1 Date: 31 December Series: Forgiveness and acceptance IN ALL YOU SAY OR DO THE AIM: To explore how to live for God This session embraces a different way of exploring the Bible. You can use it with the young people who regularly attend your group, with several groups combined together or even with your whole church community. Adapted from Scripture Union s Explore Together resources, this session provides an opportunity for children and adults alike to spend time hearing from God and learning from each other. Within our faith communities there is a rich thoughts, questions and revelations with each diversity of God s people, all at different stages other. Any and all are welcome and there are no in their faith development and spiritual barriers to participation. experience, and all with different learning needs and preferences. We are a beautiful collection of artists, scholars, reflectors, dancers, data collectors, fact finders, readers, sculptors, writers, musicians, actors, talkers and listeners. Explore Together places the Bible at the centre of this diversity. It is a new and practical tool for helping people to explore God s Word and hear his voice in a way that embraces their natural preferences. It encourages the community to come together to share their 8 At the heart of Explore Together is a desire to see people hear from God and learn more of his love for them. It works with big groups, small groups, mixed-age groups, single-age groups, older people, young people, children, families, house groups, church congregations, youth groups, school groups in fact, Explore Together can be used in any environment with any group dynamic. It is grounded in years of research and tried and tested in a multitude of contexts.
HOW TO EXPLORE TOGETHER 1 THE SIX STEPS BASIC KIT thegrid MAGAZINE There are six essential steps to an Explore Together session, each of which can be tailored to slot into any existing structure and space: 1 1Prepare 2 Presenting the Bible 3 Pray 4 Explore 5 Share 6 Giving thanks These steps are explained in detail in the session outline on pages 10 and 11. Step 4 provides an opportunity for people to engage with God s Word using the Explore Together questions and the six Explore Together zones. plastic building bricks You will need to set out six zones, each of junk modelling items which has been carefully designed to cater for particular learning needs and preferences: pipe cleaners pens, pencils and paper Colour Zone for those who learn by coloured pencils/pens seeing Listening Zone for those who learn by coloured chalk sticks hearing pastels/crayons MORE ABOUT EXPLORE Chat Zone for those who learn by glue TOGETHER thinking aloud Word Zone for those who learn by scissors (child-safe) reading masking tape Busy Zone for those who learn by white paper doing Quiet Zone for those who learn by black paper reflecting paper of different sorts, sizes and colours www.exploretogether.org Invite the children to choose a zone to start in. They can choose to spend all of their exploring time in one zone, or visit several zones, depending upon their preferences. There is no right or wrong amount of time to spend in a zone. It is quite deliberate that no specific instructions are provided for each zone. Encourage the children to engage however they like with the resources provided in each area as they consider the Explore Together questions for the session. Although every Explore Together session is different, there are some common elements that are always included. We will refer to these as the basic kit for Explore Together. Before running this session we advise that you acquire as many of the following items as you need: Explore Together zone signs (available from Web resources) Explore Together background soundtrack (available from Web resources) MP3 players (or the means to play downloaded MP3 tracks eg CDs and CD player) plasticine, play dough or clay manuscript paper squared paper lined paper sticky notes a selection of Bible commentaries a selection of Bibles (different translations) children s Bibles and Bible story books, eg The Big Bible Storybook (Scripture Union, 2007) chairs/cushions/beanbags a separate area where people can be quiet Pages 4 and 5 of thegrid lifestyle magazine provide resources for this session, including the Explore Together questions, the word collection, and the Bible text. It might be helpful to have a few magazines available in each zone. A TEAM TO HELP YOU Although it is entirely possible to lead this Explore Together session alone (with a second adult in the room), it is much more effective when there is a team of people working together to share the responsibility and to model involvement. Strategically placed active participants will encourage others to participate. The colour, word and busy zones benefit from having a carefully placed team member present to keep the focus on the questions, to engage in the zone activity and to draw people into the questions without dominating. The chat zone requires an experienced host to keep everyone focused. If you would like to know more about how to run a successful Explore Together session, and the ideas behind Explore Together, plus hear the answers to frequently asked questions, go to the Explore Together website: BOOKS AND RESOURCES Today s session is from Explore Together: Green Resource Book. This is one of four resource books, each containing 12 Explore Together sessions for you to use in any context, helping groups of any and all ages to engage with the Bible. Topics covered include: salt and light; Easter; God the Creator; fruit of the Spirit. Each book comes with access to all the multimedia resources you need to run your session. If you d like to know more about the ideas that underpin Explore Together and hear about experiences of Explore Together in action, read the companion book Explore Together: The Journey. 9
In all you say or do Acts 18:1 3; Colossians 3:12 17 Themes: commitment, discipleship, integrity Paul was a skilled tent maker; through his trade and the relationships he developed while working he was able to share his faith in a way that drew others into a relationship with God. Every day, every circumstance, every conversation was an opportunity for Paul to honour God it should be the same for us. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul outlines a strategy to help us live for God day by day. These Bible passages demonstrate how being a follower of Jesus is a full-time commitment. Prepare 1 Resources required You will also need to gather: Paul makes new friends audio recording (from The ribbons and flags of various colours and lengths Big Bible Storybook audio book) basket weaving kits (or a similar weaving activity) This time tomorrow activity a selection of paints and brushes Take my life and let it be hymn words audio versions of different translations of Acts discipleship image collection 18:1 3 and Colossians 3:12 17 discipleship word collection blocks of rough wood and sandpaper Acts 18:1 3; Colossians 3:12 17 (CEV) In all you say or do Explore Together questions embroidery silks, aida fabric, threads and blunt needles items from the Explore Together basic kit All available from www.exploretogether.org. (see page 9) someone to deliver a short sermon on Acts 18:1 3 and Colossians 3:12 17 (optional) 2Presenting the Bible With the community gathered together, begin by sharing the words from Acts 18:1 3 and Colossians 3:12 17. Consider carefully which version of the Bible you choose to read from. Alternatively or in addition you may choose to use one of the following: This time tomorrow activity Without being tempted to answer them, introduce the following questions to your community for them to consider: How does this passage impact your every day? What challenges and opportunities do you face each day? Why does God want us to hear these words? What is your response to these words? 10 2 3Pray for and with your community, asking God to help you hear from him. This time of prayer can be creative, interactive, responsive, meditative or sung. It could also include communion and intercession. Ensure that there is a place set aside where people can go if they feel that they need someone to pray with them specifically. Have a small team of people available to offer prayer if required. Prayer ministry should be available throughout an Explore Together session. Pray You might like to read, sing or play the lyrics of Take my life and let it be as part of your prayer time.
Explore 4 Read out your questions from Step 2 again or display them on a screen. Remind your community to consider these questions as they separate into their explore zones. Some may choose to consider all the questions while others may focus on just one. Some may completely ignore the questions and just open themselves up to God. Invite your community to separate into small groups, around the zone(s) of their preference. Explain that individuals are welcome to spend as much or as little time in each zone as they wish, engaging at whatever level they feel comfortable. Depending upon where your quiet zone is located, you may wish to provide directions and remind people not to disturb one another when using this space. Colour Zone Word Zone paint, brushes, paper pens, pencils coloured pastels, crayons and white plain paper of different sizes, ruled paper and squared paper basket weaving kits (or a similar biblical commentaries relating to Acts weaving activity) 18:1 3 and Colossians 3:12 17 discipleship image collection copies of The Big Bible Storybook open at Paul makes new friends, or other children s Bibles and Bible story books containing a version of Acts 18:1 3 Listening Zone copies of Acts 18:1 3; Colossians 3:12 17 (CEV, Paul makes new friends audio printed sheet) or Bibles recording (from The Big Bible discipleship word collection Storybook audio book) audio versions of different translations of Acts 18:1 3 and Busy Zone Colossians 3:12 17 plasticine, play dough or clay blocks of rough wood and sandpaper a talk or sermon based on this passage could be plastic building bricks shared embroidery silks, aida fabric, threads and blunt needles Chat Zone a separate area with chairs, cushions or beanbags Quiet Zone a chat zone host who is willing to a separate area where people can be read the passage again and then alone with their thoughts and God lead a discussion around the questions discipleship image collection copies of Acts 18:1 3; Colossians 3:12 17 (CEV) or (optional) Bibles copies of Acts 18:1 3; Colossians 3:12 17 (CEV) or Bibles 5 6 Share As your time for exploring together draws to a close, invite your community to come back together into small groups of three to five. Suggest that they share their responses to the questions posed at the beginning. Giving thanks Invite the explorers to share their reflections with the wider community, drawing together their responses and noting any common themes that emerge. Conclude by sharing Colossians 3:17 as a benediction (using the same Bible version as before). Then lead your community in a prayer, thanking God for all that he has revealed through this story. Encourage your community to continue their conversations about this story as they leave, and to take with them any artwork/writings/ thoughts from the session. 11
2 Date: 7 January Series: Forgiveness and acceptance COULD TERRORISTS GO TO HEAVEN? THE AIM: To recognise that God s forgiveness is available to all 1 Choose the Bible experience that best suits your group Level 1 for young people who aren t used to looking at the Bible together Level 2 for groups who are somewhere inbetween! Level 3 for young people who are committed to Bible study and discipleship 2 Choose a fun Way in activity to kickstart your session The aim unpacked This is the second session in our series that focuses on God s forgiveness and acceptance. I remember many good discussions when I was younger about who would go to heaven and be saved. Often the discussion hinged around whether if people such as Adolf Hitler said sorry, they could have been forgiven. This sort of discussion is really a red herring as the ultimate decision is God s. But he does give us some pretty obvious guidelines through his Word. Matthew, although not quite in the same league as Hitler or any other leader guilty of genocide, would have been someone the religious elite believed was not loved or accepted by God, and yet Jesus broke through to make a relationship with him. Today many of our young people feel alienated and unloved, perhaps that they are too bad to be loved by God, and yet his love reaches deeper than we ever imagine. 3 Help your group respond to the Bible with one of the Respond activities Shopping list photocopiable/web resources thegrid lifestyle magazine Extras For informal youth groups or larger events God slot BIBLE BACKGROUND Bible: Matthew 9:9 13 Author: Anonymous, but generally thought to be Matthew the apostle. Date: Sometime between ad 60 and 90. Readers: Probably aimed at Jewish Christians. Genre: Gospel a special mix of history, biography and teaching. Key idea: The good news which Jesus is for all people. Big picture: God s plan to save people of all types through Jesus come to fruition. Worth knowing: Tax collectors were regarded as unclean because of their association with the Romans and were unpopular because of their tendency to charge excessive amounts and keep the surplus. Explore the Bible visually with your group Presentation Bible timeline Go to www.scriptureunion.org. uk/thegrid to download more great multimedia and printable resources! 12
BIBLE EXPERIENCE 2 LEVEL 1: CONNECT LEVEL 2: INTERFACE LEVEL 3: SWITCH ON WHAT: story WHY: to recognise that God s forgiveness is available to all WITH: thegrid lifestyle magazine page 7, Bibles 1 Discuss with the group: When did you last forgive someone? What kind of things do you find it easy to forgive? What would you find difficult to forgive? 3 Read together or tell the story of Matthew 9:9 13. Explain that tax collectors were Jews who were employed by the Romans to collect taxes for them. They were seen as traitors by their own people and hated. Yet Jesus was happy to be seen with them and to eat with them. He knew that God s forgiveness was available to all, no matter what they had done. (You may need to explain what tax is.) WHAT: drama WHY: to recognise that God s forgiveness is available to all WITH: Bibles 1 Read together Matthew 9:9 13, explaining the background to the story and why tax collectors were seen as sinners. Discuss with the group: Why do you think Matthew followed Jesus? What impact would Jesus eating with the tax collectors and sinners have had on his followers, and on the Pharisees? 2 Distribute copies of page 7 of thegrid magazine and ask everyone to read the story 2 of John Plummer, a helicopter pilot in the Divide everyone into groups of three Vietnam War who dropped napalm on a or four. Challenge them to come up with a village and caused incredible suffering to its modern-day equivalent of this story of Jesus inhabitants, including a 9-year-old girl whose meeting with a group of people and asking one pain was caught on camera. Twenty-four years of them to follow him. Which people these days later, John met the girl, and she forgave him are hated in our society or seen as evil? Who for what he did to her and her village. Ask for would be most likely to criticise Jesus if he reactions to the story: were here and were to share a meal with those people? Give the groups some time to create a Could you do what Kim did? drama sketch around this. What difference did it make to John? 3 Invite the group to perform their sketches 2 Read together Matthew 9:9 13. Who What difference do you think it made to and discuss them: were the Pharisees? Discuss how Christian Kim? Do we really believe that Jesus can accept and forgive such people? What do these people need to do to receive that forgiveness? Make sure the young people understand that sin is turning away from God, not just doing bad things. We have all sinned and we all need God s forgiveness, even if we think we lead pretty good lives. The good news is that his forgiveness is available to everyone! WHAT: Bible study WHY: to recognise that God s forgiveness is available to all WITH: Bibles, Bible dictionaries 1 Give some background to why the Romans ruled Palestine and why the Jews had to pay taxes to them. In the centuries before Jesus birth, Palestine was politically unstable. After the Jews returned from exile in about 538 bc, the Persians ruled them. They were kicked out by Alexander the Great and the Greeks. In 168 bc, the Greek ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes (great name!) tried to put a statue of a pagan god in the Temple, which the Jews were unhappy about. Judas Maccabeus led a successful rebellion and for nearly 100 years the Jewish people were in charge of their own land. Then in 63 bc, Roman troops, led by Pompey, invaded Palestine and it came under Roman rule. The Jews had to pay taxes to the Romans to support the empire. Some Jews became tax collectors for the Romans, but they weren t popular! communities today can be like the Pharisees, labelling certain people as not good enough for God. What types of people tend to be labelled in this way, or are told they can only belong to the church if they change? 3 Read the following Bible passages. What did the prophets say were the most important elements in a worshipping community? (Prophets are people who bring words from God about particular situations.) Hosea 6:6 Isaiah 1:11 17 Amos 5:21 24 4 From these verses, what do you think the church needs to watch out for so that they don t become like the Pharisees? Create a fivepoint charter that you think churches need to take note of. Could you present this to the leadership of your church? 5 Explain that God s forgiveness is available to everyone whoever they are and whatever they are like. 13