What? 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. For Sponsors: Which way are we moving? 1. Understand how important listening is 2. Recognize when we must listen in everyday life 3. Respond in a Christian manor Which Way Are We Moving Road Work & Trek Pre-Large Group Gathering: Needed: extra stacks of paper setting around, newsprint, marker Start gathering to begin UMYF. In the middle of the commotion suddenly turn on one of the students (you'll need to prearrange this with that youth) and accuse him or her of being to loud, not paying attention, leaving an empty pop can in the room, and being disrespectful of the rest of the group. As you begin to accuse your victim, wad up some paper and throw it at him or her. Have the other sponsors join in. Throw a wad of paper at anyone not paying attention. This should lead to the act of mass "stoning" of all the accused and great mayhem. Try to make this as spontaneous as possible. After the "drama," turn their attention to the piece of newsprint that is posted and ask them to share what they initially were thinking and feeling. Write their answers on the paper. What just happened?  How did you feel? Gather in the center of the room, welcome, introduction of guests, make announcements. Moving in Road Work & Trek Explain: Have you ever made a poor choice?  God understands we are all capable of making poor choices.  This lesson deals with choices and asks a few other questions. This story asks if you are listening. Needed: Copy of Isaiah 66:1-4 Read the story. Isa 66:1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house which you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? Isa 66:2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isa 66:3 "He who slaughters an ox is like him who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like him who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a cereal offering, like him who offers swine's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like him who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; Isa 66:4 I also will choose affliction for them, and bring their fears upon them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I did not delight." Ask: Q: What is the message of the story? A: Actions and consequences. Q: What actions and consequences took place here at the beginning of the meeting? A: Someone wouldn't shut up and we stoned him or her for it, we reacted violently. Q: We shouldn't judge others. So, should we decide how to punish them if they choose not to do as we want? A: This one should get lots "O" answers. Explain:  Tonight we are going to try something a little different. We will have fun and study with each other. But, if someone is being disrespectful of the group, we will ask them to go to another room to do what they want to do. We will not try to make them join in with what we are doing. They will be able to decide what they want for themselves. Moving up Road Work & Trek Play the game - Throwing Stones Needed: The paper "stones" from earlier (maybe a few more), 2 baskets How to Play: This game involves two teams divided equally with teams in a line on opposite walls (sitting or standing, it doesn't matter). Each team gets a pile of "stones," placed in the center of each team. Place a small trashcan at one end of the team A and at the opposite end for team B. At "GO" the teams must remain where they are and slide the trashcan to the other end of their line and back using only their feet. At the same time the one closest to the pile of "stones" may pick them up and pass "stones" to their teammates. Only the one in the center is allowed to pick up stones with his or her hands. The rest of the team may pass the stones back to the center to be picked up using only their feet. Teammates with stones handed to them may try to score points by tossing "stones" in the opposing teams moving trashcan. Play continues until all "stone" have been tossed. The team scoring the most points is the winner.   Break in to as many small groups as there are sponsors, then continue. Explain: It feels pretty good to play the game and have fun with your friends. Ask: How does it feel to have rules that make the game harder? Why do we need rules anyway? The Ten Commandments are Gods rules, why aren't there just two? Did you realize that the teammates at the ends would have the least chance to throw "stones?" Who had the most opportunities to score? At what point along the line is there the most chance to make a basket? Moving on Road Work & Trek Debate the Rules Remain in smaller groups. Divide your small group in half. Inform them that they are going to have a debate. Ask the teams to agree upon a rule that affects them, now, today. For example, it could be a rule regulating curfews, talking or dress codes. Have one representative come to the center of the room and propose their topic to the "Judge" and other reps. After a uniform topic has been chosen, reps return to their small groups. Sponsors assign pro and con within their small groups, then allow each half to devise a plan of why they think the rule is "just" or "unjust." Encourage them to use the bible for stories to back up what they are saying. After a few minutes for the groups to talk among themselves, bring the teams together and explain the debate rules. Flip a coin to see who will start, pro or con. One speaker at a time will stand before the group and make their statement. Then it is time for rebuttal. Have the teams take turns making their point. Each side should have four chances to speak. The sponsor will decide who has made the stronger argument. The winner will represent their group in a mock Supreme Court argument. Supreme Court is the large group all together again. Speakers from each group will come forward and present their case in the same manor as the small groups, taking turns from pro to con. The sponsors present will be the justices and will decide the winner. Moving out Road Work & Trek Refer back to the sheet of paper from the first "stoning" incident. Explain: We can be judges here on earth but we will always answer to a higher court. When the actions of others are beyond our control we are limited in our capacity to change them. We can only explain ourselves to others and hope that they will see a benefit in living life as a Christian. If they choose not to at the present time, that should be okay. We will do what we can for them and continue on our journey. We created a special room for anyone that could not listen or behave tonight. We did not try to make them act right or listen to the message we brought. We simply acknowledged their right to live their life as they wanted and continued on our way. Christ came lived amongst the people, but not as the people lived. Some saw the truth in His life and decided to follow. Some chose to ignore His message and went their own way. The beauty of His teaching was always there ready for anyone who would listen; they needed only to choose to do so. I wanted to address two questions here tonight. And I think I found the answer in Luke 10:25-29. Read: Luk 10:25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Luk 10:26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" Luk 10:27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." Luk 10:28 And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." Luk 10:29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In this passage I found the answer to my questions. The questions were: What makes a "good" youth group great. And, How do I get the youth to be quiet and listen. Given the lesson tonight and the scripture I just read, what do you think the answers are? What are the actions and consequences expressed in this scripture? Closing Road Work & Trek God will never force you to listen.  If you want to listen, you have to know you are not paying attention. You've got to know that you're not listening for that still small voice of the Holy Spirit. God is always calling your name.  He left His home in heaven to come down to earth and crawl with humans, challenging them to listen to Him. Prayer and Concerns  Road Work & Trek  Needed: prayer cards, candle and matches. Sit in a big circle. Dim the lights. The leader begins an affirmation by holding the candle and saying "I'm listening" then passing the candle to the right. Continue around until all have participated. Then place the candle in the center of the circle. Have two youth read the prayer and concern cards from common meal by candlelight.  End with "Let us keep these and others in our hearts and minds, Amen" Have everyone join in singing "Sanctuary" Stand join hands, right over left, and say the UMYF benediction.