A simple discussion starter looking at the choices we make and how God can help us make the best choices for our lives. Good for younger teenagers but can be adapted to a wider age group.
ROCK, SCISSORS, PAPER
This is a simple game involving random choices. Ask 4 volunteers to play the game of rock, scissors, paper. They pair off and face their partners with their left palm open flat and their right hand made into a fist. As you give the signal 1, 2, 3, everyone acts together. On the 1 and 2 each person hits his palm with his first. On 3 he either keeps his hand as a fist (symbolising a rock), points out his index and middle fingers (scissors) or opens it flat (paper). Depending on the symbols his partner forms, a person wins, loses or ties.
The rules are as follows. Rock smashes scissors (scissors lose), scissors cut paper (paper loses), paper covers rock (rock loses). Start as a best of three competition and then the winners of each pair play each other.
We make lots of simple choices every day. Ask the young people to list the kind of choices they made today. Write the answers on a whiteboard or flipchart. For example, what clothes to wear, what TV programmes to watch, what food to eat, what music to listen, what sport or games to play etc.
Sometimes we have to make more important choices. Ask the group to give examples. Write the answers on the whiteboard or flipchart. Will I lie or tell the truth? Will I be hurtful or kind? How will I treat this person? What career will I pursue?
Make the point that some choices are small, others are much bigger and can shape the way we live for the rest of our lives.
LOOK BACK - LOOK FORWARD
Ask each member of your group to draw 3 small pictures which represent
3 significant or important things in their life so far. Ask them to share what they have drawn and why it was significant. Then ask them to draw 3 more pictures which represent their dreams, hopes or ambitions
for the future. After a few minutes ask them to share what they have drawn and why it means a lot to them. If you have a large group, I suggest you divide into smaller groups of 5-6 for this activity. This
will make it easier for everyone to contribute. Assign adult helpers to each group, if you have some!
Bring the groups back together. So, we all have important choices or
decisions to make. But how do we know if we'll make the right choice?
What might happen if we get it wrong? Who can we trust to guide us? Who
do we listen to when we make our choices?
REFLECTION
At this point share something from your own personal experience of a choice you made as a Christian. Illustrate how prayer and seeking God gave you the confidence to make that choice. Alternatively invite a member
of your church to come and share a life experience or testimony to illustrate the same point.
Refer back to the pictures and explain that God has a record of our lives so far, he knows the choices we have made. In fact he knows us better than anyone else. Illustrate this from Psalm 139. We may think that we are not very important, but God loves each
one of us and wants the very best for our lives John 10:10. Close your devotional time by looking together at Proverbs 3: 5-6 and explain that if we trust in God and ask him to guide us, he promises to direct our future.
POSTCARD TO GOD
Ask the young people to form into small groups of 4. Give everyone a pen and a postcard. Explain that you want each one to write a prayer on the postcard. It might be about their pictures, or thanking God for
helping them in the past, or asking for wisdom about decisions they need to make, or guidance for the future. Tell the young people they can keep their postcard prayers private and take them home.
MORE DISCUSSION STARTERS
For more, click on discussion starters in the category list.
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Nigel, if I didn't know you better I'd say you're winding me up :-) Thanks for the comment, I think :-) I look forward to reading more antipodean alternatives!! BTW, I continue to enjoy reading youthworkercoach.com.
Posted by: Grahame | 15/03/2008 at 10:38
Down under we play a variation of rock paper scissors:
Hunter : turns and 'shoots' a rifle
Gorilla: turns and does the grunt and arms of a monkey - but deeeep
Foxy Lady: wiggles those hips!
Hunter kills gorilla
Gorilla wins over fox lady
Foxy Lady - gets her man!
It's fun.
Posted by: Nigel | 15/03/2008 at 02:50