Gather for Soul Reports (5 min)
• Youth will gather in a circle and sing “Sanctuary” and offer soul reports about how their week was, and any praises or concerns
Introduction of the Scripture (5-8 min)
• Scripture can be offered in a variety of ways: group reading, acting out, storytelling, video, song – as long as it gets heard once without interruptions by one reader
• Today: Read the scripture Matthew 6:1-4 – read the verse through once where they just listen, and once again where they take turns so they have heard it twice.
Message (5 min)
• Today: “In the Secret” – This is not an easy scripture, especially for kids their age because we tell them to talk about Jesus and yet this verse says that faith is something to be done in private. It might help them to focus the point this way:
o Make a 2 lists, one of things they do because they get rewards, and one of things they would still do even if no one was going to find out about it (good things, not things they want to get away with)
o Look at both lists and talk about how they feel differently when they do things for attention or just “to feed their soul”
o Ask them if they would do any of the things on the rewards list if no one would find out they did it, or they wouldn’t get some kind of praise for it.
o The point: If we are Christians because it gets us positive attention or because we want other people to see us that way, then it isn’t ever going to stick. We have to go to church, pray, sing praise songs, help others – all those things not because someone is looking that we want to impress, because we like the minister or the people there, or because our parents like it when we do those things – but we should do them for ourselves or else it will never stick with us when we are adults.
Application (10-15 min)
• This is where things like a project with a purpose (not just a craft), role play, and other application activities fit in – making it the most interactive of the worship
• Today: Personal God Time- Different things feed our souls, and it is okay to choose different ways to feed your soul. Give them a few options (like centers) and allow them “worship like nobody is looking.” Options I will have set up include:
o A CD Station – they can sit and listen to praise songs, and sing if they want to.
o Scripture Station – just set some bibles out for them to freely explore, you might want to suggest a story or scripture so they don’t get frustrated flipping through for something that looks interesting
o Prayer Station – just set a few chairs up in a corner that they can spend silent time talking and listening to God
o Impromptu Station – if they come up with something else that works, fantastic, make it an option
Communion (5-8 min)
• Youth will sing “Let Us Break Bread Together” and gather at the table for a real communion meal. After the adult prepares the group for communion with words and prayer the youth will have a slice of bread, glass of juice and have a “Meal of Remembrance” until everyone finishes.
• Youth will be reminded that while they are eating the conversation needs to be about Christ: bible stories, things they know or learned about Jesus, or questions they are curious about – a weekly reminder will be given that communion is about remembering Jesus, and the words of the institution.
Closing (5 min)
• This should be a time to summarize and review the message and application with a short conversation, closing prayer, and end with the song “Bind Us Together”
• If worship isn’t finished yet, youth will quietly return to the sanctuary for the end of the service.
