Search the siteAn Heroic MinistryIntroducing Pastor Steven from Rwanda:
Pastor Steven Turikunkiko has set up a community in Rwanda for victims of the genocide. 160 widows & teenagers & 80 younger children live with him; farming, sharing their lives and caring for those dying from AIDS. The community subsists on less than $1 per person per day. At enormous personal sacrifice, Pastor Steven and his wife have also adopted 20 orphans - who live with them and their 2 other children. For more information on Steven and this incredible community of hope, click here
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Living Well
MEETING AIM: To explore: What are you a slave to? Does sin rule in your life? Are you living well? This meeting guide seeks to challenge the young people about the way they live their lives. These issues will be tackled in creative and imaginative ways that will speak to the young people on a personal level, as well as giving a general all round introduction to the passage. BACKGROUND PREPERATION: You will need the following materials for this meeting guide: nine identical objects (see ‘Strong person contest' for more details), two trench/rain coats, two chairs, sweets, rocks or pebbles in various sizes, colours etc (though none too large), a shoe box, a spade, several balloons (preferably helium filled), string, paper, pens. Let this passage challenge you in your own personal walk of faith. Be real with the young people, this doesn't necessarily mean getting personal, but as someone they look up to; help them to understand that everyone struggles with sin, but that with God's help and forgiveness they can start ‘living well'. Strong person contest (20 mins) Split the group in half. Ask each group to select three people to represent their team in a race. One will participate in the race; the other two will be their ‘pit stop' crew. Give each of the people entering the race a large trench/rain coat to wear. Set up two chairs at equal distance, for each of the individuals to run round (allow enough room for this). The team to complete all ten circuits of the chair, returning each time to the ‘pit stop', in the quickest time wins. However, each time the person returns to the ‘pit stop' their crew has to give them an extra item to carry on their next run (this can be carried, put in a pocket, hung around their neck etc). To start they carry nothing, but on the next nine circuits an object will be added (these need to be identical for each team). Choose nine objects of varying shapes, sizes, weights (e.g. a pair of shoes laced together, a teddy bear, a pillow etc). The idea is that on their final run they will be struggling with all the objects they will be carrying/pulling etc. Hand out sweets to the winning team and their supporters; help the two contestants take off their burdens! Discuss:
Old and new (30 mins) Ask the young people to look at home for things that they have had for a long time, but know that they should let them go of. It could be a treasured pair of trainers they've not worn for ages, a picture of an old girlfriend etc. Split them into small groups and challenge them to come up with some new and inventive uses for these objects. Could a childhood blanket be turned into a handbag? A love letter into a Christmas decoration? Each group in turn should present their ideas to the rest of the group. The group with the most inventive ideas and presentation could be rewarded with free admission to the next group session (or similar). As a follow on activity you could develop some of these ideas for real:
KEY POINT: Challenge the young people on any unresolved issues. Just as they have brought in physical objects, are there any ‘unseen' things in their lives that are holding them back and stopping them from living well? A burial (15 mins) Ask the young people to find a space and think about the last week. Is there anything that they have done, said, or thought that they would like to ask God forgiveness for? Have out a pile of stones/pebbles or rocks of different shapes, sizes, colours etc. Invite the young people to select one of these to represent what they want forgiveness for. Then circulate a box for the young people to put their object in. Take the box outside, have a pre-dug hole into which you will bury the box. As you are burying the box get someone to read out the passage Romans 6:1-14 (You could use The Message or paraphrase if you prefer). A Resurrection (10 mins) If possible get some helium balloons, but if not normal balloons will suffice (though you may need a bit of wind to get them to fly). Read out the passage Romans 6:15-23. Ask the young people to think of one promise they can make to God about their future. Hand out paper and pens and ask them to write their promises, fold them up and tie them to the string of a balloon. Then take them outside and let the balloons go, or release them from a window.
Notes for adapting For younger groups: Instead of The burial ask the young people to think about someone that they have hurt. Can they think of a way they could make it up to that person? E.g. if they got angry at a parent, could they offer to do a chore? For unchurched young people: Jellybean challenge - can they guess the flavours of various jellybeans? Use this to discuss the choices the young people make in life, how do they know what choices will be good, and which will be bad? For churched young people: Allow space for the young people to ask for prayer. Perhaps for something they are struggling with or want to ask forgiveness for.
Lori Passmore is a freelance writer and works part-time for South Somerset Youth Service, UK |
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