Profess & Possess It's Your Move Road Work and Trek Groups Get rid of the round tables. Make one long loop with long tables. Everyone sits side by side this week.  Welcome, & introductions, make any announcements.    Which Way Are We Moving Work Zone & High Way Begin with a large group&ldots;  What is a Hypocrite?  Do you have friends with better things to do than go to church? Do you know someone who is part time religious or has rejected Christianity because of what they perceive to be blatant hypocrisy on the part of Christians? These people believe Christians "profess what they don't possess" they think Christianity is phony, empty, and hollow to the core. Perhaps you, too at sometime, have felt justified in either avoiding or rejecting the Christian faith because of some instance of outright hypocrisy that you have encountered in those identifying themselves as Christians. Here's a quote from an on line chat room: "Hey, I would never be a Christian. I mean, look at all the hypocrites in the Church!" My answer: "Well, isn't that nice. Please show us how to act. And furthermore, if you ever find the perfect church, please don't join it. You'd spoil it." Does that response strike you as a being a bit too smart-alecky? Perhaps so, but before you totally discount it, consider the point that is being made. Isn't this person a bit like a parent telling a child: "Kid, if I've told you once, I've told you a million times -- don't exaggerate!" Since when do you allow hypocrisy to determine whom you hang out with? Jonathan Pollard and Benedict Arnold were phony, hypocritical Americans -- but are you planning to leave the country? Don't be influenced by people who won't try, who aren't strong enough to make a difference, You're right -- the Church is not perfect. But Christ is. Fix your eyes on Him.   Break into Journey Groups   Moving In Work Zone  Wink-um Set up a circle of chairs for ½ of the group. Divide into two groups by saying the first ones to sit down get to use the chairs. After the madness stops add one chair to the circle to be left empty. Have the chair-less youth stand behind those setting and the empty chair. Everyone but one should be paired up. Now it's time to play. The idea is for the person without someone in their seat to "wink or blink" someone sitting into their chair from another part of the circle. Everyone standing has their hands behind their back and tries to tag their seat partner before they can get away to the unoccupied chair. No chasing anyone into the center of the circle. Play a few rounds.   Moving In High Way Use Your Noodle Needed: Mousetraps, uncooked spaghetti, old dollar bills   Say: Many youth assume that they are their own person and are influenced little by their friends. Those who observe teens for any length of time have just the opposite opinion. Tonight's discussion is designed to help you see that the enticement of bad friends can lead you down paths of unhappiness and regret. Prep the mousetraps with pieces of the old dollars in the bait slots of several mousetraps. Then set the traps and divide your group into teams. Give each team a few uncooked spaghetti noodles. With the noodles, each team must retrieve the dollar-but without springing the traps. Then&ldots; Discuss:  With the group about the different types of traps and baits such as, mousetraps and fishing lures.    How do these work?    What kind of bait is used?    How likely it is that the creature will escape from the trap?    How do these lures and traps compare with those (figurative) traps that people use on each other?   Moving on Work Zone  Choosy Chairs Add chairs to your circle, have one less chair than people. The person without a chair must stand in the center of the circle. Have the person in the middle ask someone, "Are your friends trustworthy?" If the person answers "no," then the people on either side of him or her try to switch chairs. The person in the middle tries to get an empty chair. No one may return to his or her original chair. One person will always be left standing in the center of the circle. If the person answers "yes," then that person must add, "but I'm not sure about anyone who's wearing red" (or some other description). All people who fit the description must find a new seat. Play a few rounds.   Moving on High Way The Discussion Say: Most young people know what they are likely to be tempted with. Ask:    Imagine that your friends want to get you to do something. What kind of bait (food, money, stuff, people, and so on) could they use to snag you? Do you think others are aware of your weak spots?    In what different cases would different things, such as food, money, sex, or drugs, tempt you?    Almost everyone has heard the saying-"If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" What percentage of teenagers do you think probably would do what all the rest of their friends were doing?    Why do you think some youth are more likely than others to do what their friends are doing? Defend your answer.   Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?     A person with friends who do wrong things should change friends.     A person with friends who do wrong things should try to help them do the right things.     A person with friends who do wrong things is likely to do those things too. Discuss: The difficulties in breaking off with friends who are simply not good influences and opportunities and dangers involved in trying to influence those friends for good.   Moving up Work Zone Break into small groups Snagged  Say: Getting snagged in the wrong crowd can be a gradual process-but it's one you'll face now, in high school, college, and beyond. The friends you have now may be the ones you have trusted for years. You are probably not their only friend. His or her other friends and influences will change. They may be cool with you, but when you're not around they may be beginning to hang with the "independent" kids, smoking, doing drugs or being overly sexual. It's easy to think that being judgmental stifles independence. That's not the case; you are encouraged to think about what you're doing and what others around you are doing. Are they fitting in or intentionally standing out the easy way? Ask:    Imagine that your friends want to get you to do something. What could they do to snag you? Do you think others are aware of your weak spots?    In what different cases would different things, such as food, money, sex, or drugs, tempt you?    Almost everyone has heard the saying-"If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" What percentage of teenagers do you think probably would do what all the rest of their friends were doing?    Why do you think some youth are more likely than others to do what their friends are doing? Defend your answer. Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?     A person with friends who do wrong things should change friends.     A person with friends who do wrong things should try to help them do the right things.     A person with friends who do wrong things is likely to do those things too. Discuss: The difficulties in breaking off with friends who are simply not good influences and opportunities and dangers involved in trying to influence those friends for good.   Moving up High Way Proverbs 1 Has It Needed: Handout Get a volunteer to read the handout (Proverbs 1:10-19). My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent; like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;  throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse"-- my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird; but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors. Ask:     How might a foolish person respond to those words?    What about a wise person?    How many of you have heard the very same responses coming from the mouths of your friends?    Do you think this passage is relevant to the present-day lives of teens? Say: This proverb says that the people who do wrong get trapped in their own net. Ask:    How can people get tangled up in traps of their own creation?    Do you know of an example of how people you know have tangled themselves up with their own poor choices? Share with everyone if you can.    What do you think their mindsets might have been, as they made the choices that snared them?   Moving out Work Zone & High Way Letter to Myself Needed: Letter handout, envelopes Say: Think of ways you are challenged to practice Christianity. Are you using God's forgiveness as your "Get out of jail" card? How much tolerance should you have for other Christians? God doesn't expect others to be perfect and you shouldn't either. It's easy to fake others out and to pretend to be something you're not. But God knows our hearts. He knows us better than we know ourselves-we'll never fool him. Take a few minutes to write a letter to yourself. Tell about the person you hope to be in a year.   Come back together in the FLC   Closing Work Zone & High Way The Leader Closes: Sit in a circle, use candle light and ask for any prayer concerns. Remain Seated Say: Although many people think Christians are the exception, the truth is that bad company really does corrupt good morals. People must be very careful in who they choose to hang out with, because not all who profess to like you have their best interests in mind. God may use you to influence your friends towards good. In fact one of the greatest things a young teen can do is to draw friends toward God, but people must be strong in the faith and realize their own limitations and areas of weakness. That's the balance of giving without giving too much. How strong is your faith when dealing with friends, peers, and family members? What length will you go to to stay active in a church? I hope tonight you were able to think a little about the choices and forces that will change your life. Will you be someone doing the infuancing of will you take the easy route and just follow what everyone seems to be doing.  People reach out to others in different ways, whether as a friend, a teacher, a singer, or a prayer-group leader. Being a leader for Christ is unique to each person. You are challenged tonight to think of at least one way that you can reach out to those around you throughout the week and beyond. I dare you to go out of your comfort zone, stand up on your Christian foundation and see what happens when God uses you!     UMYF Benediction and turn out in to the world! Don't for get the Chili Sign-up Sheets!!!!