 | |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
God - In the Midst of Our Trials: The Fray - You Found Me Main Point of Discussion: Where can we find God in the midst of trials and tragedies? The Fray’s ‘You Found Me’ is quickly climbing the charts and is becoming the talk of the youth culture. Here’s a little background and some quotes from Isaac (of The Fray) about the song:
This song was inspired by a dream. Isaac Slade told The Sun, February 6,2009: "I dreamt I ran into God on a street corner. He looked like Bruce Springsteen and he was smoking a cigarette. I had it out with him and asked 'Where were you when all this bad stuff was happening to these very undeserving, good people?'" Slade, whose Christian faith is important to him added: "There were tough times. I was questioning my faith, angry at things that had happened in my life and the lives of my friends. A friend had suffered a miscarriage, I had lost my grandfather. I was angry and the song felt angry and hopeless too. I imagined what I'd say to God, in the face of all the crap my friends have gone through in the last couple of years." (www.songfacts.com) At THE SOURCE FOR YOUTH MINISTRY we like to use pop culture references to start Biblical conversation (just like the Apostle Paul used culture to start conversations about Jesus in Acts 17). This song might be a good discussion starter in some circles. If you want, you can print out the lyrics (below) and give each student a copy to refer to. Introducing the Song: Many of you might have already seen the relatively new song from The Fray, “You Found Me.” I’m going to play the song, and then I want to hear from you.
I found God on the corner of 1st and Amistad Where the West was all but won All alone, smoking his last cigarette I said, "Where've you been?" He said, "Ask anything." Where were you, when everything was falling apart. All my days were spent by the telephone that never rang And all I needed was a call that never came To the corner of 1st and Amistad Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you? Just a little late, you found me, you found me. But in the end everyone ends up alone Losing her, the only one who's ever known Who I am, who I'm not and who I wanna to be No way to know how long she will be next to me Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you? Just a little late, you found me, you found me. The early morning, the city breaks And I've been calling for years and years and years And you never left me no messages You never sent me no letters You got some kind of nerve taking all I want Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me Lying on the floor, Where were you? Where were you? Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me Lying on the floor, surrounded, surrounded Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you? Just a little late, you found me, you found me. Why'd you have to wait, to find me, to find me? [The Fray Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ] In this song we have a lot of issues being raised, primarily revolving around feelings of loneliness, trials, and asking some critical questions about God and life. Large Group Questions:
Transitional Statement: In the lyrics to the song, The Fray brings up some serious issues to God in the midst of loneliness and loss. What’s interesting is that these same questions and issues are found in what most scholars believe to be the oldest book in the Bible. Divide into Small Groups: Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups to discuss this, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word. CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders. Discussion Questions:
Okay, now I’m going to hand each of you a piece of paper. (Pass out one piece of blank paper to every student.) ‘You Found Me’ brings up one of the toughest questions that Christians ask or are even afraid to ask, which is, ‘Where is God when bad things happen?’ Right now, we’re going to take a moment and write something that NO ONE ELSE will see. We are all going to write out the times in our lives that have caused us to question or even doubt God. Take a few minutes and write down what happened and what questions you had for God at the time. (Youth Leaders- be sure and give an example or two.) (Give students a few minutes and have them write down the trials they’ve experienced and how it caused them to question God.) Don’t worry… no one will see this piece of paper but you… so you can be honest. You have just 5-10 minutes to work on your list. It’s not surprising that we all have had times in our lives where things have gone differently than we expected and it has caused us to wonder where God was in the midst of those trials. (Give a brief background of the story of Job.) Read the following passage from the Bible: Job 1:13-22 (NLT) One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” 22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (Summarize the rest of the story with Job in terms of his friends’ poor view of trials... i.e. because Job had sin in his life.) Read the following passage: Job 31:35-37 (NLT) If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince. (Explain that these are the words of Job - and he is basically trying to justify himself before God as being innocent and therefore not deserving of trials.) (Explain that God does take the time to answer Job, basically telling Him that life is a lot more complicated than just ‘good times’ and ‘bad times’ - as well as painting a clear picture that He is in complete control even when it looks bad from our vantage point.) Read the following passage: Job 42:1-6 (NLT) Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Take some time for questions, then all together: On the back of the paper the students used at the beginning of the meeting, ask them to now write out an imaginary letter that Job might send to them in answer to their difficult circumstances. Wrap Up: Tonight we’ve been talking about how our difficult times can often cause us to question God’s goodness or even if He is still there for us. The clear message from Job is that while it may seem like God is distant or uncaring when trials come our way, the fact is that there is a much bigger picture that we can’t see, and the bottom line is that we need to trust that God is in control. Preferred Optional Closing Illustration: If you, as a leader, have a personal story of a time in your life when you went through a difficult time and felt confused or wondered where God was but later were able to look back and understand or see how God was there in the midst, you could share this now if appropriate. Personal stories can be some of the most powerful and easy to relate to for students. Option #2 Closing Illustration:
(Anonymous) Close in Prayer By Lane Palmer |
|
 PRE-ORDER NOW & GET FREE PPT TRAINING TODAY   CLICK HERE FOR MORE  |
|
© 1999-2009 The Source for Youth Ministries
Site Disclaimer
|
Designed by WebNurds |