The Little Things It's Your Move Road Work and Trek Groups Pass out cards for prayers and concerns during common meal. These will be read at the end of the session. Gather in the center of the gym, welcome, introduction of guests, make announcements. Which way are we moving? 1. Success is found in daily small things- not just big things 2. Identify how we feel about the importance of obeying God's Word in small ways in our everyday lives. 3. Find small areas where we need to stand against peer pressure this week.  Moving in Road Work Gather in the Family Life Center. Arrange chairs in a circle with one less than youth. Explain that they're going to play a game called Boppity-Bop-Bop-Bop. Say: We're starting a new series today on peer pressure. We'll see how the more you practice standing firm against peer pressure, the better at resisting it you'll become. How to play: A sponsor starts off by being It. Your goal is to trick the students into taking your place. Start by saying the phrase "Boppity-Bop-Bop-Bop", you'll choose whether to say the whole phrase or just stop at "Boppity." The youth you pick will either remain silent if you don't finish the phrase, or try to beat you finished by completing it with "Bop-Bop-Bop." If they do not finish the phrase first or tie then they are It. If you stop at "Boppity" and a youth utters anything then they are It! Play several rounds. Say: I noticed how people got better at the game the longer they played (this will relate to late parts of the session). Trek Gather the group in the Youth Center.  Say: We are really going to cook something up today. By a show of hands, who knows how to cook by following a recipe? We are going to look at some recipes for cupcakes tonight. You will need to gather in groups of six to eight with at least one person who knows how to cook from a recipe. Find the differences in the recipes and be ready to present you findings to the large group in two minutes. Hand out the three recipes and begin. Back in the large group, ask the following: What's the difference between the recipes? After they identify that one is missing baking powder and one has added salt; then discuss: What will be the differences these small ingredients make in the outcome of the cupcakes? Can you think of any other example where what seems to be a small ingredient or part is vital for the whole thing to work? Parts in an engine, a member of a sports team, the heart in the body, the rip cord on a parachute, etc. Transition by explaining: We're starting a new series today on peer pressure and as we'll see, the small decisions we make when we're around others can have a big impact on our lives- and theirs.  Moving up Road Work Needed: TV/VCR Veggie Tales video Rack, Shack and Benny. Ahead of time, cue the video approximately 8- min. from the beginning to the 10-min. scene in which Rack, Shack, and Benny refuse to eat too much chocolate. Show the video; then discuss: What was Junior's (Shack's) reason for not participating in the chocolate feast? His mother told him too much candy was bad for him. How did Junior convince Bob and Larry not to eat too many chocolate bunnies? By reminding them that they should obey their parents even when their parents are not around. Ask students to share examples of times when they've heard the phrase "Everybody's doing it" and how they responded when they heard it; then continue: When Nebbie K. Nezzer asked Bob, Larry and Junior to bow down before the bunny, did you notice a difference in Bob and Larry's behavior? This time Bob and Larry didn't have to be convinced by Junior not to bow and sing the song; they already knew what they believed and weren't willing to compromise. How did the chocolate-eating experience prepare Bob, Larry  and Junior for this new challenge? It gave them confidence to stand up for their beliefs and what their parents taught them, no matter what the cost. How did the decisions of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego prepare them for the furnace test that was to come? It prepared them for this even bigger challenge of faith? Moving up Trek Explain: Very often, people think bigger is better. For example, it used to be that you could buy a small pop in a convenience store or fast food place; now you can only buy pop in big cups. McDonald's doesn't even sell small pop any more- the smallest size is a "regular." In God's eyes, however, size doesn't matter- not physical size of social status. Ask the group if they would rather read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the Bible in Daniel 3:1-30 (use the hand out if needed) or have someone recall and just tell the story in his or her own words to the entire group; then continue: 1. What about small people? Compared to the king, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were pretty small and unimportant- yet their impact on the king was huge. To God, it's the condition of our hearts that matters, not the condition of our social life; which means that no matter how young or small - no matter how insignificant we seem- God can still work through our decisions, even the small ones. 2. Begin small, sometimes we can become discouraged when we have to start small with something that we desperately want to be great at. Ask the youth to share an example of a time when they had to start small and grew into something more. Example: Not starting first chair your first year, beginning with a $1.00 week allowance, etc. Then continue:               Those times are sometimes the most important times, because often, that's when big things start. Read Daniel 1:6-16 (use the hand out if needed) 3. What about small actions? For Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego it was the simpler action of refusing to eat the kings food that most certainly prepared them for the even bigger challenges to come. The same is true in your lives. It's those small actions that will determine who you are and what you do when the big pressures come. It's how you respond when your classmates are giving the substitute a hare time or what you say when friends are mocking the new kid's weird outfit- these small things prepare you for bigger challenges later on. What do you do? Why? Moving on Road Work  Needed: index cards and pens or pencils Distribute index cards and pens or pencils and instruct the youth to draw in three minutes a picture of him or her doing something they are good at. If they can't draw it have them write it out one word or a description. Explain that it must be something they had to practice doing to become good at it; then Ask: Is the thing you're good at easy or hard to do? Pick "hard" examples to deal with for the next questions. Was it always hard? At first How did you become good at it?    Practice Did you enjoy all the times that you had to practice? Practice can get boring. How does someone become a better Christian? Practice, Practice, Practice How can you practice being a Christian? By disciplining ourselves to do the little things we don't want to do such as reading the Bible, praying, serving the church. How does practice relate to peer pressure? The more you are in the habit of thinking things out for yourself the better you will be able to make Christian decisions.     Moving on Trek Here's some info about a famous golfer, wait till the end to try and guess whom it is: · His first name is Eldrick. · His dad taught him every day about the game. · Shot a 48 for nine holes at the age of three. · Won his first Under-10 tournament at age four. · Youngest player ever to win the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (at age 15) and won it two more times at 16 and 17. · At age 18 he was the youngest player ever to win the U.S. Amateur Championship and won it two more times at 19 and 20. · Youngest player ever to win The Masters (at 21) and set a Masters' record with a 12-stroke victory margin. · Set a P.G.A. record, winning six tournaments in a row in the 1999-2000 season. What's his nickname?  Tiger!  How did Tiger Woods become such an outstanding golfer? His talent and his parents decision first then his to practice. Do you think Tiger enjoyed all the days he went out to practice golf? Even though he loved the sport, there were probably times when he had to push himself to practice. What will it take for you to become an excellent athlete, musician, salesperson or teacher? Dedication, Practice, Discipline. How does practice relate to peer pressure?  The more you are in the habit of thinking things out for yourself the better you will be able to make Christian decisions.     Moving out Road Work & Trek Needed: Situations handout, pens or penciles. At 6:45, come back together in Fellowship Hall. Form well mixed groups of no more than 6 youth, Mid. and Sr. high. Have each group write a statement about the peer pressures they face in different situations. They should come up with one small but difficult peer pressure situation involving friends in each of the four categories on the handout. Allow five minutes for the groups to work; then have them turn in the handouts. Explain: We will use all of these in next weeks UMYF; then continue: Does anyone want to share a question they came up with? Does anyone have an answer?  Prayer and Concerns  Road Work & Trek  Needed: prayer cards, candle and matches. Sit in a big circle around a central candle. Have two youth read the prayer and concern cards from common meal by candlelight. Then ask if any one will share a prayer for the group. Wait for leadership to spark; then, if needed, pray for understanding of the lesson and recognize the concerns. End with "Amen" then have everyone join in singing "Sanctuary" Stand join hands, right over left, and say the UMYF benediction.