Cross & Hell

Bible Study Leaders! Sunday School Teachers! (and any others!) As our resident member-magician, Doug Anderson has been using a particular 'magic trick' as an object lesson while spreading His word of salvation. It involves folding a piece of paper like a snub-nosed paper airplane. The pictures were taken during a performance by Doug's wife Patti Beth

Effect: As you tell a story about salvation, you demonstrate with a piece of paper in a very memorable way. When you rip the paper, the torn pieces spell out HELL & the remaining piece is a cross.

Method: Fold the piece of paper as you would for a ‘stubby’ paper airplane (ask any kid & they’ll show you), but you'll actually see the pictures for folding at the bottom of this page.

Patter: I’d like to tell you a story about a very devout Christian man and a man lost to God. This story about the Christian man & the non-Christian is sort of a sad tale because they were both killed in a car wreck. When they died they started heading for judgment & the backsliding or non-Christian man noticed the Christian had something in his hands & he asked, "What’s that?"

The Christian man said "Well, as far as my beliefs and the way I lived my life, as far as I’m concerned this is my ticket into Heaven." The non-Christian said, "You know, I don’t have mine with me… could I possibly have part of yours?"

Being a giving person, the Christian man said "Sure." As he ripped off part of what he had in his hands. The non-Christian said, "You know, you still have a lot more than I, and I haven’t really lived my life as I should have. I sort of slid into sin & renounced my faith in God & Jesus Christ. Could I have a bit more of your ‘ticket’?"

Again, being a helpful man & trying hard for everyone to see the Grace of the Lord, the Christian obliged and gave him a bit more of what he had in his hands.

Well, they approached the Pearly Gates and St. Peter said, "It’s good to see you! I’m glad you made it. He turned first to the non-Christian man & said, "What’s that you have in your hands?" The backsliding Christian, with some false bravado, said "Well, isn’t this what it takes to get into Heaven? For everlasting life?" St. Peter said, "I don’t know, let’s see what you’ve got."

(Unfold all the pieces as you say the following)

St. Peter says "This looks kind of familiar… but I don’t think it’s right…"
To the man’s dismay, as he watched his eternal life literally unfold before his very eyes … was near panic as he reflected on his sinful life. Realizing that what he hoped would be eternal peace and love, would instead be (as you finish unfolding H-E-L-L) forever separated from the love of God. And, as a result of the way he lived his life, he condemned himself, banished from the love of God.

St. Peter turned to the Christian man & said, "What’s that you have?" The Christian man said "Well, I believe that Christ died for my sins. I tried to share the message with the other man, but I shared it too late... But I do believe that Christ is the only begotten Son of the Living God and no one gets to the Holy Father but by Him, and that we are saved not by our good deeds, but as the Bible says by His Grace."

St. Peter took what the man had in his hands & as he unfolded it he said, "That is exactly what it takes (unfold cross) for everlasting life in God’s Kingdom."

Note: "As we go through life, we’re sometimes reluctant to spread the word of our Lord. While it’s true there is a place and time for everything, don’t let opportunities pass you by. One of my greatest fears is that I might pass up an opportunity to show someone the way to God’s Love and everlasting life. What an awesome responsibility to consider that if I’d only taken the time, they could have been saved. Don’t miss your chance to spread His Words of Salvation.


1. Start with a piece of paper...	2. Fold down one corner so the top is aligned with the side.

3. Fold the other corner down so the paper resembles a house (church) with a pointed roof.	4. Lastly, fold the paper in the middle. It should be recognizable at this point as a snub-nosed paper airplane without the wings folded down.

Enjoy & share this effect. I hope our Lord blesses you as he has continually blessed me. Feel free to print and share this message.