Does Faith Matter? It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Set Up: Before the meal set up the LCD projector and show the DV8 clips & slides to start the lesson. (15 min) Announcements: (Included in the DV8 slides) Caravan Parents Meeting tonight, Choir Sings the 31st, Regular UMYF and Choir next week, Souper Bowl of Caring, Mid School Super Bowl Subs, Valentastick Baskets & Café, Twisted Valentine   After the DV8 portion:   Does Faith Matter? (3min) We are called to learn and develop faith because it is the most essential aspect of the Christian life. Without faith, we can do nothing! Faith is a promise from God that gives us hope and confidence so we can receive, act on, obey, and trust Him. We can trust God for the future because we can see what He has done in the past-from creation, to testimonies, to His infallible Word. Faith reassures us of God's love and grace and gives us direction and motivation for the Christian life. Faith looks to and is fueled by hope, it gives us optimism, builds our confidence, helps us be bold, to remain faithful, and persevere as Christians! Faith matters where hope is concerned. Faith matters where confidence is concerned. Faith matters where optimism is concerned. And faith matters where perseverance is required.   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way   Fall of Faith (Stay as a large group, 10 min.) Needed: Sturdy table, 4 sponsors Say: Sometimes God gives you a test to see if you are learning what He is trying to teach you. First, He gives you an opportunity to learn a lesson. Then, He allows you to decide for yourself if your faith is strong. Let's demonstrate, can I get a really brave volunteer? Select volunteer and bring him/her up front. Have person stand on a sturdy table facing away from audience. Continue: You may have heard of a leap of faith. That means you jump out to do something God wants you to do even when it's scary. You do it because you believe God will catch you. We're going to do a "Fall of Faith." We'll play the part of God, and when ________________ falls backward off this table, We'll catch him/her. So, ready? (Talking to volunteer) When I count to three, I want you to fall backward into our arms, and just like God, we'll catch you if you put your trust in us. (Draw this out in order to create suspense and add a little humor.) Are you ready? &ldots;&ldots;&ldots;Oh, hey&ldots;.how are you feeling? Is it scary? But you trust us, right? Okay, count of three! One! Two! (Suddenly break away from the group of sponsors and face the audience. Make sure you have arranged for the other sponsors to catch the volunteer if he/she falls.) Oh! I forgot to tell you! Before you do a Fall of Faith, make sure you pray about it. Not everything that is scary is something God wants you to do. You've got to make sure this is really something God wants you to do. You don't want to take the fall if it isn't part of God's plan, because you may get hurt. You can also talk to other Christians (like your parents) and read your Bible to make sure." All right! Let's do this! (talking again to your volunteer) One! Two! Thr&ldots;! (Suddenly turn away-same condition as before-and face audience.) Can anyone give me an example of a time when you did something for God that was scary? (Take a few ideas.) Perfect! Exactly what I'm looking for! I think that helps us understand what I mean by a "Fall of Faith". Okay, time to take the fall!" (To volunteer) Are you ready? (Assuming that you have lost the volunteer's trust by now, say&ldots;) Why not? No, really, you can trust me! (If the volunteer still seems to trust you, you might need to draw this out some more.) Okay-one, two, THREE! (If the volunteer doesn't fall, reassure him/her that you are serious this time. After the volunteer takes the fall, and you safely catch him or her, thank your volunteer and send him/her back to seat.) Say: The good news is faith in God will give you the courage to fall and the hope that you are falling as He intended. God is more trustworthy than we are. He will always catch you if you are doing His work.   Break into Journey Groups   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way  Faith Produces Hope (5-7 min.) Say: Hope is eternal love. It produces joy and strengthens our. The opposite of hope is despair and hopelessness. This is the rotten trait that keeps people oppressed, and stagnates, rendering them unable to grow and succeed in life and in faith. It only sees the problems and circumstances and not the Light of Christ. When we keep our focus on our circumstances, we will see little or no hope. We can only attain hope by being in Christ, and having our eyes focused upon Him and what He teaches. Christ is our anchor, our hope.  ASK: - Name a few people who you think have hope based on a strong faith in God. - Why did you choose the people you did? - How can you tell that they have a strong faith? - What characteristics do they have? - What kind of relationship do you think these people have with God?   Moving On Work Zone & High Way  Faith Produces Optimism (5-7 min.) Say: Optimism combines hope and faithfulness to be positive for Christ. It is a heartfelt confidence that everything will come out for the best no matter what happens. It will help us to think the best of and be positive with people and in all situations, even if we are proven wrong. ASK:  What do you think of the following statements- do you agree or disagree? Then, explain your answer. __ Faith will take away all your doubts forever.  __ Faith is a crutch for most people.  __ Faith isn't easy to have today, like it was in Bible times.  __ Faith will help me pass my math exam.  __ Faith isn't required by God all the time. __ Faith would come easier for me if I saw a miracle.  __ Faith will heal you when you are sick.  __ Faith will make everything in your life easier.   Moving Out Road Work  Screaming Viking (Remaining time) How to Play: Screaming Viking is an entertaining game in which people act out silly motions and make noises.  To begin, have everyone sit in a circle with one person in the middle. The goal of the game is not be in the middle at the end of the game. The person in the middle points at a person seated in the circle and then screams, "Screaming Viking! (or one of the other formations described below). One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!" While the person is counting, the person who was selected and the people directly to the left and right must form a formation, described below. If any of the three people (the person selected and the people to the left and right of that person) do not correctly respond in time (before the count to 10 is up) then whoever messes up must go into the middle and has to be a "Screaming Viking". That is they get to practice a "Fall of Faith". The rest of the groups gets together and forms an interlocked net of arms to catch the "Screaming Viking" falling back into their arms. Once he or she is caught, the group gets one chance to squat and toss the "Screaming Viking" up in to the air and catch them again,  then the game continues. 1. Screaming Viking: each person to the left and right of the selected person must make a rowing motion outwardly to the sides, while the person in the middle must place his or her fingers to the sides of his/her head with index finger pointed upwards, like horns. All three people must scream loudly. 2. Chia Pet: the three of them must act as a growing chia pet with hands lifting upwards. The 3 of them must shoud, "Ch-ch-ch-chia&ldots;" 3. Jello: the person in the center wobbles like jello, while each person to the side holds their arms out, forming a bowl. You can make up other appropriate responses - the sillier the better! The more enthusiastic and wacky you are, the more entertaining the game.   Moving Out High Way Faith Produces Confidence (7-10 min.) Say: Confidence enables us to rely on the Lord for all things in our life. It keeps our faith focused and rooted on Christ as Lord, and knows the obstacles of our feelings, circumstances, or issues. We can push forward in the direction that we are called as we look to Him with trust, and not to others or ourselves. Nothing is greater than that! We can live our lives in holiness and Christian character, and react to all the situations we encounter with the focus on who we are in Christ, as He is our confidence. Confidence also makes us realize we are not responsible for the results-only for the faith and obedience. Have a group of four volunteer begin to play a board game in the bottom of the "Pit". Say: The rules of the games are as follows: There are no rules, and no one is in charge! After a bit of mayhem: ASK: - How does the game change when there is no faith in rules? - Why do you think there are rules? - What are some rules that protect us? Do you obey those rules? - What do you do when you don't like a certain rule? - Does Scripture give you courage to change the way you think about rules and authority? Why or why not? - What are some situations where you struggle with obeying others' authority? How can we help each other with these struggles? Say: Often rules don't make sense to us. And sometimes the authorities will let us down. We end up confused or frustrated, just playing this game. But God didn't plan things that way. He uses rules to protect us. When God sets the rules, we can have confidence that He will never let us down. ASK: How much does your confidence in Christ affect each of things listed? Rate these from not very affected (1) to very affected (10). Use the white board and discuss. __   Friends __   Family __   Extracurricular activities __   Thoughts __   Dating __   Work __   School __   Free time __   Self-esteem __   Future plans   Return to the gym for the closing   Closing Work Zone & High Way Gather in a closing circle. Pass out key Scriptures cards  Print "Does Faith Matter" Cards Hebrews 11:1 Rom. 10:17 Acts 14:22 Rom. 15:13 2 Tim. 4:7-8 Say: Christianity is not based on fairy tales or superstitions. Faith matters because it is not subjective, based on feelings or personal ideas; rather, it is based on knowledge given by God. Our faith is based on historical evidence, logical reasoning, and the confidence in who God is. Faith is simple but not simplistic; it is not just simple belief. Faith is not blind trust, because we know the One who is leading! Faith is still trusting what is not seen and believing our God. It combines belief with trust; we are to believe in Christ-not just about Him. Faith provides the "substance" and "essence" of our relationship with our Lord, it looks to our future, and it is our hope. Faith is a two way street; we receive it from God, and respond it back as trust. Faith Matters!   Close in Prayer: Instruct the youth to participate in the prayer by saying "Faith Matters" after you complete the sentence. Say it again and this time the youth say "Faith Matters, Amen."  Dear lord help us to see that faith matters in everything that we do and all that we are. "Faith Matters,"  (repeat) "Faith Matters, Amen"   The UMYF Benediction May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Shalom! Turn out into the world.    Gather for this lesson: DV8 stuff, Sturdy table, Scripture cards