Turning The Other Cheek In A House of Mirrors It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Introduce the session: Tonight's lesson is "Turning The Other Cheek In A House of Mirrors" Ask:     What do you think the title of this lesson means? (Get only a few answers.) Say: Teenagers want to be liked, admired, and accepted. Some of you may measure your worth by your reputation- you dress for the approval of your peers, act out roles for the amusement of your peers, and hurt when you're rejected. A solid reputation is important and valued by teenagers. Tonight we are going to look at the feeling and reactions that can occur as you strive to develop a positive reflection or is it reputation?   Break into Journey Groups   Which Way Are You Moving? Work Zone & High Way Liquid Reflections Say: Decide on a drink or make up a drink that reflects your reputation. It can be any drink as long as it doesn't involve alcohol or anything similar in respect. See if you can come up with a slogan to sell yourself, then share what you've come up with. Ask:     What were the most memorable parts about the slogans?     Why would people buy in to advertisements about a reputation?     What does the beverage say about a person's reputation, appearance, or acceptance from others?     What is your perception of the following traits? Could they strengthen or damage a person's reputation and could it be positive or negative in different circumstances or with certain people. liar     opinionated     prejudiced     carefree     creative          a gossip     forgiving     aggressive     self-centered      cautious humble     proud     moral     boastful     peaceful     loyal hardworking     honest     self-controlled     immoral   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way  Say: If all your reputation stuff is negative, it can lead to depression; we're going look at how to handle feeling down and help you determine if you are in a low spot or if you really need some more help. Depression is a diagnosed disease that affects millions of adults and teenagers each year. It's different than just having a bad day or feeling bad after a failed test. Ask:     What do you think depression is?     How many kids your age suffer from depression? (Have them take a guesses at it.) Say: Approximately 4 out of 100 teenagers get seriously depressed each year. Up to 20% of teenagers are diagnosed with some kind of mood disorder. Depression can lead to suicide-the fifth leading cause of death among kids ages 10-18. Pass out the handout "Why Am I Feeling Down"  Why Am I Feeling Down? Check the following events or feelings you've experienced within the last year. __ Arguing with a parent about rules __ Feeling far away from God __ Missing church or church-related activities __ Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend __ Arguing with a friend __ Transferring to a different school __ Being bigger or smaller than most people your age __ Being bored __ Having a conflict with your teacher __ Watching parents separate or divorce __ Having to turn in homework late __ Seeing your parents fight in front of you __ Fighting with a parent __ Getting a bad grade on a test __ Feeling left out of the youth group __ Being grounded or restricted __ Feeling frustrated with your Christian life __ Being pressured to do something you know is wrong __ Having to dress in a way you don't like, just to please others __ Arriving late for school or a class __ Trying out for a sport and not making the team or having to be on the bench __ Feeling rejected by a group of people your age __ Feeling pressured to succeed __ Getting a bad report card __Being nagged by a parent Then Ask:     Did any of these make you feel absolutely down or depressed?     Would anyone like to share an event that has happened to you over the past six months?     How have you been dealing with these situations?     What are good and bad ways to deal with these situations? Say: We all need to listen to our friends when they experience low points in life. It's important that you find someone to talk with and sort out your life situations when you get you down. If you found that you had over half of the items checked on the hand out, then you might be feeling something more serious. Feelings of helplessness are powerful emotions that destroy lives, weaken relationships, and even lead to suicide and they don't go away with extra sleep or exercise. If any of you, your family members, or friends is dealing with feelings of depression, don't keep it bottled up find help.   Moving Up Work Zone Do You Love Your Neighbor? How to play: All players sit in a circle except one person who is IT and asks, "Do you love your neighbor?" If they say YES, you all move to another seat in any direction and the person that's IT try's to get a seat. If he/she does, then the person left standing is IT. However if they says NO then the IT asks, "Who do you love?" The person that was chosen then answers with a physical trait of other people in the circle (ex. glasses, shoes, hair color, and style of cloths - " I love people with glasses".) and those people move to any seat they can get except for there own. Play a few rounds.  Ask:     Who would you consider to be your worst enemy, if you have one?     What makes a person become an enemy?     With a show of hands, how many of your group members have people in their lives that they would consider to be a real enemy?     What would your enemy do or say if you treated him or her as Christ commanded?     How would you react if your enemy treated you as Christ commanded?   Moving Up High Way The Feud Pass out the note cards and pens. Say: I'm going to say some names and your job is to write down the feuding partner from the list. There may be other combinations but only the top answers count. You Say:                                        Youth Guess: The Road Runner and                      Wile E. Coyote  Microsoft and                                Apple  Darth Vader and                             Luke Skywalker  Coke and                                        Pepsi  Jesus and                                      Satan McDonalds and                              Burger King  NBC and                                       ABC Goliath and                                   David Ask:      Who would you consider to be your worst enemy, if you have one?     What makes a person become an enemy?     With a show of hands, how many of your group members have people in their lives that they would consider to be a real enemy?     What would your enemy do or say if you treated him or her as Christ commanded? What if it were reversed? Say: Through movies, TV shows, and violence in society, teenagers have learned to deal with enemies in a manner far different than that required by Jesus. Most kids will struggle with the plan God lays out for dealing with enemies-they can't imagine how it would help them. "Love your enemy" -riiiight&ldots; Why not try it out this week, see if you really trust God enough to follow his commands, even when they seem bizarre.   Moving On  Work Zone  Avoiding the crash  Have everyone stand an arm's length apart. Tell the youth to place their feet together and their hands across his or her chest. Say: The object of this game is to sit gently on the ground without crashing. Keep your knees together, do not move your feet or use your hands. Ready? Go. Most group members will probably fall on the way to the floor or at least have a little "thud" at the end. Afterward, congratulate kids for their efforts, then form pairs and repeat the activity. This time, have partners stand back to back as they attempt to sit down. For most, having a partner will make sitting down much easier. After pairs have attempted this activity, repeat it one more time. This time, have partners sit back to back and lock arms as they attempt to sit. Next, form a circle. Ask:     Why was it difficult to sit without falling the first time?     What would happen if you attempted this with your enemy?     How did you improve during the second and third attempts? Read: Job 4:4 Your words have upheld him who was falling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.     What are ways we fall in everyday life?     How is the way your partner kept you from falling like or unlike the way God can keep us from falling?     How can we lean on God when we feel like we're about to fall in life?   Moving On High Way  Confrontations are a part of life. Unfortunately, society tells teenagers that spite, hate and violence are the best ways to get back at others. In stark contrast, the Bible says that someone who avoids fighting is a person of honor. The bravest action in a confrontation is a peaceful one. This section will help you see that peacemakers truly are blessed. Ask:     Which of the following would irritate you enough to fight about?   Someone cusses at you.   Someone cusses at your friend.   Someone accuses you of something you didn't do.   Someone shoves you around for no reason.   Someone tries to beat up your friend.   Someone tries to humiliate you in public.   Someone tries to hit on your girlfriend or boyfriend.   Someone tries to steal from you.      Are there any other situations that would anger them enough to want revenge?     What things most often draw you into an argument or fight?     What causes people to fight?     What problems do they think fighting or getting revenge solves?     What do you think is the most brave thing to do-to get into a fight or argument or to control yourself and walk away? Why?     Can walking away from a confrontation make a person look cowardly? Why or why not?   Moving Out Work Zone & High Way A Foolish Motto Read Proverbs 20:3 - "It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will be quarreling." Ask:      What would be the motto for each person, based on this verse?     What are the differences between the two?     Is there honor from being a peacemaker?     How much honor are you showing through your actions?     How would you respond to these situations?        a. You're ignored because you got on someone's nerves.        b. You are shoved by the school bully.        c. Your parents punish you unfairly.        d. Someone insults you.       e. Someone vandalizes your stuff.       f. You are cheated on by someone.     How would your mottos work in these situations? Return to Fellowship Hall for the closing.   Closing Work Zone & High Way Say: It's important for you to put effort into living a life that reveals a good reflection. Words and actions go hand-in-hand with one's character. How many opportunities do you have to take a look at yourself in a house of mirrors? Listen to your friends when they experience low points of life. It's important that you help them find someone to talk with and sort out life situations that get them down. Let your reflection shine on them. It's difficult-but not impossible-to care for those who hate others. This process is done one step at a time, starting with something simple such as refusing to say bad things about others. Once you've succeeded at little things, you can go on to other gestures of peacemaking. Don't go home tonight thinking this lesson has been unrealistic. Some of you may be dealing with fighting and bickering right here as well as home or school. Remember the Bible is not telling you to be a pushover or a wimp. It simply says self-control strengthens faith of all kinds. Abuse or neglect of any kind is wrong. God gives peace and self-control-if you ask him for it. We encourage you to ask God for the strength to live for him and for help in dealing with your enemies. Ask Him for the strength to love the enemy back. Pray for one enemy during the week and to see what happens. God is always giving us chances to learn about love, patience, and perseverance. So, if you think of your journey like living in a house of mirrors you should be kind and patient with everyone you meet, knowing full well that many of the ones making the wrong turns are simply reflections of you.    UMYF Benediction