More than Just Feeling Happy
It's Your Move
Work Zone and High Way
Eat, make announcements -in two weeks Worship Caravan parents meeting Ash Wednesday C-Van Pancakes, Confirmation Retreat and introduce the session:
More than Just Feeling Happy
Needed: five pieces of 8 1/2"x 11" card stock, a marker, six photocopies of the "Romans 8:31-39 Praise" script.
Say: Christian joy is more than just feeling happy. Happiness is usually a response to external circumstances: getting good grades on final exams, enjoying an evening out with friends, or having a "good hair day." True joy, however, goes deeper than circumstances. As 1 Peter 1:3-5 shows, Christian joy is founded on the reality of our new life in Christ, our status as members of God's own family, and our hope that stretches beyond the present into eternity. This is not to say that joy is reserved for some distant time in the sweet by-and-by, however. Tonight we are going to look at how we experience deep joy-and how to share that joy with others-even when external circumstances are unpleasant.
Before the experience, make five cue cards on the card stock. Write these phrases on the cue cards: "No one!" "He Will" "Hooray!" "Only Jesus!" and "No!" Find five volunteers to hold the cue cards and one to act as the narrator. Give each of the five cue-card holders a copy of the "Romans 8:31-39 Praise" script , and have the cue-card holders sit across the front of the room. Have the rest of the students sit facing them.
Say: In a moment we'll listen to a Bible passage. At certain points during the reading, these people will hold up cue cards. When you see a cue card go up, yell out what's written on it. For example, if the cue card says "Hooray!" everyone should yell "Hooray!" in unison.
Lead the rest of the group in responding to the passage according to cue.
ROMANS 8:31-39 PRAISE
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
NO ONE!
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
HE WILL!
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
NO ONE!
It is God who justifies.
HOORAY!
Who is he that condemns?
ONLY JESUS
Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
HOORAY!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
NO ONE!
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
NO!
As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
HOORAY!
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
NO!
neither angels nor demons,
NO!
neither the present nor the future,
NO!
nor any powers,
NO!
neither height nor depth,
NO!
nor anything else in all creation,
NO!
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord."
After the reading, read Romans 8:38-39 aloud: For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Then say: Romans 8:38-39 are perhaps the most powerful verses in Romans 8 because they assure us that God always goes with us. Now, we are going to do a little Caravan audition to see who can remember and perform these verses.
Assign one part, like on the script, to individuals then have them memorize and repeat it all in order.
Break into small groups
Divide Work Zone into 4 or 5 small groups and High Way into 2 or 3, (# of sponsors determines # of groups)
Moving In
Work Zone & High Way (Small Groups)
Drawn to the Light
Needed: large sheets of newsprint, markers.
Have groups use the newsprint and markers to make a life-size "Joyful Christian" and a "Crabby Christian." Suggest each group trace a person on the paper, and add artwork.
Say: We're making "flat Christians" -one joyful and one crabby. Finds some space away from the other groups. The figure you create should be more than just a smiling or a frowning person; it should include things representative of positive or negative attitudes associated with Christians. For example, Crabby Christian might have pictures of possessions-crossed out. Next to the pictures might be the words, "Thou shalt not &ldots;
After foursomes have made their figures, let them display and explain them.
Then have teenagers read Matthew 5:14-16 in their foursomes: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
ASK:
* How is a joyful Christian like a city on a hill?
* What are some of the things about a joyful Christian that make his or her faith attractive to others?
* Who do you know who is a joyful Christian? How does that person's joy show?
* Do you consider yourself a joyful Christian?
* How would you define the word joy ? How is it like or unlike your definitions for happiness, delight, or enjoyment?
Moving Up
Work Zone & High Way (Small Groups)
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy
Say: Share with your group one area in your life in which you want to develop or show more joy. For example, you might want to become more joyful in your relationships with your family, or you might want to be able to find more joy in your role as a student. After you've each shared those areas, try to come up with some advice for actually living joyfully and not on just what makes you happy.
Moving On
Work Zone & High Way (Small Groups)
That Impresses Me Much
Say: God can reach others through you. In fact, he probably already is! Share with your partners one way that you see the joy of the Lord in their life. Be as specific as you can. For example, one of your partners might be someone who tries to have a smile for everyone. That's one way of reaching out. Or maybe you've seen one of your partners deal with a disappointment or an inconvenience without losing his or her cool. That's evidence of Christian joy.
Moving Out
Work Zone (As one large group)
Needed: One soft play ball & a ½ pool noodle.
Scatter the Joy
This is dodge ball with a twist. Have everyone bunch up in the middle, then the leader throws the ball up in the air and yells, "SCATTER!" Everyone runs away except the few brave souls who attempt to get the ball. Anyone can get the ball and when they do, they may take three steps but no more. He or she can throw the ball at anyone they like. If they hit someone, the person who is hit must sit down where he or she was hit. This person can get the ball in future rounds but must not move from the spot where they were hit. If they hit someone who is standing up, then that person must sit down and the person who was sitting can get back up and run around.
In addition, if a person is down and is hit with the ball because of a throw (not
a rolling or bouncing ball) throw play stops. He or she must hand tag someone who is up. When tagged, the person standing up must sit down and the person who was down is up again.
If someone is down and a ball is reachable for them but they put forth no effort to continue to play they get three lashes with "the Noodle" for each offence. Being a Christian is hard work! Keep working.
One more twist, if two people who have been hit are sitting down close enough to presumably touch then they both must get up and return to play.
Moving Out
High Way (come back together in the "pit" as one big group)
Needed: paper, pencils, common household items (such as hammers, cooking utensils, socks, school books, and cans of food)
Divide up into teams by couch. Give each couch paper, pencils, and 2 or 3 common household items.
Say: Each item has one obvious purpose. Take a couple of minutes to determine as many alternative uses as you can for your item. List these on your paper. Don't list only the obvious. Be creative. In a few minutes, we'll see which group is able to come up with the most ideas.
After two or three minutes, allow groups to share several of their ideas.
Say: These items can all serve one other purpose. They can be everyday reminders that God gives us a reason to be joyful. Take a moment to think about the item your group has. Think of one way your item reminds you of how God works in your life. Then tell us why that's worth feeling joyful.
For instance, suppose the item is an eraser. You could say, "This eraser reminds me of God's forgiveness. It erases mistakes like God's forgiveness makes it possible for me to realize real joy."
Allow the groups a few minutes to work on their ideas. Then have groups share their thoughts about their items.
After all the groups have spoken, ASK:
* How was the exercise like trying to find reasons to celebrate your life as a Christian?
* How do you react toward people who seem to have obvious reasons to be joyful toward God, but never do?
* How do you feel about people who seem to have every reason to be angry at God, but are still full of joy?
* You've come up with some great reasons to be joyful. Why do you think so many people who aren't Christians have the idea that Christians can't have any fun?
Return to the Family Life Center
Closing
Work Zone & High Way
ASK:
* What did you learn here tonight?
Get a few answers
Close in prayer.
Dear Lord thank you for real joy; a gift beyond happiness. Help us to know that joy each day as we struggle to really try to be Christians. Help us to not be afraid of those that just think of them selves and to think of others as the whole picture of our lives. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Join hands, right over left, and say the UMYF benediction.
Gather for this lesson: five pieces of 8 1/2"x 11" card stock, a marker, six of the "Romans 8:31-39 Praise" script, large sheets of newsprint, markers, One soft play ball & a ½ pool noodle, paper, pencils, common household items (such as hammers, cooking utensils, socks, school books, and cans of food)
