Carried Away
(12:00AM)
Peter was sharp.
...He kept his distance from Jesus.
...“I’ll stay close enough to see him,” Peter reasoned.
...“But not too close, or I may get caught.”
Good thinking, Peter.
...Don’t get too involved—it might hurt.
...Don’t be too loyal—you might get branded.
...Don’t show too much concern—they’ll crucify you too.
We need more men like you, Peter.
...Men who keep religion in its place.
...Men who don’t stir the water.
...Men who reek with mediocrity.
That’s the kind of man God needs, yessir.
...One who knows how to keep his distance:
...“Now, I’ll pay my dues and I’ll come once a week,
...but... well... you can get carried away, you know.”
Yes, you can get carried away...
...up a hill
...to a cross
—and killed.
Peter learned a lesson that day—a hard lesson.
It is better to never have followed Jesus, than
to have followed and him and denied him.
Mark these words—
...Follow at a distance and you will deny the Master. Period.
...You won’t die for a man you can’t touch. Period.
...But stay near to him, in his shadow...
...You’ll die with him, gladly.
Author: Max Lucado, On the Anvil, p21-22
Christ of the Andes
(06:00PM)
Years ago, a large statue of Christ was erected high in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile. Called "Christ of the Andes," the statue symbolizes a pledge between the two countries that as long as the statue stands, there will be peace between Chile and Argentina. Shortly after the statue was erected, the Chileans began to protest that they had been slighted -- the statue had its back turned to Chile. Just when tempers were at their highest in Chile, a Chilean newspaperman saved the day. In an editorial that not only satisfied the people but made them laugh, he simply said, "The people of Argentina need more watching over than the Chileans. "
Source: Bits & Pieces, June 25, 1992
Sometimes the solution to conflict is learning to see something from a different perspective.
God Hears
(12:00AM)
Resources
Ear Plugs (or Cotton)
Getting Ready
No advance preparations needed.
What to Do
- Give each student some cotton or ear plugs.
- Ask them to wait until you have demonstrated how to put them in before placing the cotton in their own ears .
- Explain that it will be more difficult to hear with cotton in your ears.
- Put cotton in your own ears and ask, "Can everybody still hear me now?"
- The answer will be yes because they don't have their cotton in yet, but pretend that you can't hear them.
- Ask other questions & have fun with this.
- Take the cotton out of your ears and tell them to put cotton in their own ears.
- Ask them to listen carefully because you're going to say something important. Then ask them a question or two.
- Be sure to speak softly so that they cannot hear you or can only barely hear you.
- After a few tries (and have lots of fun with them on this) get them to remove the cotton.
Take it to the Next Level
Point out that it's hard to hear when your ears are stopped up. Then, ask:
- Do you think God's ears are ever stopped up?
- Does God always hear us?
- Is there anything that might prevent God from hearing us?
Even when it may seem like God is not listening, we can have confidence that He is listening and that He cares. God is not deaf, nor is he ignoring us - we need to keep praying and have faith. Sometimes when we pray we may get the impression that either God is not listening, doesn't hear or worse, doesn't care. Assure them that God does hear, He does care. We need to have faith and continue to pray because God will answer in His time in the best way.
Scripture
Luke 18:1-8 - Persistent Prayer
The Emperor Moth
(09:34PM)
A man found a cocoon of the emperor moth and took it home to watch it emerge. One day a small opening appeared, and for several hours the moth struggled but couldn't seem to force its body past a certain point. Deciding something was wrong, the man took scissors and snipped the remaining bit of cocoon. The moth emerged easily, its body large and swollen, the wings small and shriveled. He expected that in a few hours the wings would spread out in their natural beauty, but they did not. Instead of developing into a creature free to fly, the moth spent its life dragging around a swollen body and shriveled wings. The constricting cocoon and the struggle necessary to pass through the tiny opening are God's way of forcing fluid from the body into the wings. The "merciful" snip was, in reality, cruel. Sometimes the struggle is exactly what we need.
Author: Beth Landers
Source: Unknown
Around The Rim
(09:43AM)
One day a biologist came to his lab and, as always, he went first to look lovingly at his most prized possession, a lovely geranium in a beautiful clay pot. The biologist had worked years to develop this geranium, and it was the picture of perfection. This morning, to the amazement of the biologist, he saw a line-up of a large number of caterpillars on the rim of the clay pot. The caterpillars were moving in a constant column, and were lined up in such a way that the caterpillar who was in the lead was actually immediately behind the last caterpillar in the line-up. The rim was completely encircled by beautiful, healthy caterpillars. Inside the clay pot, just a few inches from the rim, and from the caterpillars, was the biologist's pride and joy, the geranium.
Now the biologist knew that this luxuriant geranium was of a species most favored by caterpillars. And he knew too that the caterpillars would see that at the foot of the geranium the biologist had formed a small pool of clear, cool, inviting water.
The biologist watched, entranced as the caterpillar in the lead started moving ahead, and all behind him followed, around and around the rim of the clay pot. A young caterpillar near the middle of the line-up said, "Where are we going?" An older caterpillar just up ahead shot back, "Where do you think we are going? We are walking around the edge of this clay pot!" The older caterpillar bemoaned, "I sometimes wonder about the younger generation. Why must they question every single turn in the road of life? Why can they not be just like everyone else; keep their eyes on where we are going and learn to conform?" And with much tongue clicking and nodding of heads, all of the caterpillars continued following the leader on their trek around the rim of the clay pot.
Soon the young caterpillar began to get somewhat bored by the monotony of the walk around the rim of the clay pot. He had made a mental note of a large bump on the rim of the clay pot, and, (for lack of anything better to do), he had kept track of the number of revolutions which he and the other caterpillars had made around the rim of the clay pot. Also he had been watching as the sun moved across the sky, faded into starry night, only to rise again the following morning. The young caterpillar kept track of the number of days which had gone by since he and the other caterpillars had started on their trek around the rim of the clay pot.
"Did you know that we have now made 686 revolutions around the rim of this clay pot?", the young caterpillar asked of no one in particular. All of the caterpillars merely rolled their eyes, shook their heads and tried to ignore the young upstart. "Well, it's true", he continued. "And more than that, I can tell you that we have now been 4 days on this continuous trek around the rim of the clay pot".
One of the elder caterpillars could take this no longer. And between deep gasps for breath, (for the elder caterpillar was nearing exhaustion), he shot back, "Will you please just fall into line?"
Days went by and the caterpillars, (particularly the older ones), were becoming very tired and thirsty and hungry. So the biologist had compassion on the caterpillars and, in spite of the fact that it would ruin his favorite geranium, he broke off a beautiful branch and laid it up close to the edge of the rim of the clay pot, right where every caterpillar went by. "Much as it pains me to do this to my favorite geranium, there is no other way to make these caterpillars see that here just alongside of the rim of the clay pot is all of the food and water they so desperately need. The caterpillars can't help but see that the way is now open for them to come and eat and drink". To the biologist's surprise however, not a single caterpillar seemed aware that the tasty branch from the biologist's favorite geranium was right there along side of the rim of the clay pot. One particularly luscious looking leaf fell right on the path; the caterpillar's tired feet tramped right over it until soon it was ground into the rim of the clay pot. And the caterpillars continued on their walk to doom, around the rim of the clay pot.
The older, weaker caterpillars began, one by one, to be overcome by hunger and thirst and exhaustion. And they fell to the ground dead. Soon only the young caterpillar remained.
The biologist couldn't understand! "I have given of my best. I have provided food and water, more than you could ever need. I have shown you the way. All that you have to do is to come. Why do you not come?"
The young caterpillar knew he must make a decision. With tired eyes he looked longingly at the beautiful geranium just right there at his feet. Oh how wonderful to eat of that luscious fiber! And he saw the inviting pool of cool, fresh water. He could just feel the relief that would come from the sweet coolness of water in his parched throat.
Then he thought of the words of the older caterpillars and how they had warned that he must learn to conform. Slowly, wearily, the young caterpillar turned and moved off, now alone on the trek around the rim of the clay pot.
And the biologist cried. . . . . . .
How often do we miss out on the blessings and provision of God because we are too focused on religion rather than what our living God is doing?
The Frog and the Ox
(05:02PM)
"Oh Father," said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, "I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two."
"Tush, child, tush," said the old Frog, "that was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see." So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out. "Was he as big as that?" asked he.
"Oh, much bigger than that," said the young Frog.
Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.
"Bigger, father, bigger," was the reply.
So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said: "I'm sure the Ox is not as big as, But at this moment he burst.
Source: Aesop's Fables
Take it to the next level
Draw the face of an ox on a white balloon and a frog's face onto two green balloons in permanent marker. It helps if the balloon used for the ox is of a larger size. Fully inflate the Ox balloon and set it aside for the group to see as you tell the story. inflate one frog balloon just enough to make it visible. The other frog balloon inflate to a larger size, but not near as large as the ox. Then as you tell the story, keep inflating the larger frog balloon until it bursts.
Scripture and Pride
Pride sets people in opposition to each other and to God. A proud person sets himself above those around him and follows his own will rather than God’s will. Pride will end in destruction, but when we are humble God himself will lift us up.
- Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, Matt. 23: 12
- Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. - Prov. 16: 18
- Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. - Proverbs 26:12
- But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 10:17
- Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. - Proverbs 18:12
- “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6
- Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you - James 4: 10
The Bus Driver
(04:45PM)
Norman Geisler, as a child, went to a Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) because he was invited by some neighbor children. He went back to the same church for Sunday School classes for 400 Sundays. Each week he was faithfully picked up by a bus driver. Week after week he attended church, but never made a committment to Christ. Finally, during his senior year in High School, after being picked up for church over 400 times, he did commit his life to Christ. What if that bus driver had given up on Geisler at 395? What if the bus driver had said, "This kid is going nowhere spiritually, why waste any more time on him?"
Source: Max Lucado, "God Came Near", Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 133
Dr. Norman Geisler is the author or co-author of some 70 books and hundreds of articles. He has taught theology, philosophy, and apologetics on the college or graduate level for 50 years. He has spoken or debated in some 26 countries on six continents. He has a B.A, M.A., Th.B., and Ph.D (in philosophy). He has taught at some of the top Seminaries in the United States, including Trinity Evangelical and Dallas Seminary, and has been guest professor at numerous other schools. He was Co-founder and long-time Dean and President of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte and was the founder and first president of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, a president of the Evangelical Theological Society, and the founder and first president of the International Society of Christian Apologetics. He also was a witness in defense of teaching creation along side of evolution in the public schools at the famous “Scopes Two” trial in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981.
Pizza Prayer
(04:35PM)
Resources
- Order a pizza for your Sunday School Class or group meeting. (you can order it in advance microwave it to control the arrival time..)
- Alternatively, you can just bring in a pizza box or pizza coupons.
What to do
Enjoy pizza with the youth if you brought one. If not, just show the pizza box and coupons to the group.
Take it to the next level
Have volunteers read aloud Psalm 50:15; Matthew 7:7-11; 21:22; and Mark 11:24.
- How is prayer like ordering pizza?
- How is prayer different from ordering a pizza?
- Do you think of God as a delivery person? Why or why not?
- Is prayer like the pizza guarantee "Delivery in 30 minutes or your pizza is free"? Why or why not?
- What's wrong with calling on God the way we call for Pizza?
- How do you think God wants us to view prayer?
Four Things
(04:56PM)
"I have four things to learn in life:
To think clearly without hurry or confusion;
To love everybody sincerely;
To act in everything with the highest motives;
To trust in God unhesitatingly."
Helen Keller - "The Treasure Chest"
New Year’s Revolution
(12:00AM)
I’m skeptical of New Year’s resolutions. They’re too easy to make, rarely carried out, and often cover up what really needs to change. If we’re honest, few of us really want things to be completely different. We just want life to get better, or easier. We can handle a tune-up or face-lift, but drastic change? Medication, yes; surgery, no. Reform, maybe; revolution, never.
Charles Moore
Winter
(12:00AM)
Winter.
Just the sound of the word whistling through our lips puts a mental chill up our spines. Winter seems to speak of barrenness, frigid feelings of discomfort and discontent, icy shadows sprawled across frozen ponds, naked branches reaching up as if in supplication for relief. Short days, long nights. Fast-fading memories of yesterday's fun in the sun, bike rides along the beach, the World Series, Thanksgiving. Heavy, gray clouds and harsh winds sting our faces and steal our smiles. With grim determination we trudge on, sometimes alone and isolated, within our own little world of heavy garb and frosty windows. "The dead of winter"--ah, an apt description!
Not all agree. Ski buffs and snow lovers resent such a depressing portrayal of their favorite season. So do artists who prefer a quaint cottage in New Hampshire rather than an ocean view at Malibu or a sandy beach at St. Thomas. For many, a year without winter would be a devastating disappointment. What better time to warm up alongside a crackling fire, listen to some fine music, and stare away an evening? Toss in the joy of Christmas,
the celebration of New Years' Eve, the Super Bowl, a Valentine's Day kiss...and you've got enough to make anybody forget ninety-five degree days, along with flies and mosquitoes at an August picnic. What a difference perspective makes!
Winter---the ideal occasion to slow down. To invest a few extra hours in quiet reverence. To take a long walk over the freshly fallen white manna delivered earlier that day. To remind ourselves that 'our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.' (Psalm 115:3).
Is it winter right now in the season of your life? Are you feeling depressed...alone...overlooked...spiritually on 'hold'...cold...barren? Beginning to wonder if your soul will ever thaw? Entertaining doubts that behind those thick, gray clouds there exists a personal, caring God?
Take it by faith, friend; He is there, and furthermore, He is neither dead nor deaf. What you are enduring is one of those dry-spell times when you'd rather curl up and cry than stand up and sing. That's okay. Those times come. They also pass.
When this winter season ends, you'll be wiser, deeper, stronger. Therefore, in reverence, look up. Be still and discover anew that He is God. That He is doing 'whatever he pleases' in your life."
Charles R. Swindoll- "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life" (Intro to "Winter")
Target Practice
(12:00AM)
Materials
paper or styrofoam cups and a rubber / foam dart gun. A ladder with steps at different heights. In place of nerf darts you can use pink pong balls, small rubber balls or even wads of paper.
What to do
- Give each youth a cup and allow them to write their name on the cup.
- Line the cups up for target practice from across the room.
- If a youth's cup has been knocked off, they must shoot down another cup in order to place their cup back up.
- Each time they shoot another cup down they can raise their cup up one level (step) on the ladder.
- When a cup is knocked off, it begins all the way at the bottom again.
- Continue for a specified amount of time and then reward the victor(s) at the top of the ladder
Take it to the Next Level
- How is this activity similar to life and being at the top of the ladder?
- What are some ways we knock others down in order to raise ourselves up?
- Is this part of life and acceptable for Christian behavior? Explain.
- How did you feel at the top? When knocked down?
- Is it the proper Christian response to knock others down in order to be lifted up, or to simply lift others up?
Scripture
Ephesians 4:29
Remote Control
(08:51AM)
Materials
A remote control. If you don't have one. Make one from a small rectangular box. Cover it with paper and draw the following buttons: rewind, fast forward, play, Pause, and stop.
Preparation
Prepare a list of temptations that youth commonly face. Describe each situation as if it were a drama script. Each situation should also culminate to a point where a specific decision, a specific choice, must be made. Scenarios can be anything with a decision to be made. Examples include the opportunity to cheat on a test, shoplifting, disobedience to parents, drinking at a party, etc.
What to do
- Choose a few volunteers to participate in the "remote control" role play.
- Describe one of the tempting situations and ask youth to consider the way "their peers" (friends) might handle the situation. Give them a couple minutes to think.
- Then hit the "play" button (and say "play" aloud) and allow youth time to act out the situation as you have described it. When they come to the point where a decision must be made, press pause button while (calling out "pause") and have the actors freeze.
- Ask the rest of the group what how the actors should respond to the choice.
- The actors then act out the group consensus.
Take it to the Next Level
At this point you may look into scriptures dealing with the topic, and if a difference choice becomes more evident, hit the "rewind" button (while calling out "rewind") and have kids rewind the role play so they can come to a new Bible based conclusion.
- Were the role-plays typical of how your friends at school might respond? How would they justify these responses?
- How do we know when to listen to the group as opposed to doing what we think is the correct thing to do?
Linking ideas
1. The remote control could be kept around and used at any time during a lesson when a choice or decision arises. It allows you to place Biblical truths and principles into real life applications.
Variation
- Take any Biblical story and tell the first half of the story. Then talk about what the Biblical character might have done were he living today. Then hit the play button and explain what actually happened.
- You can also use this as an object lesson or children's sermon about forgiveness and second chances.
5 Million Hits
(11:32PM)
I just noticed that you guys broke through to over 5 million hits today.
Wow! I never expected that this little effort of one guy's love for youth would become so popular and be visited by so many people from around the world. Last time I checked the website had visitors from 205 different countries. That's almost every country in the world... (One big country still missing is Greenland. Does anyone have a youth pastor friend in Greenland you want to recommend the site to?)
Thanks for all your words of encouragement. While I am not always able to get to all your questions on a personal basis, I do so when I can. In response to this huge anniversary I'd love to hear of any special stories regarding your youth ministry and the role this website plays in it...
Thanks again for making all this effort worthwhile.
With YOUth on my heart!
Ken
Unless the Corn Die
(11:20PM)
Years ago a minister in Iowa went home from a service for dinner with a wealthy farmer. This man, though not a Christian, was moral and upright. As they entered the house from the rear through a shed, the minister noticed several bushels of corn twisted together by the husks and hung from the open rafters. The farmer pointer out to the minister the finest seed corn he had ever raised. Said the preacher: "If I were you, I would always keep that corn there. You will never get any more like it."
"You must think I'm a fool," said the farmer. "I must plant that corn or I'll have no more crop." And the preacher rejoined: "That corn is like yourself. I never knew a man so rich in natural endowments as you. If something would only happen to let the seed corn be planted, be buried, you would be so useful to God and humanity!"
Months later the minister received a call to visit the farmer. The old farmer surprised him by saying, "Glory to God!" The seed corn has been planted." He related gladly how it happened. He had been currying a mule when the mule let both heels fly at him, cutting open his face with a sharp-shod hoof. The injured man got on his knees and surrendered to God. "And now," said he, "I want to make my life yield a harvest for Him."
Author: W.W. Clay
Source: "Choice Illustrations" W.W. Clay pg. 12-13.