Serving One Another Setting the Stage Getting back to the Journey Gather in a large circle, welcome, make announcements.  Introduce the lesson: As the people of God, we are called to bear one another's burdens, to help one another. We give and receive support at many levels: physically, emotionally, morally, financially. Supporting one another is an important part of what it means to be "the body of Christ." Tell the Story Getting back to the Journey Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-7 (One body, one Spirit) I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. Reacting to the Story Getting back to the Journey Tonight is a session of three attempts to work together and live by the rules  We will do one challenge, then a short discussion, then the next. 1st Challenge: Human Ladder Each team must have at least two spotters, ready to assist and keep everyone from danger. Make as many smaller groups as needed. Have members of the group hold three boards in ascending order (like a ladder). Have a volunteer climb the ladder up, over and down an obstacle. The board holders may only move when the climber is not on the board. By moving from the back of the line the board holders can create a new step in front of the climber. The climber must go up then down. The steps can be close or far apart, and the ladder can be as long or short as the group desires. Repeat the challenge with all of the members who want to climb.  When successful ask the following questions: · What was it like when you were the one giving the support? · Which role was more difficult for you? · What did you learn about your self in doing this exercise? 2nd Challenge: Walk the Body Groups must have two spotters, ready to assist and keep everyone from danger. Individual volunteers fall backwards as the group catches them and swings them up so that the group is supporting the person parallel to the ground. (Falling back and being caught is easier than trying to lift someone off the ground.) Then the group is to walk forward carefully as directed and back, with the person in this position. Then they gently let the person back down to the ground. Repeat the challenge with as many group members as want to volunteer. When completed ask the following questions: · How did it feel when you were off the ground and being supported by the group? · What was it like when you were the one giving the support? · Which role was more difficult for you? · What did you learn about yourself in doing this exercise? 3rd Challenge: The Hunt Divide into four teams and go to the four corners of the gym.  Each team will have to solve a clue and choose one member to go and hunt a "found card." After your team decides where to look, your hunter must report to the mission table and tell Kris where they are going. If it is a correct destination, the hunter is free to retrieve the card. If incorrect they will need to return to their team and try again. Teams can switch hunters only when the previous hunter has returned. If a team can't figure out a clue a "pleader" may come to the mission table for a clue. Teams will be going in different directions so leave the other cards that do not belong to you alone. Take only your card! Put back the packet of "found card" envelopes where you find them. Groups will receive their next clue from the mission table after the "found card" has been verified as authentic. No swapping teams. No talking to other teams. No cheating of any kind!   Connecting to the Story Getting back to the Journey Read aloud the following Scripture. Galatians 6:1-5 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work, rather than their neighbor's work&ldots; Living the Story  Getting back to the Journey · What point is made in this passage? · What does this point have to do with the three challenges we just did? · What does "bear one another's burdens" mean? · How can we do that in real life? · How can we do that within our own group? · What kinds of burdens do we have? · How can we give support in these areas? · When we do this for one another how are we affected? Prayer  Getting back to the Journey Invite the youth to join hands and offer a few words of prayer if they want. The leader starts the prayer, then squeezes the hand of the person to the left to indicate their turn, if they do not wish to speak just pass the squeeze and so on, until the squeeze gets back to the first person.