It's Got to be Crazy Fun!
It's Your Move
Work Zone and High Way
Common Meal Set up -We're giving up stuff for Lent, soooo&ldots; don't set up any tables or chairs and let the Youth sit and eat on the floor.
Introduce the session: Tonight's lesson is "It's Got to be Crazy Fun!"
Ask: What do you think the title of this lesson means?
(Get only a few answers.)
Say: Many young people don't know how to have fun. They're facing so many adult pressures and issues that many youth forget how to play. Others play too much, at the wrong time or too hard. Youth have mistaken fun with vandalism, theft, substance abuse, promiscuity and other unhealthy activities. If someone acts crazy or spontaneous in a healthy way, they might be labeled, as he or she is reckless, high or drunk. Youth need to accept the coaching to learn how to have fun at the right time, creatively and safely. Tonight's lesson will help you talk about having crazy Christian fun.
Large Group Game
Path Catch!
This is a new twist on an old game. Get the group to form a tight circle. The purpose of the game is to toss a fling sock made into a ball to the same person each time it returns to you after including everyone. Then, add each person saying the name of the person they are throwing the fling sock to. Then, the next time around add the name of something you would find in a house that begins with the first letter of his or her name. For example: Barry-bathtub, or Kris kitchen.
Add more fling socks to the pattern for increased difficulty. Keep adding fling socks until it's frenzied.
Break into Journey Groups
Which Way Are You Moving?
Work Zone & High Way
Work Zone - Divide into smaller groups
LIVIN' IT UP
Ask:
How would you answer this? In my opinion, fun is-
Why did they choose these answers?
How about this? I could have more fun if, "I changed places with this person I know who&ldots;"
Ask the kids to explain why they chose the person they did. Don't ask for specific names, but ask them why they want to be that person? What does he or she have that they don't have?
Moving In
Work Zone
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Read the statements below aloud and ask for volunteers to express their opinion. Ask that they explain their answers. For example, some might disagree to the statement it is fun being a Christian. Some of the statements explore the need for constant excitement. Young people who are always living on the edge could be are headed for trouble.
__ It's fun being a Christian.
__ My life is boring.
__ Christians have a different kind of fun than non-Christians.
__ I need more excitement in my life because I'm a Christian.
__ When I'm having fun, I sometimes don't care what might happen to me.
__ Christ had fun while he was on earth, so I can too.
__ Non-Christian kids don't really have fun-they just think they do.
__ Most fun things are either sinful or unhealthy.
Moving In
High Way
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Read the statements below aloud and ask for volunteers to express their opinion. Ask that they explain their answers. For example, some might disagree to the statement it is fun being a Christian. Some of the statements explore the need for constant excitement. Young people who are always living on the edge could be are headed for trouble.
__ It's fun being a Christian.
__ My life is boring.
__ Christians have a different kind of fun than non-Christians.
__ I need more excitement in my life because I'm a Christian.
__ When I'm having fun, I sometimes don't care what might
happen to me.
__ Christ had fun while he was on earth, so I can too.
__ Non-Christian kids don't really have fun-they just think they do.
__ Most fun things are either sinful or unhealthy.
__ Partying has become a major sport.
Say: Fun is healthy and good, but destructive fun can be potentially dangerous.
Ask:
Why do you think so many young people choose to have fun in harmful ways, such as substance abuse, promiscuity, theft & vandalism?
Moving Up
Work Zone
THE MOST FUNEST
Needed: 2 sets of Fun cards (one for each small group)
Rank the activities below from the most fun to the least fun by placing them in a line on the floor.
Sleeping - Eating - Partying - Trying a new hobby - Going on a vacation - Dating - Surfing the Internet - Watching television - Playing sports - Going to school - Playing video games - Working - Being with friends - Being at youth group
Ask:
If they haven't already explained their choice alignment, have them do so now.
What are the healthy ways of having fun?
Why do some teens equate fun with recklessness? (Discuss some of these issues with your group.)
Moving Up
High Way
THE MOST FUNEST
Needed: Fun cards
Rank the activities below from the most fun to the least fun by having a chain of youth holding one card up in their seat. Start with the top row left side of the pit and move to the right then back to the bottom row left to right.
Sleeping - Eating - Partying - Trying a new hobby - Going on a vacation - Dating - Surfing the Internet - Watching television - Playing sports - Going to school - Playing video games - Working - Being with friends - Being at youth group
Ask:
If they haven't already explained their choice alignment, have them do so now.
What are the healthy ways of having fun?
Why do some teens equate fun with recklessness? (Discuss some of these issues with your group.)
Moving On
Work Zone
GIRLS RULE
Needed: Team jerseys, basketball
Move to the gym to play this full court game. This game is a cross between soccer, football, and basketball. You can pass the ball, kick the ball, what ever. Divide into two even teams of mixed boys and girls.
Rules: It's played like four down football two hand touch but only the girls can score and only the girls can tag the opposing team. Guys can't tag or score, but they can set up screens to make themselves a stationary obstacle. No goal tending. No waiting for a rush. The goal posts are 4 feet wide and assumed to be about 4 feet high. The girls must carry, kick or pass the ball totally between and through the posts to score a point. If you are about to get tagged, try kicking the ball, passing or shooting to score. No advancing interceptions. Start off by throwing the balls into a field
Use a sponsor to mark the original line of scrimmage for the next down if the ball goes out over the end line or is incomplete. The ball can be kicked out at a sideline after a completed pass, the line of scrimmage advances to that point and the team with the ball restarts with a throw in, or kick in.
Moving On
High Way
GIRLS RULE
In the time remaining, have the senior high divide into two evenly mixed boy and girl teams. Explain the following rules. Then have them come up and join the middle school teams.
Moving Out
Work Zone & High Way
Continue playing the game.
Closing
Work Zone & High Way
HE CREATED FUN
Does God say we can't have fun? NO! But what is your idea of fun? If it were disrespectful behavior, drunken parties, sexual promiscuity or other vices, God would oppose it. Don't think God is against fun. HE CREATED IT. The most rewarding, and longest lasting definition of " fun" includes being in God's will.
If you are driven to EXCESS, or if you blame God for a "bad habit", first, realize that God didn't create the habit - he created the Joy. Second, understand that selfish influence helps you sustain a bad choice. It doesn't mean God condones it. If trapped in a "vice", ASK God to help you. - NEVER SUSPECT that God doesn't want you to have fun. Otherwise, we wouldn't have color, love, happiness, skiing, art, music, golf, satisfaction... the list could go on forever. God wants us to enjoy life the best we can - and within his will.
It is possible to have fun without getting into trouble. You will encounter many situations, as you grow older when you'll face decisions about evil EXCESS. Remember crazy Christian fun is not synonymous with disrespect or getting wasted. Losing control, getting sick, and risking irreversible bodily damage is not fun. Enjoy life in all its glory and don't doing anything you'll regret later.
UMYF Benediction
