Fair and Fear, Right and Wrong Setting the Stage Set up on the stage with the P.A.  Read: Early believers witnessed the power of the Holly Spirit. They experienced the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies and they saw miracles of healing, boldness in testifying, and deliverance from the hand of their adversaries. They knew the heights of the glory of God. Yet though they had been lifted by these glimpses of the heavenly, they did not lose touch with their earthly brothers and sisters. In their ecstasy, they did not forget the depths on human need. They were sensitive and responsive to those in need, the poor and outcast, all those Jesus called "the least" (Matthew 25:42-45). They saw wonders of God firsthand, and that experience culminated not in attitudes of selfishness or superiority but in love and concern for one another. Christians are called to show compassion for others because God has already shown compassion for us. When Christians serve others it should not be out of guilt or an attempt to gain recognition. If so, they will miss the true rewards that come not only from helping others but from opening the heart and learning to care about others. Listen to the following passage. Try to see it as a way to live your life. There are always consequences for our actions, but the proximity of deed and reward are not always so close or so clear. It is not easy to have an ethical discussion about this passage. It can be very difficult to apply to our lives. Tonight, be prepared to discuss issues of fairness around such questions as, "Why do some people get away with doing wrong and others are punished?" "Why should I try to do right when everyone does wrong and no one seems to care?" Tell the Story Road Work and Trek: Needed: copy of Mat. 5:38-45 Mat 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Reacting to the Story Road Work & Trek: Needed: three tables labeled "yes," "no," and "maybe" Use three tables to create groups - one table at either end of the room and one in the middle. Place the small signs on the tables to mark these positions. Read the following statements and ask the learners to move silently to the appropriate part of the room to reflect their answers. After everyone has made a decision, have the sponsors ask a few learners to briefly share why they are gathered where they are. Then present the next statement · All liars are bad people. · Death happens for a reason. · Greed is just as bad a lying. · Trying to show off or one-up others is wrong. · By lying, showing off and being greedy, it hurts our faith. · If I saw bad things happening to good people, I would be confused.  Connecting to the Story Road Work and Trek: Play the Game, "What are the Chances" Needed: two-four coins, a big spoon Have two-four equal teams line up single file, one beside the other. At one end of the teams there is a single spoon on the floor and at the other end there is a person from each team with a coin. The two people with the coins begin flipping them and showing the coin to the first person in their line. If the coin is heads nothing happens. If the coin is tails, they "turn tail" and run to grab the spoon handing it to the sponsor standing there. The sponsor then replaces the spoon. Sometimes this will be a race. If it is a race, the winner goes to the back of his/her line and sits down, the looser returns to stand at the back of his/her line and waits for their next chance. The first team to have all of it's members on the ground wins. The game continues until every one has had a chance to get the spoon, including the flipper, who is last and flips for himself/herself. After the game say, "the spoon symbolizes helping one another and the coin symbolizes the chances we get to rush to the aid of others." Ask the following questions: · If competition is good, then how can everyone win? · If God is on your side, then how come we loose sometimes? · How do we know who is the right team to play for? · How does the Scripture relate to this game? · Ask how does fear play a part in our decisions about right and wrong? · What are some examples of fear making decisions for you? Reflecting on the Story Road Work and Trek: This activity directs the youth in evaluating the place fear should have in a person's life. Tell the group you are going to read some statements. By a show of hands decide to agree or disagree with the statement. Wait till all the statements have been read and voted on. Then pick any topic of which the vote was closest to "split." Discuss further as many statements as needed. 1. You're riding on Space Mountain at Disney World. You find yourself screaming at the top of your lungs-in real fear. This fear is stupid. You should try your best to ignore it or repress it. 2. You've watched horror movies about people being possessed by the devil. Demonic possession scares you. It sounds horrible and frightening. Actually, you shouldn't be afraid. 3. You've just been caught skipping class. You face a chance     of being suspended. You're scared. You ought to be. 4. There is no fear in love: but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves punishment. And the one who fears is not perfect in love. 5. You just read about an ax murderer. Later you're walking down a dark street, and you remember what you just read. You begin to feel terribly afraid. This fear is childish. You should try to ignore or repress your fear. 6. "The Lord is my Light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1. According to this, Christians should fear nothing. 7. Fear is good.    Living the Story  Road Work and Trek: Play the game, "A Balance of Right and Wrong" Needed: two-four books, four-eight small balls, two-four quarters This relay is fun to watch. Each team is given one quarter, two  balls and one book. The Idea is to balance the book on your head, hold the quarter in you eye, and keep the balls in your arm pits while walking to the finish line. No hands allowed. If an object is dropped the racer must stop where they are and get everything set again before proceeding. After the game, while all are still near, ask how this game relates to the lesson? The books could be knowledge. The quarter is riches. The balls are your every day duties. If you don't do everything just right it is hard to move forward.  Or, It would be real easy to just carry the items to the finish line, but to play the game correctly makes life hard. Summing up the Lesson Road Work & Trek: Gather back at the stage, at the tables. · What is the most important part of the Scripture tonight? · How is fair play a part of our decisions about right and wrong? · What are some examples of fairness making decisions for you? · Why does it seem that Scriptures are hard to live up to? Journey: How do we know "What" is right and "What" is wrong? Wait for a few answers then continue with the following; Simply ask yourself - "What time is it." Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Prayer  Road Work, Trek & Journey: Invite the youth to finish a statement of prayer for the group. Start with: Lord we thank you for; ________. Then continue, Lord help us to; ___________. Amen.