AY Program Ideas: Be the ONE

Hello. How are you? I hope you are all doing well with God’s grace.

This week I will be sharing an activity based on a sermon my sister made for the church. This activity and program idea for a group dynamic and discussion, takes on the topic of being set apart, peculiar and going against the crowd.

This is a very important topic, especially for the youth these days. As we are surrounded by a lot of things that might influence us and make us “the same” with everyone else. It is very important as young SDAs that we make our mark, we have been called to stand apart.

According to the book Messages to Young People, 31.2, “Oh how important it is that every one shall consider where he is leading souls. We are in view of the eternal world, and how diligently we should count the cost of our influence.” We are the light, and our influence reaches souls. Is Jesus reflected in each of us?

Activity:

Divide congregation into classes or groups. Assign a leader and a secretary to write down their group answers and discussion highlights. Give a period of time to answer the questions below and allow the group to offer a special song before sharing their answers.

Assignment:

Group 1: Noah and his family vs Lot and his family.

Group 2: Daniel vs Jonah

Group 3: The one thankful leper out of ten vs Achan

Group 4: The Litttle Lad with fish and bread vs Zacchaeus

Group 5: Rahab vs Jesus

Questions:

1. What are the similarities between the two?
2. What are their differences?
3. How did each influence people around them?
4. What lesson can we learn from each of them?
5. As a youth and as a SDA, how should we influence others?

Conclusion:

“But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one-person Jesus Christ overflow for the many… For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one… For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous…”Romans 5:15, 17, 19.

Our influence may be such as to contaminate others, and we may be the cause of ruining those whom you might have brought to Christ.

We may lead from Christ, from right, from holiness, and from heaven. In the judgment the lost may point to us and say, “If it had not been for his influence, I would not have stumbled and made a mock of religion. He had light, and he knew the way to heaven. I was ignorant, and went blindfolded on my way to destruction.”

What answer can we give to such a charge? Will we be the one? The one Christ is looking for?

Brothers and sisters, let us be the one.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32

When God’s requirements lead us to an opposite course from that which our associates are pursuing, go resolutely forward, whether you follow many or few. God is with us. We are never alone.

Here I am Lord, send me.

Praying God’s best for you,

Chummie

AY Program Idea: Meeting God’s Heart

Hello everyone, how do we meet God’s heart’s needs? One way for sure is by bringing our Gift to our Maker. Let us learn this week what these gifts can be.

Activity:

Group congregation into classes or groups. And give them the questions below to answer. Give a few minutes for them to discuss within their group the answers to the questions. Let the group members share their answers and discussion results with the rest of the congregation. Ask them for a song.

Questions:

1. What gifts that God wants from us?
2. What can we offer to God?
3. What does Satan’s action to counter these?
4. How do we commit ourselves to God in these present times.
5. Does God accept compromise?

Conclusion:

We were made for God. “This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise.”
Isaiah 43:21

We are special. “Not more surely is there a place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God.”
Christ’s Object Lessons, page 327.

God needs each and everyone of us. “Our Redeemer thirsts for recognition. He hungers for the sympathy and love of those whom He has purchased with His own blood. He longs with inexpressible desire that they should come to Him and have life.” The Desire of Ages, page 191.

God paid for us because we are worth it. Our hearts were made for Him. [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7

He is seeking us. “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?
Genesis 3:9″

He wants to be with you and me. “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exodus 25:8″

His heart need is to be with us. Will you love him?

Persevering to be a gift,

Chummie

AY Program Idea: When Jesus says, “Come”.

THE CALL OF PETER AND HIS RESPONSE

Hello everyone, may this blog post reaches you in good spirits.

This week, the program idea that I would like to share focuses on Discipleship. I hope this program idea helps in any way it can, may it be in your personal spiritual endeavors or at your local AY program.

Introduction:

What does it mean when Jesus said “Come” and what should our responses be?

Activity:

Group congregation into classes or according to age. And assign a leader for each group.

Assign all the verses for each group. Allow some time for group discussion and at the end ask leaders to present their discussions to the congregation with a special song offered by the whole class.

Question: What does each verses mean and what should our response be?

Verse 1: Come unto Me (Matthew 11:28)

Verse 2: Come and see (1 John 1:35-42)

Verse 3: Come ye after Me (Mark 1:16-18)

Phrase 4: Come, learn of Me (Desire of Ages 331.3)

Verse 5: Come… and rest awhile (Mark 6:31)

Verse 6: Come (walk on water) Matthew 14:28

Verse 7: Come and dine (John 21:12)

Verse 8: [Come,] Follow Me in death (John 21:18-19)

Verse 9: Come… inherit the kingdom (Matthew 25:34)

Conclusion:

True Christian life is following as Jesus calls. It is coming every time He says, “come”.

All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God…. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng and the strain of life’s intense activities, he who is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts.

God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. Desire of Ages 224.5

“Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29. And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor.

In giving ourselves to God, we must necessarily give up all that would separate us from Him. Hence the Saviour says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33. Whatever shall draw away the heart from God must be given up. Mammon is the idol of many. The love of money, the desire for wealth, is the golden chain that binds them to Satan. Steps to Christ 44.1

Reputation and worldly honor are worshiped by another class. The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. But these slavish bands must be broken. We cannot be half the Lord’s and half the world’s. We are not God’s children unless we are such entirely.

Dear Youth, Where are you in your walk with Jesus? Do you hear His voice? He is saying, “Come. Leave something behind, and come closer to Me.”

Matthew 16:24 says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

“I will follow Thee, my Saviour,
Where-so-ere my lot may be.
Where Thou goest I will follow;
Yes my Lord, I’ll follow Thee.”

Just like the song, may we all decide to follow and respond accordingly to the will and call of Jesus.

Praying for all of us,

Chummie

AY Program Idea: Butterflies and Bees

Hello everyone, today I will be sharing one of the sermons I found while going through the archive of files in my computer, I hope you will be blessed by this program idea as much as I was.

Introduction

How do groups of people work together and accomplish anything if each group and individual is different from all the others?

Everywhere we turn, it takes cooperation. Do we need that in the home, in the church, in the institution?

Everywhere we turn, it takes cooperation. Do we need that in the home, in the church, in the institution?

BEES are known for the following:

Organization
Cooperation
Teamwork
Unity
Responsibility

The Queen Bee

For the Bees, they have REGIMENTED ORGANIZATION. The hive is everything. The individual is nothing.

The industrious bee gives to men of intelligence an example that they would do well to imitate. These insects observe perfect order, and no idler is allowed in the hive. They execute their appointed work with an intelligence and activity that are beyond our comprehension. (Child Guidance, 59.2)

How often do you see a swarm of butterflies all flying together? Do they have a hive? Do they have a queen?

Every butterfly is her own queen.

Appealing, isn’t it? “Be your own boss.” “You’re not accountable to anyone.” “Nobody tells you what to do.”

In the home teach your children true courtesy; teach them how to keep busy and be helpful; teach them that they are not in this world as mere butterflies, but to form a character after the pattern of Christ, and that they may have that life which measures with the life of God, an immortal inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. {BEcho, November 19, 1894 par. 9}

Children and youth have trained their minds so that they delight in exciting displays; and they have a positive dislike for the sober, useful duties of life…. They have no thoughts of God, or of eternal realities; but flit like butterflies in their season. (Adventist Home 526.2)

God’s servants are to work together, blending in kindly, courteous order, “in honor preferring one another.” Romans 12:10. There is to be no unkind criticism, no pulling to pieces of another’s work; and there are to be no separate parties. Every man to whom the Lord has entrusted a message has his specific work. Each one has an individuality of his own, which he is not to sink in that of any other man.

Yet each is to work in harmony with his brethren. In their service, God’s workers are to be essentially one. No one is to set himself up as a criterion, speaking disrespectfully of his fellow workers or treating them as inferior. Under God, each is to do his appointed work, respected, loved, and encouraged by the other laborers. Together they are to carry the work forward to completion. {AA 275.2}

On the other hand, the leaders among God’s people are to guard against the danger of condemning the methods of individual workers who are led by the Lord to do a special work that, but few, are fitted to do. Let brethren in responsibility be slow to criticize movements that are not in perfect harmony with their methods of labor.

Let them never suppose that every plan should reflect their own personality. Let them not fear to trust another’s methods; for by withholding their confidence from a brother laborer who, with humility and consecrated zeal, is doing a special work in God’s appointed way, they are retarding the advancement of the Lord’s cause. {9T 259.1}

“…in Christian administration, we are to learn how to combine the advantages of the bees program with the advantages of the butterfly program.”

Activity

Group congregation into classes or into groups with varied members. Assign a leader and a secretary, and allot time for the groups to discuss and answer the following questions:

1.) How are we different? What makes members of the church different?

2.) How are we the same? What makes us the same?

3.) Problems and conflicts are sometimes unavoidable, how do we deal with it? What advises does the Bible and other testimonies give or these times?

4.) As a member of the family of God and the church, how are to cultivate cooperation?

5.) How important are personal sacrifices in a group? And how should we deal with it?

Conclusion:

From the endless variety of plants and flowers, we may learn an important lesson. All blossoms are not the same in form or color. Some possess healing virtues. Some are always fragrant. There are professing Christians who think it their duty to make every Christian like themselves. This is man’s plan, not the plan of God. In the church of God there is room for characters as varied as are the flowers in a garden. In His spiritual garden there are many varieties of flowers. –Letter 95, 1902. {Ev 99.1}

If you get things done at the sacrifice of individuality, do you know what you are preparing people for, whether you did it in the school, or the church, or the home, or the workplace?
THE MARK OF THE BEAST

The world may lean on to become more in the notion of “Individuality”, and people might say that you do not have to compromise or let go of what makes you happy, or what you want. The world may teach us to prioritize self happiness, but, this is not about us. This is not about me. There is a bigger picture in play.

Salvation may be on an individual basis, but we are given the task to encourage, spread the news of God’s love, be more like Jesus. And He is the inspiration we should look up to. He sacrificed Himself. God sacrificed His Son.

butterflies-and-beesDownload

God’s work in progress,

Chummie

AY Program Ideas: Strength of Character

Hello everyone. This program ideas was inspired by a sermon I heard a few years ago. And whilst browsing through my computer, I have found a copy of the sermon and would like to share it with you all.

Introduction:

Fallen Youth – youth who once were in Christ.

In these days of peril and corruption, the young are exposed to many trials and temptations. Many are sailing in a dangerous harbor. They need a pilot; but they scorn to accept the much-needed help, feeling that they are competent to guide their own bark, and not realizing that it is about to strike a hidden rock that may cause them to make a ship-wreck of faith and happiness.” (Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 100)

“There is nothing in Christianity that is capricious. If a man does not exercise his arm it becomes weak and deficient in muscular strength, unless the Christian exercises his spiritual powers, he acquires no strength of character, no moral vigor.” (Gospel Herald, May 1, 1898)

“Satan is gratified to have the attention of youth attracted by anything to divert their minds from God so that the deceiver can steal a march upon them and they, unprepared for his attacks, be ensnared.” (Testimonies, vol. 1; p. 501)

“Children should be trained and educated so that they may calculate to meet with difficulties and expect temptations and dangers. They should be taught to have control over themselves and to nobly overcome difficulties, they will have strength of character to stand for the right and preserve principle and will come forth in the strength of God with their morals untainted. The moral powers of youth who have been properly educated, if they make God their trust, will be equal to stand the most powerful test.” (Adventist Home, p. 471)

“There are those to be met with everywhere who have no fixed principles. It is hard for them to resist temptation. Let it come from what quarter, and in what form it may, and every precaution must be taken to surround them with influences that will strengthen their moral power.”

“Let them be separated from these helpful influences and association, be thrown with a class who are irreligious, and they will soon show that they have no real hold from above; they trusted in their own strength.”

“That kind of easy good nature which can never nerve itself to give decided refusal to any proposal that would injure his moral and religious influence in the sight of God and of man is always under the control of Satan far more than under the control of the Spirit of God. They are led into evil very easily because they have a very accommodating disposition, and it hurts them to give a square No, “I will not do this wickedness and sin against God.”

If invited to take a glass with merry men or women, they are led as an ox to the slaughter, they join with the impious, who laugh at the ready compliance afterwards. There is no interior strength to fall back upon. They do not make God their trust. They have no high principles of duty.”

Activity:

Group congregation into classes or groups according to age. Assign a leader and a secretary. Give the following questions below and give time to discuss and answer. After the allotted time, let each group representative share and discuss with the rest of the congregation their answers. You may ask group to fer a song first before sharing their discussion answers.

Questions:

1. How does a person develop strength of character? What are the parents’ role?
2. Strength of character consists of two things–power of will and power of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. Differentiate these two powers and cite examples from the Bible of characters who had strong strength of characters. (Examples: Joseph, Daniel, Jesus and etc.)
3. Problems with a fallen will or mind (Romans 8: 7, Jeremiah 17: 9, Romans 7: 18)
4. God’s answer to the problem (Philippians 2: 5 and 13)
5. How do we bring our will into submission to the will of God?
6. Added question for parents’ group: How do we rear children to become self controlled?

Conclusion:

The real greatness and nobility of the man is measured by his powers to subdue his feelings, not by the power of his feelings to subdue him. The strongest man is he who, while sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies.

The elevation or deterioration of the future of society will be determined by the manners and morals of the youth growing up around us. As the youth are educated, and as their characters are molded in their childhood to virtuous habits, self-control, and temperance, so will their influence be upon society.

If they are left unenlightened and uncontrolled, and as the result become self-willed, intemperate in appetite and passion, so will be their future influence in molding society. The company which the young now keep, the habits they now form, and the principles they now adopt are the index to the state of society for years to come.

We shall be individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives of those who form right habits, and are faithful in the performance of every duty, will be as shining lights, shedding bright beams upon the pathway of others; but if habits of unfaithfulness are indulged, if lax, indolent, neglectful habits are allowed to strengthen, a cloud darker than midnight will settle on the prospects in this life, and forever debar the individual from the future life.

In childhood and youth, the character is most impressible. The power of self-control should then be acquired. By the fireside and at the family board, influences are exerted whose results are as enduring as eternity. More than any natural endowment, the habits established in early years decide whether a man will be victorious or vanquished in the battle of life.

What a great mistake is made in the education of children and youth, in favoring, indulging, and petting them! They become selfish and inefficient, and lack energy in the little things of life. They are not trained to acquire strength of character by the performance of everyday duties, lowly though they may be.

No one is qualified for great and important work, unless he has been faithful in the performance of little duties. It is by degrees that the character is formed, and that the soul is trained to put forth effort and energy proportionate to the task which is to be accomplished.

Praying for you,

Chummie