Kneel Down and Work Out Where You Stand   It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way  At 5 min. till start "Living On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi. When the song's done, welcome, & introductions, make announcements. Have prayer cards @ the tables.   Which Way Are We Moving Work Zone & High Way Begin with a large group Prayer Telephones, e-mail, television, answering machines, videos, computer social networking sights, instant messaging-how many ways can we communicate a message these days? We have access to amazing and mystifying technology, enabling us to communicate with people around the planet almost instantly. And to teenagers, expertly navigate their way through this maze of technology is as natural to them as breathing. Within this context of instantaneous communication, waiting for God to speak is not natural for teenagers. Teens expect immediate results, but God doesn't communicate with us at the push of a button. Nevertheless, God does speak. In his perfect timing, God answers our prayers. He listens to our needs and waits for us to slow down long enough to hear him. God communicates answers to our prayers in many different ways. We can hear his answers through Scripture, through creation, or through a friend's words. Whatever way He chooses to communicate with us, we need to actually pay attention and listen for Him. Break into Journey Groups   Moving In Work Zone  Work Zone - divide into 2 smaller groups - boys & girls. Hear Ye, Hear Ye Needed: At least 2 radios/CD players Set up: As the youth enter Fellowship Hall have boys at one end and girls at the other. Have the radio/CD players around the room in and turn them all on. Say: (Over the music) Get in groups of 4, you'll have three minutes to talk about times when someone didn't listen to you or when you didn't listen to someone else. You'll all need to talk loudly at the same time. Then when I turn off the music, you must all be silent. Have the youth begin talking. After three minutes, turn off all the radios. When the last one is turned off, the room should become completely silent. Say: Listen. (pause) As you listen to the sounds of the quiet room, try to remember what you hear. You have one minute. Remind teenagers to remain silent as they listen to the sounds in the room. After two minutes, have teenagers form a circle. ASK: * How did you feel when the room was so noisy? * Was it easy or difficult to communicate during that time? Explain. * Why do you think it is so hard to be silent? * During the silent time, what did you hear? * In which environment were you a better listener? Explain. * What does it take to be a good listener?   Moving In High Way What Are Your Habits? Needed: White board and marker Say: Give me some habits that you think lead to success. Write them on the wall then continue.  Discuss how the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", by Stephen R. Covey can be related to prayer: Habit 1: Be Proactive Take responsibility for your life. Don't always wait for others to lead you. Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind Define your mission and goals in life.  Habit 3: Put First Things First Make a list and prioritize. Do the most important things first.  Habit 4: Think Win-Win Have an "everyone-can-win" attitude.  Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Listen to people sincerely.  Habit 6: Synergize Work together to achieve more.  Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw Renew yourself regularly.    Moving On Work Zone & High Way Do You Hear What I Hear? Work zone stay in small groups Needed for all Journey Groups: 10 tin cans, 16 wax cups, 16 plastic cups all with a tiny hole punched in the bottom of each one, lots o kite string. Have the youth form groups of 4 and make tin-can-and-string telephones, using 100 or more feet of kite string for each one. Let them experiment with what materials make the best phones. After everyone has had some time to experiment get back in to your discussion groups. ASK:  * How well did your telephones work? * What made them work better? * What cut off the communication? * How is God's communication with us similar to using these tin-can telephones? How is it different? * How do we discover God's will for our lives? Cut some of the string from the tin-can phones into pieces approximately one foot long. Give each young person one piece of string. ASK: * How might this string represent our communication with God? After teenagers call out their ideas,  Say: Here's another idea: This string has two ends, just as our communication with God has two ends. Often we spend our prayer time asking God for things. But how often do we spend time simply trying to hear him? Keep this string as a reminder that communication with God goes two ways-just as in any other relationship. We're responsible to listen for God's voice in the Bible, in your own life, in other Christians, at UMYF, through nature and through our relationship with him.   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way Apathy Ask for two volunteers and quietly (just enough to be overheard) tell them it's their job to convince the rest of the group that everyone should get together at the new vending machine for "free-bees" following the meeting. Send the volunteers out of the room for 30 seconds to develop their strategy. While the volunteers are away, tell the other students to act apathetic (explain what it means if needed) about the volunteers' suggestions by yawning, looking around the room, or staring at the ceiling. Bring the volunteers back and let them try to get the others excited about getting some free snacks. After the two have tried for a while have them take a seat and continue. Say: Apathy hurts progress. It also hurts relationships. Even though you could hear the two volunteers you weren't interested in what they were saying. Now imagine yourself not wanting to communicate with God. Imagine yourself not praying or, if you do, not listening for Him!  ASK:  * (To the volunteers) How did it feel to be in the middle of such apathy? * (To the others) How did you feel during the exercise? * Can anyone suggest one thing you can do to show God that you aren't apathetic? * Can anyone suggest one thing you can do to show people around you that you aren't apathetic? Say: Remember that God isn't apathetic about anybody. See if you can help someone understand that this week by your attitude toward him or her. Then announce that you really are giving away snacks after the meeting!   Moving Out Work Zone  The Straight and Narrow vs. the Crooked and Wide Come together as on Work Zone group. Needed: items to create an obstacle course (such as tables, chairs, trashcans). Set up two identical obstacle courses, one with a straight path and one with a crooked or winding path. ASK: * Which course will be more difficult to get through? Why? * Which course would you rather do if you had the choice? Explain. Say: Much like these two obstacle courses, God has set a path before us. God wants us to choose his way to live rather than following our own crooked ways. It's important that we set aside time to listen to God. As we seek God in prayer, he will lead and direct us in the way we should go. Divide the group up into two equal teams. Have members of each team line up behind the starting line of their obstacle course. Instruct teams that when you say "go!" they are to go through their obstacle courses as quickly as possible. Remind them that they are racing. Then have the teams switch places so that each team gets to try both courses. Save the last 10 minutes for closing as a large group.   Moving Out High Way  Community Read: Jesus sits with his disciples in a dim room just hours before his arrest. Quiet candlelight flickers, softening the deep lines that crease Jesus' weary face. This is his last opportunity to pray for his tiny, frightened flock before its world collapses. . . What final words does he leave with his disciples before the storm breaks? He prays that they "can be one" as he and the Father are one. His followers will need each other in the days ahead . . . and they still do today. Their message of hope and love will be confirmed-or invalidated-by how they treat one another . . . and it still is today. Jesus knew the power of community and prayer. ASK: * What role has Christian community played in your own spiritual growth? * Can you relate to validation of Christianity by prayer and community? * Do you think prayer is most effective when one prays alone or in a group? * What are some of the benefits of solitude? of community? * In the Bible, solitude was often a mark of distinction or leadership. How do you think loners are perceived by today's society? * Do you consider yourself at times a loner? Why or why not? * The Bible also points to community as a Christian ideal. Do you think it's possible to serve God or grow as a Christian without being around other Christians? Why or why not? * Think about your gifts and talents. Are they meant to be shared in community or are they conducive to solitude?   Save the last 10 minutes for closing as a large group. Come back together in The Family Life Center    Closing Work Zone & High Way The Leader Closes: Sit as youth gather in a circle. Do the prayer card by candle light if possible Sum up the lesson * Distractions * Immediate results * Ways to hear Gods words * Worry & prayer Close In Prayer: For tonight's closing prayer we are going to sing "Sanctuary", if you know the words please join in.   "Sanctuary" Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true: with thanks-giving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.   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!   Gather these for the Lesson: Living on a Prayer -song, prayer cards, 2 radios/CD players, white board marker, 10 tin cans, 16 wax cups, 16 plastic cups, lots o kite string, vending mach. keys. If available: furniture dollies for obstacle course