A Song and A Prayer It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Eat, sign up to help with Baby sitting, then make announcements and introduce the session: Silent Night Say: Helping others was so central to early Christian ministry that when Peter and John gave their blessings on Paul's mission, the only thing they asked him to do was "remember the poor," which he was "eager" to do ( Galatians 2:9-10). It seems people rarely do something for nothing. As humans, we're big on watching out for our own interests. To combat this, we've tried to show you that Christians serve out of love for God. We ask you to volunteer. We encourage you to give money, time, and effort. You need only to realize that following God's instructions to serve the body of Christ is not a punishment, it's not a chore it's a means to happiness and success. You can do the work but if you don't understand the benefit to yourself as well as the benefit to others you're missing a big part of your faith journey. Do today's teenagers crave opportunities to serve? Do they what the feeling that their lives are making a difference-that their lives count for something? This whole month of December we are focusing on service. Tonight we are going to search for its spiritual impact.   Which Way Are You Moving? Work Zone and High Way Oh Come, All Ye Faithful  Needed: Several boxes of crackers, blindfolds, long Ace bandage, coats and hats, paper cups, pitcher of drinking water Before the game, set up five stations in your meeting area. Spread out the stations as much as you can.  1. Small boxes of crackers, 2. Blindfolds, 3. Long Ace bandage, 4. Coats and hats, 5. paper cups and a pitcher of water. How to play: Have the youth form teams of six. Explain that each person on the team will be part of a chalange. One person on each team should be stationed at each of the five stations. The remaining person will be the runner, going from station to station. Have one team go at a time and the others sit and watch the fun. Station 1.  Feed the runner an entire portion of crackers. 2. Blindfold the runner and lead him or her to the third station (a small obstacle course would be good). 3. Wrap the runner with an Ace bandage at the knees. 4. Guided to the next station and put on a coat and hat. 5. Guide to the next, where the last team member will pour a cup of water and hold it so the runner can drink the entire thing. The team with the best performance wins. Pole the crowd and ask everyone to consider time, style, care, and teamwork.   Split into Journey Groups   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way (Work Zone split into smaller groups) Do You See What I See (I know it's really "Hear") Needed: Matthew handout Read: Matthew 25:31-46 Mat 25:31-46 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." ASK: * What do you think each action in the game represented? * What was the most difficult part of this game? * Why is it often difficult to help people in need in our world? * What things can we do to be more sensitive to the needs of those around us? * How can we "see Jesus" in people who are in need? * Do you think some people feel like it's pointless or to hard to help others? * How does helping others help you?   Moving On Work Zone & High Way (Work Zone stay split) God Rest You Merry Gentlemen  Needed: pens, "How Humility Relates Scenarios" handout The Set Up: Write one of the scenarios below at the top of a sheet of paper. Then divide the paper in half vertically with a line. Title the left column, "What's Not Humble" and title the right column, "What's Humble." You'll need one piece of paper for every three to six youth. #1-You're in a bad mood and you take it out on your friend. She's now feeling depressed. "What's Not Humble"                             "What's Humble."     #2-You walk right by the person who was nice to you yesterday to talk to someone you like better. "What's Not Humble"                            "What's Humble."     #3-Chris asks to copy your homework again. You don't want to, but you want to serve God by caring for people, so you do it. "What's Not Humble"                           "What's Humble."     #4-You sense God is urging you to spend time listening to your sister or brother, but instead you tell yourself you don't have time. Besides, God doesn't really talk to people anyway. "What's Not Humble"                          "What's Humble."     Say: Do you know someone who always gravitates toward the center of attention? Does it bother you? Wait for a response - Humility is the opposite of attention grabbing. It means having a right view of God, self, and others. Humility is being willing to learn from God rather than just plowing on ahead with what we want to do. As a result, humble people get along with others and bring out the best in people. In biblical terms, they "walk humbly with their God." The way we treat people really matters because God, you, and other people are inseparably connected. Form groups of three to six students and give each group one of the prepared "How Humility Relates" scenarios. After five or 10 minutes, ask groups to tell about their scenarios and brainstormed lists. ASK: * In the last week, how have you experienced both arrogance and humility in others? in yourself? * What role does humility play in following Jesus' example? * How important is humility to Christianity? Say: Now turn your paper over and take two minutes to write your own definition of humility. ASK: * What good happens when you walk humbly with God? * How does this produce worship-good attention to God? * Is there a benefit to humility that you can use now?   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way (Work Zone stay split) Hark the Herald Angels Sing  Say: What do you think of this statement? "Teenagers lack the knowledge and experience necessary to have a meaningful ministry with others." ASK: * Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Discuss the pros and cons of each statement. * Youth ages 11-18 should think of themselves before they think of others. * Youth ages 11-18 are powerless to make the world a better place. * If teenagers were paid well, they would help the poor, the hungry, or the homeless. * Serving others through volunteer work helps teenagers become more successful adults. * Teenagers would rather be entertained by the church than challenged to help others. * If teenagers want to be more like Jesus, they need to serve others.   Moving Out Work Zone (Form one large Work Zone group) We Three Kings Choose three people to be "It" -thus the Kings&ldots; Whenever an It tags anyone, that person must join It by placing his or her hands on Its waist, forming a line. Now both players try to tag another. When all players have been joined to one of the It lines, call out "Caravan Tag!" and point to one of the lines. That line then becomes the only It and tries to tries to tag anyone in the other lines. Whenever another line is tagged, those kids must link up with the Caravan and begin chasing the line that remain. The game is over when everyone has become a part of the Caravan. Leader Tip: As time gets short, have the Caravan chase its own tail. Then the game is over when the Caravan becomes a circle of kids. Then step back and add the older youth to close.   Moving Out High Way  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus  ASK: * How much time do you spend each week helping people outside of your family? An hour? 15 minutes? 5 minutes? * Share some specific examples. * How much time each week do you spend helping your family? Can you give us some specific examples? * What things are you ignoring each week that could be considered humble or in service to others? * Which statement summarizes your opinion about Christian service projects?     - I'd participate in a project if it takes a little bit of time and work.     - I'd participate in a service project if it takes some time and work every month.     - I'd participate in a service project if it takes some time and work every week.     - Forget it, count me out, no way-I don't want to get involved.     - I can live a life of service and humility everyday.   Return to the Family Life Center Closing Work Zone & High Way ASK: * What did you learn tonight?  Say: Of all the holidays there is none that enters so fully into the human heart, and stirs so many of our emotions. The thoughts, memories, hopes, and customs linked with it are bound with tradition. They embrace the religious, social, and humble sides of our nature. The holly and mistletoe entwined among the evergreens, the habit of giving gifts to those we love, the presence of the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, all combining to make Christmas the most longed-for, most universal, and from every standpoint, the most important holiday known to man. In its very being Christmas compels all of to be Christ-like, churched and un-churched alike. We become humble. We have thoughts of the well being of others. And we try as hard as we can to not compare the amount, quality, appropriateness, and deservedness of gifts we receive to the gifts from our Father that lay still unwrapped beneath the tree of faith. Sure, we've peeked at them in the youth of our spiritual journey and we've judged them for how they might benefit us. Christmas has a way of reminding us of His humble gifts that lie in wait to one again be desired with great anticipation.         Prayer  Invite the youth to join hands see if someone will offer a prayer.   Gather for this lesson: Several boxes of crackers, blindfolds, long Ace bandage, coats and hats, paper cups, pitcher of drinking water, Matthew handout, pens, "How Humility Relates Scenarios" handout.