ECO-CHRISTIAN It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Set Up: Before the meal set up the LCD projector, and then show the DV8 clips & slides to start the lesson. (16 min) Test the responsibility of the group. Before the meeting litter a few of the usual tables with some crumpled napkins, empty soda cans, dry cups, and some other (safe) garbage. As the youth walk in, check to see if they pick it up or not. Announcements: (Included in the DV8 slides) Regular Youth next week, May 8th we will go to All Star Sports then to Aldersgate UMC's Saturday night service, out for a nice dinner then overnight at WHUMC   After the DV8 portion   ECO-CHRISTIAN Set up: Test the responsibility of your group. Before the meeting litter a few of the usual tables with some crumpled napkins, empty soda cans, dry cups, and some other (safe) garbage. As the youth walk in, check to see if they pick it up or not.   Break into Journey Groups - Middle school breaks into even smaller groups.   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way  Rebellion Say: Did you see all the trash on the tables? Did you feel like you should've picked it up? There's a lot of emphasis today on social and environmental issues.  Christians-those who love God-should care for God's world. This is a hard thing for adults and just try asking them what they think of when they hear the word teen, and you'll likely get some daunting responses. Some might say teens are "lazy," "selfish" or "pampered." Those perceptions could change if more teenagers chose to do hard things for the glory of God.  We could call it The Rebelution-a combination of rebellion and revolution defining a teenage rebellion against low expectations. What if we picked a need, worked with our church to raise money and donate time for our mission projects. Here's what one teenager had to say about doing hard things and conquering big challenges, "We need to be willing to listen to that still small voice the Holy Spirit uses," says 17-year-old Elisabeth. "The more you listen, the clearer it becomes. In order to do the great things, you first must be a servant."  Tonight we are going to see what it takes to get you to push yourself to do God's work here on earth.  Hopefully you will discover that doing hard things is the most satisfying, thrilling way to live some of the best years of your lives.   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way  Hard Things Say: God didn't make us to be independent but interdependent. A quick look around shows clearly that we were created to depend on others and have others depend on us. ASK:    "Have you ever thought about doing something worthwhile and outside your comfort zone, something you might call a "hard thing"?    "What would that "hard thing" look like?    "What's stopping you?    "Can you carve it in to littler pieces?    "What would be your first step? Say: What one thing in the following list of issues are you most familiar with. Rainforest destruction  Air pollution          Homelessness Acid rain                     Ozone depletion     Water pollution Hunger                        Species extinction  Social alienation  Greenhouse effect        Hazardous waste    Garbage overloads Child abandonment        Poverty Say: Explain the problems with each issue on the list. ASK:    "What are the three most important issues today?     "What are the most threatening ones for our world?   Moving On Work Zone & High Way  Do You Try Which of the following do you (or your family) do? __ Recycle newspapers  __ Recycle paper and cardboard __ Reduce the amount of water you use __ Recycle soda cans and bottles __ Throw away pretty much everything __ Use a water-saving fixture in the shower __ Recycle plastic bottles and containers __ Regularly check the air pressure in your car's tires __ Reuse plastic cups and utensils __ Carpool with others to save gas __ Buy paper cups instead of styrofoam __ Use a garbage disposal in your kitchen __ Recycle or compost yard waste Take a poll: See which ones are done the most. ASK:    "Why are some easier than others?     "What difference does each one make?    "What is one thing you could do to be a better steward of the world God created? Say: If God were to take you to court, would you be found innocent or guilty of crimes against his creation? 1) Guilty as charged-I deserve a heavy sentence.  2) Guilty, but I'm a first-time offender.  3) Innocent.  4) Innocent by reason of insanity-I didn't know any better. ASK:     "Is there a good answer in the list? Why or why not?    "How about your peers in general?     "How about society at large?   Moving Out  Work Zone  Full Group Games Come back together from the small groups and choose one of the following Eco-games to play. Play both if there's time. Seals & Hunters Line all of the players up on one side of a playing area. Pick one person to be the Hunter. That person heads to the middle of the area. When everyone is ready, the Hunter yells "Extinction!" Everyone runs to the opposite end of the area, trying not to get tagged by the Hunter. If a person gets tagged, they join forces with the Hunter. Youth run back and forth on command until there is one person left. They are then the next Hunter.   Earth & Waste Divide the youth into two equal teams. Have teams face each other across from any line near the center of the room. Assign one side to be "Earth" and the other to be "Waste." The leader stands at the end of the group in the center so all players can see and hear him/her. The leader calls out either "Earth" or "Waste." If Earth is called, the Waste must turn and run a short distance to their "base" before any of the Earth tags them. If any Waste is tagged, they become Earth, and head to the other side for another round. The same applies when Waste is called. Play until everyone is on one side.   Return to the gym for the closing   Moving Out High Way  Scripture Say: Check out these verses and paraphrase each one briefly in your own words. Job 12:7-10 But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. 1 Tim 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity Rom 12:10-11 Be devoted to each other in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men Say: God has given Christians an awesome responsibility to take care of his creation. ASK:    "How does your group think God feels about the kind of job Christians have been doing taking care of his creation?    "Why is our society so concerned about the earth, but still wastes so much?    "What responsibilities do companies have to package their materials in biodegradable packaging?    "What responsibilities to schools or businesses have to recycle?    "Is taking care of the earth more important than social issues?    "Does our society just throw away people that don't fit "easily" in with everyone else?    Return to the gym for the closing   Closing Work Zone & High Way Gather in a closing circle. Say: Most New Age philosophies seek to elevate the animal, plant, and mineral world to the level of human beings. They see all things as an equal oneness, a worldview called monism-that leads to the view that all is one, all is god. And because all is divine, all should be treated equally. In contrast to this, the Bible teaches that people are created in God's image. People are uniquely divided from the animal, plant, and mineral world. Yet, people are united with that world because all of it was created by God and all of it has value. It is this Christian view of Earth that gives creation its purpose. God created animals, plants, oceans, and mountains-and they are worth respecting. People are responsible for creation because God created man above everything else. Christians have a responsibility to be good stewards of the earth and its people. But we have become increasingly resistant to do hard things - people have exploited and abused the earth - because it's easier. People have forgotten those that are less fortunate - because it's easier. But the Bible teaches that the whole of creation awaits God's redemption. God will fix all of creation when he returns. In the meantime, our purpose is to take care of one another and take care of His world.   Close in Prayer: O GOD, we thank you for this earth, our home and all of her people; for the wide sky and the blessed sun, for the ocean and streams, for the towering hills and the whispering wind, for the trees and green grass. We thank you for our senses by which we hear the songs of birds, and see the splendor of fields of golden wheat, and taste autumn's fruit, and rejoice in the feel of snow, and smell the breath of spring flowers. Grant us a heart opened wide to all of her people, all her beauty; and save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing when even the common thorn bush is aflame with your glory. Amen   Say the UMYF Benediction and turn out into the world.    Gather for this lesson: DV8 stuff, clean trash