Breaking the Rules

Last night at youth group we provoked our students to think about how Jesus broke the rules and in turn how we might also need to break the rules. In our study of John, we looked at chapter 5 when Jesus heals on the Sabbath. Of course this was against the Jewish Sabbath laws and Jesus gives a great answer "my father is still working and I am still working." In our large group we also made the claim that Jesus chose the man who had been paralyzed for 38 years because there had been a social rule about healing yourself first, ignoring someone on the fringes and looking down on someone who was paralyzed. All rules that Jesus broke.

Nothing about the evening was a total home run, but the two truths and a lie tournament was a good fit and it allowed our kids to get to know each other better. The silly stunt was fun, but just a time filler. The large group was good - Bibles in hands of teenager and a good study - but the technology wasn't smooth and we waited for the youtube clip to buffer. The small groups were good, but I don't think all the groups got to the point of challenging each other to break a social rule for Jesus.

Gathering + snacks
Silly stunt - the pour!

Choose 4 contestants and give them each a glass filled with ice and a bottle of soda (coke?). Instruct each contestant to pour the soda into the glass and see who can fill up the glass with the most soda on one pour without spilling.

Joys and Concerns
Ice Breaker - Fellowship Hall - two truths and lie

First, split in groups of 4-5, then in groups of 8-10, then transition back to youth room and have one contestant from each group share (be sure to sit by your group)

Large Group Lesson (John 5:1-18) - pass out Bibles
       http://twentytwowords.com/2011/06/08/new-yorker-rides-into-obstacles-in-bike-lanes-to-prove-a-point/
Small Groups
Prayer and Praise