Club Talk Prep Packet - Young Life Talk Packet.pdf · • Colossians 1:15 -- He is the visible expression of the invisible God. • Colossians 2:9-10 -- He is the full and complete

Club Talk Prep Packet

To download out a larger version of this document, go to:http://acadiana.younglife.org/Pages/LeaderResources.aspx

Message Schedule

Typical calendar for high school club.

Semester 1:IntroductionPerson of ChristPerson of ChristNeedNeedNeedChristmas story/ Jesus coming near (possibly given by a high school senior)

Semester 2:Person of ChristNeedNeedSin/CrossResurrectionAppropriation/ Commitment, Having a relationship with Christ and the costSenior Sharing/ Testimony

Typical club talks for middle school kids are heavy on person of Christ and need. The goal is to have a similar message schedule to that of high school world, but in an age appropriate way.

**Every club talk should be a person of Christ talk: Because each club talk is rooted in the Gospels, it is important that no matter the topic, in every talk the qualities of Jesus’ personality and character must be conveyed.

!1

Club Talks - Messages Introduction:• John 10:10 – Life to the Fullest/ Abundant Life• Mark 8:27-30; Mt. 16:13-16; Luke 9:18-20 – Peter, Who do you say I am?• John 1:14 – The Incarnation – God Here with Us (also see birth narratives)• John 1:35-39; 43-46 – Come and See• John 1:43-51 – What Good Can Come from Nazareth? (misconceptions, incorrect picture of God/

Jesus)• Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus the Tax Collector• How do we know that Jesus is God? - a very good article about an “Intro to Christ” talk from the

Young Life Leader Blog:http://www.younglifeleaders.org/2013/09/first-club-talk-of-semester-jesus-is-god.html

Person of Christ: The goal of these talks is to help kids fall in love with the person of Jesus. We will attempt to correct some misconceptions about Him and communicate winsomely the salient facts about His identity, claims and character.

His Identity: Jesus is 100 percent God and 100 percent human. He’s 200 percent! We need to communicate both.

Scripture about His deity:• John 1:14 -- The word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jesus was God become

man!).• Colossians 1:15 -- He is the visible expression of the invisible God.• Colossians 2:9-10 -- He is the full and complete expression of God in bodily form.• John 10:30 -- I and the Father are one.• Hebrews 1:3 -- He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His

nature.Scriptures about His humanity:• Hebrews 2:14-18 -- He partook in flesh and blood and was made like us in all things.• Hebrews 4:15 -- He was tempted in all things as we yet was without sin.• Gospels -- He was born, thirsted, hungered, cried, laughed, loved, grieved, angered,

bled, died, etc.

In Jesus, we see what God is like and how He is inaugurating His kingdom, His reign and His rule in the hearts and lives of individuals. In Him, we also see what it means to be authentically human, living life in right relationship with and dependent on the Father.  His Claims: We can gain a more accurate picture of Jesus by considering what He claimed about Himself as well as what others claimed about Him.

Some Scriptures that speak of His claims:• John 6:35. I am the bread of life; He who comes to me will never go hungry.• John 9:5 -- I am the light of the world. • John 10:7 -- I am the door of the sheep.• John 10:10 -- I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.• John 10:14 -- I am the good shepherd.

!2

• John 11:25 -- I am the resurrection and the life.• John 14:6 -- I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father

except through me.• John 15:1 -- I am the vine.  

His Character: The Gospels speak volumes of His character. By looking at Jesus, we can see how God thinks and acts — what He values and how He responds to people and situations.  Just a beginning list could include:

• His compassion -- the leper• His forgiveness -- the paralytic• His "personalness" -- the woman with hemorrhage• His power -- the lunatic/walking on water/Lazarus• His focus on God -- retiring to pray• He longs to touch us -- the leper• He’s a friend of sinners -- Zacchaeus• He’s angered by injustice -- cleansing of the temple• He loves sacrificially -- the cross

• Jesus the Word - John 1: 1-5, I John 1: 1-4• Wedding at Cana - John 2: 1-11• Jesus clears the Temple - John 2: 12-17; Mark 11:15-19• Jesus feeds the 5,000 - John 2: 12-17• Woman caught in adultery - John 8: 1-11• Raising of Lazarus - John 10: 17-43• Jesus heals a leper - Mark 1: 40-45• Jesus heals a paralytic - Mark 2: 1-12• Jesus heals hemorrhaging woman - Mark 5: 25-34• Jesus heals blind Bart - Mark 10: 46-52• Miraculous catch of fish - Luke 5: 1-11• Jesus raises/ heals a widow’s son - Luke 7: 11-15• Jesus anointed by a sinful woman - Luke 7: 36-47• Christ the Image of God - Colossians 1: 15-20• Birth of Christ - Luke 1 and 2• Jesus Calms the Storm — Mark 4:35-41; Mt. 8,23-27; Luke 8:22-25• Jesus Feeds 5000 — Mark 6:30-44; Mt. 14:13-21; Luke 9:10; John 6:5-13 • Jesus Walks on Water — Mark 6:45-51; Mt. 14:22-32; John 6:15-21• Feeding of 4000 — Mark 8:1-10• Zacchaeus the Tax Collector — Luke 19:1-10

Need for Christ:• Woman at the well - John 4: 4-26• Healing at the pool - John 5: 1-9• Jesus calms the storm - Mark 4: 35-41• Jesus walks on the water - Matthew 14: 22-33• Man with Leprosy — Mark 1:40-45; Mt. 8:2-4; Luke 5:12-14• Man with Shriveled Hand —Mark 3:1-6• Bleeding Woman — Mark 5:25-34

!3

• Healing of Deaf and Mute Man — Mark 7:31-37; Mt. 15:29-31• Healing of Blind Man at Bethsaida — Mark 8:22-26• Blind Bartimeus — Mark 10:46-52; Mt. 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43

Sin:• Illustrations: sin is a cancer, leprosy, sin is missing the mark (archery term); separation from God

(barrier); severed life line between us and God (cut the cord of an iPod charger); visual of playing in the mud and we can’t enter the house

• Romans 3:23 – all have sinned and fall short• Romans 6:23a – wages of sin is death• Isaiah 53:6 – all like sheep have gone astray• Mark 14:27-31; Mt. 26:31-35 – Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial• Mark 14:66-72; Mt. 26:69-75; Luke 22:56-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27 – Peter’s Denial of Jesus• I John 1: 8

**Typically at home, we will combine the sin and cross talks. We don’t want kids leaving club just hearing about sin. What if they don’t come back next time? As a result, this talk may be a little longer than the typical club talk (maybe about 20 minutes).

Cross/Provision: we are trying to communicate three basic things. First, that Jesus’ death on the cross was the proof of God’s amazing love (Romans 5:8). Second, that Jesus' death on the cross accomplished an objective goal: removing the barrier that sin creates by Jesus physically bearing our sin in His body (1 Peter 2:24). Third, that the purpose of Jesus’ death on the cross, simply put, was to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). Our goal is to help kids understand that the possibility now exists for a relationship with God (where it did not before) and to feel and be moved by the depth of the love shown by Jesus willingly taking our place on the cross.

Finish your illustration that you started when you introduced sin: Jesus’ death removes the barrier, we are washed clean in the blood of Christ, Jesus offers us a new life line, etc.

• Arrest and Crucifixion — Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23, Mark 14-15, John 18-19• Redemption through Christ — Romans 3:23-24• Gift of God is eternal life — Romans 6:23a-b• God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us — 2 Cor. 5:21• Romans 5: 6-8• I Peter 3: 18• Titus 3: 5• Ephesians 2: 8-9• John 3:16• John 10:10-18• John 12:32-33• John 15:13

!4

Resurrection Talk: Our God is alive! We cannot have a relationship with someone who is dead, and Christ is not dead because He rose from the dead. That is why we are able to know Him, love Him, and be with Him in this life and the next!• Mark 16:1-8• Mt. 28:1-8• Luke 24:1-10

Appropriation/ Commitment, Having a relationship with Christ and the cost: these talks could actually happen over the course of a few weeks depending on your semester schedule. The goal: so what do we do with Christ’s sacrifice for us? It demands a response. A relationship with Christ brings a new life to us and Christ invites us to tell this Good News to others.• Rich Ruler - Luke 18: 18-27• Nicodemus - John 3: 1-17• Jesus heals a blind man - John 9: 1-7• Hot or cold - Revelation 3: 14-20• Peter, Who do you say I am? Mark 8:27-30; Mt. 16:13-16; Luke 9:18-20 • Faith of Centurion — Luke 7:1-10: Mt. 8:5-13• Lost/Prodigal Son — Luke 15:11-24• Woman Anointing Jesus with Perfume — Mark 14:3-9• Rich Young Man — Mark 10:17-22; Mt. 9:16-3-; Luke 18:18-30• Cost of Following Jesus (tough one) — Luke 9:57-62• Widow’s Offering — Luke 21:14

Most of the messages on this list can be used for more than one purpose. For example, many of the person messages can be used as need messages.

Resources In this book, Ken Gire helps provide context to the events surrounding the life of Christ. Drawing together in their entirety the four Gospel accounts, this is a devotional book that sets the events of the Gospels in chronological order. This is a great personal devotion book and is a great spring board as you try to figure out how to share the Gospel in Young Life in a Club talk.

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is written to share Scripture accounts with young kids in mind, but people age two to 82 can get a lot out of this book! Scripture is communicated in a powerful, simple way. Every account re-told, Old and New Testament, points toward Christ. This book is a useful tool for much of what we do in Young Life, but for the purposes of club talks, it helps pick out the main points of the Gospel accounts from an angle where the furthest out kid can appreciate.

Also, check out the Young Life Leader Blog: younglifeleaders.org

!5

Club Talk Outline Illustration

Begin the talk with a question or a compelling statement.Opening StoryThe story is not just a time filler or chance to be funny.Tell story that relates to their life, not just your life.

Use illustrations that kids can relate to.Important Steps:

1. Think of the point you want to make first.2. Pick a Scripture that makes this point.3. Decide on your illustration.

It should be made clear by the end how the story relates to the Gospel.Jesus used illustrations almost every time he taught.

TransitionWrite it down. (“About 2000 years ago, a similar thing happened to Jesus.”)

Biblical Account/ PointCity referenceHold the Bible as you make transition into this section of your talkRead from Bible

You may paraphrase parts, but don’t paraphrase everything.Read a short passage, perhaps the actual words of Christ.

Underline in your Bible exactly which verses you do want to read directlyHave a “Club talk Bible” (ex. NIV translation, non-intimidating-looking bible)

Relationship to their lifeRelate Gospel back to illustration.Spell out what it means to them as kids.

ClosingGive one or two questions to think about.Write out questions

Ex. - “If this is who Jesus is, would this be a person you would like to know?”Give informal or formal invitation to ask jesus into their hearts.End with a short prayer

!6

Helpful Hints in Giving a Club Talk • Length: 8-12 minutes for high school; 5-10 minutes for middle school• Sometimes it’s good to review what was talked about last club or refer to some characteristic of

Jesus mentioned the club before.• Sticky notes/ clip index cards in Bible• Highlight verses you want to read directly• Ask other leaders to critique you (both in things you should continue to do and those you should

not).• Practice club talk in car while driving, in front of mirror, etc.• Be sure not to use Christian vocabulary in talks.

In giving your talk,• Always thank kids for being at club.• Don’t refer to Scripture as a story.• Use third person—“we” are all in it together.• Mention kids’ names where appropriate

• Ex. - “Jesus thinks the world of all of us! He says, “Tyler you are precious to me. Lexi, Joey, Lauren, Abby...you are precious to me. I want to know you Mariah, Mary, Sam, Grace. You are precious to me Gabi, Bradley...”

• Don’t “challenge” kids, but “encourage them to think.”• End with the one thing you want kids to take home.• Always pray after the club talk.

IN CLUB, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT JESUS. WE ALWAYS SPEAK FROM THE GOSPELS.

Preparing a Talk with Excellence• Begin preparing talk two weeks ahead of your scheduled date. Be open to the idea that you are

giving a talk as you think and pray.• Select your Scripture at least a week before.• Organize your outline by the weekend before your talk.• Be ready to give your talk (not notes) at least 4 days before you club (Monday for YL, Tues. or

Wed. for WyldLife). Avoid last minute planning.• Polish your talk the last few days before club.• Practice your talk with others frequently—actually give the talk!

Excellence is not the same as perfection. Excellence infers doing the best we can with the resources available and with an appropriate balance of time. It also means doing what we do thoroughly and thoughtfully, rather than just throwing something together or copying what worked for someone else.

WyldLife:• Make sure that you have a physical illustration, but one that will not distract.

Strengthen your delivery by adhering to these guidelines:1. Show them you are excited for them to hear this message; speak with enthusiasm and

passion. Thank them at the start for the chance to share with them.

!7

2. Talk in terms of their interests. Open with a question or story that draws them in. Show your audience you understand them.

3. Keep it short and to the point. Usually 10-15 minutes for Young Life/5-10 minutes for WyldLife.

4. Answer the question, "So what?" Show them how this message relates to them. Leave them with a specific challenge or something to think about regarding how they should act upon this message. Jim Rayburn challenged his leaders to always give kids something to believe and something to do.

5. With the Bible open, make the story come alive. Put the audience in the story and let them experience Jesus. Tell the story, don't just read it.

6. Talk to your audience, not at them. If you know your talk well, you can even focus on individuals in the room as you speak.

7. Be creative rather than set in a predictable routine. Creativity holds attention. ◦ Use innovative entrances ◦ Weave music or movie clips into your talk ◦ Use props as illustrations, when appropriate. These are more memorable than verbal

alone. ◦ Have a message with a Q & A time, or have a panel discussion on a topic that interests

your teenagers, i.e., What does God think about drinking or sex? How to talk so your parents will listen, etc.

Remember: Kids may come to Young Life because of the skits or the girl/guy ratio, but the message you give each week is what their hearts come to hear. The talk is not to be taken lightly or considered "just part of club." You are opening the Word of God, and it needs to be handled with respect and a healthy fear. This might also be the first and only time a kid hears the Gospel — make sure it is worthy of our Father.

!8

With a few quick tips, you can tighten up your talk. This list works well as a checklist after your talk is completed, ensuring you haven't missed anything.

IncludeClear and specific goalAudience mindsetShort first sentenceInteresting first sentenceUse of present tense where possibleStrong, descriptive verbsStorytelling in "raw" concrete terms – as the eyes and ears of the listenerA story you'd like to hear Inclusive language ("we")Thank the kids for coming to club.

AvoidChristian wordsPoor transition from thought to thoughtNo ScriptureToo much reading or reliance on notes"Uhs" or nervous habits, filler wordsToo many pointsPoor organizationLack of preparationDistractionsInappropriate illustrations, kids can't relateToo long or too short – 8-15 minutes for Young Life/ 5-10 for WyldLifeUnder- or overdeveloped storyActing like a know-it-all

!9

Notes on the Philosophy of Gospel Presentation in Young Life General thoughts on proclaiming a message…What we have to address: what do the people we are talking to believe about God? That’s what we have to address. We have to challenge paradigms.

The God that we are talking about is not a philosophy. He is dynamic. He is not a set of ideas. He is the Incarnation. We get to tell kids that the God that calls their name (that’s a new idea for them!) is a God you can trust. How will they believe this? Because they trust you! The person doing proclamation in club is the person that is spending time with kids! It’s not an “everybody gets a turn” thing. Jesus came to bring a fullness of God! Something to be lived now…not after we die. We get to enjoy the fullness of the kingdom now.

One of the greatest threats in Christianity is not that individuals don’t believe in God, it’s that they are no longer amazed and astonished by Him.

What is common (not necessarily right) with club talks: Take a gospel story and neuter it—every aspect of the gospel is in that story, why just single out one aspect? Just tell the story! Don’t copy and paste! Don’t manipulate.

Instead of seeking what you want, why don’t we seek what we are made for?

DON’T NEUTER THE GOSPEL. LET THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK. SHARE WHAT’S THERE!

Thoughts on talking about sin…We’ve done some kids injustice in how we talk about sin. We talk about sin as something Jesus is going to deal with instead of something he already has dealt with. There was nobody harder on sin than God. And there will be a day of reckoning. God so loved the world that He gave His only son …the world will be saved through Him… who doesn’t believe has already been judged. It’s a matter of darkness to light. Sin is good news. It is part of Jesus coming to rescue us. The work of Jesus has been done. We just have to say yes to what he has done.

The lie: that you and I can find life apart from God, on our own, and have it better than with God. Why do we think we don’t need him? Jesus came to let us no that this is unacceptable to God because he made us for so much more.

Following Jesus is not about behavior modification. Sin is not about behavior. We think of sin in some crazy ways. 10% of an iceberg (and sin) is what we see—the behaviors. But what sunk the Titanic? The unseen 90% (their heart). All the stuff we want to fix in the world is from the heart. What do you do when you come home and find your lover with another? God is the one who takes that wrong lover back. That’s how much he loves you. We were meant to live with God. What happens to makes us think that we can live apart from Him?

Sin: Separation from GodGod is the one who’s looking for us. In the garden, man hides, God seeks them out. He continues to seek his people out and call them to Him. He comes in Jesus Christ. He comes in the Spirit. He will pursue us until the day he returns.

!10

JUST TELL THE STORY!

Why would you not want to know the One who pursues you?

If you could but open your heart to Him, you are forgiven. He is the Savior of all men. But especially of those who believe.

Hell is a life self-chosen apart from the God who loves you. Why you would want to live that way is beyond me. But He has made his decision. He wants you. What will you do?

What draws people to Christ? His love, or the fact that you don’t have it together? Our goal is not to make people think they are crappy. Let’s make them think “why would I not want to know more about this guy.” If He loves me this much, I need to get on His team. I’ll always be learning about Him.

Sanctification—highway of change. Share verses. The goal of Christian life is not to be nice, but to be like Jesus. The road is wild. There will be a fight between the old and new. Do a Venn Diagram of old and new. In the convergence, where new takes over the old, there is life. The new circle encompasses the old. Tell them that this is the community of grace. What is so attractive about ___? Don’t be afraid to talk about the difficult stuff. Kids won’t be afraid if you don’t freak out.

Marks of the Messenger’s Heart• A deepening and growing awareness of what we ourselves have been saved from. The gospel is

not just for kids—it is for everyone—it is for me everyday.• A deepening walk with Jesus Christ. John 15—there is no fruit without abiding. The branch must

be connected to the vine. We talk about productivity. God’s Word is living and active—not stagnant. It is like a pipe—life goes in, life goes out.

• Conviction of the truth of the gospel ourselves. Do I really believe it? Stephen when being forgiven says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He believed it.

• As a communicator, are you aware of God’s strategy and your part in it? Part of God’s strategy is that I do not have to do it all, but I am living in this moment for a reason. We have a piece of what God promised Abraham in Genesis 12. Do we have a concept of this strategic moment in time and our role in it?

• We would be shrewd and skilled in dealing with the people around. Colossians 6. Shrewd means being wise in handling your craft. Jesus doesn’t try to talk people out of things. Instead, he is masterful in asking questions. Rabbis would teach by asking the right questions. Be masterful about calling people to be accountable about their belief system.

• We would be people marked by love. Kids have to know that Good News is coming to them when you come around.

If God were to write me a letter, what do I think it would sound like? We are trying to convince kids of stuff that to some degree we don’t believe ourselves.

God wants to do as much in you as what He wants to do through you. We are all in process of becoming the people that Jesus already sees from His vantage point.

Fundamental Understanding about what goes into Talk Preparation: (4 P’s and a W)

!11

1. Prayer—The Holy Spirit convicts kids. I can’t be the Holy Spirit. The first step to many kids meeting Christ is prayer. Kids will not follow Jesus because I am a great speaker or because of the charisma factor. People need to pray for me when I am communicating.

2. Passion—Jn 1:35—Look the Lamb of God! Come and see! I need to figure out what passion looks like for me and let it out. Do not imitate others. Is there a movement in my own soul about Jesus? Does he excite my heart? Is my attitude one of “I can’t wait to tell kids about Jesus!” Not everyone is a club speaker. Everyone’s passion is different. It is all about finding your passion. When we talk about Jesus, kids better not leave thinking that Jesus is unattractive or boring. If kids don’t at least sense that you are in love with the one you talked about, that’s not good.

3. Privilege and Responsibility—Kids give us an hour of their life. What are we going to do with it? It is a gift. They allow us on the basis of trust and friendship to let us give them some reality that could change their life forever. If there is high predictability, then there is a low impact. Low predictability, high impact. We can startle kids in a good way. Then we get up and treat the word of God in esteem and truth.

4. Process—1 Corinthians 3 plant, water, growth. Conception takes place in private. Something miraculous takes place. Nine months of womb, but life is moving to the point of the baby crying out (conversion...I want to know Christ!), then we live life (sanctification). 2 Corinthians 5:17 (so what is new? Where did the old go? How will I explain this to a kid? If what you are living does not meld with what you think and believe, you quit.) God is forming us.

5. Warfare—2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Paul acknowledges the war. The evil one (Jn 8: 44—a liar) John 10:10 There is one who comes to kill and steal and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. The evil one destroys through lying. (1 Jn 2: 15-1) The evil one employs the means of accusing, discouraging, lust (eyes, flesh, pride). When we talk to kids, we have the chance to expose lies. Boys are taught to compete, women are taught about beauty. Shame and unworthiness. Women are taught about manipulation. The lie of prince charming—a man will validate a woman. A woman is whole on her own. Women—never date out of personality deficit. He lies about kids’ worth. He confuses them. We get the chance to speak against the lies of the evil one. Jesus comes in with the truth of another world, and breathes new life. Jesus speaks a different reality. God, what is the lie in the encounter that I can expose that can call kids to a new place?

Key points of Giving a Club Talk• Are you excited about the message?• Look at the beginning of John’s Gospel, how the disciples were excited about telling their friends

about Jesus. A club talk is a privilege, not a performance.• Sincerity, not showiness, is a key factor in communicating• Your life needs to represent your word• Never make fun of a kid. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. If you need to take

a cheap shot to get a laugh, it’s not worth it.

Principles to Go By• You must keep knowing the message to communicate it.• Be vulnerable as best you can. Share appropriate stories from your own life.• Creating an eager want in your listeners.

1. Your own enthusiasm. Don’t apologize for talking.2. Speak in terms of their interests, more importantly their needs.

!12

• Greatest fears in life, what’s most troubling about world, greatest way adults could help kids, do you think about Jesus positively or negatively, what do you think He offers, how important are your relationships to you. Whoever gets in their relational ring first and create stability wins.

• Scratch where they itch. Understand what the needs of kids are. They want love, significance, they want to matter.

• Create pictures. Learn how to make the scriptures come alive. Use symbols that help kids connect. Songs could be good too.

• Listen more. It is amazing what you learn.• Be open for the Holy Spirit. Don’t ever prepare so much that the Holy Spirit won’t have any room

to move in. If you ever want to get unbelieving kids to pray, do it when they are hurting.• Practicals:

✴ Pray well, prepare well. Give kids something to believe, and give them something to do.✴ Be intent on the message, not just the technique.✴ Talk with kids, not at kids. Don’t memorize talks. Have a good outline. Have one big idea and

a couple of sub-points.• Find a way to critique yourself. Video tape. Audio tape. Little ways to get better so what you are

saying is not lost on what you do. Speaking is a craft.• Don’t be funny if you are not. Good humor is honest humor. • Appreciate them. Thank them for listening.• Create pictures. Use visuals.• Learn from people you respect who you think are good communicators. Ask, why did that work?• Begin to keep a file of your life illustrations. Magazine articles, funny experiences of my life,

difficult experiences, emotional experiences, encouraging, most alive, most scared.• Have a variety ways to communicate. Role play. Testimony. Question and Answer time.• Utilization of questions. A good question is better placed than a good answer. Good question:

Who do you say that I am.• Ask yourself: What do you want them to know or feel?• Put notes in your bible

✴ For your club talk✴ As you are reading in your own quiet time! You never know when you might stumble on an

idea for a club talk!• Use some voice inflections. If characters are excited, be excited.• At the end, “Here’s what I’m trying to say. Hit them with the big idea.”• You gotta feel it.

!13

Planning Worksheet Print this worksheet and use it to help you plan your talk. Bible Text: Date: Topic: Controlling ThoughtState specifically, in one short sentence, the one thought I want kids to walk away with. 

Conclusion (about 2 minutes) Do this part before you do the intro or body. This must be the strongest part of your message. The questions we ask for developing the conclusion are: 1. So what? 2. What is the application? 3. What are the benefits and liabilities for me of the controlling thought? 4. What am I supposed to do about what has been said?  Body (about 7 minutes)The meat of the message. Scripture. Discussion. Relate to the controlling thought. 

Introduction (about 2 minutes)Introduce controlling thought. Get their attention; gather interest (using personal experience, story, humor, shock, suspense). Start where they are. 

Application (about 1 minute)What do you wish for them to do with the truth you have just offered them?  

Transitional Sentences    

There are only four sentences you must memorize: 1. The first sentence of your talk (so you know how to begin) 2. The last sentence of your talk (so you know when to stop) 3. The first transition sentence (between the intro and the body) 4. The second transition sentence (between the body and the conclusion)

!14

Tips for WyldLife A key tenet of Young Life has been to communicate the Gospel in a language our audience can understand. We are very skilled at illuminating the basic points of the Gospel to high school kids. At camp, we clearly articulate the theology of substitutionary atonement so kids understand well the decision they will make either to follow Jesus or to continue living as they please. But with middle schoolers, I think we should feel the freedom to communicate the heart and desires of Christ without feeling chained to our traditional Gospel sequence.

Speaking to kids every other week at club or even over a five-day summer camp will not seem like adequate time for a thorough proclamation of all Christ has done for us. But the Gospel is not a set of talks or the four spiritual laws – it is a person. If Jesus is lifted up, simply and beautifully for kids to see, many feel ready to begin following Him. Then, as they walk with the Holy Spirit through the years, they will progressively come to understand the meat of the full Gospel. I spoke at a five-day WyldLife camp this summer. Yes, I tried to cover enough of the Gospel for kids to respond and follow Jesus – and many did. But I found great freedom in choosing different topics to accomplish this. The theme of the week was Exploring the Questions of Life. Here are the ones we investigated:

1. Who is God? A very personal creator who made us for a relationship with Him. 2. What is God like? He is loving, compassionate, just, forgiving and yearns to walk with us as

our closest friend.3. How do we know? He became a man in Jesus Christ, who demonstrated all of the qualities of

God so we could fully understand Him.4. What does God think of us? He thinks we’re very important – so much so He wants to spend

time with us.5. Why do we need Jesus? We are eternally separated from God apart from Him because we

rejected the life He offered.6. What did God ever do for me? God showed us the full extent of His love by sending us His

only son to die on the cross so our sin penalty might be paid in full.7. What is Jesus’ invitation to us? To turn away from our sin and begin to follow Him all day,

everyday. This is the purpose of life.8. Will God still love me if I fail? Yes, He understands who we are because He made us. If we

follow Him, He will lead us to a higher level of right-living than we ever imagined. It is critically important that we attach Gospel points to felt needs in kids’ lives. For example, early adolescents don’t feel they are very important in our society. They think they have nothing to contribute. So we should share with them the account of when everyone in town was excited for Jesus to heal the synagogue official’s daughter (Mark 5:21-34). But on the way there, He encountered a woman of little importance in the eyes of the townspeople. Yet Jesus stopped and listened to the entire story. Why was she important to Him? Because He created her. Since middle schoolers are in the midst of their identity formation and typically struggle with insecurity, we can make the Gospel relevant to them by sharing how a little guy named Zacchaeus, a complete loser in his school, was chosen to spend a private evening with the creator of the universe in his home (Luke 19:1-10).

!15

There are 3 main challenges to an effective presentation of the message to a junior high audience:

1. Getting kids’ attention2. Keeping their attention so they want to listen to the rest of the talk3. Helping them to remember, and apply to their lives, what has been said.

What follows are some field-tested principles, and a few examples for turning these potential obstacles into great opportunities for proclaiming the Gospel to middle schoolers.

#1 - How to get kids' attention at the beginning of a talk:• Ask a provocative question or make a startling statement that gets them thinking about the point of

your message. For example:• “Who can remember the greatest Christmas gift you ever received growing up? What was it?” • “True or False, it is absolutely impossible to walk on water.” • Getting kids to raise their hands helps them focus on you as well.• Surprise them by radically changing the flow of club to start the message. • Reposition their seating, have them turn and face a different direction, change rooms, etc.  Do something strange or different like yell something obtuse, create a loud noise or have someone run on and introduce you. The idea is to make looking at and listening to you more interesting than talking to the friend next to them.• Jump right into your Bible story.• Arouse suspense. For example:

✴ “Suppose you were at a party, and suddenly your host discovered they were out of snacks. What would you do if you knew a secret formula for creating snacks from water--would that be cool?”

• Show a video clip that sparks their interest – either something wild and exciting like extreme sports, or a music video from which you can make a point. With early adolescents spending an average of 38 hours a week as media consumers, this is a medium of communication upon which to capitalize. This is obviously helpful for keeping their attention as well.

• Make them a promise. For example:✴ “I’m going to share a story with you that will convince you that there is no one who understands

life better than Jesus Christ.” 

#2 - How to keep kids’ attention so they listen to the rest of the talk:• Have some of the kids act out the Bible story instead of just telling or reading it. Remember,

having sat through a week of school, the thought of another lecture makes a junior high kid weary.  

• Talk about issues relevant and personal to them. This may include mentioning names and events from their school (the fruit of your contact work) or showing knowledge of their culture (music groups, extreme sports, etc.).

• Share a personal experience from your life. Being vulnerable demands respect. • Position the leaders not speaking throughout the room to do two things:

6. Have “touch” with the kids in a circle around them. This helps connect kids to the team and the team member up front. 

7. It reminds kids to be quiet when someone is speaking. If it doesn’t, the touch can become a poke in the back!

!16

• Survey your kids and ask  them what they would most like to talk about. For the rest of the year, the leaders begin the message by saying, “Tonight, we’re going to talk about one of the topics you and your peers chose as the most interesting to you. Tonight’s topic is ...” One club in Virginia who did this saw a marked difference in attention during the ensuing weeks. The team used these student-generated topics, not to dictate the content of a talk, but to introduce the Gospel point they would have made anyway. Here is part of the list that group of WyldLifers came up with: 1. How can I get along with my parents?

2. How can I be a good friend? 3. Why do parents always have the final say? 4. How should I deal with the pressure to succeed? 5. What if I feel left out of the crowd (self-image)? 6. What is my purpose? 7. Why do I need God? What does He do for me? 8. What is God like? How do I know? 9. How can God help me with my problems? 10. How can I believe in something I cannot see? 11. Why should I believe in the Bible? 12. How do I grow in my relationship with God? 13. How can I be a leader instead of a follower? 14. What does God do when I make Him mad? 15. How should I deal with peer pressure? 16. How should I deal with people I don’t like? 17. What’s the meaning of life? 18. Where do I go when I die? How do I know? 19. When is the world going to end? How should I live then? 20. How do my decisions affect the rest of the world? 21. What will I be like in the future? Who decides? 22. How do I handle injustice in the world? 23. Is there life after death? Reincarnation? 24. What does God want from me? 

#3 - How to help them to remember, and apply to their lives, what has been said:• Use visuals since this age group tends to be visual learners. It is helpful for them to remember a

symbol, preferably something they have seen, to remind them of the point of the message. Object lessons tend to stick with them longer than flowery verbal illustrations. For example:

• Hold up an antique tool and ask, “What do you think this thing is made to do -- what’s its purpose? How might we find the right answer?  Ask the manufacturer. True of our lives as well.” 

• Make one clear point, and repeat it two or three times.  Ask the audience to repeat the point to you.

• Mention you will deal more with this topic in small group or Campaigners this week, and anyone is invited to attend.

• Remind them of key themes or points you’ve been discussing in subsequent talks.• Challenge them with something specific to do as a result of hearing this message. For example: 

✴ Ask them to wash the dishes this week without having to be told and see if it doesn’t feel good. Maybe Jesus was right: serving others feels better than being served after all! 

!17

Speaking to College Students College students are studying more subjects at a deeper level than they were in high school.

They are exposed to new ideas and different kinds of people. Their living situation and social environment has changed dramatically. They are asking different questions or the same questions in a different way. We need to keep all of these things in mind as we continue to present the gospel of Jesus Christ with clarity and winsomeness.

The principles below encompass any place you might find yourself in front of a crowd: giving a testimony, teaching a seminar, speaking at a civic luncheon or even giving an announcement … though Club/retreat talks are certainly included in this as well.

Point 1: Know Your Subject

When you are young, knowledge of your subject can be the thorn in your side because you often feel that you don’t know anything very well. Regardless, it is always important to know your subject. When we “marinate” in a subject by spending time thinking about it, praying about it and reading about it, our life becomes infused with it, and we begin to produce our own thoughts on a subject.

One mistake many speakers make is sharing only other people’s thoughts. However, other’s thoughts will rarely clarify already complex topics like grace or atonement. People — especially youth — are counting on you not to quote the “expert,” but to simplify the experts. We often quote others to support our ideas, but that is only necessary if our audience cares about the person quoted. Most people don’t care what Ken Bain has to say about anything. Who is Ken Bain? My point exactly. (He is the guy who wrote What the Best College Teachers Do, a book I highly recommend.) In today’s world, you are the expert because you are the speaker. They want to hear your original thoughts on the topic; to have any original thoughts, you must know your subject.

Here are some key elements to consider in knowing your subject:• Be prepared. Take advantage of the downtimes in the college calendar (summer, Winter Break) to

study and expand your knowledge base so that “knowing your subject” includes more subjects. Take a class, read up on violence in the Old Testament, or anything that helps you to better address the things your students think about or should be thinking about. For specific talks, study well in advance and choose your topic/theme/scripture as soon as possible. We often hold out waiting for the right topic and then end up with a great topic but little knowledge of subject. Better to pick Matthew 1 on the genealogies of Christ and know it backward and forward than to pick John 3:16 at the last minute and miss John 3:17.

• Be personally relevant. If time is short because the boss gave you short notice, focus on something that is fresh in your head, burning in your heart and make it work with the overall theme. Or simply ask to speak on what you know, not what you do not know.

• Be focused. In preparing a series, keep the topic narrow. Focus on one parable for four weeks instead of four parables over four weeks. Or track one theme through the life of Jesus (such as how He interacts with people or how He asks questions) instead of taking on His whole life.

• Be confident. If giving an announcement for something, people will not be persuaded to participate if they don’t think you are convinced or sure about what you are announcing. The same is true when you are announcing the good news of Jesus Christ. So get all the information you can, sit in it and let yourself marinate in it so that you can represent your subject with confidence.

Finally, over the years I have found that the better I know a subject, the less concerned I am with passing on all the information I have gained. Why? I have realized how long it took me to get it and know that they are not going to get all I’ve got in 30 minutes. Thus, I have become more creative in my approach, often leaving

!18

open-ended questions, leaving the subject messy and ultimately trusting that a little nibble today will whet the appetite for more tomorrow while vomiting on them today will send them with no appetite for more.

Point 2: Know Your Audience

When I preached at University Presbyterian Church on a Sunday, I did not think about my friends in ministry nor did I try to wow my colleagues on staff. Instead, I thought about my neighbor Kelly, who goes to church about once a year. I thought about my accountant friend Joe, with four kids, an overwhelmed wife and a job where he is underappreciated. I thought about my parents, who cannot hear me if I speak at the speed I do at the INN. I tried to know my audience as well as I could. Why? So I could scratch their itch? Yes; not to merely say what they wanted me to say, but to say what God wanted me to say in a way that related to their world. I like to say, “I will scratch their itch in order to make them itchy in other places.”

Here are some key elements to consider in knowing your audience:• Ask questions. Why is your audience there? What are their goals for being there? What are they

hoping to gain from their time?• Identify the tools. How does this group learn? What are they used to? Some people today expect and

want multimedia; however I hear just as many people say when they go to church, they want multimedia left at home — which seems to be more young people than old.

• Know their everyday lives. What is their daily life like, not what is their church experience supposed to be like?

• Do your research. When you meet people one-on-one, in small groups or at parties, pay attention. Then, spend time writing down what you are hearing, seeing and learning. Research by “some guys in Chicago” can be helpful, but research you do with the actual people who might be in your audience is much better. For years, I spoke at civic groups like Rotary, which are mostly men in their 50-70s. I would spend time conversing with my older brothers before deciding what to say or how to say it.

• Ask for help. If you are a regular speaker somewhere, get a team around you who can inform you about your audience. For most of my years speaking to college folk, I had a student speaking team. Their purpose was to help me know what questions students were asking, what themes were in their lives and what came to their mind when I read a particular week’s passage.

Point 3: Know Yourself

The best advice I ever received came from my first two administrative assistants, Jo Ann Wood and Jerry Powell. These two 60-plus year-old women said to me (on separate occasions), “Be Mike Gaffney. That is who we want to hear, not anyone else.”

Note, though, that “knowing yourself” is not the same as “being yourself.” It is true that we ought to be ourselves and not try to project our heroes. However, early on I did think it was helpful for me to try out other people’s styles until I found my own. The key is to know when you are being yourself and when you are trying out someone else’s style.

I also must mention, conversely, as hard as this is for some people to hear, “being yourself” is not necessarily always the best approach to public speaking. Some people are not naturally good at being in front of crowds and getting them to listen. So, we need to know ourselves — what we bring to the table and what we don’t. This self-awareness encourages us to learn new skills that we can incorporate into what will become our style. Just because you are not naturally good at speaking does not mean you can’t become good at it. I can give dozens of examples of people who learned to use what they had. That doesn’t mean people should try to be what they aren’t, but that we should be honest with whom we are and use what we have to communicate what people needed to hear.

Knowing yourself well often puts the audience at ease. For example, I know that I often speak longer than expected; usually because I “go off” on a tangent that was not in my notes. Though it is something I could correct, I also can put the audience at ease by communicating that I know I have this tendency. It allows me to

!19

make fun of myself and gets some laughs at my expense. In my experience, “going off” is something people tell me they love and that I do well, so I also need to consider that as I’m planning my talks.

I am tempted to move on, but there is one more thing … this is a message to myself and to others who have preached for years. Know yourself well enough to know that people need a change of pace. Not just in hearing others speak, but they need you to throw a change-up every once in a while and not just fastballs all the time. I try (not sure I succeed) to be a bit different every week. I have had one preacher in my life that every Sunday preached the same way; opened with a story, made three points and closed with a story. I know this sounds a lot like me … it is one of my main ways I think about a talk. However, he never made fun of himself for doing it which would have put everyone at ease. It got boring and predictable. Some people never change their tone of voice; they are always monotone, always Baptist preacher or always super-passionate. You can’t be passionate about God’s love for sinners one minute and be passionate about a clip from Wayne’s World the next. It loses something. Instead, find a few styles and use them well. Know yourself … be yourself … but keep in mind we are in a constant stage of growth.

Here are some key elements to consider in knowing yourself: • Know your tendencies. For instance, if you are a quiet talker, make fun of yourself and put people at

ease who wonder, “Does this person know that they talk quietly and people have a hard time hearing?”• Know your speaking habits. Some will be endearing to your audience but some will be distracting.

Fillers like “um,” run-on sentences, arm gestures, common phrases, clothing and messing with the microphone (among others) all fit into this category.

• It’s not about you. Knowing yourself and being yourself does not make the talk about you. This is why I listed this as number three after “know your subject” and “know your audience.” Too much of the preacher makes many of us uncomfortable.

Some Other Random Thoughts on Public Speaking:

• Don’t underestimate your audience. They are a lot smarter then we think and love to be pushed as long as it is done with grace, humility and creativity.

• Practice. Even announcements are better when rehearsed and known well enough to appear spontaneous.

• Don’t over-quote Scripture. If you want to prove your point from multiple passages, put the references in writing and invite people to look them up. Exceptions to this rule can be made, but do so hesitantly.

• If you quote someone, keep it short, put it in writing and say it twice.• Use personal stories whenever possible, even if it is someone else’s story that you know. You might

want to ask the people in the story if you can tell it beforehand.• If at all possible, make one point. This is hard; Jesus didn’t even do it!• Try to incorporate multiple ways of learning the message you are trying to convey within Club or the

ministry as a whole. Songs, drama (did I really say that?), physical movement, small groups and even service opportunities can enhance your point. Jesus invited people to listen to Him and serve with Him. He made His point in the classroom and in the workshop.

• Invite your audience’s insights. In some cases, this means getting direct feedback during a seminar. In settings where this is not appropriate, ask people to e-mail you their thoughts. This is why a speaking team made up of a faction of your audience is a good idea; they can share their insights and then you can quote them. Students hearing students quoted in your talks send a powerful message.

• What means do you have to evaluate whether you are actually getting anything across? This is tough, but ask people, not if it was a “good talk,” but what they heard. Find out if it made a difference three days later, one year later or 10 years later. Be patient.

• Have older mentors listen as well. Often your direct supervisor is not best — trust me on this. Why not? If I have you “guest speak” for me, it usually means I need a week off or I am out of town and any evaluating I do is based on “my series.” Though your supervisor ought to give you some feedback, it is best to get an unbiased opinion; someone who is not part of the primary audience or an employer. Someone who also might be willing to track you for a lifetime.

!20

• Own the room for the few minutes you are on. There is a fine line between cocky and confident, but we must walk it. Listeners do not like being made anxious by a speaker who does not seem confident in who they are, why they are there or what they have to say. For this brief moment, you have been called to speak; remember that God and others have placed you there “for such a time as this.” Believe it.

Young Life College: Club Talk Series Ideas #1: Knowing God Through the Questions He Asks: So often we focus on the questions we want to ask God. “God, why did you let this happen?” or “God, what is your will for my life?” or “God, when am I going to get married?” But throughout Scripture, God engages his people by asking US questions. He invites us into a dynamic, mutual relationship with himself through Jesus Christ. Here are some of God’s questions to consider:

• Where are you? Genesis 3• Where is your brother? Genesis 4• Do you want to be well? John 5• Who do you say I am? Matt 16• What is your name? Luke 8• What do you want me to do for you? Matthew 20• Who is my mother and who are my brothers? Matthew 12• Why are you so afraid? Matthew 8• Who will go for us? Isaiah 6• Who touched my clothes? Mark 5• Can a blind man lead a blind man? Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers’

eye when there is a plank in your eye? Luke 6• Women, where are they? Has no one condemned you? John 8• Does this offend you? John 6• Friends, haven't you any fish? John 21• Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing? Matthew 20• Which of the two did what his father wanted? Matthew 21• Why are you bothering this woman? Matthew 26• Could you men not keep watch with me one hour? Matthew 26• When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18• Dear women, why do you involve me? John 2• Do you believe this? John 11• Do you love me? John 21• Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6

Possible Discussion Questions for large/small groups:1. What is significant about God asking us questions?2. What do you learn about people through the questions they ask?3. Identify the top three questions on the list.

#2: “Use It or Lose It”: Making the Most of the Stuff God Has Given Us : Using Matthew 25:14-30 (parable of the talents) as the Scripture for this entire series, we will discuss the many gifts God entrusts to us and learn what it means to give our lives away. As in the story Jesus tells in Matthew,

!21

the measure of our generosity toward others reflects how much (or little) we have experienced of the Master’s extravagant love and generosity toward us. The series could also include opportunities for students to ACT on what they’re learning together (participating in a local service day as a ministry, organizing a food/clothing drive, sponsoring a Developing Global Leader, etc.)

Week 1: Overview- Outline the parable and the challenge of using well what God has given us.“God has entrusted to us the work of his kingdom. Why? Because he believes in us.” God has entrusted each of us with a lot of “stuff” (time, abilities, money, etc.); Our job is to make sure we make the best use of what we’ve been given.

Week 2: God’s gift of stewardship- God believes in our ability to steward his resources. It is a part of the creation and salvation story (Genesis 2 and Ephesians 2) “With great power comes great responsibility.” To make the most of what we’ve been given, we must make the most of it now. “What’s His is mine.”To make the most of what we’ve been given, we need to actively engage it and we need to have personal ownership in it.

Week 3: What’s Your Boss Like? To make the most of what we’ve been given, we need to have the right perspective of who God is. Story of Pharisees and the Sabbath, since their issue was usually a distorted view of God. We need to deal with what we don’t like about God if we are to use what he has given us. However, sometimes we take too much responsibility and sometimes too little.

Week 5: Using Well our gift of Time/opportunity- We’ve been given the gifts of time and opportunity that we can ignore or use to enhance the Kingdom (and our own lives). 1) God gives us the opportunity to be part of a bigger story. 2) God gives us opportunity in the ordinary and even in the burdensome duties in life. 3) God gives us opportunity to “redeem the time.” In a normal day, what do we most talk about and/or think about? Are these really the things that are most important to us?

Week 6: Using Well our gift of Aptitude Three keys to unlocking your future.” God’s “plan for your life” involves more than just praying for direction; He wants You. 1) Follow your passions thoughtfully. 2) Discover What You’re Good at (and Subsequently What You’re Not Good at). 3) Find a Niche that Needs YOU.

Week 7: Using Well our gift of Financial resources – Luke 12:13-34 – Jesus’ warning against greed and parable of the rich man. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Where are we investing our money and what does that tell us about the condition of our hearts?#3: Abundant Meaning in a Meaningless World: Idolatry may seem like a concept that has no relevance in the contemporary Western world. Most of us don’t rub statues for good luck or have a golden calf in our backyard just in case. But according to author and former Fuller professor Lewis Smedes, we create an idol in our life when we slice off a piece of created reality and either 1) expect miracles from it or 2) fear and avoid it at all costs. Any time we attempt to make a created thing to give us life or keep us safe, we are committing idolatry. Ecclesiastes talks about common idols we create and the meaninglessness (the Hebrew word used literally means “vapor”) that results. This naming of reality makes us that much more receptive to the abundant life found in Christ alone.Week 1: Breaking Idols, Building Meaning- Ecclesiastes 1:1-18, 12:8-14. Overview of series, definition of idol, source of meaning and hope in Jesus.

!22

Week 2: I've Got to Get Control- Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, Romans 8:18-28. Our struggles to control or avoid the chaos and mess of our relationships, families, choices, etc. The reality is that we can’t get rid of the chaos—the creation groans and longs to be made whole. But we can live in the chaos because Jesus is Lord over the chaos.Week 3: Relational Realities- Ecclesiastes 4:7-12. We were created for relationship, with God and with others—this is part of being made in God’s image (Genesis 1). And yet, No matter if we are single, dating, married, divorced, engaged or widowed, we all deal with disappointment in relationships. This disappointment can either lead to more brokenness—divorce, addiction, hardness of heart, numbness to pain, etc. –or grow our intimacy with Jesus. This doesn’t mean the disappointment or loneliness goes away, but Jesus promises to meet us in it. Week 4: If Only I Was Smarter- Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, 7:23-26, Proverbs 9:1-18. Discuss true wisdom, which is not having all the answers but cultivating humility—a teachable spirit, a realistic view of yourself (knowing what are and are not your gifts), developing authentic relationships with others and inviting them to speak into your lives. And as Proverbs says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” So if we are to be wise, we must acknowledge and live by the truth that God is God and we are not.Week 5: But It Feels So Good! Finding Real Joy – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 1 Peter 4:12-16. Pleasure is good! God wants us to enjoy the good gifts he gives us. But pleasure is fleeting—it only lasts for a while and keeps us endlessly chasing after that elusive thing that will ultimately satisfy. According to Scripture, we experience true joy in a paradoxical way—joy comes through suffering. We should not be surprised, since we follow a crucified Christ.

Week 6: The Search for Spirituality - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. In Christian communities, we often think (and perhaps are even taught) that if we study our Bibles, have a “quiet time” every day, pray a lot, and avoid doing things we’ve learned “good Christians” don’t do, then we will be satisfied. But true worship of Jesus can never be about what we do or don’t do—that is trying to save ourselves vs. trusting Jesus to be our Savior. We find meaning when we surrender even our religious habits and our ideas about what it means to follow Jesus to our Lord and allow him to define what true discipleship looks like.

Week 7: Beyond the Daily Grind - Making Work, Work - Ecclesiastes 2:4-9. Work is good--God created us to work (Genesis 2), this is one of the ways we reflect his image and participate in his story. But work can end up controlling us—we chase the perfect job, we work long hours to avoid our spouses or families, we see our success at work as a reflection of our worth. Discuss the importance of sabbath and give students tools to actually practice this.Week 8: Finding the Fountain of Life- Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14. Talk about Jesus as our Savior—what he saves us from (sin and death) and also what he saves us to (eternal life, which Jesus defines in John 17:3 as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ who he has sent). Talk about salvation—Jesus is so much more than a free ticket to heaven. According to Scripture, salvation has three components—we have been saved (Eph. 2:8), we are being saved (Ph. 2:12) and we will be saved (1 Thess. 4:17)

#4: Jesus: Super Hero or Super Confusing?: When the God of the Universe enters flesh and sets up shop among us, it is bound to be confusing (See I Corinthians 1). The main reason is because what God intended in Christ is not what we always want from Christ. As we “people watch” in the Gospel of John, we can discover where some of the confusion lies. Our hope is that we learn something about human nature and our desire to have God show up as we see fit, and to learn something about God and his plan to reveal himself to us in Jesus.

!23

Week 1: Jesus: Super Hero or Super Confusing- John 1- Come and SeeWeek 2: Mom and the Money Changers- John 2- Full of SurprisesWeek 3: A Religious Leader Named Nicodemus- John 3- A Gift from GodWeek 4: Samaritan Woman- John 4- Living WaterWeek 5: Crowds of Sick People- John 5- The Rule BreakerWeek 6: A Huge and Hungry Crowd- John 6- The Bread of LifeWeek 7: Family Pressure- John 7- A Marked ManWeek 8: An Adulterous People- John 8- The Light of the WorldWeek 9: A Blind Man- John 9- The Judge of the WorldWeek 10: A Shepherd and His Sheep- John 10- Life to the FullWeek 11: Friends and Their Pain- John 11- The Resurrection and the Life

#5: A Life of Devotion: Continuing through the Gospel of John, we enter into the last week of God dwelling among us. This segment of scripture points us to the obedience of Jesus to the plan of his Father. The road was not easy for him and it is not easy for us either. We can learn much from his obedience for our devotion. We hope to once again peer into Jesus’ interaction with real people, mainly those closest to him. We will see their failure in the midst of his faithfulness. However these two things combine for our hope. God has left us with means by which we can still draw near to him and live a life in devotion to the one who gave his life that we might have life and life to the full.

Week 1: Mary and a Jar of Perfume- John 12- The Discipline of Dying to SelfWeek 2: Peter and Judas- John 13- The Discipline of Grace- Giving and ReceivingWeek 3: The Other Disciples- John 14- The Discipline of ObedienceWeek 4: The Holy Spirit and Jesus- John 15- The Discipline of AbidingWeek 5: Jesus and Perseverance- John 16- The Discipline of JoyWeek 6: Jesus and Prayer- John 17- The Discipline of PrayerWeek 7: The Betrayers- John 18- The Discipline of SurrenderWeek 8: Jesus and Death- John 19- The Discipline of SufferingWeek 9: Resurrection- John 20- The Discipline of HopeWeek 10: Peter- John 21- The Disciplines relived

In preparation for any talks on sexuality and sex, we recommend the following resources:• Mike and Shari Gaffney’s talk series titled, “Celebrating Sexuality without Centering on it,”

available in mp3 format at http://www.upc.org/worship/AudioVideo/InnArchive/Retreats.aspx

• “Sex for Christians” by Lewis Smedes• “Sex God” by Rob Bell

The Use of Humor in Young Life College Humor has a PURPOSE

• Humor is a unique tool God uses to break down walls, further relationships, create shared adventure in a program setting, and soften hearts so students are prepared to hear the Gospel.

!24

• Humor has always been a trademark of Young Life to help foster a fun, winsome environment and draw students in so they can laugh and enjoy themselves.

• Our humor should be culturally relevant. We need to speak in a language students can understand, which makes humor another way we can be incarnational in students’ lives.

• In the process of making students laugh, we are called to protect the Gospel—not undermine or confuse the Gospel—and “do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor.10:31).

Humor has a PLAN

• “’Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial” (1 Cor. 10:23). Humor can draw from a wider range of material at the college level which gives us more freedom, but that freedom is still boundaried and must be exercised responsibly. A good litmus test: would I make the same joke with a potential donor or small group leader in the room?

• We mock the world, we don’t mimic the world. We mimic the world when we are mean-spirited, hurtful and/or use violent humor, overtly sexual humor, socially obscene language, insensitivity regarding gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation, nakedness, or other tactics that might get a laugh but obscure the Gospel.

• We need to exercise particular care if/when we use humor involving sexuality, drinking and illicit drugs due to the amount of baggage students carry and number of choices they make concerning these issues.

• Student leadership is a critical component of Young Life College, which means we want students co-creating humor AND we need to coach them in the process. Sometimes we have to say no, teach them what is appropriate and help them create a filter they don’t yet have.

• Take time to prepare. Without a plan, it is easy to reach for the cheap joke and cross the line.

Humor can create PROBLEMS

• Mistakes will happen—expect it and know how to handle it. When humor crosses the line, deal with the issue head on and right away, do not cover it up, get all the facts and take appropriate action. Use clarity in your language when addressing those who mishandled humor (e.g. “This is unacceptable” vs. “This wasn’t that great”) and be specific about what was not acceptable. Make the apology public when the situation warrants it and communicate with all key parties.

• Keep the dialogue on humor with student leaders open and ongoing. Invite them to ask a different question—not, “How far can we go?” but rather, “What are we trying to do?” When we do this, humor becomes a great tool for discipleship.

!25