Give More 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) This Saturday - Youth Baby Sit 6p-11p, next week - Festival of Choirs, White Elephant Christmas Party! In two weeks, New Years Pre-Eve "Celebrity" Lock-in and on the 30th Seek & Solve Late Night 7-11p   After the DV8 portion Give More (3min) Say: What if, by worshipping fully, and spending less we had more to give of our time, talents, and treasures?  What if it IS more blessed to give than receive?  In giving, we live a life of servant-hood and find joy. Sometime after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, a group of Magi visited, offering gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. The purpose of these gifts was to proclaim the Christ as King and to worship Him. It sets an early example from which we should all learn.  They didn't just proclaim Him King they did something despite the risk. They knew the effect He would have on us all. It's because of Jesus that we have every possession and talent. Just as the Magi worshipped Jesus with what they had, we too should worship Jesus with the very things that he's given to us. We are to be humble servants to others so they can see Christ in us. Don't just tell them about how Christian you are, take a risk and show them! The world cannot always understand one's profession of faith, but it can understand service. We don't have to do miracles to be like Christ, all we need do is just take a risk to be servants and humble ourselves as He did loving others. Jesus didn't just preach servant-hood, He modeled it.   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way    (Stay as a large group,10-12 min.) Circle Underground Church Large group game  Needed: Cards with rolls printed on them There are five roles people play in the game  Guards, Undergrounds, Judges, Christians, 1 Moderator   Except for the Moderator, the other roles should be allocated secretly.  The Moderator shows "role" cards, so no one knows what role others are playing.  The moderator should be someone who knows the game well.  The guard's objective is to work together to imprison all the Christians (including the judges & Undergrounds). The Christian's objective is to vote out both the guards.  The game starts after everyone is seated in a big circle with the moderator telling everyone to close their eyes, cover them with their hands and bow their head to the floor. Once all eyes are closed, the moderator asks the guards to look up and open their eyes.  The moderator asks the guards who they wish to imprison.  They silently agree (by pointing to someone). Once they have selected 2-4 people, the moderator thanks them and asks them to close their eyes. The moderator then asks the Undergrounds to open their eyes.  They can then choose 2-4 people to 'save'.  Once they have selected the ones to save, the moderator asks the Undergrounds to close their eyes. Finally the moderator asks the judges to open their eyes, and select someone to suspect of being a guard.  The moderator must honestly (and silently) answer the judges with a nod or shake of the head yes or no. The judges then close their eyes. That's the end of the first round, and the moderator then asks everyone to open their eyes.  The moderator announces to the group who was imprisoned during the night.  The people who have been imprisoned remove themselves from the circle and take no further part in the game.  It is essential they are not allowed to talk. (Note that if the person the guards selected to be 'imprisoned' was also one of the ones selected by the Undergrounds, the moderator only reveals there was a jail break and doesn't give any further information so the person remains alive).  It is then up to the remaining group members to discuss amongst themselves who they think the guards are.  After a few minutes of discussion, the group must vote (one at a time) who they think is a guard.  Speculation and justifying innocence is allowed. When all votes have been cast, the person with the most votes is out of the game (and must also not speak again).  The game continues on this cycle, with everyone closing their eyes, the guards again selecting someone to imprison, the Undergrounds selecting someone to save, the judges someone to accuse, the moderator announcing who was imprisoned, then voting again.  If the Undergrounds and/or judges have been voted out, the moderator should continue pretending to ask them to select someone to save (or to accuse) just so the Christians don't know who those people are.  If one of the guards is voted out, the game still continues with those that remain.  The game ends either when (a) all the Christians are imprisoned (and therefore the guards win) or (b) when all guards have been voted out (and the Christians win).   Break into Journey Groups   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way  I Dare You To... (7-10 min.) Say: Interests are things that you have a strong desire to do/study/experience. Abilities are natural or developed skills that you possess.  Now let's take a closer look at basic interests, physical and mental abilities that are tools God has given us. There is risk involved. We can just be ordinary, and use our interests and abilities in average, dull ways. Or, we can be risk takers, and come out of our comfort zones, using our interests and our abilities to do the ministry that God has called each of us to do. Ministry always involves risk! Have everyone take a seat. Then, challenge individuals to come up to the front and respond to the following safe but risky dares. Be sure and ask volunteers to come up before you explain what the dare is.     -Sing the first few stanzas of the National Anthem Off Key     -Sing all that you know of one of your favorite "School House Rocks" or "Veggie Tales" tune    -Crawl on your hands and knees to a person that WE (the group) select and ask him/her to marry you    -For 30 full seconds, show us what you would do if you were stranded on a desert island an you saw a plane above    -Pantomime hill by hill and turn by loop what you do on a rollercoaster ride ASK:    "What is the worst part about doing one of these dares?    "What is the worst part about giving more of your life to God?    "What would be the worst part about letting people see that you are a Christian?   Interests and Abilities (Work Zone -Break into smaller groups. High Way break into Cabana (Older youth led) & Pit groups, 5-7 min) Say: God created you with your interests and abilities to do His work and God wants you to give more by using your interests and abilities to their fullest and beyond. The Bible gives us examples of people who took risks and used their interests and abilities for God. Maybe some of you remember the woman who poured perfume on Jesus' feet. Her interests were the perfume, of which she had a special jar full. She took a risk because she was a woman of the street, uninvited into the host's house, but she came in anyway and did something no one had ever thought of doing with perfume before -- poured it on Jesus' feet. As a result she was able to do something totally unique; Jesus honored and forgave her in the presence of all the people who had condemned her. Discuss: What does it mean to be a servant? Say: Zaccheus was a man who ultimately returned more than he stole. His ability was to make and manage money. His risk was to give money away to be happy. People thought he was nuts. As a result, though short and perhaps looked down on, Jesus honored him in front of everyone. He received forgiveness and made those who got money back happy. Discuss: What does it mean to be authentically Christian? Say: Peter was a fisherman who became a fisher of men. His ability was fishing. He risked his livelihood, way of making money, to follow an unknown teacher. As a result he caught many people as a fisher of men for God. Because of the risk he took he was eventually crucified upside down for his beliefs. Discuss: What does it look like to be Christ like?    Moving On Work Zone & High Way  A "Now" Parable of the Talents (5-7 min.) Matthew 25:14-30 Handout Read: Once there was a great soccer coach who knew all there was to know about his game. He didn't want to keep this great skill to himself however, so he called over his three children. "Children," he said, "I'm going to teach each of you this great game. Soon I must leave on a journey, but I want you all to take the knowledge and skill that I give to you and make good use of it." He proceeded to teach the first child to run swiftly and to kick the soccer ball hard and accurately. He took his second child aside and showed her the goal posts. He taught her to watch the ball carefully and to keep it from entering the net that she guarded. Finally, he taught his third child how to keep score. He taught him all of the rules of the game and made him a referee. And then the Great Coach left on his journey. The three children realized that they had each been given great and unique talents, and eagerly awaited the return of the Great Coach so that he could be properly thanked. Grateful for his skills, the first child practiced every day. He learned to run faster and score more often. Surely this way, he thought, the Great Coach would see that his gift was appreciated. The second child, likewise, practiced every day. She became better at blocking the shots of the first child. Together their soccer skills improved significantly. The third child didn't come outside to join in with these daily soccer games. Rather than refining the skills that he was taught as a referee, he chose to sit quietly inside. This way, he hoped, he wouldn't be tempted to impose the rules of the game on the others - making them not like him.  After a couple of weeks, the Great Coach returned. He saw on his soccer ball the wounds indicating extensive use, and became very excited to see how each of his children had developed the skills that he had given to them. "Father, father!" The first child came running with considerable speed and kicked the ball towards the net. It was a fantastic kick. An equally spectacular save by the second child brought a smile to the face of the Great Coach. He was well pleased and taught these two much more. He then proceeded inside and found his third child sitting quietly and by himself. "Hello, Father," he said. "I know how you love your game and take it very seriously. I, too, take it seriously. I have sat here for your entire absence so that I would not have to impose the rules of  the "Great Game" on the others playing outside. Disappointed, the Father replied, "Son, I have taught you well but you have chosen to not make use of my gift. At very least you might have spent your days writing down the rules so that they may not be lost. If you cannot make good use of the little that I have already given to you, how can you expect me to teach you more?" At that, the Father left his side and returned to teach his first two children great things. ASK:     "What were the gifts given to each child?    "Some children made good use of the gifts while another did not. What was seen as a good use of the soccer talent?    "What did the children receive as a reward for making good use of the gifts given to them?    "How is this story like our relationship with God and the gifts he gives to us?    "How can we show our appreciation for the gifts God has given to us?   Moving Out Work Zone  Take a Risk (5-10 min. Come back together as a large group.) This is an elimination game involving eye contact and screaming. Players stand in a circle, all with their heads looking down. The facilitator yells "Take a Risk". All players look up at someone else (they cannot change who they are looking at after they look up). If two people happen to be looking at each other (i.e. make eye contact), they both have to scream. Whoever screams last is eliminated from the circle. If someone screams when they are not making eye contact with anyone, they are also eliminated. The facilitator then says "Reset" and everyone looks down. The facilitator then says "Take a Risk" and the process continues. The game continues until there are only two players left. Return to the gym for the closing   Moving Out High Way  What Do You Want to Do With Your Life? Have each person in each group complete the following sentences and discuss:    -My main interest in going to collage/trade school/joining the work force/etc. is because...    -My abilities that I think will help me to accomplish this goal are...    -I already started to plan for this goal by...    -I am ____% confident that I will meet this goal because...    Do Something About It  Take turns and share your interests and abilities with the group. Have everyone offer at least one way that each interest/ability could be used in ministry. Return to the gym for the closing   Closing Work Zone & High Way Gather in a closing circle. Pass out key Scriptures cards  Print Discover "Give More" Cards Ephesians 2:10  Luke 7:36 - 50  Luke 19:1 - 10  Mark 1:16 - 18  1 John 2:6  John 13:1-17  Say: We are to be humble servants to others so they can see Christ in us. Don't just tell them about how Christian you are, take a risk and show them! The world cannot always understand one's profession of faith, but it can understand service. We don't have to do miracles to be like Christ, all we need do is just take a risk to be servants and humble ourselves as He did loving others. Jesus didn't just preach servant-hood, He modeled it. Close in Prayer: God, help us to remember that time is short, eternity is long. Help us to remember that all the greatness of this world pales in comparison to loving You. Without You, there is no peace, no joy. My God, remind us to fear nothing. Help us to remember that to gain all we must leave all, that in loving others as we love You we have all. In the silence of our souls, we thank You for Your eternal love. Amen.   Join hands in the circle, right ofer left 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 in to the world.    Gather for this lesson: DV8 stuff, Circle Underground Church instructions, Matthew 25:14-30 Handout, Scripture cards