Before the Session
Facilitator: In advance of the session
- Have the Bible Background Video ready to view.
- Review today’s scripture text and the session activities to help better facilitate the discussion.
- Encourage your group to listen to the Faithelement podcast ahead of the next session (Share the link via email or social media)
Context (From the Current Session Page)
Begin by talking with the group about how God loves people who may seem to have little value in the world. You might want to start by asking the group to think about someone they pass by regularly but pay little attention to, such as a grocery clerk, a traffic cop, a person on the street, or a hotel staff person. Share the story of the storm chasers who used GPS dots to honor Bill Paxton and ask:
– Jake DeFlitch drove to a point on the map to register his GPS dot. He “waited for the right moment to log his contribution,” he said. “I waited until all the letters lined up. I was part of the ‘P,’ right below one of the connections, where the half-circle came back and connected with the straight line.” What do you think it meant to him to be counted in this moment?
– If we saw one GPS dot on the map, it might be easy to overlook or ignore. Why does this tribute of many dots make an impact?
– In what ways does it matter to someone to know that they “count.”
– When you pass by people, how often do you stop and think about how this is a person God loves?
– Why is this often the last thing that might cross our mind?
Content (From the Youth Session Page)
Read Romans 5:1-11, then watch the Bible Background Video.
Ask your group:
- Why would Paul tell the readers to rejoice in their suffering?
- What makes such rejoicing possible or impossible?
- What does suffering lead to according to this passage?
- What role does suffering play in giving us hope?
- Who in your life might you die for if an emergency situation called for it?
- What have they done that you would consider them worthy of that sacrifice?
- Why would Christ die for sinners and not just for the righteous?
- How should that affect the way we treat others around us who might not seem to be worthy of our acceptance?
Closure (from the Media Session page)
Play the Interrogation movie clip and ask:
- When have you made big mistakes like Newt?
- Just as “Albus” Dumbledore was so proud of Newt, what makes God so found of you?
- What is so important about humanity that the Creator cares about us?
- How do develop hope in our times of suffering even if they are sufferings caused by our own mistakes?
- What is it about us that make us feel unworthy of divine help and care?
- What can we do this week to remind ourselves that we are no longer enemies with God but friends?
Play the Israel music video and close in prayer.