Category Archives: Evangelism Ideas

Activities and ideas for proclaiming the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ to the lost.

Candy Bar Gospel Relay

October 22, 2013 kensapp 1 Comment

This youth activity uses a relay race with Candy Bars in various colored wrappers to present the Gospel. You can find lots of mini candy bars around the Halloween season. Similar to the wordless bracelet, the colors yellow, black, red, white and Green are used to explain the gospel message.

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What You Need

Mini Candy bars with the following colored wrappers:
Yellow, Back, Red, White, Green

Here are some examples

Yellow – Butterfinger, Mr Goodbar, Peanut M&Ms, Milk Duds, Oh Henry
Black/ Dark Brown – Mars Bars, Hersheys, Skore, Snickers, Milky Way, M&Ms
Red – Kit Kat, 100 Grand, Take 5
White – Cookies N Creme, Zero, White Kit Kat, Toblerone (White)
Green – Milo, York’s Mint, Aero, After 8, Andes, Mint M&Ms

Variation: Instead of Candy Bars, use Red, Green, Brown, and Yellow M&Ms along with white Menthos. If you can’t find those simply use any candy in the correct colors.

Preparation

Form two teams and assign each team one or two colors of candy bars. You can have as many teams as you have different colored candy bar wrappers.
On the floor at one end of the room, unroll a several foot long strip of paper towels.
Spread the candy bars randomly over the entire length of paper towels
Have the teams line up at the other end of the room.

What to do

One at a time, team members rush to the paper towels, and bend down and use their teeth to pick up one candy bar (Team colors only and no hands allowed).
Once they have a candy bar in their teeth, they stand back up, run back to their team.
They must then show the candy bar to the next person in line, who shouts out the color.
If the color’s wrong – i.e. “Trick”, the person must eat the candy bar and then go back and get another candy bar of the correct color.
When the color is correct “Treat”, the person eats his/her candy bar and the next person goes to the paper towels and repeats the process.
The first team to remove all the candy bars of their assigned color wins.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Explanation of the Gospel using the various colored Candy bars

Candy Bar in a Yellow Wrapper
The yellow wrapper reminds us of Heaven. Do you know what Heaven is? Heaven is God’s home. Heaven is filled with the glory, the shining brightness of God. There is no night there. The Bible says, “God is The Light and in Him is no Darkness at all”(1 John 1:5). The Bible tells us that in Heaven, the street of the city is pure, clear gold-like glass (Rev 21:21). God tells us many other things about His home. No one is sick there. No one is crippled or blind. No one ever dies. Every person in Heaven will be perfectly happyalways (Rev 21:4-2; Psalm 16:11). The most wonderful thing about Heaven is that God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus will be there. God made Heaven. He made you too. He loves you very much. Because he made you and loves you, He wants you to belong to Him and be with Him in Heaven someday. Jesus promised long ago, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 3:16; John 14:1-3).

Candy Bar in a Black Wrapper
There is one thing that can never be in Heaven. That is sin. Because you and I are sinners we want to have our own way instead of God’s way. Wanting our own way is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is sin. Sin is anything that displeases God. Sin has caused sorrow and sadness in our world. God tells us in the Bible that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). All means every one of us. This dark wrapper reminds us of our sinful way (Proverbs 4:19). When it is dark, you stumble and cannot find your way. When something is dirty it usually has dark smudges. Because of your sin, you cannot find God. Your sin separates you from God, who is holy (1 John 1:5). God cannot allow sin where He is. I am sure you can think of a sin which you have done. God has said that sin must be punished. The punishment for your sin is death-to be separated from God forever (Rev 6:23). The Lord Jesus, God’s Son, said that if you die in your sin, you cannot go to Heaven where He is (John 8:21, 24). God knew there was nothing you could do to get rid of your sin. He knew you could not be good enough to please Him. But He loves you and He made a way for you to be forgiven.

Candy Bar in a Red Wrapper
The red candy bar wrapper shows the way God made for you to have your sins forgiven-taken away. God loves you. He sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, from Heaven to take the punishment for your sin (John 3:16). Wicked men nailed the sinless Son of God to the cross, but while He hung there God put all of your sins on Him. The Bible says, “…God bath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). (Iniquity is another word for sin). All your bad temper, all your lies, your meaness-all your sin-was laid on the dear Son of God, and He suffered and suffered until He cried out with a loud voice and said, “It is finished.” When you finish a job, how much is left? Nothing. What did the Lord Jesus come to do? He came to save us from punishment for sin, didn’t He? And He finished the work. When He was nailed to the cross, what came from His hands, and His feet? His blood. God calls it the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and He says “…the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). There is no other way, for God says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin]”-no forgiveness, no payment (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus not only died for you, but He was buried, and He rose again. He is a living savior (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). God showed His love for you by sending His own Son to die for you. Now he says there is one way for you to be saved from your sin.

Candy Bar in a White Wrapper
Tears cannot wash away sin. Prayers cannot wash away sin. Doing good cannot wash away sin. But the blood of the Lord Jesus can wash away all sin (Psalm 51:7; 1 John 1:7). This white wrapper reminds me that you can be made clean from sin. Did Jesus die for everyone? (YES!) Is everyone going to Heaven? (No, because some do not believe that Jesus died for them. They have not received Him as their savior from sin.) God’s word says, “…as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name” (John 1:12). God has promised you when you receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you become a child of God.

Candy Bar in a Green Wrapper
The green wrapper reminds me of the new life, everlasting life, you have received from God. The color green reminds me of things which are growing outdoors, like leaves, grass, flowers, and trees. when you receive the Lord Jesus as your savior from sin, you are like a newborn baby in God’s family. The Bible tells you to “grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

(As the time permits, talk with the youth about those things which help him
grow as a member of God’s family. Explain you are not talking about growing
taller or gaining weight from eating all this candy, but the kind of growing which will help others know that he loves the Lord Jesus.

Listen to God- Learn God’s Word reading and memorizing it (2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 119: 11).
Talk to God. Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Talk for God. Witness or tell others (Mark 16:15).
Worship God. Go to Sunday School and Church (Hebrews 10:25).

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Evangelism Ideas

Buzz Who?

January 17, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

Description

We all have our stock of quick, fun, easy no setup, no materials games we can pull out at a drop of a hat. How about taking another take at these games? Let’s take this classic youth game, known as “Buzz”, and see what we can do to take it to the next level.

When a person meets Christ a change occurs. Their identity, their actions, and even their thoughts will change over time. Some changes may be immediate such as they are now called “Christians,” and “children of God” etc. Other changes may take a lifetime. A classic youth game, known as “Buzz”, is used along with famous Bible Characters to illustrate some of the changes that occur when someone puts their faith in Christ or God.

How to Play

Seat the youth in a circle.
In a clock-wise direction, youth count up from 1. When they get to the number 7, any numbers that contain 7, AND any multiples of 7 the youth must instead say the word “Buzz.” For example: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Buzz, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Buzz, 15, 16, Buzz, 18…
A player who hesitates or makes a mistake is eliminated from the game.
After a mistake, start over at 1 with the next teen in line.
Eliminate youth that make mistakes until only the champion is left.
Try for a group record or reaching 100.

You may wish to add the following to increase the complexity of the game:

Once the game is going well and the youth group has reached 50 or so, stop them and add “Fizz” to the game. Now, substitute “Fizz” for 5. For example: 1, 2, 3, 4, Fizz, 6, Buzz, 8, 9, Fizz, 11, 12, 13, Buzz, Fizz, 16, Buzz, 18, 19, Fizz, Buzz, 22…
If the number is a multiple of 5 and 7, or has 5 and 7 in it, like 35 or 57 or 70 or 75, say ‘Fuzz’!

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Counting up to a 100 seems like something easy to do. We can practically do it in our sleep, without even thinking. But add just one change like in the game we just played, and suddenly we all need to focus. Things that should come naturally to us make us pause or hesitate. All it takes is one change.

The same is true of changes we make in our lives. Before we met Christ, we did things the way we liked. We played according to our own rules. But now, we understand some of our old habits have to change. And that doesn’t happen naturally. Some changes take time. Some changes require us to exercise a lot of discipline.

Look at Abram. When he was first called by God, his name changed. He was now called Abraham. Did his past behaviour of not having faith in God’s protection persist? Sure! He still continued to lie about Sarah being his sister because he feared men more than God. It wasn’t until God asked him to sacrifice Isaac many years later that we see the true father of faith emerge.

What about Simon? When Jesus first called him Peter – the rock, his insecurity at Jesus’ trial caused him to deny Christ 3 times! Only later do we see the strength of his character in the book of Acts.

Sometimes, it’s the people around us who will be skeptical about the changes we’ve decided to make. When Saul was called by Jesus Himself, was now called Paul, even though he made a full 180 degree reversal, people viewed him with suspicion. Was he really changed? Or was he still an “undercover Pharisee”? It took him many more years of preparation before he was fully accepted by the brethren.

Make it Practical

When a person meets Christ we can’t help but change. Our identity, actions, and even our thoughts will continue to change over time. Some changes may be immediate such as we are now called “Christians,” and “children of God.” Other changes may take a lifetime.

When we commit to changes in our lives, we need God’s help to keep the change. It takes time for us to get used to the change. To adapt to a new way of living. Just like in the game, once we get the hang of it, we can move faster, go higher, and add more changes to our lives along the way.

Whatever happens, we have to trust God through the process of change. Don’t expect everything to come immediately or transition smoothly. We will fall along the way, just don’t beat yourself up for it. Pick yourself up and move on.

Make it Personal

Have you tried and failed and given up on changes you committed to? Maybe it’s time to think about these areas in our lives and ask God for His supernatural ability to maintain those changes. It won’t be easy, but we have to continue trusting in Him that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.

Scripture References

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
– Romans 12:2 (NIV)

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV)

Other Famous Bible Personalities and how they changed after an encounter with God:

Nicodemus

Before God : Pharisee, ruler of Jews
Met God : Met Christ by night, honest seeker
Response : Annointed Christ’s Body with Joseph of Arimathea

Noah

Before God : Not known – Father was Lemech
Met God : Lived a righteous life that set him apart from others
Response : Called to build an ark and obeyed

Abraham

Before God : lived with his father in Haran
Met God : Recieved a call to leave Haran and go to a new country
Response : Blessed by God and his descendents became like the sands of the earth

Simon Peter

Before God : Fisherman, Son of John
Met God : Called to Follow Christ and become a fisher of men
Response : Became a disciple, denied Christ three times but became a great evangelist after Christ’s death.

Zacheus

Before God : Tax collector
Met God : watched from a tree to see over the crowd
Response : Invited Christ to his home & paid debts/ became honest

Matthew (Levi)

Before God : Tax collector
Met God : Asked to follow Christ as a disciple
Response : Became a disciple and wrote one of the gospels

Joseph

Before God : Favored Son of Jacob and Rachel
Met God : Dreams
Response : Rose to a powerful position in Egypot in which he was able to help his family in a time of famine.

Saul

Before God : Pharisee, tentmaker, persecuted Christains
Met God : Vision on the road to Damascus
Response : followed Christ and became one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament

Samuel

Before God : Mother took him to live with the priest (Eli)
Met God : God spoke to him at night
Response : Became a great spritual leader and the last of the judges

Gideon

Before God : Son of Joash, Israel has forsaken God
Met God : An angel appeared to him, summoned him to leadership
Response : Might Warrior, against the Medianites

Nathanael

Before God : Religious, seen by Christ beneath a fig tree
Met God : Philip introduced him to Christ
Response : Followed Christ, became one of the disciples

Mary

Before God : devout religious life
Met God : appearance of an angel saying she was most blessed of women
Response : Became the mother of Christ

David

Before God : Played the harp for the King (Saul)
Met God : Was upset that a giant ridiculed the God of Israel
Response : Defeated Goliath and became one of the greatest king’s of Israel, even though he made many serious mistakes

You can probably think of other characters as well.

Evangelism Ideas, Game Ideas

Our Christian Testimony: Earth! Water! Air! Fire!

January 14, 2013 kensapp Leave a comment

Using the game of “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!” youth will discuss how our actions affect our testimony for Christ.

Preparation

Position the youth in a circle of chairs facing inward.
Take a handkerchief and knot it at one end so it can be easily thrown back and forth between people.

What to do

Give the handkerchief to one of the youth instructing him/ her to throw it into the lap of another youth else in the circle. As he/she throws it he/she must call out “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!”
If “Earth!”, “Water!” or “Air!” is called, the one into whose lap the handkerchief has been thrown must name some bird or animal that lives or moves about in that environment. For example, if “earth” is shouted then the one into whose lap the handkerchief falls might answer: “Worms!” It would be just as correct however for him to name any beast which lives upon the earth. The same animal cannot be used again.
As soon as a handkerchief lands in someone’s lap the one who threw it begins to count rapidly to 10. If the animal is not given to for “Earth”, “water”, or “air”, then that person must answer a question before passing the handkerchief on to the next person.
However, if the handkerchief is thrown, and the one who throws it calls out “fire!” then the one into whose lap it falls must remain perfectly silent. If he/ she does not remain silent he/she must answer one of the questions before passing the handkerchief on to another player.

Questions

The questions are related to the topic of “personal testimony.” The questions that youth must answer all involve whether the action, attitude, characteristic stated:

harms one’s testimony or
benefits one’s personal testimony or
has no effect on a person’s testimony.

A reason must be given for the answer. Then continue the game. You may do the questions in order or have youth pick a number between (1-66). Mark off numbers as they are used! Some of the choices involve things that happened to Paul. Others involve things to which a typical teen might be exposed.

Dancing
Cheating
Responsible
Integrity
Trust
Going to church
Trials
Being a follower of the Way
Envy
Belief in an afterlife
Lust
A clear conscience
Going to a party
Loving one’s enemies.
Having fun!
Having to appear in court
Having a consistent devotional life
Making good grades
Having personal problems
Wealth
Drinking
Being falsely accused of a crime
Sharing your belief with someone else
Athletic
Serving others
Speaking to a leader with great authority
Taking responsibility for your actions
Insisting on your rights
Giving gifts to the poor
Being ceremonially clean
Listening to country music
Listening to Rock music
Theft
Reading one’s Bible to the class
Telling Jokes
Pointing out the sins of others
Hanging with the wrong crowd
Obeying parents
Going to an RA movie
Smoking
Being shy
Being serious about life
Being in Jail
Losing your temper
Listening to ONLY Christian music
Praying daily
Saying table grace
Rudeness
Anger
Thinking about your sexuality
Taking a stand for what you believe
Showing your answers on a test to someone
Being challenged to fight someone
Sneaking out of the house to go to church
Causing a public disturbance
Telling the truth, even if it hurts someone
Gossip
Preaching
Kissing someone in public
Dating
Good looks
Memorizing your testimony
Singing all the time
The clothes you wear
Your nationality
Helping those in need

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

Paul present his testimony in Acts 24:10-21. In fact, some of the statements in the list are references to parts of Paul’s testimony as presented in this passage. Paul shares more insight on his motives, and his actions as related to being a testimony to the gospel of Christ in 1 Corinthians 9:1-23 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-33. Two key principles are evident.

While all things are permissible, Paul holds himself to a stricter standard so that he might be better witness for the Gospel, that is testimony might reach more people.
Paul gives up some of his rights so that others might be saved.

Make it Practical

Discuss some of the issues regarding Christian freedom, God’s forgiveness, and our our actions, words and attitudes affect our testimony as Christians.

Make it Personal

In what ways might you personally be a better testimony for the Gospel for your family, friends, and those who know you?

Evangelism Ideas

Barnabus: The Testimony of an Encourager

October 11, 2012 kensapp Leave a comment

All of us have been afraid to witness (or to share our testimony) at one time or another. But a testimony, or witnessing is simply sharing about something that has happened to you. Use this high energy youth group game to clarify some of the misconceptions youth have about sharing their faith as well as learn the importance one’s lifestyle and speech also play in sharing the gospel message with others.

Materials

A chair for each youth.

Preparation

Arrange the chairs into a large circle with the chairs facing inward. There should be one less chair than the number of people so that if all the youth take a seat, one will be left standing.

What to Do

Play a variation of the game “I never.” All the youth are in a circle in chairs. One of the youth group members, is “it”, and in the center of the circle. The person in the center says something they have never done. Anyone who has done that must exchange chairs. They cannot sit back in the same chair. While they are exchanging chairs the person in the center tries to grab an empty seat. Have the new person that ends up in the center tell a little about what it is he/ she did. After several rounds, say that you have one more that you would like them to respond to. Say, “I’m Barnabus and I’m not afraid to witness for Christ.” Anyone who has been afraid of witnessing should change chairs. All will probably change chairs. You might, depending on who gets left in the middle, have the person left tell about one time they were afraid to witness or to just give their testimony.

Take It to the Next Level

Tell them that all of us have been afraid to witness at one time or another. To witness means to testify, it is just sharing about something that has happened to you. Hopefully we can clarify some of the misconceptions about sharing your faith as well as learn some effective ways to share your faith.

Make it Spiritual

Barnabas is not only a man of good character, but also one that was used by God. He is the only person in the book of Acts referred to as a “good man”. But he isn’t just a good man, he also is one who was “full of the Spirit”. His real name was Joseph, but he had the nickname Barnabas or “Son of Encouragement” Because of his personal character and his closeness to God, he was used by God to share the Gospel with a great number of people. They not only came to a saving knowledge of Christ, but they also reflected his Christlike lifestyle, so much so that they eventual came to be called “Christians.”

There are three characteristics of Barnabus that stand out in these passages about him: He was an encourager, he was a good man, and he was full of the Holy Spirit. In other words, he had a close relationship with God and that relationship with God was both reflected in his words (encourager) and his actions) a good man.

Our testimony for Christ is more than just our personal faith. It is also how we live our lives based on that faith. Both our lifestyle the way we treat others (as an encourager) is a testimony as well. We need both the Christian character as well as the Christian message. A famous quote says “What you do speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” But when what we do and what we say are in agreement, our Christian testimony is all the more powerful.

Make it Practical

What are some of the characteristics of an encourager?
What are some examples of words of encouragement?
What are the characteristics of a good man?
What are some examples of a Christlike lifestyle?
What is a testimony? What are the basics of an evangelistic testimony?

Make it Personal

What can you do to be an encourager of others this week?
What are some things you can do this week in serving and loving others such that they might recognise you also as a good man or good woman?
Choose someone to share your testimony with this week and make an appointment to meet with them to share it.

Scripture References

Colossians 4:10
“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)”

Acts 4:32-37
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.cJoseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

Acts 9:26-27 (Background passage: Acts 9:26 – 15:39)
“When he [Paul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 11:22-26
“News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

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Evangelism Ideas

Lessons for Evangelism of Youth: The Samaritan Woman

October 9, 2012 kensapp Leave a comment

The woman at the well is probably the most incisive of the New Testament narratives of Jesus’ dealing with the spiritually lost. It is found only in the fourth chapter of John’s gospel. From it we can learn many things about personal evangelism in general that can also be applied to our evangelism to youth.

The background for this passage involves the Lord Jesus Christ, leaving Judea and and traveling through Samaria to Galilee. As he travels through Samaria, He stops at the city of Sychar, near Jacobs well, to rest and eat. At noon, he waits beside the well for a divine appointment, as his disciples go into the city to buy food.

The Master’s Classroom

Interestingly, John records that Jesus “had” to pass through Samaria. It was not an accident that Jesus went through Samaria. “There were several roads leading from Judea to Galilee: one near the sea coast, another through Perea, and one through Samaria.” ¹ The road through Samaria was the least traveled, yet it was the road Christ “had” to travel. What the disciples saw as an uncomfortable trip, through a land of people against whom Jews had great prejudice, was actually a divine appointment. God will often put us in places of personal discomfort as a classroom for the greater teachings of the Kingdom of God. In this case He teaches the disciples that there is not room for barriers of any kind in the Kingdom of God. The gospel is a gospel for all people. Manmade barriers of prejudice, culture, and the lifestyles of people must not block the divine flow of the living water.

The Master’s Workshop

The Samaritan woman came to draw water–a common act, done in common way, but this time to have uncommon results. Unknown to her, she had an appointment with the Son of God. Jacob’s well became Christ’s workshop for the repair of her soul. We too need to discover the common activities of youth that can be used as platforms from which to lead lost youth to a saving knowledge of God. Any contact with a lost youth is an opportunity for sharing the gospel if we would only look. The most effective witnessing occurs in those natural situations where youth interact. A popular theology of today says “let me live a good life, and if you ask me about God, I will take you to church.” How long would Christ have had to sit at the well before the woman would have noticed his good life? Jesus took the initiative and so should we. Think of the opportunities we pass up daily. What opportunities are you passing up to reach out to youth?

The Master’s Methods

Get Acquainted

Jesus seeks to “draw” the woman into a conversation by asking her to “draw” Him a drink of water. She recognizes Him as merely a Jew and wonders about his request. ”‘Never speak to a woman in the street, even if she be thy wife’; ‘Burn the words of the law rather than teach them to a woman,’ were the great maxims in Jewish society.” ² Even so, Christ’s greatest concern was the condition of the woman’s soul. Because of this, he would reach out to her, even if it violated custom. Manmade barriers must not hinder the gospel. In the customs of the day there is another interesting meaning to Christ’s request for a drink. In the East, “the giving and receiving of a drink of water is the seeking and making of a covenant of hospitality, with all that that covenant implies… it is like the covenant of bread-sharing, which makes a truce, for the time being, between deadliest enemies.” ³ By asking for water, Christ was not only drawing the woman into conversation, but disarming any defense that she might put up concerning his identity as a Jew. He was showing an interest in her as an individual. “The woman, the Samaritan, the sinner, is placed over against the Rabbi, the ruler of the Jews, the Pharisee.” ⁴ Her birth, her sex, and her lifestyle were all barriers, but the gospel knows no barriers. The gospel sees only the need of the individual. We should also see the individual needs of our youth!

Arouse Interest

Christ offered the “gift” of living water to the Samaritan woman. Notice that the living water is a “gift” received by “asking.” The reason men do not ask, is because they do not know that it exists. ⁵ The Samaritan woman did not know the gift of God because her sight was focused on her earthly condition and her physical thirsts. Too often, people miss the spiritual because they are focused on the physical. Like Christ, we must use their physical needs and perceptions to lead lost youth to a knowledge of the spiritual.

The Samaritan woman then calls Christ “Sir.” She no longer sees Him as merely a Jew, but a Jew who deserves her respect. She still does not understand that Christ is speaking of the spiritual, but proceeds with a question about the method by which Jesus could obtain living water. “Jesus is speaking of the water of life; the woman is thinking of flowing water, so much more desirable than the flat water of cisterns.” ⁶ Jacob had to dig a well for water. Did Christ know a way of obtaining running water? “‘Canst thou do more than dig a well?’ was the meaning of the woman’s question to Jesus.” ⁷ Indeed He could! Abraham left them a well of stagnant water, but Jesus would give her a spring of living water. To the Samaritans, Abraham left a religion, but Jesus promised a growing relationship with God. Jesus “does not say He is greater than Jacob, but suggests that He has better water to give than that which was in Jacob’s well.” ⁸ The well of Jacob was so deep that it had already lasted 1500 years and was still being used. It still exists today, though much of it has been filled. How much deeper then is the love of God for this woman. (Ephesians 3:18-19)

The Samaritan Woman’s religion was only a dry well, but Christ offered a living relationship. The Samaritan woman “identified herself with a religion which,… instead of leading her to God, only supplied a substitute for Him.” ⁹ “The gift of God is not dry doctrine, but a living Being.” ¹⁰ Dry doctrine creates a thirst, but Christ quenches the thirst. Dry doctrine becomes foul and corrupt over time, but a relationship with Christ refreshes and takes away foulness and corruption. Dry doctrine is stagnant, but a relationship with Christ is active. Dry doctrine evaporates, but the living water is a spring to ourselves as well as to others. “Most men draw their supplies from without; they are rich, happy, and strong, only when externals minister to their strength, happiness, and riches.”¹¹ Christians draw their supplies from their relationship with God. From which do we drink? Do we drink from our religious practices and doctrines or do we continually seek refreshment from a vital relationship with the Savior. When we present the gospel to youth, do we present a religion and a system of beliefs or do we introduce the Savior?

Gently Confront Sin

When a river becomes obstructed the water stagnates and foul and decaying things are collected. One solution is to clear away the obstructions, but the same would only reoccur in a matter of time. The best solution is clear away the obstructions and then increase the water flow. When Jesus asks about her husband, He is seeking to clear away the obstructions. The woman says that she has no husband. “Instead of wringing the rest of the confession from the woman, Jesus makes it for her. It is a touch of His gentleness with the sinner.” ¹² “The conversation had passed from the small-talk to the personal.” ¹³ Notice that Christ made the most of an ignorant sinner’s words instead of attacking. We would be wise to do the same with youth. We must allow the confrontation of the sinner to be with Christ and the gospel, not anything else.

She then calls Jesus a prophet and sidesteps the conversation from herself to the location of worship. It is very natural for someone to cover their eyes when a bright light is flashed. It is natural for a person walking from darkness into the brilliant light of the Son of God to shade their eyes. The Samaritan woman was no different. Her pain is too great not to shade the eyes of her heart lest it be blinded. Yet Jesus is too compassionate to leave her in such a state. He answers her diversionary question then returns to crux of the conversation–the gospel.

Answer Legitimate Questions but Confront Sinners with who Christ is

Christ answers her question, but instead of giving her religion Christ confronts the woman with who He is and thus opens the door for a personal relationship. “‘Jesus’ words are, literally: ‘I am, who speak to you.'”¹⁴ Jesus is literally saying that He is God using a term the woman would be familiar with from Exodus 3:14. Notice the progressing realization of the woman concerning the identity of Christ. He first was a Jew, then was to be compared with Jacob, then he was a prophet, and then he was the Messiah, and finally he became her Messiah.

When she realized Christ was the Messiah, she left her water pot and went to tell everyone of Him. When Christ truly becomes Lord, He becomes our first priority. John does not say the woman “forgot” the water pot nor does he say that she “purposely” left it. Either way, now that she had come face to face with Christ, the water pot was of little or no importance to her. Her focus was no longer on the physical, but instead was on the spiritual. As the woman went to tell others, “the living water which the woman received from Jesus had certainly become an overflowing fountain in her life, and others were coming to share the refreshment that she had begun to enjoy.” ¹⁵ John points out that many believed because they had heard for themselves through the testimony of the Samaritan woman. We must also bring youth to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Master’s Message

If Christ had began with her sin, her heart would have been hardened, had he began announcing Himself as the Christ she would have been skeptical, had He approached her as Nicodemus she would have been puzzled. Instead he uses that which she knows well to lead her to a deeper spiritual understanding. “He takes ‘water’ for his text to this water-carrier. In a picture lesson unfolds the truth. Ours are blind eyes if they do not see texts in the commonest things, where from we may preach the gospel of the kingdom.” ¹⁶ “Christ did not preach sensational sermons, but sermons which created a sensation.”¹⁷ Christ’s objective was the person, not the method or the message. The message was aimed at reaching the person. Do we deliver sensational messages to youth or do we deliver messages to reach youth. Are the words we speak our focus, or the youths to which we speak? Do we care for lost youth as Christ cared for the lost?

End Notes

¹ William Hendrickson, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), 155.

2 Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator: John I (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953) 299.

3 Ibid., 317.

4 Ibid., 313.

5 Ibid., 314

6 Raymond E. Brown, The Anchor Bible, vol. 4, The Gospel According to John (i-xii) (New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1966), 170.]

7 Exell, 311.

8 David Thomas, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1980), 87.

9 Exell, 345.

10 Ibid., 321.

11 Ibid., 332.

12 R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel (Ohio: The Wartburg Press, 1942), 317.

13 Frank E, Gaebelein, ed., Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), vol. 9, John, by Merrill C. Tenney, 55.

14 Barnabus Lindars, The New Century Bible Commentary: The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), 191.

15 F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdman’s Publishing Co., 1983), 115.]1@

16 Exell, 307.

17 Ibid., 309.

Bibliography

Brown, Raymond E. The Anchor Bible, vol. 4, The Gospel According to John (i-xii). New York: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1966.

Bruce, F.F. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdman’s Publishing Co., 1983.

Exell, Joseph S. The Biblical Illustrator: John I Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953.

Gaebelein, Frank E, ed., Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 9, John, by Merrill C. Tenney, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.

Hendrickson,William New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981.

Lenski, R.C.H. The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel. Ohio: The Wartburg Press, 1942.

Lindars, Barnabus The New Century Bible Commentary: The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987.

Thomas, David The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1980.

Evangelism Ideas, Teaching Illustrations

Removing the Hooks

October 7, 2012 kensapp Leave a comment

The fishermen had let their lines down into the water when Dan noticed a school of dolphins had come alongside and were swimming in the boat’s wake. He immediately shouted for the lines to be drawn in. The fisherman hurriedly reeled in thier lines but it was too late–one of the dolphins had been snared. He dove deep, trying to get away from the hook, then came to the surface to relieve the pain. Time and again he dove, erach time driving the hook deeper into his mouth. After a long while the dolphin was finally exhausted and simply swam next to the boat. Dan moved to the side of the boat near the dolphin and then experienced one of the most amazing moments of his life The dolphin moved close to the boat and then turned over on his side, exposing the lodged hook protruding from his mouth. Dan reached out and gently removed the hook.

God desires to use each of us to love and reach out to other youth in such a way that they come to understand that there is “someone in the boat” who is willing and able to remove the force destroying their lives. As we love them and tell them of the life Christ can provide, the Holy Spirit will work with us, bringing them to a place where they will allow God to “remove the hook.” When youth hold out the hook (their hurts and needs) we need to be ready to share with them how God can change their lives.

Evangelism Ideas

My Friend

October 6, 2012 kensapp Leave a comment

My friend I stand in judgement now
And feel that you’re to blame somehow.
On earth I walked with you day by day,
And never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim;
You could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together here on earth,
You never told of the second birth;
And now I stand this day condemned,
Because you failed to mention Him.

You taught me many things that’s true.
I called you “friend” and trusted you.
But I learn, now that it is too late,
And you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night
And yet you showed me not the light.
You let me live and love and die;
You knew I’d never live on high.

Yes, I called you friend in life
And trusted you through fun and strife;
And yet on coming to this dreadful end
I cannot, now, call you “my friend.”

Author unknown

Evangelism Ideas

Earth! Water! Air! Fire!

April 20, 2012 kensapp Leave a comment

Description
In this active game, youth are asked to evaluate how a person’s testimony is affected by the things we do, our character, and even our background or characteristics. Youth Ministers can use this as an introduction to living a life that points others to God, sharing our testimonies, or to discuss the life of Paul, his testimony, and the accusations made against him in the Book of Acts.

Resources needed

Bible
A chair for each youth
A handkerchief
Bibles

How to Play the Game

Ask your youth group to form a circle of chairs facing inward then take a seat.
Take a handkerchief and knot it at one end so it can be easily thrown back and forth between the teens. Give the handkerchief to one of the youth instructing him/ her to throw it into the lap of someone else in the circle. As he/she throws it he/she must call out “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!”
If “Earth!”, “Water!” or “Air!” is called, the youth into whose lap the handkerchief has been thrown must name some bird, animal, or creature that lives or moves about in that environment. Each animal can only be used once during the course of gameplay.
For example, if “earth” is shouted then the youth who receives the handkerchief might answer. “Worms!” It would be just as correct however for him to name any beast which lives upon the earth.
If the handkerchief is thrown, and the youth who throws it calls out “fire!” then the youth that receives the handkerchief must remain perfectly silent. If he/ she does not he/she must response to one of the questions (listed below) before passing the handkerchief on to another youth.
As soon as a handkerchief lands in someone’s lap the one who threw it begins to count rapidly to 10. If an answer is not given to one of the three words except “fire”, then that person must answer a question before passing the handkerchief on to the next person.

Take It to the Next Level

Questions
Questions can be on any topic, making this a fun game for youth leaders and Sunday School / Bible study teachers to introduce just about any topic.

For this example, my topic is a person’s “personal testimony.”

The questions that youth must answer all involve whether the action/ attitude/ characteristic stated

benefits one’s personal testimony (Helps)
has no effect on a person’s testimony. (No effect)

To make it easy, you might want to write the answers on newsprint or a large sheet of paper in front of the room. You want questions with a simple answer, but that also allow a more detailed explanation or opinion later.

After the question is answered continue with the game. You can use questions more than once so that you get different opinions for later discussion.

You may do the questions in order, or just ask them randomly. Personally I prefer random as it is less an interruption to the game. Also limit the number of questions to those most applicable to your group of youth.

Discussion
Keep track of the answers and who gave them to stimulate a discussion later. Later you can say, “John, you said ________ doesn’t affect a person’s testimony. Could you explain why you said that?”

A Personal Testimony – Being a withness for Christ

Here’s my list of things that could affect a persons testimony. Some of the choices involve things that happened to Paul in the book of Acts. Others involve things to which a typical teen might be exposed,

Anger
Athletic
Being a follower of the Way (Paul)
Being in Jail (Paul)
Being Responsible
Belief in an afterlife (Paul)
Causing a public disturbance (Paul)
Ceremonially clean (Paul)
Challenged to fight someone
Cheating
Clear conscience (Paul)
Customs (Acts 16:20-21)
Dancing
Dating
Disagreements (Acts 25:18-20)
Disturbing the Peace (Acts 24:1-8)
Drinking
Envy
Falsely accused of a crime (Acts 25:7)
Giving gifts to the poor
Going to a party
Going to an RA movie
Going to church
Good looks
Gossip
Hanging with the wrong crowd
Having a consistent devotional life
Having fun!
Having personal problems
Having to appear in court (Paul)
Helping those in need
Insisting on your rights (Paul)
Integrity
Kissing someone in public
Listening to country music
Listening to ONLY Christian music
Listening to Rock music
Losing your temper
Loving one’s enemies.
Lust
Making good grades
Memorizing your testimony
Obeying parents
Pointing out the sins of others
Praying daily (Paul)
Preaching (Paul)
Quoting from Scripture (Paul)
Rudeness
Saying table grace
Serious about life
Serving others
Sharing your belief with someone else (Paul)
Showing your answers on a test to someone
Shy
Singing (Paul)
Smoking
Sneaking out of the house to go to church
Speaking to a leader with great authority (Paul)
Taking a stand for what you believe (Paul)
Taking responsibility for your actions (Paul)
Teaching against worshipping idols (Acts 19:22-27)
Telling Jokes
Telling the truth, even if it hurts someone (Paul)
The clothes you wear
Theft
Thinking about sex
Trials (Paul)
Trust
Wealth
Worshipping God in a place where it is outlawed (Acts 18:12-16)
Your nationality (Paul)

Scripture Passage
If you want to focus on one passage, Acts 16:16-38 is a great one to look at.

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

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Evangelism Ideas, Teaching Illustrations

The Boat in the Window

July 27, 2010 kensapp Leave a comment

A young teenage youth spent many hours building a little sailboat, crafting it down to the finest detail. He then took it to a nearby river to sail it. When he put it in the water, however, it moved away from him very quickly. Though he chased it along the bank, he couldn’t keep up with it. The strong wind and current carried the boat away. The heartbroken youth knew how hard he would have to work to build another sailboat.

Farther down the river, a man found the little boat, took it to town, and sold it to a shopkeeper. Later that day, as the youth was walking through town, he noticed the boat in a store window.

Entering the store, he told the owner that the boat belonged to him. It had his own little marks on it, but he couldn’t prove to the shopkeeper that the boat was his.

The man told him the only way he could get the boat was to buy it. The youth wanted it back so badly that he did exactly that.

As he took the boat from the hand of the shopkeeper, he looked at it and said, “Little boat, you’re twice mine. I made you and I bought you.”

In the same way, we belong twice to Someone. He both created us and paid a great price for us. With the blood of His Son, we have been redeemed and reunited with Him. His Son gave His life to get us back.

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Evangelism Ideas

Face Painting Recipe

April 25, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

Have you ever done face-painting as part of an outreach to children?

Here’s a recipe we used for face-paint:

1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon water
1-1/2 teaspoons cold cream.
A few drops of food color

Mix all the ingredients together in a small paper cup. If the mixture is too thick to paint with, thin with a few drops of water. The paint can be applied with a paint brush for small areas or you can spread it all over a person’s face with your fingers.

While the paint is till wet, you can add some glitter to your design as well fora little sparkle.

Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!

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