Date Title Theme Scripture Draws Game August 23 Game Night 30 Back to SCHOOL BASH Sept 6 Gone Fishing Obedience Mark 1:16-18 Tailgate 13 Gone Fishing See the Need Mark 2:1-5 Pizza Blind Kickball 20 Gone Fishing Don t Give up Mark 2:1-5 Rootbeer Gaga Ball Floats 27 PARTY IN PARK IN PARK IN PARK OCT 4 Easy Answers Be Willing Exodus 3/4 Samuari 11 Easy Answers Be an Example 1 timothy 4:12 9 Square 18 Easy Answers Be Consistent Matthew 15:7-9 Pumpkin Bowling 25 Special Event Nov 1 What s Wrong with These People Nov. 8 What s Wrong with These People 15 What s Wrong with These People 22 NO ROCK 29 What s Wrong with These People Dec 6 What s Wrong with These People Priorities 1 Peter 1:24-25 Fear Factor Fear Philippians 4:6-7 Musical Chairs of Death Anger James 1:19-20 9 Square Loneliness 1 Peter 5:7 LaserTag Fear 13 Christmas Story
The GONE Point FISHING Our job is obedience; God s job is outcome. This series is essentially about evangelism. Rich is challenging students to reach out to their friends. Help your students identify how they re doing at reaching their friends and what they think they could be doing better. Group Challenge Be obedient to God and allow Him to use you to reach others with the love of Jesus. YouVersion Bible Plan The plan associated with this series is called Switch: How to Follow Jesus. Make sure to promote that to students. Scripture Mark 1:16-18 NLT 16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon [a] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people! 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him. Small Group Questions-9/6/17 1. GET GOING: ICEBREAKERS/ACTIVITIES/HANGOUT TIME If I gave you $100 right now and you couldn t spend it on yourself, what would you do with it? why? Talk about highs and lows from this week. What s something most people don t know about you? 2. GET TALKING: DISCUSSION/CONVERSATION What did you think about this week s message? What stood out to you? What s something you learned? Obedience What s one thing you re good at? What s one thing you re bad at? Rich said if you aren t reaching out to others, then you aren t really following Jesus. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? What s something you prayed for, but looking back on it, you should have actually done something about it? 3. GET SPIRITUAL: BIBLE VERSES/ SPIRITUAL APPLICATONS Look up and read Mark 1:16-18 together. What s happening in this passage? What does it mean to be fishers of men / fish for people? What would you do if Jesus showed up in your life and told you to leave everything (your friends, family, school, hobbies, etc.) and follow him? Would you do it? Why or why not? Would you say you make yourself available to God? Why or why not? What are some ways God has equipped you to reach out to others? What skills, talents, or abilities has He given you that you could use for Him? What would that look like? 4. GET PRACTICAL: ACTION STEPS Week 1 Leader Guide Gone Fishing What s one thing you need to stop praying about and start doing something about? What are some ways you know God wants to use you? How can you start to do those things? What would it look like for you to reach out to your friends and your school with the love of Jesus? Is that something you re willing to do? Why or why not? 5. GET PRAYING Pray for friends who need Jesus. Pray that students would have boldness to reach out to their friends. Either have a leader pray, a student pray, or students pray for each other.
Gone Fishing 9/13/17 The Point Open your eyes and be intentional with others. It can be so easy to get wrapped up in your own life. For students, they are so focused on making the grade or the team or getting that guy/girl to like them back. It s easy for them to only see what s going on in their own lives. Today, we want to challenge students to see the needs of the people around them and be intentional about doing something about it. Group Challenge Pay attention to the needs around you, and be intentional about meeting those needs. YouVersion Bible Plan The plan associated with this series is called Switch: How to Follow Jesus. Make sure to promote that to students. Scripture Mark 2:1-5 NLT When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, My child, your sins are forgiven. Switch Group Questions 1. GET GOING: ICEBREAKERS/ACTIVITIES/HANGOUT TIME If you had to get out of your house because of an emergency and you only had time to save one thing, what would it be? Why? Tell about a time you were in danger. How did you get out of it? What s one of your proudest accomplishments? Why are you so proud of that? Talk about highs and lows from this past week. 2. GET TALKING: DISCUSSION/CONVERSATION Tell about a time you saw someone who had a need and you meet their need. Why did you do it? Have you ever had to rescue someone from danger? If so, tell about it. What do you think is the biggest need at your school? Why? Would you say you live a safe and comfortable life, or would you say you step out a lot? Why would you say that? 3. GET SPIRITUAL: BIBLE VERSES/ SPIRITUAL APPLICATONS Look up and read Mark 2:1-5 together. What s happening in this passage? Would you do the same thing for your friends? Why or why not? As a Christian, would you say you re passionate about lost people? Why or why not? Would you say you re good at leading people to Jesus? Why or why not? If not, what can you do to be better at it? 4. GET PRACTICAL: ACTION STEPS What are some ways you need to be better at seeing people s needs and meeting them? What are some needs around you that you could step in and meet? How can you make that happen? Is there one person in your life God is putting on your heart to reach out to? If so, who? Why them? What can we do together as a group to be intentional about meeting people s needs? 5. GET PRAYING Week 2 Leader Guide Gone Fishing See the Need Pray for friends who need Jesus. Pray that student would have boldness to reach out to their friends. Pray for whatever else students need prayer for. Either have a leader pray, a student pray, or students pray for each other.
The Point The only time you fail is the last time you try. It can be an intimidating thing for students to share their faith. What if they invite their friend to church and they say no? Will their friend think they re weird? Today, we want students to feel encouraged and empowered to go out and reach people around them even when it seems uncomfortable or difficult. Help them get past the fear of failing and get them to a place of continued confidence. Group Challenge Keep reaching out to people in your lives. Don t take no for an answer. Don t give up. Keep doing it. YouVersion Bible Plan The plan associated with this series is called Switch: How to Follow Jesus. Make sure to promote that to students. Scripture Mark 2:1-5 NLT When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, My child, your sins are forgiven. Small Group Questions 1. GET GOING: ICEBREAKERS/ACTIVITIES/HANGOUT TIME Would you rather take chances and risk failing or never take changes and never fail? Why? What is your favorite thing to do? Why? Share when and how you got connected to Switch and what made you come. Talk about highs and lows from this past week. 2. GET TALKING: DISCUSSION/CONVERSATION Tell about a time when you failed at something. Why did you fail? Tell about a time you gave up on something. Why did you give up? Tell about a time you had to do something that was hard or uncomfortable, but you pushed through and succeeded? What made you keep going? How would you define failure? How do you handle failure? Why? Would you say it s possible to never fail? Why or why not? 3. GET SPIRITUAL: BIBLE VERSES/ SPIRITUAL APPLICATONS Read Mark 2:1-5 together. Why do you think these guys went through so much trouble to get their friend to Jesus? Why do you think they just didn t come back later when it was less crowded? How can you take this story and apply it to real life right now? Give examples. Read Proverbs 24:16 together. How does God help us get up after we fall or fail? Why is it important to keep going after we fail? 4. GET PRACTICAL: ACTION STEPS What s something in your life worth risking failure? How can you take that risk? What will it take for you to keep going after a failure? How can you do it? Is it difficult or uncomfortable for you to share Jesus with your friends? If not, why is that? If so, how can you overcome that? How can you get more passionate about reaching lost people for Jesus? 5. GET PRAYING Week 3 Leader Guide Gone Fishing Don t Give Up Pray for friends who need Jesus. Have students share something they are afraid of failing at and pray for those things. Pray for whatever else students need prayer for. Either have a leader pray, a student pray, or students pray for each other.
Be Willing 10/4 The Point: God doesn t use the most talented, He uses the most willing. God is at work everywhere, and He calls us to be a part of what He s up to. We can choose to step into what God is calling us to, or we can say no and He will find someone else. As students identify what they think God is calling them to this week, we will encourage them to say yes and step into that calling to become true influencers in their world. Talk It Over 1. Ice Breaker: If you had to describe yourself using 3 words, what would they be and why? 2. What did you think about this week s episode of Easy 3. Who would you say is the most influential person of all time? Why did you choose that person? 4. Who has been the most influential person in your life? What made them so influential? 5. The whole point of today s episode of Easy Answers is that God doesn t use the most talented, He uses the most willing. Why do you think God doesn t tend to use the most talented? 6. Look up Isaiah 6:8 and read it together. 7. Would you say that you are willing to be used by God for whatever He s calling you to do? Why or why not? 8. What one thing do you think God is calling you to do? Will you do it? How can you begin to make that happen? Switch Group Questions 1. What did you think about this week s episode of Easy 2. Who has influenced you most in your life? What made them so influential? 3. Have you ever influenced someone else? If your answer is yes, tell the group about it. If your answer is no, why do you think that is? 4. Look up Exodus 3:10-14, 4:1-5, 4:10-13 and read the verses together. What is happening in these passages? 5. Why do you think Moses was so hesitant to do what God was asking him to do? Can you relate to that? If so, how? Tell your group about it. 6. Why do you think God typically chooses to use the more willing over the more talented? 7. Are you willing to be used by God for whatever He needs? Why or why not? 8. What s one thing you think God is calling you to do? Will you do it? How can you make that ha
Be an Example 10/11 The Point: Set a good example, a Godly example, to those around you. We all set examples. It s inevitable. How we live our lives determines the example we set. We can choose the kind of example we will set for others. Challenge your students to decide whether they want to follow others examples or set examples for others. If they want to set examples for others, they really need to think about how they re living their lives. Help your students understand what it looks like to set good, Godly examples for others in their lives. Talk It Over 1. Ice Breaker: If you could choose to hang out with anyone in the world, past or present, and follow them around - who would you choose and why? 2. What did you think about this week s episode of Easy 3. Tell your group about a time when you were a bad example to others. What made you a bad example? 4. Tell about a time you were a good example to others. What made you a good example? 5. This week s episode talked about the difference between a thermometer and a thermostat. What was that difference? 6. Do you tend to be a thermometer or a thermostat? Why? Would you rather be a thermometer or a thermostat? Why? 7. Look up I Timothy 4:12 and read it together. What is this verse talking about? How can you apply it to your life? 8. What would it look like for you to be a Godly example to others in your life? Give real examples. 9. Are you willing to be a Godly example? If so, how can you start to do that? If not, why not? Switch Group Questions 1. What did you think about this week s episode of Easy 2. In general, would you say the way you live your life sets a good example for others? Why or why not? 3. Look up 1 Corinthians 1:11 and read it together. 4. What are some ways you are good at following Jesus example in the way you live your life? 5. What are some ways you wish you were better at following Jesus example in how you live your life? Why are those things hard for you? 6. This week s episode talked about the difference between a thermometer and a thermostat. What was that difference? 7. Do you tend to be a thermometer or a thermostat? Why? Would you rather be a thermometer or a thermostat? Why? 8. Look up I Timothy 4:12 and read it together. What is this verse talking about? How can you apply it to your life? 9. What would it look like for you to be a Godly example to others in your life? Give real examples. What can you do to start being a Godly example to others?
Don t be a hypocrite The Point: Hypocrisy kills influence. Hypocrisy kills influence. And let s face it - we all have a tendency to be hypocritical at times. It s especially easy to say we re Christians, but then struggle to live that out well in our lives. Today we will challenge students to walk the talk. It s not enough to just say we are Christians. We will challenge students to stand firm in what they believe and to live out their beliefs in their daily lives. Talk It Over 1. Ice Breaker: Would you rather only be able to lie all the time for the rest of your life, or would you rather always be forced to tell the truth? Why? 2. What did you think about this week s episode of Easy 3. What do you think it means to be a hypocrite? 4. In what ways do you see people your age being hypocritical? Give examples. 5. Have you ever been impacted by someone being hypocritical to you? If so, tell about it. 6. Have you ever been hypocritical? If so, tell about it. If not, why do you think that is? 7. Look up Matthew 15:7-9 and read it together. What is this verse talking about? What do you think it means? 8. Are there any areas in your life right now where you know you re being hypocritical? If so, are you willing to share them? 9. What would it look like to live your life standing for what you believe in? How can you go about doing that? Switch Group Questions 1. What did you think about this week s episode of Easy 2. What do you think it means to be a hypocrite? 3. What would you say you stand for and believe? Do you live your life that way? Why or why not? 4. How would you say you do a pretty good job living a Christian life? Why do you think you re good at that? 5. Do you ever think living a Christian life is easier said than done? If yes, why do you think it s so hard? 6. Do you think Christians get labeled as hypocrites a lot? If so, why do you think that is? 7. As Christians, what do you think we can do to make sure we don t get labeled as hypocrites any more? 8. Look up Matthew 15:7-9 and read it together. What is this verse talking about? What do you think it means? 9. Are there any areas in your life right now where you know you re being hypocritical? If so, are you willing to share them? 10. What would it look like to live your life standing for what you believe in? How can you go about doing that?