Remembering Your Talents   It's Your Move Work Zone & Highway Eat sign up for Chicken Noodle then make announcements and introduce the session: Needed: Play "I'll Remember", Madonna as gathering music then play the audio recording of the Parable of the Talents. After the parable read: The Florescent Yellow Bib Let me try and explain this to you in a modern parable. Let's say God opens a God-Mart where people can come and find anything they want. Then God creates people to run the store and in order to make everyone feel they have a purpose He creates them with different abilities so that they will need each other to make their work easier and more enjoyable. Some are managers; some are checkers, greeters, stockers, and parking lot cart retrievers. Everything is running smooth; the store is making its employees and customers happy. Christ calls in the store manager and compliments her on the use of her abilities to manage and tells her that God is as proud as can be. He calls in a checker and is impressed by his ability to make the customers feel good about their purchases while enjoying his (His) work. Finally he calls in a few parking lot attendants and discovers that one He had called is not there. Christ sends others to bring the missing attendant to Him. When the missing attendant finally arrived God asked why the attendant didn't come with the rest. The attendant replies, "I'm afraid of You and I was busy keeping this florescent yellow bib clean." God was not pleased and said to the attendant, "You have not used what I have given you to help others. You have simply wasted your time at my store and hid from Me knowing that I would not be happy with your lack of effort. You have assumed that the florescent yellow bib is what I care for most when really the service of My customers is your focus. You're Fired!" Then God took the florescent yellow bib and gave it back to the store manager entrusting her to make the most of it. Split into Journey Groups   Which Way Are We Moving Work Zone Say: In life, we don't all have the same advantages and challenges. Each of us is created differently and faces a different set of circumstances. But we all have something to offer other people. When we share the unique blessings God has given us instead of living only for ourselves, we help make life better for others. Ask: ·What are some different situations people might be born into?  ·Who are some people who have overcome adversity to accomplish something great? ·How is God able to use someone from any situation to accomplish his will? Say: Today we are talking about The Parable of Talents and to help us further understand we also need to remember the Parable of the Feeding of the Five Thousand where Jesus used one boy's contribution of two fish and five loaves to feed five thousand men and probably at least that many women and children. Jesus distributed bread and fish among the people and it became an endless supply. God took what the boy offered and blessed thousands of people through the boy's act of generosity. Ask: ·How would this account have been different if the boy decided to keep his food? ·What was the boy's "Talent"? ·Why did God make more than enough food? ·What sorts of things do people often hope to achieve in their lifetimes? ·What kind of selfish goals do we often set? ·How can a life offered to God bless many people?  Say: If God can make so much out of a couple of fish and few loaves of bread, there is no limit to what he can accomplish through the life of a person dedicated to His service. Many people live for success and many accomplish their goals. But these achievements are small compared to all God could do through their lives if they lived unselfishly. When the boy offered his food to Jesus, he still got to eat. And he enjoyed added blessings-he became a hero who is still remembered in Scripture to this day. He felt the gratitude of those he helped feed, the privilege of being used by God, and the excitement of watching a real miracle.   Which Way Are We Moving?  Highway Ask: ·Wasn't the one-talent servant short-changed? ·What is a successful steward? ·What made the unprofitable servant act like he did?  Say: How often have you wished for the talent enjoyed by others! You marvel at all they can do. You think of the fun and satisfaction they derive from their abilities. You might even covet the attention and acclaim, the admiration and recognition they receive. And you might possibly wistfully (even enviously) imagine how wonderful life would be . . . if only you had the gifts they have. I wonder if the one-talent servant felt that way. Here's what I think; the one-talent servant got more than he deserved (just like the other two servants)! What he had entrusted to him he received only because of the generosity and trust of the master. So, was he short-changed? Of course not! He was given the opportunity of his lifetime.  The one-talent servant (or even the multi-talent servant) who frets about and covets the talents of others neglects his own talent(s)! Furthermore, the person who focuses on the "benefits" of any given talent has utterly missed the point of the talent in the first place! He has forgotten that talents are to be exercised in the best interests of the Master. The Lord did not dispense the talents intending that the receiver use them selfishly!   Moving In Work Zone & Highway Say: God gives various talents and gifts to each of us, we should not be afraid to use them, but not for amusements or selfish gratification, but for blessing others in our work. Some of the youth before you have worked hard never giving up, and they are now making their mark, and are sharing their faith and talents for God. On Worship Caravan we often hear people talk about talents and ability as though God had given some youth special gifts; I don't think so. It is the use we make of the talents given us, that makes us talented. There are many who might be well qualified to do the work of the Lord who fail to improve upon the ability God has given them. Money is not given to you for your own pleasure. As faithful stewards we are to use it for the honor and glory of God. . . . All we possess the Lord's talents and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of them. God has a great work to be done in a short time. He has committed to youth talents of intellect, time, and means, and He holds you responsible for the use you make of these good gifts."   Ask: ·What are some talents entrusted more to the young than to others? ·How can these specific talents best be used for Christ? ·What talents do you have that can help others and what's stopping you? ·Do you think you have undiscovered talents? ·What can you do to improve our talents? ·How can West Heights contribute to the development of our youth, and how can the church in turn be blessed? ·What could you personally be considering more seriously about those talents entrusted to you?   Moving On Work Zone & Highway Blind Square Needed: Duct tape, cotton balls and string Say: We are going to play a game but before we do I'll ask you a few questions. Here's how to play. Everyone gets two pieces of tape over their eyes so that they are taped shut. Then you'll be given a piece of string to make into a square on the floor. Before you start  Ask: ·How will the use of talents be necessary for this game? ·What would someone be doing if they were acting as if they had received only one talent? ·What can be learned from the game? Play the game  (Watch for leaders, followers, peace makers, etc)   Moving Out Workzone Identifying Talents Needed: Talent cards & full list Everyone sits in a circle and is given a talent card and in the middle, the master of the manor stands with all the talent names on a card. He/She then chooses certain names; for example Mediator/Faith. The two corresponding people then have to get up and exchange seats. In the meantime the master of the manor has to try to jump into one of these seats. More than two destinations can be called out and the ultimate "All Talents" when everyone has to change seats is a great laugh. There is no ultimate winner or loser but can turn out rather rough; encourage the youth to be careful.   Assistance (Helps), Compassion, Promoter, Faith, Generosity/Giving, Healing, Mediator, Leader, Teacher, Knowledge, Wisdom, Organizer, Optimist, Supporter, Care, Patience, Protector, Organized,  Judge of character, Prayer, Craftsmanship, Music, Computer skills, All Talents   Moving Out Highway Desert Survivor: Needed: Desert talent cards; make at least 2 of each from the list below. Pass one card out to each person in the group. Map of desert, Salt tablets, Parachute, Rain coats, Mirror, Compass Book (edible plants of the desert), Flashlight, Hunting knife, Pistol (loaded), Canteen of water   You have a broken leg and just won the worlds strongest man competition You have been blinded but discover you hearing aid can pick up radio distress calls You are unconscious but have desert survival training You are a crisis facilitator   Say: You have been a passenger on a plane that has crashed in the desert. The pilot and copilot have been killed and the only survivors are the people in your group. On the cards you have been given are the only talents or unrealized talents/limitations you have from the plane before it burned up. First go around the group and describe the survival uses, usually more than one, for your "Talent". Then devise a plan for how you can use you resources to rescue the whole group. Start by deciding what things must be done in order of importance for survival. THE POINT: as your group starts to discuss, they'll find out that the priorities vary depending on the GOAL, or PURPOSE they come up with. For example if the biggest issue is, are they going to stay by the plane or leave? If they are going to stay, then the compass and map aren't much of a priority. They'll need to establish the frame in which every other decision is made or discussion is useless. Point out the use of talents and how their priority changes, how with out one or if one is not used it makes the whole job harder. If some one is not participating (Other than the unconscious one) point out that they are not using his or her talent. Make a talent point when ever possible. Return to the Family Life Center   Closing Work Zone & High Way   Ask: What did you learn tonight? Say: How will your life be changed if you offer your time, talents, and resources to the Lord? Here's your challenge!  With all that you've learned tonight about the Parable of the Talents, take $10 and double it, triple it, quadruple it, whatever you want. It doesn't matter what you do, babysit, shovel driveways, beg, or sell homemade cookies, anything to double the ten dollars or better.  Through this parable Jesus expresses that we must use our talents or risk losing them. Are you up to it? Prayer  Invite the youth to join hands and offer a prayer.  Dear God, we know that our talents, however few, are to be put to use. We will not question how much we have received but will do with what we have. We know that many whom God has asked to do excellent work accomplish very little, because they attempt little. Thousands pass through life as if they had no definite goal for which to live, no standard to reach. If our work is that which someone must do, we should not accuse ourselves of uselessness in the great household of God. We know that the humblest duties are not to be ignored. Any honest work is a blessing, and faithfulness in it may lead to higher possibilities for Your kingdom.  In Christ name we pray, Amen. Please cross your arms and join me in the UMYF Benediction.