Meeting aim: To look at the issue of greed: why is it a bad thing? Can it ever be good? How we can reject greed in such a greedy society?

Ask the young people to produce their Christmas gift wish list - individually or in groups as letters or collages. Have some craft materials ready and shopping catalogues that they can cut up and use creatively.

During this activity play ‘Do they Know It’s Christmas Time’ by ‘Band Aid’ and when finished look at the ‘lists’ and talk about the difference between wanting and needing something.

Have the young people perform songs in groups or solo that relate to the topic of greed (either for or against) - some can sing, others play instruments and some can be the judges.

Have the judges comment on the words of the chosen songs too and give a ‘God’ opinion on them.

Song examples might be: ‘All I want for Christmas’ by Mariah Carey, ‘I still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ by U2 and ‘Greed’ by Liberty X. All lyrics can be found on internet search engines and for the more creative young people - they might like to put the lyrics to their own tune.

Show a clip from the film Fight Club - located 4 minutes into the film and running for 50 seconds. Jack is a chronic insomniac, desperate to escape his boring life. The film introduces us to his mundane living, which consists of working and spending money. He’s become a victim of the ‘Ikea syndrome’ - he’s a consumerist - led by want (greed). The clip shows his house - a replica of different Ikea catalogue pages - as he walks through his designer house the idea of such consumerism seems a little over the top but does echo truth of today’s money-mad world. Read or summarise: The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12) and discuss the following:

Have some young people read a dramatised reading of Exodus 16 ‘The Manna and the Quail’.

This passage introduces the idea of greed being a bad thing. God’s provision of the manna made greed impossible as the manna could not be hoarded (v20) and the amount that each person collected met their needs exactly (v17-21). Spend some time talking through the passage and answering any questions the young people may have.

Ask the young people to call out some things in our society that encourage greed (e.g. lottery, gambling…). Talk about the consequences of greed. Can greed ever be good? Then discuss these verses:

 Have copies of the lyrics to ‘Greed’ by Liberty X - in small groups discuss the lyrics and what we can learn from them.

KEY POINT: The more we get, the more we end up wanting - we may think getting these things will lead to happiness but usually it is the very opposite.

Play a video clip that encourages the young people to keep their life in perspective by reminding them of how lucky they are - with or without the possessions they may desire. There are lots available on the internet and a number to choose from on www.makepovertyhistory.org such as Click.

Invite the young people to surrender their Santa lists / collages to God by laying them at the cross (if there is not a physical cross available have one cut out of paper on the floor for them to lay their lists next to).

Spend some time in prayer - repenting for our greed as individuals and as a society. Perhaps play some music during this time: ‘Surrender’ by Marc James (Vineyard 2000) and ‘Take the World but Give me Jesus’ by Matt Redman (Survivor 2000) are two ideas.

Set the young people a challenge to come up with some practical ways that they both individually and as a group could help combat greed and show their rejection of it in a greedy society. Ask them to bring their ideas to the next session and actually make these ideas happen!

For younger groups… Show a clip from the film Bruce Almighty 1:13:00 - 1:16:15 where everyone’s prayers are answered yes - relate this to greed and what might happen if we all get what we want.

For older groups… If the collage is unlikely to be enjoyed by these young people, consider just having a discussion about the difference between want and need.

For unchurched young people…  Show the Bruce Almighty clip above to further discussion and illustrate some consequences of greed.

For churched young people…  Have a time of sung worship at the end of the session using the suggested songs.