Stretch me God - Part 2 - Teens

Conceptual Framework

How does God Stretch us?

• challenges us to draw near to Him

• Jam 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
  

How do we draw near?

• Spend time with Him.

• Prayer
• Worship
• Reading the Bible
• Showing up at church

• • challenges us to be sick of the averageness of our life.

• Jam 4:9 - Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness

How do we get sick of our averageness?

• Expose yourself to something greater.
• Become self aware of what we are already doing
• Pray for a higher standard.
  

• Get over yourself.

• Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

• How do you get over yourself?

• Serving others.
• Doing the little things that aren’t about how great you are.

• Act like Jesus.

• Jam 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

How do you DWJD?

• First be aware of Him in you.
• Second, be aware of others around you.
• Third, step out on what He’s given you.

This is the process of God “Stretching” us. James walks through the steps to seeing it happen. First, resist the devil. Then Draw nigh unto God. Then Get sick and tired of being sick and tired. Then humble yourself. Then walk in love.


How do we stretch without ending up sounding like Alvin? (from Alvin and chipmunks)

• Stretching isn’t just intensifying a previous sound
• We must find a new sound.
• The new sound we find in our relationship with God.

• In serving others
• In something different from what we’ve always done.

Summarizing - 5 main areas God wants to stretch us.

1. Resist the Devil
2. Relationship with God. DRAW NIGH!
3. Let God give you a divine “Sickness”
4. Get over yourself … your past, present, strength, and weakness
5. Act like Jesus.

Actual Plan

Open with Announcements.

Quick review of last week.


Aerobics man: (roughly 5-8 minutes)
Aerobics warm up. Aerobicizer. Quick silly skit with Jay. He’s our “aerobics man” who takes us through some stretching. Be as silly as he can be. Shorts over his jeans, headband, etc etc.

Key purpose… to fundamentally introduce the concept of stretching in a fun way.
To break the traditional mindset of stretching being this weird thing that we can’t wrap words around.



How Potential Energy Works: ILLUSTRATED MESSAGE

• JAMES 4:-7-9 Requires Resistance. Without potential energy you will never have kinetic energy.

God wants to stretch you before He can let you go. He can’t use you effectively until first he can stretch you! Stretching is about creating potential in your own life.
It’s at the place of brokenness that God begins to release the potential that is inside of us.
But before the brokenness there is always the stretching.

1. RESIST
Resistance is key.
ROPE ACTIVITY. This will cover both Resistance and Tension.

Pull out Rope and show it. How much energy is there in this rope right now?
Very little, it’s just laying there.

The first thing God has us do is Resist the devil. Get a crew up to be our place of resistance. They just hold the rope.

How much energy is there in the rope now?
Still very little. It’s just got an anchor which it didn’t have before.


2. Next Step… Draw Near unto God.
Begin to walk away from the rope. Pull up someone to “draw near” to God.


Start walking the other way. DRAW NEAR TO GOD. The stake in the ground is the first piece to creating potential in your life.

The second is to start moving the opposite way! DRAW NEAR.

Now how much tension is there in the rope?
What is the tension in your life?

3. Tension is where the energy comes from.
That uncomfortable tension invades every part of your life.
What are things in your life that should make you uncomfortable? Give papers to every kid to write down the top 2 things that God is making them sick and tired of in their life.

Softly play some music in the background while they think about this.

The closer we get to God the more tension it will create in our lives if we resist the devil.
Tension is just energy waiting to be let go.

Review how do we create potential energy in your life.

• #1. Resist the Devil
• #2. Draw near to God.
• #3. The tension of the movement is the Potential energy. This creates a “uncomfortable tension”.

Kinetic Energy – Unlocking the potential that you build through brokenness.

• James 4: 10-11 Kinetics is based off of movement. With the potential energy, then the kinetics is in the movement.

Dance for the teens. Alvin Music (Apologize - Alvin and the Chipmunks Version).
All movement is created by tension. Our muscles are attached to our bones by ligaments. Those ligaments resist. The muscles then act like Velcro and create tension against each other. Then to move we break the bonds of those muscles and as they break energy is released and we begin to move.

BUILDING MUSCLE IS ABOUT RIPPING THEM APART…. BREAKING THEM!

There are 2 main areas God BREAKS US!

2 areas we move.

1. How we serve.

• Jhn 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

• a. Talk about service opportunities at the church.
• b. Talk about service opportunities in their schools
• c. Talk about service opportunities in their HOME.

You can change your world. Talk about Hoops of Hope. Talk about To Write Love on her Arms. Ask them about orgs. that they know of.

Pose a few ideas that they could do (running for money)… start a blog…. INVITE PEOPLE TO CHURCH! INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO JESUS!

2. We LIVE LIKE JESUS –

• 1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity!!!

• a. In our character.
• b. In our attitude.
• c. In our hearts.
• d. In our purity
• e. IN OUR ACTIONS.

Address being hooked up in services. Address consistent attendance.


Altar Call –
3 Parts

1. If you have never been born again, it starts by resisting the devil and moving toward Jesus and the first step is to be born again.
   
2. Lay down the 2 things that God is pointing out with the tension in your life. Repent. Start by resisting the devil in those areas. Second RUN TOWARDS GOD.
3. If you say I commit to the first two and I’ve tried to begin to move towards God, but every time I try it seems as if I just fall out and can’t stick with it. God has a grace that is available for you as well. Grace is His ability and desire to help you through whatever challenge He is exposing you to!

God Created Me

Sunday/Wednesday November 2nd, and November 5th Preschool department

Memory Verse/Power Verse:God Made Me

Objective: The students will have a better understanding of the fact that God created them, their families, and the animals.

Vocabulary: created (made)

Early Arrival Activity (whole group):

• Assign students as animals and Adam (Matthew)name them
• Game: Duck, Duck, Bear (or other animal names) then they have to chase that person back to their spot.

Praise/Worship (whole group-including babies when possible)-Matthew and Wanda

Bible Story (whole group-babies return to nursery):
God Created the Animals (God-Matthew)

• Show pictures of the animals as God calls them forth onto the land using PowerPoint (10 slides with the animal sounds)

Crafts/Activities (small group based on age):

• Group 1 (4yrs. - kindergarten)

Sunday:
Craft: The students will create and name thier own animal using animal parts and paper plates
Back up: students use floam to create animals

Wednesday:
Craft: students will create animal masks

• Group 2 (2-3 yrs)
  

Sunday:
Craft: The students will create and name thier own animal using animal parts and paper plates
Back up: students use floam to create animals

Wednesday:
Craft: students will create animal masks

• Babies:

Look at pictures of cats and dogs

Snacks: Animal crackers

Materials:

Animal PowerPoint (Ronda)
Animal Body Parts (Ronda)
Animal Costumes (Bill)
Real Animals:

• Gecko-Lauren
• Declawed/laid back cat-Ronda
• Cockateil-Matthew

Kingdom Principle: God created us to be creative

Stretch Me God! - Teen Room

GUTS – Wed Night – Oct 22, 2008 - Stretch me God!


Conceptual Framework

1. There’s more in you.

• a. What’s already in you?

• b. How do I know there is more?

• i. I can do more than I think.
• ii. Other people put a demand on it.
• iii. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all I ask or think.

• 1. Ephesians 3:20 (He does it according to the power working in us)

2. Put yourself through a process that stretches you.

• a. “Danielson” thinking. Wax on Wax off. Little Things prep you for big things.
• b. Something doesn’t just sit still and get stretched. You’ve gotta move
• c. “Systems” in your life should “routinely” stretch you.

• i. The environment you create for yourself…

3. What If I stretch too far?

• a. God’s loves a contrite spirit. (A CRUSHED AND BROKEN SPIRIT) Ps. 34:18, and
• Ps 51:17
• b. God wants to break you!
• c. How does it feel to be broken?

• i. How do you know when you’re broken?

• 1. When the pieces of you don’t fit the way as smooth as they used to.
• 2. When the shape of you doesn’t look the same.
• 3. When you realize just how much of a mess you are… and you just wanna “sweep” you up.
• 4. 1 Cor 11:24 Jesus stretched too the point His body and His spirit were broken!

4. Starts w/ a Crazy Decision

• a. Getting in the cage is INSANE.
• b. Insane Faith is hinged on an Insane Belief in an “Insane God”.

5. Run for Him w/ all you have (seek 1st the kingdom)

• a. What’s getting in the way?
• b. BURN IT, Break it, trash it, leave it on the altar… stop playing with it. Romans 12:1 (Living sacrafice)

6. Cry Out!

• a. Allow the Fear of God to cleanse and purge you!

• i. The Fear of the Lord is Clean
• ii. The Fear of the Lord is as a sweet smell
• iii. The Fear of the Lord is Holy!

• b. A passionate cry is more real than anything else.

• i. The Blind man crying out for Jesus.

• c. BE what you claim to be.

Background Resources

Stretching Verses

Moses had to stretch for His hand. Normal moving of his hand wouldn’t create the results but he had to STRETCH to see God move! Everytime Moses Stretched God moved with him!!!
Exd 3:20
And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
Exd 7:5
And the Egyptians shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.
Exd 7:19
And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and [that] there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in [vessels of] wood, and in [vessels of] stone.
Exd 8:5
And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.
Exd 8:16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
Exd 9:15
For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
Exd 9:22
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
Exd 10:12
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, [even] all that the hail hath left.
Exd 10:21
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness [which] may be felt.
Exd 14:16
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.
Exd 14:26
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.


Key Verse:
Mat 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Challenging Questions (for me) –
Where are you not stretching yourself? Why?
Why don’t you have “insane” faith? Is it because you depend more on your intellect than putting trust in God?
Do you have a vision from God?
If you aren’t believing on Him, then you probably don’t truly believe IN HIM!
What Crazy thing are you doing to cry out for God in your life?
Plan

ACTUAL PLAN

Point and Stretch
How far behind you can you point?
Can you point a little bit further?

Tie back – There’s More in you!

Stretch us God
Everyone line up outside. How far do we reach? Now everyone spread out and stretch as far apart as you can? How far do we reach? Can we make it a little bit further?

Tie back – There’s More in you! Other People put a demand on it.


Hold your breath
Stretch… there’s more inside you. Walk through the expanding your time process.

Tie Back – There is a process for stretching yourself. It may be different for some people but there is always a process.

What are the things that keep us from holding our breath longer?
Ask the teens. Why? Internal or external problem?


Rubber band Snapping
How far will your rubber band stretch without breaking?
How far do you think you can stretch without breaking?
How do you know that’s as far as it will go?

Why not be broken? Pull until it breaks.
What does it feel like when it breaks?
It stings, it hurts, it’s a sudden release of major pressure.

Tie Back – God is looking for someone who will be broken. Because he can use broken people. But the only way to become broken is to truly stretch! (Last 4 points of CF)

Summary & Call to Action
Insane change starts with an insane Faith
Believe God for something that will break you!

Examine my heart played by Ricky and an Altar call!
Altar call is an opportunity for an “insane” consecration!

Finalizing
Everyday we need to cry out to God to break us. Not just tonight. What are you going to do tomorrow to ask God to break you!

New Testament Books - Kingdom Kids RC

10-23-08

Topic: New Testament Books

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God….
What do the children think this means? Put motions to the verse, let the children come up with motions. Go over verse 2 or 3 times with the motions.

Opening Activity: Each table will have a set of blocks with the books of the New Testament books on them. Each group will work together as a team to see who can put the books in order starting with Matthew. Each group may use a bookmarker with books on them or the table of contents in their Bible if they need help in getting the blocks in order. The table that finishes first will receive a Kingdom Buck. After activity is over the whole group will go over the books in order without the teachers helping them. Call on one of the children to lead the group. Encourage them to say the books real loud.

Again moderator will emphasize the memory verse. Choose some of the kids to illustrate the verse.

New Testament Relay: Moderator will divide the children into two teams and assigning 2 children as team captains, one for each group. The two teams will compete against each other. Moderator will give instructions to the teams. When the whistle blows the captains of these teams walk backwards to the boards on opposite sides of the room and they will write the first book of the New Testament on the board. Next person has to wait until the one in front of them gets back to hand off the marker to them they have to hop to the Board. Each person will alternate backwards and hopping to the board. Spelling is not important as them trying and getting the books in order. They are working together without any tools (bookmarker/bible). Team that finishes first will receive a Kingdom Buck! We will challenge them in working together as a team. Watch for teachable moments! After relay is over, teachers take your group to a corner in the room and debrief with them. Some questions you may ask: Was this activity hard? Did this activity help you learn more of the books of the New Testament that you did not know? Did you have fun with this activity? If you had the opportunity, would you like to do the activity again and why? These are just a guide, you may have some better. Did you see any teachable moments? This is the time to bring those up and talk about them with the group.

Welcome: Recognize any new person(s) to your group. Make a big to do over them.
Prayer and then introduce our next activity Sword Training.

Sword Training: Moderator will go over the rules. First remember our rule of respect when someone is talking or you will not be able to hear the scripture given out. Moderator will have a bowl containing strips of paper with scriptures on them from the New Testament. Moderator will pick one from the bowl and read it aloud to the group. Call out words slow and be precise where children can understand your words. The child who finds the scripture first will stand and read the scripture when others find the scripture.
This gives them opportunities to find book, chapter and verse but it also gives them an opportunity to read aloud before the group. Teacher will follow along in each group just in case they need help with words. Know your group if you know of someone who cannot read. Do something different. If you see that the same person finds the scripture every time. Change your rule in midstream. Create opportunities for others to read. You may choose the 2nd or 3rd person to read the scripture. Keep score on the board by group.
Debrief within your group. Is it getting easier to find the scriptures from when we first started last week? Do you like to read? Give some reasons why we need to know how to read in general? Why do we need to read the bible?

Summarize for the night
Go over the memory verse again.

Welcome to the Merge

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Noah & The Flood - Lesson Plan - Lavonia Outreach 10-23-08

Lesson 8 Noah & the Flood October 23

Permission Slips for Tri-City

Concepts:
Why the Flood? Sin had covered the earth
Obedience no matter what others think
Building of the Ark
Animals 2X2
God is Good – He makes a way of escape
Lots of rain
Favor of God
Rainbow

Grouping: Younger and older age groups by colors (Elyse)

Opening Activity: Friend to Friend Balloon Race (Lisa)

Timeline Review: (Marie)

Review Rules (optional) (Larry)

Grannie Annie: Noah & the Ark (Ann)
Sin a major problem-sin of Adam & Eve
God sorry He made man
Only Noah fellowshipped with God
Build an Ark
Animals and food
Length of time on boat
Rainbow

Memory Verse: Genesis 6:8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Ann)

Story in Action: Two Centers (Ken older group, Josh –younger)
Build and sail arks in tubs of water. (Plastic Easter Eggs, playdough, toothpicks, boats in water, Newspaper boats) (Elyse)

The Promise: Parachute represents the rainbow. (Marie)

Obedience results in the Favor of God: Group leaders pass out animal cracker to ones obedient.

Snack: (Large group) Stand Animal crackers in cake icing on graham crackers, then eat. Discuss the favor of God.

Sword training-as needed

Materials:
Balloons-Ann
Easter Eggs-Ann
Kiddie pool - Larry
Water hose -Larry
Toothpicks –Marie
Cake icing-Lisa
Graham crackers- Joshua
Animal crackers - Sherry
Handsanitizer- Marie
Playdough- Ann
Newspaper -Sherry
Parachute -Ann
Nuff ball –Ann
Vice grips – Larry
Paper towels – Sherry
Plastic knives – Lisa