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Outreach Agendas
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Family

Main Point: To show what our heavenly Father is like and how He can be a Father to us all.

Supplies:
  1. Small group questions (make copies for each leader you will have)

  2. Paper and pens/pencils for everyone

  3. Any necessary game props (if you choose to do a game)

Students Arrive:  During this time, make them feel really welcome. Build AT LEAST 15 minutes of pure hang out time into your program. Ensure that adult leaders are mingling with students, especially the new ones, and interacting with them. You will want to learn the names, contact info, and interests of new students. Here is a NEW PERSON FORM for doing that.

Bring it Together:
Summon all of the students and leaders to the front of the room, or wherever you will be leading from. You can do this in a number of ways: flash the lights, play loud music, use multi-media screens, etc. Get them in place as quickly as possible so that you can welcome them all together. You might say something like, "Hey guys. It is GREAT to see you here! Welcome to “name of youth ministry.”

Youth Challenge or Game:
A great way to get the attention of students is to play a game, perform a silly skit, or initiate some sort of challenge to the students. If you want to play a game to raise the level of excitement and anticipation, read JONATHAN’S SEVEN DEADLY SINS of game leading and THEN check out our Up-front Games.

You might want to try:
BALLOON POP RUSSIAN ROULETTE STYLE,
BANANA FOOT PEEL,
or ICE CHEST.

Announcements:  
While you have the students’ attention, make sure to CREATIVELY announce upcoming activities and events, especially the ones that impact the entire group (like summer camp, or mission trips, etc). It is also a good idea to have a pre-made flyer available to hand to the kids on their way out the door at the end of the night. If you choose to use this tool, mention it now. “And if you can’t remember ALL of these important things, relax. Mrs. Cook is going to have a flyer for you at the door when you leave.”

Discussion Starters:
Use this time to begin focusing the students on the spiritual reasons for them being with you. Here are some ON TOPIC questions for you to use to engage their minds as you begin to teach them about FAMILY. The best way to use these questions is to just ask the group from the front of the room or stage. If you have a large crowd, you will want to call on students to ensure that 50 kids aren’t talking at the same time. Also, when the students DO answer, make sure they are talking loud enough for EVERYONE to hear.

  1. Would you rather hang out with your family or your friends, AND WHY?


  2. How many of you guys’ moms have ever said to you while you were doing something dangerous, “If you break your leg, don’t come cryin’ to me!”?


  3. What is the goofiest rule your parents have for you and/or your siblings?


  4. What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened on a family vacation?


  5. Who thinks your parents punish them too severely when you break the rules?

Family Discussion Drama
Ask for a few volunteers from the crowd. Tell them that they are going to role play a few situations that are typical to most families. Do these one at a time, picking the students as you go. It is imperative that the actors try to imitate reality and not use the time as a standup comedy routine. Limit the time to about 4 minutes each.
    SITUATION #1
    You will need at least 3 actors. (1 Mom, 1 Dad, and 1 Son)
    “Last night the son came home an hour late. It's breakfast the next morning, and the subject is being discussed. Go.”

    SITUATION #2
    You will need at least 3 actors. (1 Mom, 1 Dad, and 1 Daughter)
    “The family is sitting down discussing oldest sister's future. The parents want her to go to college, but she wants to simply get a job and live with her friends. Go.”

    SITUATION #3
    You will need at least 4 actors. (1 Mom, 1 Dad, 1 Son, and 1 Girlfriend)
    “The subject of dating has come up around the dinner table while the son’s girlfriend is with them. Son and girlfriend have been dating for a long time now and parents want to make sure that they are being careful (from the standpoint of sex). Go.”
Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.  (During this time, ask students to be honest when they answer. If they choose not to answer, allow them to “pass.” Everyone must respect everyone else’s responses. Finally, ask them to remain confidential with what they discuss as a group. )

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.

  1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Tell everyone your name and three words that describe your family.


  2. ASK A FEW: If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?


    3. Read the following passage from the Bible:

      Matthew 21:28-32
      28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'  29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
      30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

      "The first," they answered.

      Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

  3. ASK SOMEONE: In Jesus’ story, the “father” represents God, the Father. Who do you think the “sons” represent? (leader–the answer you are looking for:they represent us.)


  4. ASK A FEW: What words would you use to describe the father Jesus talks about in this story?


  5. ASK A FEW: Are those words the same words you would use to describe God? Why or why not?


  6. ASK A FEW: At the end of these verses, Jesus drops the whole “story” bit and just talks openly about God and His Kingdom. What does this teaching say about the personality of God that He is willing to let “bad” people like prostitutes and tax collectors into His Kingdom? (leader – hopefully your students will pick up on the fact that God is gracious.)

Drawing My Family:
At this time, make sure everyone has a piece of paper and something to write with. Instruct them to fold the paper as if they were folding a letter for a regular envelope (tri fold). Then have them fold that in half. Now, unfold the paper to reveal the 6 small “squares” that the folds created. Since kids will be drawing, assure them that this is NOT a drawing test to rate their artistic ability. It is just a way to express feelings in a creative way.

    In the first square: Draw a letter, a symbol or a picture of the first thing you think of when you think of your dad.

    In the second square: Draw a letter, a symbol or a picture of the first thing you think of when you think of your mom.

    In the third square: Draw a horizontal line across this “square.” On the left side of the line write CLOSER and on the right side of the line write FARTHER AWAY. Now place yourself as a dot on the line, indicating which direction you are moving in your relationship with your parents. Are you drawing “closer” to them or “farther away?”

    In the fourth square: Draw a letter, a symbol or a picture of something you would do the same way if you were in your parents’ shoes. (In other words, symbolize something that they do that you like.)

    In the fifth square: Draw a letter, a symbol or a picture of something that you would do different if you were in your parents’ shoes. (In other words, symbolize something that you don’t like or wish they did differently.)

    In the sixth square: Draw a picture of something that would represent the perfect relationship with a parent.

After everyone has finished drawing, go around the group and allow everyone to share what their drawing is, and also what it means.

Large Group Wrap Up:
I hope you had a good time talking about your families tonight. We laughed a little, maybe some of us cried a little, but all of us thought a lot. We got a chance to describe our families through words and drawings. I hope that you learned something about your family tonight.

Our families are so important because they impact EVERYTHING that we do. So much of our lives are affected by who our families are-our level of relationship with them-and our health of relationship with them.

But we also looked at another kind of “family,” God’s. You heard Jesus describe His Father, God, as this radically forgiving and gracious father who loved his sons even though they did not exactly please him. We also saw that those “sons” were Jesus’ way of referring to us. Listen to another verse from the Bible that describes God’s love for us.

    “How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”     (1 John 3:1)

Tonight, some of you described parents that are absent from your lives. God the Father promises to never leave us, nor forsake us--EVER.

Tonight, some of you described parents that are unforgiving. God the Father is a loving Father that graciously forgives every single mistake and sin if we ask.

Tonight, some of you described parents that seem to want nothing to do with you. God the Father has paid the highest price in the Universe to ensure that we have the opportunity to have a relationship with Him through Jesus His Son.

Tonight, some of you described parents that do not love God. God the Father wants you to know that you should honor them with your life, no matter what.

I mess up a lot in life, you probably do, too. But I always know that God is still going to be there for me, ready to forgive me, and show me EVEN MORE of His love. Although it makes Him sad when I mess things up for myself- He still loves me. Some of you don't get this kind of love at home. This is the kind of love only God can give. If you want to start a relationship with this God tonight, all you need to do is talk to one of the adults before you leave. They can tell you what to do.

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