Tag Archives: direction

Teaching Illustrations

Guiding Others – A Story of Two Horses

Leave a comment

Are we guiding others?

This tale reminds us that we must care for one another, not only with their needs, but also by guiding others along the right path in life.

Two Horses

On a forgotten country road, there is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you look closer you will notice something quite interesting.

One of the horses is blind.

The horse’s owner has chosen not to have him put down. Instead he has built a safe and comfortable barn for him to live in.

This alone is pretty amazing. But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. The sound is coming from a smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the smaller horse’s halter is a copper-colored bell. It lets the blind friend know where the smaller horse is, so he can follow.

If you take a moment to stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse. The blind horse listens for the bell.  He then slowly walks to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray.

Each evening the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn. On the way, he will occasionally stop to look back. He is making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

We all need people we can depend on when we face struggles in life. Sometimes we are the guide. And sometimes we need others to guide us. Listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

Scriptures on Helping Others and Guiding Others

Helping Others

  • Hebrews 6:10 – “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
  • Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
  • Matthew 25:44-45 – “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ ” He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'”
  • Isaiah 58:10-11 – “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.”

Guiding Others

  • Ephesians 4:2 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
  • Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
  • 1 Corinthians 12:25 – “There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
  • Philippians 2:3-5 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
  • Proverbs 12:26 – “The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.” (NLT)
  • Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (ESV)
  • Proverbs 18:24 – “Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.” (CEV)
  • Luke 6:31 – “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” (NASB)
  • Romans 15:1 – “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
  • Isaiah 58:10-11 – “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.”
Game Ideas, Object Lessons

Lego Instructions for the Christian Life

Leave a comment

LegoInstructions

LEGOs are one of those toys that are universally loved around the world by all ages. They are simple building blocks in a variety of shapes and colors, but with a little creativity and imagination they can be put together in unlimited combinations to create masterpieces. They are a great metaphor for each of us in the body of Christ. And if we follow God’s instruction we can be used to create and do incredible things.

PLEASE SHARE THIS IDEA ON FACEBOOK – CLICK HERE

Games using LEGOs

  • Blind Builder – A player is blindfolded and must construct the item solely from verbal directions from the team. First to team to complete it wins.
  • Blind LEGO Construction – Blindfold each team and ask them to build a Lego sculpture using a pile of Lego pieces in front of them. Give awards for the most like a real object, funniest, tallest, longest, most creative, etc
  • Fast As You Can – In this game you call out a simple object that can be created from LEGO’s. Each team has three minutes to make one as fast as they can. At the end of the three minutes have a judge decide who sculpture most resembles the object. Play a couple of rounds so there are more chances for winners.
  • Guess How Many LEGO Bricks – Guess how many bricks in a lego jar? The winner could go home with the jar of LEGOS.
  • I Spy The LEGO Guy – Get several LEGO guys and hide them in various places around the room. The youth or team to locate the most wins.
  • LEGO Car Race – Divide the youth group into teams and provide each team with a duplicate pile of plastic LEGO building blocks and four LEGO wheels. Within a given time limit, the team must build a car, create a nickname for the car, a racing team name and choose a mascot. Allow each team to line up their racers on a starting line and race them down a makeshift ramp. Your ramp can be a long table propped up on one end, or even a wide board or two. Have challenges or race all at one go.
  • LEGO Chopsticks – Place two bowls in front of each team: one filled with LEGO blocks, and the other empty. Give the youth one minute to move as many LEGO blocks as they can from the full bowl to the empty bowl using only the chopsticks
  • LEGO Identity – Give each group an assortment of peices with the instructions to build something that represents them as a group.
  • LEGO Me – Have youth select a specific lego piece that represent them as an individual and explain it’s significance. Then have them use all the pieces to build one object.
  • LEGO Memory – Before the game, build a structure with Legos (the more complex the structure, the more difficult the activity). Then put the youth in small groups, each group with a bag of Legos (each bag contains the same size, color, and quantity of Legos and has identical stock as that of the structure you built). The group has to exactly replicate the structure you already built. But, the structure to replicate is located outside the room or behind a screen, only one person from each group may look at the structure at a time. They cannot draw or take a picture of the structure to communicate it – they have to use their memory. Each team can look at the structure as many times as they want, but only one person can look at it at a time. The first to replicate the structure – exactly with the same size and color Legos wins.
  • LEGO on a string – Have the youth form a circle, facing inward, with one youth in the middle. String a LEGO piece with a hole in it on a long piece of string and then tie the ends of the string together. Place the string inside the circle and have each youth hold it with both hands . The idea is to pass the LEGO around the circle from hand to hand, unnoticed by the youth in the middle . He tries to guess where it is by pointing to the hand he thinks is holding the LEGO. If he is correct, the LEGO holder goes to the middle and the guesser takes his place in the circle . The youth in the middle must keep guessing until he locates the LEGO.
  • LEGO Scavenger Hunt – Hide an assortment of LEGO bricks and the youth search for them. You can award point values to the different brick colors and have them compete for a high score.
  • LEGO snapshots – Take pictures of simple LEGO structures, and have the youth try to duplicate it from the picture only. You might need a photo from more than one angle to get all the pieces.
  • LEGO Tongue Tower – To win this game, the a youth must first put a tongue depressor (or plastic spoon) in their mouth then build a tower of five loose Legos on the tongue depressor (still in their mouth) and then keep the LEGOS balanced for ten seconds.
  • Lose the LEGOS – Tape an empty tissue box the rear of each player with the opening facing away from the player. You can do this with team representatives or individually if you have enough tissue boxes. You can also have timed trials to determine the fastest. Once the tissue box is taped on, the time will start and the player must shake their rear to be the quickest to get all of the LEGOS to come out of the tissue box.
  • Quickest LEGO Builders – Get a brand new small box of legos, with a picture on the front of the completed set, for each team. Pass it out to the teams and on go they must build the set. Quickest to do so wins. You can also find blueprints for a variety of lego projects at www.letsbuilditagain.com
  • Strongest LEGO Bridge – Give each team of youth a set amount of time to build the strongest bridge. Then line up and test them. You can use ziplock bags filled with rice (250grams), soft wrist weights or anything which will not damage your floor when in falls. Amazingly they have been known to hold 5kg (11.02 pounds) so make sure you have enough weight to test them.
  • Tallest LEGO Tower – See which team can build the tallest tower in a predetermined time limit without the tower falling over.
  • What am I? – Divide the youth into teams and supply each team a pile of Lego parts that include pieces to make cars, trucks and people. Have everyone write down a name of a person, place or thing on a small slip of paper (tell them not to show anyone else). Ask each youth to fold his or her slip of paper and place it in a hat. Mix the slips of paper and ask one member from each team to randomly select one slip of paper. Tell the team member not to show the paper to his or her teammates. Set a kitchen timer for 10 minutes and tell the team member who chose the slip of paper to build whatever was on that slip of paper. It is up to his or her teammates to guess what he or she is building based on his or her creation. No talking or gestures are allowed. The first team to correctly guess the right answer wins that round.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

  • What do we need that will help us turn a pile of pieces into a specific shape?
  • Do you have to build exactly what is on the LEGO box or in the instructions?
  • Can we use the pieces to build other good things as well?
  • (If it has step by step instruction) Do you have to follow the instructions?
  • What is the advantage of instructions?
  • How does a photo, an example or instructions help?
  • What could have happened if we didn’t follow the manual?
  • How did the groups go about assembling their Lego project? How did each person participate?
  • What was frustrating about this activity?
  • Why was it difficult/easy to communicate instructions?
  • What are other situations that happen in your life where you have to rely on others to communicate information or instructions to you?
  • How do you make sure that you understand them completely? What can you do as the person with the information to get your message across to others?
  • How do you know where a brick belongs and how it fits into the overall plan?
  • Is it sometimes possible for more that one brick to fit in the same?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What spiritual lessons can we learn from LEGOS?
  • What could happen if you don’t follow the instructions?
  • How is this like the choices we have in life?
  • Were you created with a purpose?
  • What other projects or things have you done that require an instruction manual?
  • Are there instructions for us to follow in life? As a Christian?
  • What are some of the world’s instructions? Those from the Bible?
  • How is a lego set like the body of Christ?
  • How is the Bible like an instruction manual?
  • How is Christ a model for us to follow? (1 Corinthians 11:1)

MAKE IT PRACTICAL

A LEGO manual shows how each piece fits together to form the completed shape and the order or sequence.

How is a lego set like the body of Christ? the youth group?

  1. made up of many parts.
  2. Christ is the cornerstone
  3. The parts fit together to make a whole
  4. if one part is missing, the whole suffers – to be complete they need each other
  5. no piece, is more important that the others.
  6. some relationships are closer than others
  7. together they form a picture / object
  8. they didn’t have the instructions or a picture on a box so it was sometimes difficult to know what they were forming
  9. different people acted as leaders to help them form the picture
  10. The pieces support each other
  11. there are different connections – shapes – that connect each
  12. each piece is different / unique
  13. Each piece is identified by where it fits into the whole
  14. Some pieces are easily identified but not more important

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • How can we learn where we belong in the church and the role we each should fill?
  • After this activity, ask each youth to take back their LEGO piece as a reminder of the lessons.

SCRIPTURE

  • 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
  • 1 Peter 2:4 – “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual housea to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
  • Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

PLEASE SHARE THIS IDEA ON FACEBOOK – CLICK HERE

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Icebreakers

Pass Your Name Icebreaker

Leave a comment

It is said a person has three names: the one given at birth, the one other people give, and the one (s)he gives him/herself. Names have meaning. Sometimes names are changed to reflect a new direction in a person’s life. In his icebreaker game, youth not only learn each other’s names, but they also explore what it means to be called a Christian, a disciple, a saint, a believer.

What you need
No resources are needed for this icebreaker

What to do

Round ONE

  1. Form the youth into several circles, with everyone faced toward the center of the circle with their arms to their side.
  2. Choose someone to start”Everyone put your right hand in the air. Hand in the air!””On the count of three, everyone point to the happiest person in the circle.”

    The person that the most people are pointing to will go first in this game.

  3. He or she must choose someone in the group and use his entire arm to point at them and while pointing to this person call out his or her OWN name. They do not call out the name of the person they are pointing to, but call out their own name. He or she than crosses his or her arms.
  4. The person who was just pointed to, repeats the action, pointing to someone in the circle whose arms are not crossed and calling out his or her own name.
  5. Continue until everyone has been pointed to in the circle. It’s not as easy as it seems.

Round TWO

  1. Repeat the activity, but this round, time make it a competition between groups to see which circle will complete the activity in the quickest time.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Debrief

  • When you played this activity, what happened?
  • Why was this game difficult?
  • Is a person’s name significant?
  • It is said a person has three names: the one (s)he is given at birth, the one other people give him/her, and the one (s)he gives him/herself. What does this mean?
  • What does your name say about you?
  • Do you feel that your birth name adequately expresses who you are? Why or why not?

Teaching Point: Names are often given in reference to: aspects of a person’s birth, hopes the parent has for his or her child, something a parent likes, a connection the parent wants to draw attention to, family ties

  • What name would your mentor or the person you most look up to in life give to you?
  • If you had to choose a name to express your essence, what would it be?
  • If you were to choose a new name for yourself today, what would you choose and why?

MAKE IT SPIRITUAL

  • What significance do people’s names in the Bible have?

Share a few of the familiar ones if not mentioned by the youth.
– Abram -> Abraham “Father of a multitude”
– Simon -> Peter “Peter” or “Rock”
– Saul -> Paul
– Jacob “supplanter” -> Israel “Prince of God” “He who struggles with God”
– Sarai -> Sarah “Princess” “mother of nations”

In the Bible’s most famous name change situations, God is making a statement about the person.
– spiritual accomplishments
– spiritual potential
– a promise or blessing
– change or new direction in life
– new identity
– Indication of God’s plan for them

The name “Christians was first used at Antioch (Acts 11:19-26)
As Christians
– We are called Christians – new identity / nature
– We are given a new name (Revelation 2:17, 21:12, 21:7; Philippians 4:4)
– Our life takes a change of direction
– The disciples called each other, “brethren”, “disciples”, “apostles”, “servants”, “believers”, “followers”, “the faithful”, “the elect”, “the called”, and “saints.” We can also identify ourselves as “bondservants” of Christ.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

  • What name do you think God would give to you? Why
  • How can you live according to the name “Christian” “Disciple” “servant” “Believer” or “Saint” this week?

Additional Scriptures

Here are some interesting scriptures related to becoming “Christ”-like

1 Corinthians 1:3-15 – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, …”

1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

1 John 2:29 – “If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”

1 John 2:6 – “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

1 John 3:2-3 – “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

1 John 4:17 – “By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.”

1 Peter 2:21 – “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6 – “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,”

2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 – “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Ephesians 4:11-13 – “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 – “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Galatians 4:19 – “My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!”

John 13:14-15 – “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”

John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 15:10 – “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:12 – “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Luke 6:40 – “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

Luke 6:46 – “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

Matthew 10:25 – “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign the members of his household!”

Matthew 5:48 – “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Philippians 2:4-5 – “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 6:11 – “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:4 – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 8:2-8 – “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. …”

Romans 8:28-29 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Titus 3:1-8 – “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, …

PLEASE SHARE THIS IDEA ON FACEBOOK

Get Icebreakers ebookIcebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level

This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.

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

Creative Teaching Ideas

Lessons from “Father May I?”

Leave a comment

Father May I?

This is a paternal variation of the classic children’s game: Mother, May I?  Use it for Father’s Day or simply to talk about our relationship with the Heavenly Father.

What to do

If you have played the classic game you know that everyone starts out across the room, at an equal distance from mother.  Whoever is mother calls out a person’s name and asks them to take X number of steps forward. If the person steps forward without saying “Mother May I?” he or she is penalised or sent back to the start. However if he or she remembers to say the magic words, mother will reply with directions to take X number of baby steps, ballerina steps, giant steps, scissor steps, spinning steps, crab steps, etc. The first youth to reach mother wins.

Play a variation of the game, where the children or youth don’t ask mother, but instead ask “Father May I?”

Discussion

  • Who make the decisions in your house? Father or mother?
  • On what basis do parents make their decisions?
  • What are the possible consequences of making decisions on our own with guidance from parents?

Take it to the Next Level

Make it Spiritual

How is this game similar to walking with God? In the Bible, the word “walk” is often used to describe our relationship with the Heavenly Father. We don’t stand still nor does God intend for us to go backwards. Sometimes God may ask us to take baby steps, and other times we may need to take a leap of faith. Just like the game, the outcome is a result of our paying attention to God’s instructions and seeking permission before we move.

Make it Practical
In our relationship with the Heavenly Father, if we move without asking first, we may misstep, go in the wrong directions, or experience other unwanted consequences which take us away from the Father. Instead of moving nearer we end up farther away. We draw closer to God when we learn to listen to Him and seek his permission before we move.  Then the actions we take will bring us closer to Him!

Make it Personal

  • What step is God asking you to take today?
  • Does it feel like a baby or giant step?
  • Are you seeking God’s voice, in the direction you are taking in life?
  • How can you become more attentive to his voice and his guidance?
  • What is an area of your life you need to seek God’s permission and guidance in?

Scripture
My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – John 10:27 (NIV)

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebook Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan not only your next Father’s Day event, but also other common holidays. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for the holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection

Devotional

Bible Lessons from the Olympics: Blind Focus – Im Dong-Hyun

Leave a comment

The athletic feats of the Olympics continue to astound us. The excellent displays of speed, strength, agility, and determination continue to inspire us. But there are few who are as amazing and inspirational as the less-than-perfect Olympians. We thought we’ve seen it all. A leg-less runner pretty much topped the list. Until we heard of a blind archer. Read on…

Blind Focus

 

On 27 July 2012 at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London a new world record score of 699 in archery was set. World records are broken all the time at the Olympics. But what makes this world record unique is that it was set by someone who is legally blind – Im Dong-Hyun from South Korea.

He has only 10 percent of normal vision in his left eye and slightly more at 20 percent in his right which makes him legally blind. In competition, he refuses to wear corrective lenses while shooting, because they make him uncomfortable. Instead he relies on his muscle memory and a slight difference in color in his blurred vision. At 70 meters, he sees only a blurred yellow blob, but says he has grown used to seeing the target that way. Dong-Hyun describes what he sees as being similar to different colored paints being dropped in water. The colors are not very distinct and the boundaries between them are blurred.

In spite of his less than perfect vision, he more than proved his ability to hit his target. Dong-Hyun’s sight may be impaired, but his vision is crystal clear – to win the gold at the Olympics.

Take it to the Next Level

 

The great men of faith in the Bible didn’t have perfect vision either; far from it. They were blinded and misled by lust, fear, greed, pride and jealousy. They were murderers, thieves, liars, adulterers, vengeful and power-hungry. They were pretty much as bad as the next person. Interestingly, the word “Sin” is actually a term from archery. When it says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” it means to “miss the mark,” to miss the target. Like these great men of faith, we were given one shot and we all missed by a mile.

We fell short of God’s plan for our lives, we missed the target, we sinned. But can draw inspiration from Dong-Hyun who overcame his physical imperfection to win his prize. He was blind but he didn’t let his condition control his destiny. Though it certainly took courage and perseverance, what I believe are two keys to his success are:
1. Focus – He doesn’t focus on his limitations, but on his target.
2. Reliance – he relies on the feel of the bow, a steady hand, and past experience.

Focus

Like Dong-Hyun, we can choose to overcome our spiritual imperfection. As Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14, to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. If we want to lay hold of all that God as in store for us, we need to shift our focus away from our sinful “disability” and focus on God’s supernatural ability.

But what made these men of faith great, what set them apart from the rest was their focus on God. Their sights were set on Him. Like them we must keep focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and act, trusting that God will guide us to His intended target for our lives.

Reliance

In our attempt to live godly lives, we often depend on our own strength. We tend to rationalize, depend on conventional wisdom, try it on our own for a while and when everything falls apart, God becomes our “Plan B”. Dong-Hyun could have used corrective lenses. That would have been the logical, smart thing to do to overcome his “disability”. He might even have done better. But would his life have been as much of an inspiration if he did? We often wonder why God places limitations on us. Why do we still have to deal with sin even though Christ won us the ultimate victory, why do we still struggle with it?

God certainly isn’t a fan of doing things the conventional way. If He did, none of us would ever make the cut. We’re not perfect, we’re not the best of the best of the best. The irony is God very often chooses the weak, humble, and foolish things to show His glory through them. After all, if God always chose the “perfect people,” others would just as easily attribute their successes to their natural ability; nothing to do with what God has done.

So even though these men of faith led seriously messed up lives, once they trusted God enough to make Him the center, the bulls-eye of their lives, they accomplished amazing things. “However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

Scriptures Verses for Youth Bible Study

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him'”

Phil 3:13-14 (NIV)
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 3:23 (NIV)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Questions for Youth Discussion

  • Have you ever seen those circus sideshows where they try to hit a target blindfolded? How do you believe they do it?
  • Have you ever tried shooting at targets yourself? Basketball? Golf? Soccer? Archery? The rubbish bin? How good are you at hitting the target?
  • Why is it that God allows us to struggle with sin?
  • What are some common struggles that youth face? Christians in general?
  • What famous personalities do you know about that have had some pretty serious struggles?What was their story? Was it a triumph or defeat? Who did they turn to for help? What are some things they learned through their experiences?
  • Who are some of the Bible personalities who had some serious struggles? What were their stories? Was it a triumph or defeat? Who did they turn to for help? What are some things they learned through their experiences?

Application to the Lives of Youth

  • What are some struggles you have faced personally?
  • Who did you depend on in the midst of your struggle?
  • Did you overcome your struggles? Or are you still working through them?
  • Will you do anything differently, knowing what you’ve learned today?

If we’re willing to say, “God I know I’m not perfect but here I am, with all my imperfections, ready and available to allow you to work through me;” if we’re willing to make God our focus and depend on Him, willing to see beyond our past and fix our eyes on Jesus, the arrow of our lives will fly surely enough to hit God’s intended target and destiny for us. And we’ll leave our mark and legacy on the pages of history.

Get "Go for the Gold" Youth Bible Study SeriesGo for the Gold
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series with an Olympic Theme?

What is salvation all about? What does it mean to be saved? This sports themed Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle), purity (white background), spiritual growth (green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and (Baptism) blue circle.
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”

Get "Destined to Win" Youth Bible Study SeriesDestined to Win
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series on “Running the Christian Race”?

The race as a metaphor for the Christian life is used in several places in the Bible. This series is a great follow up for new Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a sports theme and is great for athletes as well as a tie in to the youth Olympic Games.
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”

Teaching Illustrations

A single-minded Tom Edison

Leave a comment

“Little strokes fell great oaks.”–Benjamin Franklin

The February 1998 issue of Success magazine contains an excerpt from a story that the magazine printed 100 years ago. The article, “A single-minded Tom Edison,” contains an interview with Thomas A. Edison, the great inventor.

Here is part of the conversation Theodore Dreiser had with Edison:

“Dreiser: ‘What’s the first requisite for success?'”
“Edison: ‘The ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly. . .'” “You do something all day long, don’t you? If you get up at 7 and go to bed at 11, you have put in 16 good hours, and it is certain with most men that they have been doing something all the time. The only trouble is that they do it about a great many things, and I do it about one. If they applied it in one direction. . .they would succeed.’

In that short interview, Edison reveals one requirement for achieving success: focus.

Does your life have focus?

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Philippians 3:13)

But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…

Game Ideas

Pumpkin Picasso

Leave a comment

Game Description

How well can you draw the Halloween Jack-o-Lantern?  Here is a great youth game idea for the Halloween season. You can use it to bring a fresh spiritual meaning to the holiday and allow your youth to apply it to seeking God’s plan and direction for their lives. You could even relate it to a talk about not conforming to the patterns of the world. Be creative and have a great week!  And for those completely adverse to anything associated with Halloween, see the alternative variation under the “preparation” section.

Game Materials

  • Paper
  • Colored pens or pencils
  • Several different Pumpkin Faces (Drawings or actual pumpkins)
  • One blindfold for each team

Game Preparation

Create several different pumpkin jack-o-lantern faces either by drawing them or by cutting them into actual pumpkins. The more intricate and detailed the face, the more difficult it will be for participants.

Variation: If you are adverse to having anything even remotely associated with Halloween, you can use the shapes of natural fallen leaves from various trees or simple images from a Children’s Bible Story book.

Game Play

  1. Divide your church youth group into various teams or into couples.
  2. Have each youth team choose one “Picasso” who will draw the pumpkin face.
  3. Blindfold all the Picasso’s
  4. Reveal the carved pumpkin or the sketched pumpkin Jack-O-lantern face.
  5. Teams must instruct their blindfolded “Picasso” using words only how to draw the pumpkin face on a piece of paper. (No touching is allowed).
  6. You might want to give the teams 2 or 3 minutes to complete their masterpieces.
  7. Compare the final masterpieces drawn by the youth to the actual pumpkin or original drawing and the one that is closest to the original wins!
  8. Swap roles and have a new “Picasso” to play again!

Variation

  1. Allow team members to roam about the room and try to distract or give incorrect instructions to opposing teams. But beware, this can get very noisy! (In the debrief, you can discuss the distractions and false instructions we face in life.)
  2. Give the Picasso 10 seconds one round to see the jack-o-lantern face before blindfolding them. Did it help them to better understand the instructions?
  3. Instead of judging which pumpkin is closest to the original, create a list of items to award various points:
    • 20 points for drawing a circle so that the line crossed or connected with itself
    • 10 points for each eye that was drawn INSIDE the circle.
    • 20 points for a stem that was actually on top of the pumpkin
    • 5 points for getting the mouth inside the circle
    • 5 points if the mouth was BELOW both of the eyes
    • 5 points for each eye that was the correct shape
    • 5 points for each mouth that was the correct shape
    • 5 points for getting the nose inside the circle
    • 5 points for putting the nose between the mouth and the eyes
    • 5 points for any triangle that is drawn
    • 1 point for each place that lines cross each other.
    • ETC

Take it to the Next Level

  • If you were able to see the desired result before putting on the blindfold would it have made a difference? Explain.
  • What role does “vision” play in accomplishing goals?
  • Was it more important – to focus on the big picture or the small details?
  • Did the person giving instructions do so clearly, orderly, and in a way that helped you achieve the desired results? Could any of the instructions have been clearer? How could the person giving instructions be more effective?

Make it Spiritual

  • Has God given us a pattern for life? Do we know what the end result is supposed to look like?
  • Does God focus more on the big picture or on the small steps needed to create the end result?
  • Are God’s instructions clear? Explain.
  • What can youth do to hear God more clearly?
  • Are there things in the lives of youth that obstruct God’s directions?
  • What are some of our standards for comparison for the Christian walk?

Make it Practical

  • Are there things in your life that are out of place?
  • Do you know what you are supposed to create with your life or do you feel you are struggling in the dark?
  • What are some of the references that have played the biggest role in how you have formed your own Christian life?
  • How will God judge the end results of your life?

Make it Personal

  • What is something you can do this week so that God can use you for greater results with your life?

Scripture References

“but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” – Jeremiah 7:23

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” – John 10:27-30

Get Creative Youth Ideas: "Holiday Collection" ebookCreative Youth Ideas – Holiday Collection
Games and Activities in Celebration of common Holidays.

Creative Holiday Ideas has over 300 pages of ideas to help you plan your next New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween or Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving event. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re going to do for all these holidays and how you’re going to do it, this resource is for you.

=> Tell me more about the Holiday Collection