Running from God... Slowly It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Eat, make announcements - Ski, Worship Caravan Retreat  and introduce the session: Running From God There's a general perception that teenagers who are running from God are hiding out in the dark alleys, shootin' heroin. Or they're the snarling, suspicious loners you pass on the street and wonder if they're headed home to pick up a rifle and go on a shooting spree. Not so. Teenagers running away from God are in this youth group. Often those who are running from God are interested in spiritual things. They want to be spiritual but don't want to be ruled by some specific dogma or religion. They're like the rich man Jesus invited to follow him ( Matthew 19:16-22 ). The man was doing good things. He had admirable knowledge. But he turned away from Jesus. Because it was too hard; every easy step that leads away from Jesus because it's too hard, or of what someone else told you or is doing is a step that's running away from God.   Running from God . . . Slowly Have students form a circle so each person's right shoulder is toward the center. Stand in the center of the circle and instruct teenagers to move in as close as possible. Say: When a person first seeks God, he or she usually feels really close to God. Let's imagine that this ring you've formed represents God. Each of you is as close as you can get. I'm gong to read some situations and instructions. Follow the instructions as they apply to you. Be honest. Read these instructions slowly:     - If you argued with anyone this week, take one step away from the center.     - If you seriously thought about cheating on a homework assignment or test this week, take a step away from the center.     - If you decided not to be afraid to claim to yourself that you are a Christian, take one step closer to the center.     - I you don't want to be a Christian because some Christians are different than you, take a step away from the center.     - If you talked about someone this week in a way that you wouldn't have if that person had been with you, take a step away from the center.     - If you were intentional about serving someone this week, take a step closer to the center.     - If you defended Christianity from all the hypocritical views this week, move one step closer to the center.     - If you didn't, take a step away from the center.     - If you were honest about all the preceding questions, take a step toward the center. Ask students to notice how far from the center they're standing.   Break into small groups  (High school boys, High school girls, 8th, 7th and 6th, make adjustments for guests and small numbers)   Which Way Are You Moving? Work Zone and High Way (Small Groups) Running From God&ldots; Slowly Needed: Scripture strips, paper, pencils ASK: * What did it feel like to admit you'd done something that moved you away from God? * How did you feel when you knew you'd done something to bring you into a closer relationship with God? * What are other things that cause you to feel far from God? * In what ways is seeking God a daily decision? * In what ways is not defending Christianity like running from God?   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way (Small Groups) Have youth form two even smaller groups. Provide each group with a Scripture strip, paper, and a pencil. Ask one group to work with Mark 14:29-31, 66-72; ask the other group to work with John 21:15-19. Mark 14:29-31, 66-72 Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said vehemently, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same. And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.   John 21:15-19  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." Tell each group to read its passage and prepare a news report telling what happened. Give the groups these reporting rules: 1. The information must be accurate. 2. Everyone must be involved in the report in some way. Allow time for groups to prepare. Then have the group that studied the passage in Mark present its report.   After the report, ASK: * How do you think Peter felt when he realized what he'd done? * Do you think it was harder for Peter to follow Christ after he made this blunder? Why or why not? * Have you ever felt the way Peter did? If so, when? * How did you respond to God in that situation? Say: In Peter's story, the way Peter dealt with God wasn't nearly as important as the way God dealt with Peter. Peter ran from God-but God didn't run from Peter. Let's have our second report now. After the report, ASK: * How did Jesus respond to Peter this time? * What can we learn about God's ways in our own lives when we think we've disappointed him? Say: In Genesis, chapter 3, we read about how God came to the Garden of Eden and called for Adam and Eve. God was accustomed to a close relationship with his creations, but that was before Adam and Eve chose to disobey. Verse 8 says "they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden." They ran away, ashamed and fearful. When we mess up, we have options. We can run away and hide. Or we can really try to do things differently, be healed, and move on. I'm not talking about the, "I've got grace on my side, so, I got that goin' for me" carefree attitude. I'm talking about stopping and really realizing what was done was wrong and really did matter so you're going to try to do better from now on.   Moving In  Work Zone & High Way (Small Groups) The Choice Discussion Questions: * Why do you think some youth choose not to claim their Christianity? * Do you think that because some Christians are hypocritical it makes it to hard to say you are a Christian? * When is it hard to stay close to God in the choices you make? * What are some choices that make you want to run from God? Why?   Moving On Work Zone & High Way (Small Groups) Jonah's Dive Needed: Jonah Scripture strip Read aloud Jonah 1:1-10. Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying, "Arise, go to Nin'eveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went on board, to go with them, away from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried to his god; and they threw the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call upon your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we do not perish." And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then they said to him, "Tell us, on whose account this evil has come upon us? What is your occupation? And whence do you come? What is your country? And of what people are you?" And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. ASK: * Have you ever run away from something God wanted you to do? What was it? * Once you run away from God, can you ever go back? How? * What are some things you can do to help you cling to God and be a strong follower of Jesus? * How do you think God feels when we run from him? How do you think he feels when we return?   Moving Out Work Zone  (Big "Work Zone" group) Caterpillar Tag  Choose three or four people to be "It." Whenever an It tags anyone, that person must join It by placing his or her hands on Its waist, forming a line. Now both players try to tag another. When all players have been joined to one of the It lines, call out "Caterpillar tag!" and point to one of the lines. That line then becomes the caterpillar. The caterpillar tries to tag anyone in the other lines. Whenever another line is tagged, those kids must link up with the caterpillar and begin chasing the lines that remain. The game is over when everyone has become a part of the caterpillar. Leader Tip: At the end of this game, (As the high school group comes to close)  have the caterpillar chase its own tail. The game is over when the caterpillar becomes a circle of kids. Have the youth take a few giant steps back and let the rest join in at this point.   Moving Out High Way (Small Groups) Quotation Share this quote with students to start a discussion about running from God: "I remember a girl I knew in high school. . . . She was fun, popular, and the life of the party. . . . [She was] never without a date. "At my ten-year high-school reunion, I honestly didn't recognize her. After two failed marriages, giving up a baby, and about 40 pounds more - her 'fun' had caught up with her."     Return to the Family Life Center Closing Work Zone & High Way Say: Stop running away from God. Some of you need to admit that you have let too many false perceptions control who you are. Some of you just need to realize that right now, doing the right thing is hard. We have a pretty good idea that most of you are interested in spiritual things. You want to be spiritual but don't want to be ruled by some specific dogma or religion. This week I want you to try to take another look at what you know and why you know it. Take a close look at who you are and who you are becoming. Does your journey seem hard? Do you know the secret? Will you be happy 10, 20, 30 years from now believing and doing the things you do and believe now?   Please join me in prayer: Dear Lord, we know the secret to happiness is loving you and loving others. We pray that you give us strength to love those who think Christianity is something to run from. We ask for you forgiveness in time when we are weak and run from your call. Help us to listen for the still small voice that is with in all of us, to do your will. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.     Join hands, right over left, and say the UMYF benediction.   Gather for this lesson: Scripture strips, paper, pencils