The World I Know

 

It's Your Move

Work Zone and High Way 

 

At 5 min. till start "The World I Know" - Collective Soul. When the song's done, welcome, & introductions, make announcements.

·Wrapping Paper, Crop Walk, Awards Dinner

 

Which Way Are We Moving 

Work Zone & Highway

Begin with a large group&ldots; 

Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Supplies: Sprite soda can filled with Coke, Coke can filled with Pepsi, Pepsi can filled with Mt. Dew

Prep: The key to this is to surprise your audience with different sodas coming from different cans. Turn a can of SPRITE upside down and take a Bic Pen (those are my favorite) and poke a hole in the bottom of the can. Pour out the contents of the Sprite-- completely. SLOWLY, pour in the contents of a can of Coke. Dry the surface of the bottom of the can completely. Cut a small square of sticky DUCT tape (usually one inch by one inch) and cover the hole. Do the same for each can.

 

Say: Here's the reality-good & bad influences surround teenagers. They spend less time with their families, attend classes with large groups of peers, work at jobs with people their age, play sports with friends, and talk and text on the phone with them. Teenagers learn from, grow with, and are influenced by many sources. Tonight we are going to look at how to deal with the real issues facing you and discuss the influences of those around you.

 

I need three volunteers. One that really likes Coke, one that really likes Sprite, and on that really likes Pepsi. (Get the volunteers to the front and have them stand behind their respective "unopened" soda) I want you each, on the count of three, to pick up your pop and sip it silently in such a way that you will influence others to really like the pop you are drinking.

1,2,3 GO! 

Watch the surprise of the contestants and wait for their response

 

Then Say: Have you ever thought someone was really cool and then they turned out to not be such a good influence? Have you ever seen someone look like a Christian on the outside and then turn out to be someone different on the inside? 

Ask:

·Someone tell me about a time when something wasn't as it appeared to be.

·Without telling me your answer, think about this question: Have you ever heard someone talk at church in such a way that it made you wonder if they were really a Christian?

·Since we can be influenced my others around us, how can we be sure they are authentic?

Say: When I buy a can of Sprite I expect what the label says: Sprite.  And when people claim that they follow Jesus I expect to see a life that shows God at work.  But the truth is, sometimes I struggle with being an authentic Christian.  I want my actions to match what I believe in my head and heart, but sometimes I fail. I may be Sprit on the outside but something totally different on the inside. Tonight we are going to spend some time talking about how to make sure those that influence us are really authentic and how to love others even when they aren't what we expect.

Break into Journey Groups

 

Moving In

Work Zone

Chain Race

Preparation: Form teams of six or fewer in the gym. Select one team to be the "Influential " team.

 

Say: When I say "go," you all are going to play a game with in your group. It will be a contest. The catch is, only the "influential" team will know how to play the game. You still need to try to win by figuring out the game.

 

Tell the "influential" team to create the longest chain they can, using only items they brought with them into the room. They can use shoes, jackets, watches, anything within reason-as long as the chain can be lifted from end to end without falling apart.

 

Give teams about three minutes to complete their chains. Once you've tested the chains for sturdiness, compare their lengths, and declare the winner.

 

Toe Fencing

Preparation: Keep the same teams as above. Have everyone take their shoes off or just keep them off if they used them in the previous game.


Tell only the "influential" team how to play: Players pair off, lock wrists, and try to tap the top of one of their partner's feet with their own feet. In other words, one player tries to step on the other player's foot while their wrists are clasped. Of course, since players are also trying to avoid having their feet stepped on, they are all hopping around the floor in a frantic dance. When a player has had his or her foot tapped three times, he/she is out of the game.

 

Have the "Ins" line up and partner off with one other group at a time while the other teams try to figure out how to play the game.

 

Say: When I say "go," you all are going to have a turn to play this game with the "influentials". It's a contest and again only the "influentials" know how to play the game. You still need to try to win by figuring out the game.

Play until one of the "influentials" looses. 

Now divide into a boy group and a girl group and find a quiet spot.

 

Ask:

·If you were trying to figure out these games how did it feel?

·If you were an "influential" how did you feel?

·If you consider yourself more of a leader raise your hand.

·If you consider yourself more of a follower raise your hand.

·What are the characteristics of leaders and followers?  

 

Say: There's nothing wrong with being a follower-without followers there would be no leaders-but the trick is to make certain those you are following know where they are going, and are headed in the right direction.

 

Moving In

Highway

Deception

Needed: Handout - The Pride of Deception

 

Have someone read the poem, The Pride of Deception

Ask:

·What is the point of this poem and is there a Christian Message?

·What big life-changing decision have you made or plan to make in the future and what influenced you to decide the way you did?

·Do you feel you have too many choices in your life? Why or not?

·Do you often change your mind after you have made a decision?

·What would be a good reason to change your mind?

 

Moving On 

Work Zone & Highway

 What Influences You?

Work Zone stay divided

Say: When someone is trying to influence you to do something you don’t want to, what do you do? Raise your hand if you do the following on as many as you want:

__Lie and make up an excuse

__Tell them it’s wrong and that you won’t do it

__Simply say no

__Go along with it anyway

__Suggest another activity

__Leave the room or situation

__Other—

 

Decide which one or two were the most common answers.

 

Then Ask:

·Why did you decide to (Lie, Leave, Suggest another activity, etc.)?

·Can you figure out what most influenced your usual response to bad influences? Where did it come from?

 

Moving Up

Work Zone & Highway

Your Influence On Others

 

Say: What advice would you give in each of the following situations? I need two volunteers, one to be Dr. Phriend and the other to be the patient.

Assign parts to two people then present one situation. Only the two actors may speak/improv. Change actors and use the same question or move on to another one.

·Janie's friends always pressure her to do things she knows are wrong.

·Taylor has a hard time being himself around his friends.

·Darcy always waits to hear her friends' opinions before giving hers.

·Emma is really uncomfortable if she isn't dressed just like her friends.

·Kathy can't find the time to make it to Youth group with her busy schedule.

·Most of Amy's pep club friends were older and graduated last year, now she doesn't want to be involved in pep club any more.

 

Moving Out

Work Zone & Highway

Being Influenced 

Say: How often do you do the following? Rate each on a scale of 2 hands up for always, one hand up for sometimes and no hands for never.

 

·I feel pressured to do what others are doing in order to be accepted.

·I ask my parents for advice more often than I ask my friends. 

·I find it easier to speak up for what I believe, rather than to go along with the crowd.

·I set my own standards, rather than living by the standards of others.

·I quickly change my opinion if someone tries to argue with me. 

·I find that it's difficult to live a Christian life around my friends.

Discuss these statements in a general way, but be careful not to embarrass anyone. Each deals with a specific aspect of influence and will help kids evaluate their own vulnerability. Choose one or two to emphasize, such as the one regarding parents. Try to help them stretch their minds and think through the consequences of being influenced.

 
Come back together in The Family Life Center 

 


Closing

Work Zone & High Way

The Leader Closes: Gather in a circle. 

Sum up the lesson

Say: It's not easy being a creature of influence. We began this lesson with the song "The World I Know" by Collective Soul. I find that kinda cool - our collective souls make up the worlds we know and just by being aware of the influences and choices we face each day we gain a powerful tool for faith. There's a part in the song that goes like this:

So I walk up on high, And I step to the edge, to see my world below.

I choose a higher road, close to the unchurched mainstream of life

And I laugh at myself, while the tears roll down, 'Cause it's the world I know.

I'm torn with emotion because of the good and bad choices I've made and will make in the world I know.

 

Close In Prayer: Dear Lord, we've come together as a new group full of possibilities and face the world we know with you at our side. Thank you for your forgiveness as we struggle with choices and influences all around us that may not bring grace to your world. Grant us the strength to do guide others by our own actions, bound together as friends in the months to come. Bless us in your service. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. 

 

Sing Sanctuary

 

UMYF Benediction