Unexpected Friends

Video:
http://goo.gl/8pNpO

Topic:
Friendship

Bible:
Colossians 3:12-14

Discussion Starter:
I bet you thought this was a special effects prank! But if you look at the authors YouTube channel you’ll see that this is really happening on her back porch in Alaska.

On the one hand, we can see how this unlikely friendship could quickly end in someone becoming a meal. But on the other hand, the unlikelihood of their friendship is amazingly fun.

As we think about the people in our lives we can admire this odd animal friendship in Alaska and have hope that it really is possible to live at peace with anyone. Paul writes in Colossians 3, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Love and forgiveness make all types of relationships possible in Christ! Imagine what your school would be like if all of the eagles, foxes, and cats got along?

3 Questions:

1. If a cat, eagle, and fox were to get into a fight, who do you think would win?
2. Which one of those animals do you associate with the most? Why?
3. Have you ever helped make peace between two people who didn’t get along?

Chew on this: 
If it’s possible, in Christ, to live at peace with anyone. Than why don’t churches get along better?

No Brakes

Video:
http://goo.gl/7XoV6

Topic:
Release control

Bible:
1 John 4:18

Discussion Starter:
Watch this video twice. The second time, keep your eyes on the bikers hands and notice how rarely he uses the brakes.

This amazing ride wouldn’t be any fun if the biker didn’t let go of the brake and trust his life to his skills and equipment. He had to push doubt and fear away in order to lean into the adventure and challenge before him.

This ride is a lot like our walk with Jesus. We can put the brakes on, allowing fear and doubt to hold us back from our potential. Or we can put our trust fully in Christ and, as 1 John 4:18 says, “perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

3 Questions:

1. Which is worse, falling on those rocks or falling off the cliff?
2. Would you rather be in control or out of control?
3. What are some areas you see people apply the brakes to their life with Christ?

Chew on this:  
If Jesus wants our life to lack fear and doubt, why do parents always tell us to be careful?

A Fearless Life

Video:

http://goo.gl/Td5LS

Topic:
Risking it all

Bible:
Genesis 12:2-5

Discussion starter:
The subtitle of this video might be, “101 things your mom doesn’t want you to do.” Just about every clip in that video could get you killed.

As you watched this video, were there emotions that erupted inside of you. Did it get you excited? Or were you cringing as you imagined yourself attempting some of those same things?

Genesis 12 documents that at 75 years old, God challenged Abraham to take the biggest risk of his life. God called him to walk away from everything he knew and move his family to Canaan. Abraham would have rather base jumped or done back flips on a bike than tell his wife they needed to leave their homeland at their age and start over. But he did it and God rewarded him greatly. 

Sometimes following God’s call on your life will lead you to do scary and dangerous things. And while your mom or your family might think your crazy, the rewards that God offers make it all worth it. (Genesis 12:2-3)

Three Questions:

1. Which of the stunts in the video do you want to try the most? Which one is too scary for you?
2. Would you rather be really rich or really daring?
3. In what ways is your faith like Abraham’s?

Chew on this:
What’s the biggest risk you can take for God today?