Daily Dilemmas

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The Crusader Union is a Bible-based, interdenominational Christian youth organisation, whose vision is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to students in the Independent Schools of Australia, to nur- ture Christians and to encourage church membership. Although all of the pages in may be photocopied for use in Christian groups, Crusaders request that each school purchase at least one original. However, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – elec- tronic, mechanical, recording, or any other – except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. © The Crusader Union of Australia Published February 2008 Eight sessions on Teenage Choices

description

How does God’s word affect our daily decisions? 8 sessions on common Daily Dilemmas faced by teens and how to make choices from a Christian perspective.

Transcript of Daily Dilemmas

The Crusader Union is a Bible-based, interdenominational Christian youth organisation, whose vision is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to students in the Independent Schools of Australia, to nur-ture Christians and to encourage church membership.

Although all of the pages in may be photocopied for use in Christian groups, Crusaders request that each school purchase at least one original. However, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – elec-tronic, mechanical, recording, or any other – except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

© The Crusader Union of AustraliaPublished February 2008

Eight sessions on Teenage Choices

Welcome

This resource has been specifically written with school groups in mind but can be adapted depending on your needs. It is based on the group running for approximately 30 minutes each meeting.

What’s InsIde?

• 8 sets of leader’s notes for regular meetings. The leader’s notes provide the aim of the study, a fun activity, discussion questions (with notes to help answer some questions) and prayer ideas.

• 8 student pages for regular meetings. The student pages can be photocopied and handed out if so desired. Each sheet contains the Bible passage (NIV), activities, questions and prayer ideas.

• 2 colour advertising posters designed to grab the attention of students and help increase awareness of your group. There is space for you to fill in your group name and where you meet. We encourage schools to use the ‘CRU School Groups’ logo when promoting their group so as to link students with the work that God is doing in other schools.

Before You start

• We make choices every day but how much are these choices impacted by God and His word? Our relationship with God, not the ideas and values of this world, needs to be the driving force and influence behind what we do. This series aims to challenge students to consider each week what influences them as they make their Daily Decisions - what is right or wrong, what to buy, listen to, watch, wear. A variety of media - internet, video and print - is used in this series and most of these can be downloaded from the Web Extras section of the Crusaders’ website:

http://www.crusaders.edu.au/ministry/resourcewebextras• Each week’s study seeks to use God’s word to highlight what godly choices are. Though

the studies in this series may be less structured, we encourage you to guide students to express their thoughts and make decisions which are guided by God’s word.

• Please note that all pages in this resource can be photocopied but Crusaders requests each school purchase at least one original.

• Further Reading: “1st Century Answers for 21st Century Questions” (SMBC Press). Dealing with different ethical issues and day-to-day questions, this book aims to give answers and directions from a biblical perspective, with each chapter written by different authors.

We pray that this resource will be a great help as you join in God’s work of bringing students to Himself and growing them to be like His Son.

“We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28–29

Week Title Passage Challenge

1How do I decide what’s right &

wrong?

Psalm 119:9-12;James 3:17

• God’s word provides us with a lens by which we can view the world and make decisions.

• Will you let the Bible shape your decisions?

2What are you

watching?2 Timothy 3:1-5

• How do the things we watch influence the way we think and behave?

• Will you need to change your viewing habits? Are you prepared to do it?

3What’s on your

space?Philippians 1:27;Romans 12:9-10

• Do we make every effort to be loving in the way we chat and manage our websites?

• How can we be loving in the way we relate to others on the internet?

4Would you listen

to what I listen to?Philippians 4:8-9

• Will your choices about music encourage you to grow in Christ?

• How can I be more shaped by God’s word?

5What am I going

to buy?

Matthew 6:19-21, 24;Proverbs 29:7;

2 Corinthians 9:7

• How can I spend my money on others who need it, not just myself?

• What ways can I use the money I have to serve God?

6Can I get a copy

of that?Romans 13:1-7;

Ephesians 4:22-28

• Would God want me to change anything in my music, movies or gaming collection?

• How can we encourage each other to be proactive for Christ on this issue?

7Isn’t my body

mine?Romans 6:11-14;

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

• Is my view of my body like God’s view of it? Why/why not?

• How do I honour God with my body (and attitude to it)?

8Why can’t I be free to be me?

Galatians 5:13-14;Romans 6:22

• How can we make wise choices with the freedom we have in Christ?

• Are you using your freedom to serve God and serve others with joy?

Week 1Leader’s

Notes

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challenge

God’s word provides us with a lens by which we can view the world and make decisions. Which lens are we using now? Will we let the Bible shape our decisions?

PreParatIon

q Read through Psalm 119:1-24 and James 3, familiarizing yourself with the context and content of the focus passage. Pray that students will further grow in their Christian discernment as they make decisions in life.

q Photocopy the Week 1 student page from page 20 for students.

q Prepare the Fun Activity by printing out instructions and clues from Web Extras and set up the fun activity before your meeting. Bring some kind of food reward for the winning team.

q Make up a pair of glasses with cardboard, some coloured cellophane and the template from Web Extras. These will be needed each week.

q Optional: Bring objects/pictures of things that can help you make decisions – e.g. a fortune cookie, magic 8 ball, photo of a friend/family members.

fun actIvItY

Choose your own adventure – team challenges

After printing out instructions and clues from the Crusaders’ Web Extras page, cut out the clues and place them around your meeting room. Split students into small groups and play the game, where choices have to be made at each location. Teams will need to make decisions quickly in order to finish the game.

When a team has won, debrief the game. What were some difficult choices? What were some easy ones?

This activity will help lead into discussing the idea of making decisions which are wise or unwise.

Introduce

How can we live in the right way? How can we make decisions and think through what is right and wrong? Some things are clear cut but others are not. So often the Bible says things about our salvation and about who Jesus is, but does it help shed any light on the decisions we have to make in every day life?

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at some typical choices we make in every day life, think through the dilemmas that face us and what the Bible has to say about these things.

dIscuss

1. What are some decisions that you need to make? Discuss the different types of decisions we need to make and work out, thinking of specific types of questions, from what to wear to what course to study. Have a range of questions with clear cut answers (Should I steal?) to questions with “grey” areas. Draw out some of the questions this series will be exploring in the coming weeks:

- What should I watch on TV?

- What should I do when on the internet?

- How much music should I listen to?

- How am I going to spend my money?

- Can I get around copyright?

- How should I view my body?

- Why can’t I be free?

2. Whose opinions or ideas do you listen to when making choices? What kinds of things influence your decisions? Hold up the tinted glasses you have brought along. Have volunteers try these shades on. Often we don’t realise that the way we view the world

How do I decide what’s right & wrong?Psalm 119:9-12, James 3:17

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How do I decide what’s right & wrong?Psalm 119:9-12, James 3:17

is tinted, or influenced by the things and people around us.

We are influenced by society, what our school teaches us, books, the media and our friends and family, as well as our own personal desires and preferences.

Have students discuss this and rank the order in which these things influence their decision making. Alternatively, discuss a scenario (e.g. you are thinking of what to do after your finish high school, but don’t know what you’d like to do... You’re a Christian but a non-Christian asks you out… How do you make this decision?)

Read out Psalm 119:9-12 and James 3:17

3. What influence does God have on our choices about what is right and wrong? What about when there are grey areas? Challenge students to think through the words of the 2 passages from the Bible, noting how much the word of God impacts the psalmist, as well as the characteristics of wisdom from God. We are all answerable to God, and those who are Christians need to live as people of God who are in relationship with Him (because that is who we are!). Point out that God’s word, the Bible, has wisdom for life. Although the Bible does not tell us specific answers to questions, as a Magic 8 ball tries to do, we are guided by God through His word to make right & wise decisions that are pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, sincere, etc. When we are faced with “grey areas”, knowing these characteristics will help us in our decision-making. If possible, discuss a specific “grey area” situation where you could apply biblical wisdom.

Hold up a pair of tinted glasses. Explain that it is not that we are aiming to eliminate the other influences in our life. However, what should influence a Christian most is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Because of this, God’s word and wisdom should “tint” how we view the

world and it should shape our decisions. This is what the Bible calls true wisdom.

aPPlY

How can God and His word shape our choices more and more?

We can get to know God and what He wants in His word and meditate on it (i.e. stop, think and pray), through regular bible reading, memorizing Scripture and also praying that God will help you to make wise choices.

Encourage students to stop, think and pray as they make choices, and encourage them to think through tough decisions before they have to be made. Christian friends can also encourage each other to choose with wisdom from God as they help each other make decisions.

PraYer

Spend time reflecting on the Bible verses once again, and use these as a starting point for prayer and thanksgiving. Thank God for His word that shows us His character and will and ask that our point of view will be increasingly shaped by God and His word.

fInIsh

One way to be guided by God and His word is to commit verses to memory! Aim to practice a memory verse together each week. Either of our focus passages would be great to learn over the next 7 weeks. Go through the verse(s) together in unison and encourage students to remember it next week.

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How do I decide what’s right & wrong?

Psalm 119:9-129 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

James 3:17 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

1 What are some decisions that you need to make?

2 Whose opinions or ideas do you listen to when making choices? What kinds of things influence your

decisions?

3 What influence does God have on our choices about what is right and wrong? What about when there are

grey areas?

Apply: How can God and His word shape our choices more and more?

We are not here to learn how to live in the dark but to walk

in the light. Vance Havner

Week 1