate bubbles and clear the water some.
4. Optional: Label pitcher "GOD" or "Jesus"

IN CLASS...
Things you will need Red Cabbage Juice (instructions above), Bleach Solution, four (4) clear drinking glasses, a table cloth, apron, paper towels (for spills) and Test chemicals: Vinegar, Baking Powder, Syrup, Laundry Detergent.


STAGE
Before students arrive, set-up a row with Cabbage Juice Pitcher first, four clear cups and the Bleach Pitcher last. Cover the bottom of each empty, clear glass with one of the test chemicals, but keep the levels low so students cannot tell there is something in the glass. One glass with vinegar, one glass with baking powder, etc. You will need a white sheet, table cloth or paper underneath the glasses to hide the testing chemicals and to protect the table from spills.


PRESENTATION
Does God's word change? No. There are a lot of different types of Bibles just like there are a lot of different type of people. (Have about four (4) students stand up). What's different? Brown Hair, Blue eyes, short, etc. What's the same? legs, arms, head. On the inside are they same? Bones, stomach, heart, etc. Even though they are a different, they are all human beings. They are all the same.

Now, let's look at what I have here on the table. (point to Cabbage Juice) All these glasses appear to be the same. Just like our kids all had arms and legs and heads, these jars look the same but something is different. The juice in this pitcher is all the same kind of juice. Just like the Bible, God's word, the juice never changes. But these glasses, these people are each unique individuals. When they heard God’s word, do they react the same? (pour some cabbage juice into one of the glasses. Pour only about a 1/4 of a cup. The juice should change color) This person reacted happy, turned yellow (vinegar). How about this one? (pour some juice into the glass. The juice should change into another color). This person is ready to grow. They turned green (laundry detergent). This person seems to be a little challenged, maybe a little sad. They turned blue (baking powder). This person seems richer, happier, royal. They turned purple (syrup).

I put the same thing in (God’s Word), but I got a different result. God’s word never changes, but each of us is a little different. When we hear God’s word or read God’s word, we may react differently. Why? Because of how old we are, if we had a good day on the playground, if we got a bad grade at school. There are a lot of things that affect what we hear and how we react to it, BUT God’s word never changes. So there are several versions of the Bible to help all people, no matter how different they are understand God’s word.

Regardless of which version of the Bible you read, God’s word says to receive salvation, to be forgiven, to go to heaven, you have to BELIEVE in Jesus Christ. So if we may react differently, reading God’s word. When we receive God’s word, when we put it in our hearts and believe God’s word, are we different? (pour bleach mixture into each glass. Pour until you reach the top of the glass. Each glass should turn a shade of yellow.) Nope. No matter how different we are, when Christ comes into our lives, we are the same. We all shine, that yellow sunshine, with Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Resources
- "WHAT is your Biggest Question About God and the Bible?" AWANAs Clubs International, Streamwood, IL 2006.
- Red Cabbage Chemistry was taken from “Chemistry Magic” Steve Spangler Science, http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/content/experiment/00000124 , Sept. 2009