Needed: Scripture Strips, paper, pens, white board & markers
Luke 15:11-32, Matthew 19:16-22
You Don’t Rule Me
SAY: There’s a general perception that teenagers who are running from God are hiding out in the dark alleys, smokin’ some weed. Or they’re the snarling, suspicious loners you pass in the hall and wonder if they’re headed home to sulk and plan the demise of the school.
Have youth fold their hands with their fingers laced together .
SAY: When a person first seeks God, he or she usually feels really close to Him. Let’s imagine that your folded hands represent you and God. Each of you is as close as you can get right now. I’m going to read some situations and instructions. Follow the instructions as they apply to you. Be honest.
– If you practically or actually cheated on a homework assignment or test this week, release one finger from your fold.
– If you think coming to church messes up a perfectly good “sleep day”, release one finger from your fold.
– If you decided it’s okay to be a Christian even if you don’t really get it, clasp one finger back into your fold.
– If you’ve actually missed church because you just didn’t feel like it, release one finger from your fold.
– If you can’t or haven’t tried to change your schedule so you don’t miss church, release one finger from your fold if this applies to you.
– If you don’t have a job and think you wouldn’t care when you work -as long as it’s a job, release one finger from your fold.
– If you don’t want to be a Christian because some Christians are different than you, release one finger from your fold.
– If you talked about someone this week in a way that you wouldn’t have if that person had been with you, release one finger from your fold.
– If you were intentional about being nice to someone this week, clasp one finger back into your fold.
– If you justified Christianity despite all the hypocritical views this week, clasp one finger back into your fold.
– If you didn’t, release one finger from your fold.
– If you were honest about all the preceding questions, clasp one finger back into your fold.
SAY: Notice how loosely some of your hands are held. Keep them that way as I go back over the list again but think of it differently, think of it as “what I ought to do.”
– If you held a grudge with someone but realized you could think differently and just let it go, show up for God and add a finger back in.
– If you almost cheated on a homework assignment or test this week but thought differently and just did your best, show up for God and add a finger back in.
– If you decided it’s okay to be a Christian and will just show up even if you don’t really get it, get closer to God and add a finger back in.
– If you think coming to church messes up a perfectly good “sleep day”, think differently and at least show up for God. Add a finger back in.
– If you’ve actually missed church because you just didn’t feel like it, think differently and know that church is not just for you – others count on you to show up. Add a finger back in.
– If you don’t want to be a Christian because some Christians are different than you, think differently as you show up for God and realize if you leave there will be no one to make your point.
– If you were intentional about being nice to someone this week, try being nice to everyone next week as you show up for God and add a finger back in.
• What did it feel like to admit you’d done something that moved you away from God?
• How did you feel when you knew you’d done something to bring you into a closer relationship with God?
• What are other things that cause you to feel far from God?
• In what ways is seeking God a daily decision?
• In what ways is not showing up at church like running from God?
“LIVE” from Bible Times
Needed: Scripture Strips, paper, pencils
Print these Scripture Strips
Mark 14:29-31 & 66-72 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said vehemently, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
1. The information must be accurate.
2. Everyone must be involved in the report in some way.
• How do you think Peter felt when he realized what he’d done?
• Do you think it was harder for Peter to follow Christ after he failed to show up for Christ? Why or why not?
• Have you ever felt the way Peter did (made a promise you didn’t keep)? Just didn’t show up? If so, when?
• How can you look at Peter’s situation and learn to do things differently in your own life?
SAY: In Peter’s story, the way Peter dealt with God wasn’t nearly as important as the way God dealt with Peter. Peter avoided knowing God-but God showed up for Peter. Let’s have our second report now.
• How did Jesus respond to Peter this time? (He asked three times because Peter had just denied him three times, Jesus was saying we all “backslide” and this won’t be your last. After Jesus’ death Peter went back to fishing and Jesus came to him again…)
• What can we do differently in our own lives to not end up being sorry again for missing God’s mark?
Making Sunday Different
Needed: White board, markers
Make a two column list on your white board. Label one side “Sunday” and the other” Church”. Write Sunday answers in your “Sunday” column.
ASK:
• What’s important about Sunday. (Not looking for “Church” answers here)
• Why do people need Sundays?
• How does your family observe Sunday?
• Is Sunday any different than any other day?
SAY: Sunday is a gift from God—a full day to rest and relax from our nor¬mal routine. Although some people have to work on actual Sundays they probably do take a day off at some point in the week.
Now fill in the “Church” column
ASK:
• What is church?
• Is church only for coming together for Sunday school, a sermon, some songs, or some snacks?
• What is church for?
• Why does God want us to be part of a church family?
The Discussion
SAY: Share something you could do on Sunday instead of going to church.
• If you were not forced to go to church, do you think you would still go?” Why or why not?
• In what ways is church a good experience or bad one for you?
Below: Let them discuss the things they agree or don’t agree on. Let them defend their points of view. Allow them the freedom to express their opinions without others being judgmental.
a. A person should attend church every week.___________________ – Discuss
b. You can be a Christian without attending church.___________________ – Discuss
c. The church’s main concern seems to be taking in money.___________________ – Discuss
d. The church is old-fashioned and out of date.___________________ – Discuss
e. It doesn’t matter which church you attend.___________________ – Discuss
f. Our church services are boring.___________________ – Discuss(What would make it better?)
g. I am an important part of our church.___________________ – Discuss
Close
SAY: In the book of Jonah, chapter 3, after Jonah ran away from God and found himself alone in the belly of the great fish, the moment Jonah agreed to do as God had told him, the fish spat him out on dry land; “and the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.” Jonah went to the city and started walking through the city, seemingly a weak person, a beggar. Everyone who looks at him saw a man who looked a bit foolish and ragged. Undoubtedly, he was somewhat a mess after having been in the belly of the great fish. He seems to be everything that a godless society does not want to be. He is not powerful. He is not wise. He is not noble. Nobody takes any notice of him. He looks like a homeless person. But, something is different. This man just shows up in the city and God does the rest.
God doesn’t need 20,000 Haysvilleians, he needs one Jonah. The greatest thing that we can do today, is to say, by God’s grace, I will be that person. I will be the one that makes the difference in someone else’s life. I will be the person that says, “God, I trust you. . . I’m yours.” If I have to forfeit everything that I thought would make me happy, if I have to give up my plans, I will show up and give it all to you Lord.
Decide if you want to read the prayer of have a youth do it.
MORE
If you still have time here’s a little bit “more”