The 5 W's It's Your Move  Work Zone & High Way Gather in a Corner: Make any announcements, introductions. Say: When we think of being a good Christian the thought of a letter grade doesn't enter our minds. But, what if you got a Christian report card every nine weeks? What if you had to go to conferences with Jesus? How do we know what the standards are? There were many laws and standards in Jesus' time. The books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy are full of laws. Many of the people in that day found it difficult to meat these standards. It could have been that the standards were unattainable. It could have been that the people didn't have the basic knowledge to read and comprehend the laws. Any number of reasons that applied then have some basis today. Tonight we are going to begin a series on just what is expected of us as youth in our church. Break into Journey Groups, Fellowship Hall and Youth Center Moving in Work Zone & High Way The Scripture Read: On any given Sunday, in any given church across America, there are different types of Christians that attend. Now you may be thinking...I know that already! Just take a look around, it's obvious!! We have short people, tall people, ugly people, pretty people&ldots;.But wait, wait!! That is not exactly what I had in mind when I suggested that there were different types of people in every church service. First, I must make this statement. Some of what you may here this evening WILL pertain to you! It will be YOU that the Scripture is pointing a finger at!! Do not look around and try to figure out whom the Scripture is talking about! The Scripture I am reading this evening is addressed to Christians, not the world. It is a message intended for those who are Jesus believing, God fearing people! Now settle down and let the Holy Spirit have His way in your heart tonight! 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." Ask: ·If this scripture were part of the minimum standards, what would your grade be? ·How many times last week did you encourage someone to do more? ·Did you speak to that one person that always seems to be left out? ·What did you do for your grandparents or little brother/sister? ·Did you loose your patience last week? ·How many "pay backs" were you able to accomplish? ·Now what do you think your grade is? Does it matter?  Moving up Work Zone  Get Lost Needed: Direction cards, "w" word cards, two baskets What's up: The direction cards are marked with left, right, straight, and reverse. The "w" words are part of the next lesson, they are : Wayward, Worried, Weak, Wearisome, and Wicked The number of letters in each word will be the number of steps a person takes on his or her journey towards God. For example "Wayward" has seven letters so it is worth seven steps. Clear all the chairs from fellowship hall. Set one in the Middle of the room. Place all the "w" in one basket. Place all the direction cards in the other. How to play: Have all the youth find a spot on the outside walls or in front of the stage in the room. Walk around with the "w" basket and have each youth draw one word. Have a second sponsor follow behind with the direction cards basket. Have each youth draw 5 direction cards. They must keep the direction cards in the order they drew them. Say: Don't change the order of the cards in your hand. Count the number of letters on the "w" word card. The number of letters is the number of steps you must take in the direction on the first of the rest of the cards in your hand. After you have taken your steps for the first card move on to the next and so on until you have used all five. The object of the game is to get as close to God as possible, the chair in the center of the room represents God. If you encounter another person as you are stepping of in a direction, you must exercise your Christian love and let them pass before continuing on your journey. When I say "Get Lost" you may begin. Moving up High Way The Study Guide Needed: The Wayward hand-out There are 5 distinct groups mentioned in this passage: -The Wayward -The Worried -The Weak -The Wearisome -The Wicked If our church has any inclination of growing spiritually and numerically then we all are expected to minister to all 5 of these people groups! Pass out the hand out "The Wayward" to each youth. Discuss the 5 w's: ·By a show of hands, who here considers themselves as "wayward"? Why? ·Would the ways to deal with the wayward work? ·Continue discussing the rest of the w's.  Moving on Work Zone A What? Needed: 5 "w" cards The Wayward hand-out Have the students sit in a circle on the floor. The instructor will sits in the circle with the 5 w's cards at hands reach. He will pick up one word, Wayward for example, and while passing it to the person at his right, he will say "This is Wayward" The person will answer, "What?" The instructor will answer " Wayward", and again the person will ask "What?" and the instructor will again answer " Wayward." The person will answer "Oh, Wayward" The person than turns to her right and the process continues; "This is Wayward", "What?" " Wayward" "What?" " Wayward" "Oh, Wayward!" Practice this once so everyone can follow the pattern. Then start again, this time add the next word (Worried) to the left. After that one starts add another back to the right. Eventually the words will meet each other and the fun really begins. 4. Try to get the objects clear around the circle. Pass out the hand out "The Wayward" to each youth. Discuss the 5 w's: ·By a show of hands, who here considers themselves as "wayward"? Why? · Would the ways to deal with the wayward work? ·Continue discussing the rest of the w's.  Moving on High Way Take a Closer look Needed: Bibles, pens, paper Divide into three groups in the pit.  Ask: Who knows the book of the bible that first tells of the Ten Commandments? (Exodus 20:2-17) Have the group that answered correctly first, stay in the pit. Then Ask: (The two moving groups) Who knows the book of the Bible that follows Exodus? (Leviticus) Have the group that answered correctly first move to the Cabana. The last group gets the carpeted area. Have each group get several Bibles. Assign each group one of the following groups of verses: Leviticus 11-17 Leviticus 20, 24,25,27               Deuteronomy 12-30  Say: Skim through the chapters assigned to your group and look for laws that might not be valid today. Make a list of at least 4 laws to share with the whole group later. After each group has written at least four references come back together as a large group. Have each group share what they found. (Keep the Papers) Discuss: Is there any possible way we could use the laws from the past today? Why do you suppose these laws were so important? Moving out Work Zone What are the standard Expectations? Needed: Pens, paper Say: The biggest "W" word of all is WORK. You must work to be the best Christian you can. Just like school, if you don't do the work, you won't have a very good grade. Like the people of ancient times that were overwhelmed with holy laws, the word "work" may bring to your mind infinite possibilities of torture, far too much to endure. So, you must have things simplified. This was one of the things that Jesus did for us. He clarified the laws; he made them understandable to the common man.     Ask: Who here can name all Ten Commandments? Have the youth give it a try. Then Say: Jesus was once asked to name the greatest commandment; he was to choose the one commandment that outshined the rest. Jesus' answer was simple, "The greatest of these is love." He first explained that we should love our Lord God above all else and love our neighbor. By clarifying, even the Ten Commandments, Jesus was saying - You're making this to hard, just love!   Say: Work in pairs to make a list of ways that you can help your youth group, your church, your family, and your community. After all have had a chance to come up with a few ideas, come back together  and share the list. Say: It's easy to be one of the 5 "w's"  Wayward, Worried, Weak, Wearisome, or Wicked. The only "w" that meets God's purpose is WORK. We have to work to show love, the agape love that we as Christians strive to share. Pick one of the things from the lists we just shared and work to show your love this week. To simplify - don't just sit there, do something!   Moving out High Way What Was That? Needed: The lists from the previous lesson, Dry-erase marker Prep: You need an accomplice. The first law touched will indicate which law the youth have chosen. Any law may be touched/pointed to first, but a touch in the center top indicates "the center top" has been chosen. After the first question it doesn't really matter where you touch the rest. You and your accomplice will always be able to pull this one off. Have the group decide which six of the laws from the previous lesson might "work" for them today. List them on the graffiti wall in a "6" pattern.  Say: I am sending ---------- out of the room.  ---------- is so in touch with you tonight (he/she) will be able to know what you have been discussing without us telling. (Send away your accomplice) Now, which of these laws might "work" for you today? We need to decide as a group which law has some meaning to us now. Then we will see if we have communicated well with each other. If you think you know how or why we can do this don't tell anyone else, save it for later.  Play a few rounds; lightly discuss the way the laws work today before choosing. Then Discuss: ·How did it feel to play this game when you didn't know the solution? ·How was it different when you knew? ·Does it ever seem like there is always to much work to be done? ·How can God's wisdom change how we experience life? Return to the Family Life Center. Form one large circle. Prayer and Concerns Work Zone & High Way After everyone has gathered in a circle: Ask for concerns & pray Say: Too many times we treat Christianity as a spectator sport. It is not. The word "work" in this lesson is a verb, an action word. We are required to be a people of action. Will it always be comfortable? No! Will it always be popular? No! But it is our duty to one another as a family to speak the truth in love! Our youth group has the potential to shine brightly in this church and community of Wichita, Kansas. It is our decisions this day&ldots;&ldots;do the work the Scriptures demand, without compromise&ldots;.or church as usual. Will you be the one that God uses this evening? Will you find some work to do and then actually do it with love? Sing "Sanctuary" UMYF Benediction