Biblestudies

Group, May/Jun 2003 by Schofield, Christina

TOPICS: A Break With God, A Startling Plan, Repentance, Walking in Freedom

a break with God

1. As the world churns-(You'll need a CD player and some sad, broken-hearted country music on CD.)

Play sad country music in the background as kids arrive. Begin by asking them to form boy-girl pairs. If there are more of one particular gender, ask those who haven't yet found a partner to join an existing pair. Give pairs several minutes to come up with an over-the-top, soap-opera-style "breakup" scene they can perform for the rest of the group. Groups with extra participants should involve them as other characters in the skit-a secret boyfriend or a casual observer.

After five minutes or so, have pairs each present their skit.

2. Personal sob stories-(No supplies needed.)

After the skits, invite students to share stories of their own relationships gone awry. Keep things light with a "top that" feel. Or you could ask them to tell what they know about a celebrity couple breakup. Ask: What are some reasons couples break up? What behaviors would you never tolerate in a boyfriend or girlfriend? How would you feel about a boyfriend or girlfriend who didn't care whether or not you were faithful to him or her?

Say something like: Relationships can go south for lots of reasons-unfaithfulness, boredom, bad habits, and just plain personality differences. Things with God fall apart for some of these same reasons. We're unfaithful to him. We cheat. We refuse to give up our bad habits. We wander off curious or bored. God's position remains constant-he loves us...forever. But there's one thing he can't tolerate in a relationship-sin.

3. "Dear John" letters-(You'll need newsprint, tape, markers, a Bible, and paper and pens for everyone.)

Tape a sheet of newsprint to a wall and write "sin" at the top. Ask kids to describe what sin is in their own words. Come up with a definition everyone can agree on and write it on the newsprint. Then ask them to call out all of the sins they can think of, and list those under your definition.

When you finish, say something like: All of us at one time or another have done something that has dealt a deadly blow to our relationship with God. With sorrow, he let us go our own way, knowing the tragic consequences of our actions better than we do.

Describe what a "Dear John" breakup letter is. Then give them each paper and pens and challenge them to write their own "Dear John" letter...to God. The letter should describe the reasons or circumstances surrounding the student's desire to sin. It could be a confession of unfaithfulness, or simply communicate a desire to try another path to happiness. Hopefully, it won't reflect their present attitudes but attitudes they once had when they disobeyed him in the past. Tell kids no one will read their letters.

After five or 10 minutes, have kids fold their letters and hold them while a volunteer reads aloud Romans 3:11-19. Say something like: We were all in a bleak and desperate situation. Through our own actions we alienated ourselves from God and awaited certain punishment. The penalty for sin is death. Not just physical death but eternal separation from God. To understand what this means, think of the worst things in the world: those who love violence, the darkest thoughts, the most evil places, death, sorrow, suffering. Imagine living in that without God's protection, his blessings, or anything good or beautiful.

Pray a prayer of confession and sorrow over our unfaithfulness to God, then invite kids to join you in prayer either silently or out loud. Ask kids to hang on to their letters and refer to them in their own personal prayer time.

a startling plan

1. Take the rap-(You'll need cleaning supplies.)

Before the study, make a real mess in a kitchen or bathroom in your church (be sure to get prior approval). After you open your study, tell your kids (with a slightly accusatory tone) what you've discovered, and ask who made the mess. After the silence, ask for volunteers to help you clean up the mess when the study is over. Thank the volunteers, then tell them you have your own confession to make. Tell them what you did.

Then ask: How does it feel to be accused of something you didn't do? What made you volunteer to clean up a mess you didn't make? How far would you be willing to go to take the punishment someone else deserves?

Say something like: Today, we'll be exploring just how far God was willing to go to clean up a mess that he didn't make.

2. Love to the extreme-(You'll need a TV and VCR, and a copy of the movie First Knight.)

Before class, preview the movie First Knight. In this movie, a story about the mythological Camelot, good King Arthur loves Lady Guinevere. Her people are in trouble, and she marries him knowing he will protect her and her people. King Arthur's beautiful Camelot is revered as the golden city-peaceful, prosperous, and perfect-where justice reigns supreme. When Arthur finds his beloved wife in the arms of his most trusted knight, his people are confused and distraught, wondering what the outcome will be-justice or mercy?