Your Life His Way
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.
Terry Criser presents his pictures from Gulf Port UMC
Set up the power point projector in Fellowship Hall
Welcome, & introductions, make any announcements.
Which Way Are We Moving
Work Zone & High Way
Begin with a large group&ldots;
Move to the Court Yard.
Say: I want you guys to take 60 seconds and be very quiet. Listen to the sounds around you. For 60 seconds try to remember every sound you hear.
Wait 60 seconds
Ask:
What did you hear? (Let them respond)
Say: Now face South, I want you to listen again but this time try to just focus in the sounds you hear coming from that direction."
Wait 60 seconds
Ask:
Can you hear beyond what is obvious?
Say: Listen to what the scriptures are saying for tonight's lesson:
Jhn 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;
Rev 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Rev 3:22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Say: Isn't it silly for us to sit in this courtyard listening for the scriptures to speak to us? Is it really possible that we could a message beyond what we are listening to? We listened to the cries for help from Gulf Port Mississippi and held a fundraiser, raising over $600. Terry Criser took the check to those in need and is here tonight to share that experience.
Pass out note cards
During his presentation I would like you to write down the ordinary objects you hear about and see. We are looking for deeper meaning in the everyday items left in disarray by hurricane Katrina.
Moving In
Work Zone & High Way
Bring on Terry
Needed: Note cards and pencils
Head inside.
Terry's message should have a great way of driving home the vastness of the devastation. We heard the need and did what we could.
After Terry is done collect the note cards to use for the object lessons. Give half the cards to each group.
Break into Journey Groups
Moving on
Work Zone & High Way
Say: Think about what has happened with all the hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes. If we were to go and visit places like Gulf Port after a natural disaster such as Katrina, what types of items would we find there? Is it possible for Christ to be present in the midst of such destruction?
Many people would answer no to this question. However, Christ is in all things. After all didn't God create the earth and all that's in it? God strengthens those that love him, even when their faith is tested. He did this with Abraham, the Israelites, Jonah, and many others. Sometimes God reveals His purposes to us immediately. Sometimes it is not until years later that we can see some good come out of a disaster. As the bible states, There are some things that we will not comprehend until we see Him face to face. However, God did promise us in Romans that in all things God is working for the good of those who love him. Remember this when we look to everyday objects to find God's presence in our lives.
Object Improv
Materials: The note cards from earlier.
(Work Zone should split into smaller discussion groups.)
Say: You may choose a card from the stack and find the Christian meaning in one of the objects on it or you can come up with one on your own.
Pass out the cards to those that want them.
i.e. a hammer - This is a great tool for putting things together when we start falling apart.
A piece of glass - gives protection in the form of a window, if we loose faith it's like that protection is shattered and needs repair.
Go around the group once then gather up the cards and try to create some more discussion about any additional items.
Moving up
Work Zone
Fast Round
Needed: Note cards from earlier.
The entire group sits in a circle with one player sitting in the center. One card is passed around the circle while the center player closes his eyes (No Peeking). When the center player says stop, the card stops and the person left holding the card is given a letter of the alphabet except Q, X, Y, or Z by the center player. As the letter is given, the card starts around the circle again.
The person who was caught with the card must name five nouns beginning with the designated letter before the card reaches him or her again. If he/she doesn't succeed, they become the center person, and the game continues.
The number of nouns to be named can be increased or decreased as the game goes on.
Play a few rounds.
Remain in the large circle
Have one member or sponsor from one of the groups share some of the "Object Improvs" they came up with, then have the other group do the same.
Moving up
High Way
Duh
Say: Here is another common object that might be at work in Gulf Port. It's Flypaper; does everyone know what flypaper is? (Wait for responses and explain if necessary) Flies must be absolutely stupid to land on that stuff. Okay, I will give some leeway to the first fly who decides to use it as a landing strip, but any after that, they have no excuse. Think about it: Joe the fly, chugging along, getting a bit winded and decides he needs to land. He looks around and sees this great fly landing strip enticingly hanging there. As he begins to make his approach he suddenly notices the carcasses of dozens of other flies lying all over the place. Then Joe realizes that they are not all carcasses, but that some of them are still alive and struggling futilely to escape. Wow, he sees his uncle, flat on his back, wings stuck in goo, kicking and buzzing furiously. Just above him is that pretty little fruit fly he's been checking out lately. She's stuck up to her ankles, beating her wings madly to escape. The aroma of trapped and dying flies rises up to him as he makes his approach. So Joe thinks to himself, "This looks like a great spot to land. Look how popular it is, there's dozens of friends and family already here!"
Discuss: How stupid a fly must be to land in a spot where dozens of his own kind are dead and dying.
We'd never be that stupid, right?
What are some examples of teenagers getting into sticky situations?
Is this anything like pre-marital sex, even after we've seen it wreck the hopes and dreams of friends and school mates?
What about experimenting with drugs and under age drinking even though we've seen it mess up the lives of others?
Why, when you see something that doesn't work for someone else do you want to try it?
Say: Remember to be an example of Christ by not being pulled into the destructive paths of others.
Moving out
Work Zone
Chaos
Save time--play four games at once!
Use the Family Life Center cleared of chairs and tables. Find a football, a soccer ball, a Frisbee, and a basketball. You'll also need two large trashcans for goals. Place one can at each end of the playing field.
Have kids form two equal teams, and have each team create a name. Send teams out to the field, and have each team select a goalie to stand by a trashcan.
Explain the game is called Chaos; you'll be playing with hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and tornados. Each item entering the game is another calamity.
Begin the game by throwing the football up into the air with the instruction that kids can throw it, kick it, or run with it. After about a minute, throw in the soccer ball with the instruction that kids may only kick it and only need to hit the trash can with it to score. Then toss in the Frisbee, which they can only throw; the basketball, which they must dribble while running and which they may pass.
Play till time runs out!!!
Moving out
High Way
Fast Round
Needed: Note cards from earlier.
The entire group plays where they sit with one player designated as "It". One card is passed around to every member of the group while "It" closes his or her eyes (No Peeking). Do a trial run first to determine the path of the card. When "It" says stop, the card stops and the person left holding the card is given a letter of the alphabet except Q, X, Y, or Z by "It". As the letter is given, the card starts around the circle again. The person who was caught with the card must name five nouns beginning with the designated letter before the card reaches him or her again. If he/she doesn't succeed, they become the center person, and the game continues.
The number of nouns to be named can be increased or decreased as the game goes on.
Play a few rounds.
Remain in the large group.
Free style; have any of the youth describe the Christian meaning of any everyday object that they have not already discussed or share and explain what their favorite metaphor for the night was.
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:Does any one have a favorite item from tonight they can share with the other group?
Wait for some examples.
Say: Here is a scripture we can close with:
Hbr 2:1
Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
UMYF Benediction and turn out in to the world!
Don't for get the Angel Tree Sign-up Sheets!!!! And remind your parents that they will be baking 10 dozen cookies for the cookie pick-up, in two weeks.
