YOUTH MINISTRY
No Time to Spare
How many times have you heard your young people claim that they would devote more of their energy to the church--that is, if only they had the time to spare? If the answer you gave has a "million" attached to it somewhere, then count yourself lucky: you have a basically normal group of teens on your hands. Make the most of this opportunity to help them realize that the first step to giving God top priority in our lives requires that we make time to do so. This article contains three optional exercises that will challenge your young people to make biblically sound decisions.
• Too Much “To Do” List
Materials: Pencils, paper
Provide pencils and paper, inviting your youth to imagine that their sheets are from a typical day planner. Have them create time intervals to organize the numerous tasks they would take on during an average school day. Encourage them to take into account all aspects of their usual routine, including everything from getting out of bed in the morning to getting back into it at night. This means showering, makeup, hair drying, soccer practice, piano practice, classes, homework, driving, television, time alone, time spent with friends and family, talking, eating, and anything else that applies.
When everyone seems finished, invite several volunteers to share their lists. Afterward, use questions like the ones that follow to focus the discussion on the extent of our personal commitment to God.
Questions for Reflection
• Approximately what percentage of your “typical day” is set aside for God?
• What are some specific ways you could adjust your schedule to allow for more “spiritual time”?
• How much of your time do you feel you “owe” God? 15 minutes a day? Several hours? Can there even be a set figure?
• Silent Auction
Materials: Pencils, note cards, prepared list of auction items
Give each of your young people a pencil and several note cards, explaining that they will be “bidding” in an auction on a variety of coveted items that you have prepared in advance. Whoever is willing to sacrifice the most to bid on a particular item “wins” that sale. Each submitted on a separate note card, the bids are not monetary, but rather, should be based on what personal sacrifice each person would make in exchange for a specific item. It may be helpful to identify items your teens would truly be interested in—trips to a sporting event of their choice, tickets to a concert, a date with their favorite actor or actress, and so on. Debrief the exercise using the questions suggested here.
Questions to Ponder
• What makes something valuable in your eyes? Are there various types of value that you place on different things?
• What does it mean to sacrifice? Why is sacrifice so vital to the life of a Christian?
From Intersection, Vol. 25, by Smyth & Helwys Publishing. To order call 1-800-747-3016.
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