Purpose Statement/Goal:
While participating in an exciting team challenge of creating a launching mechanism out of bits and pieces of stuff, the youth will develop communication skills and bonding with their fellow youth group members. At the same time, they will begin to understand that they, as members of the youth group, have gifts and skills that when put together will help make a ministry rather than just the game they play today.
Supply Lists:
- Paper and Pencil for all
- A Tennis ball for each team (every 5-7 people)
- Masking tape to make an “X”
- 4 chairs
- 4 tables
- Assorted Junk that could be used to build a tennis ball ramp or launcher. (I.e. Tubes, sheet of Plexi-Glass, Boards of 4-6 feet + tape, clothes pins, hangers (may be hanger or any other supply you have in the closet)
- Bible or, better yet, knowledge of the Bible story below (A story read is ok but when told in the words of the leader as part of conversation the message is embraced better.)
Basic Outline:
Set Up: Arrange an arena area in which 4 tables on their side outline the area on all 4 sides. Place 4 chairs in the middle of the arena as obstacles with a 2’ x 2’ “X” in the center of the chairs. Have “junk supplies” lying on another table outside the arena area.
Movement 1: Divide the group up into 4 teams sending each team to a designated table area.
Movement 2: Once all teams are in place explain that today we have a challenge to make “junk” into something great. (Many have seen the TV show “Junk Wars” and will understand the format)
- 1. Give each team an assortment of “Junk” from the table making sure that you give each team a major component (such as a tube, a piece of plexi-glass, or 2 long sticks). Then give out the rest of the supplies randomly… What they get does not seem to really matter for their creativity will do the rest.
- 2. Give each team 10-15 minutes to create some kind of launcher/ramp in which their tennis ball will need to travel as close to the “X” in the middle as they can.
- 3. Each team will have 3 tries to get their ball as close to the X as possible. Between tries they can make adjustments to their creation.
Movement 3: Have everyone joined together in the Sanctuary or other space. Have them sit in a circle.
- 1. Read or better yet Re-tell in your words the story of the “Body” as described in 1 Corinthians 12:4-26. I really recommend that if you read it you only read 4-6 as this is a long passage and the length may weaken its power for youth. As you read/tell the story it would be helpful to explain that the writer (Paul) was attempting to unite people who were different and help them see that through that unity they could do great things.
- 2. Say: “Today we can be that same kind of community. Each of us have different gifts to offer the whole.” Hand out paper and Pencil to all and have them write at least one gift that they think they have to offer. Encourage them because youth often (ok most, including adults, tend to) think they do not have any gifts. Then ask them to share their gifts with the group.
- 3. At the end of hearing their gifts explain, “It is now time that we as a youth group begin to find out what our ministry is together. Sometimes we just come and have fun together but being a follower of Christ means more than just fun it means using those gifts we have to make a difference in this world.”
- 4. (2 options): 1) Continue the discussion about they see as something they can do together as a ministry and write it down and place on your youth room wall or 2) Announce that you are going to have a “Talent” show next meeting and they are invited to bring their gift of song, instrument, or other next week and then decide then what might be the ministry.
Movement 4: Close in a prayer circle in which each person is encouraged but not required to share their own joy or concern with the group and God and then the leader closes with a short prayer that lifts up their prayers and gives thanks for the gifts and talents in the group that with God’s help will become a ministry in this church.
Helpful Hints:
Allow about 20 minutes for setup and adjust the discussion times to the attention span and age of your group.
