TRD SPEAK LIFE 8 Tobymac's Speak Life Youth Event

Page TRDYouthworker Guide SPEAK LIFE 8 Tobymac’s Speak Life Youth Event

chord chart of Tobymac’s Speak Life song, and that when they turn in their card they’ll get their INTRODUCTION a list of the verses in the Bible that we could lanyard/wristband and a Life Saver candy. find on this subject. (You can use it as a Tobymac is no stranger to members of handout at the end of the event. Cool!) Pre-Activity interlínc’s Youth Leaders Only. We’ve had a Arrange for some games to be available for special relationship with him for well over Opening students to play while final preparations are twenty years—ever since the first days of DC being made inside. Go simple with activities Talk. His music and testimony have been 5-Sensing such as Cornhole, basketball, and featured in interlínc’s YLO, Music Video Loop When does your Speak Life Youth Event start? skateboarding. The last thing you want is for magazines, ConGRADulations! grad gifts, and When the kids walk in the room? No. When kids to show up and then mill around waiting e-zine. interlínc’s long partnership with they pull into the parking lot? Bingo! We’ve for something to happen! Tobymac is born from a common love for included this concept in previous materials teenagers and a desire to share Christ’s love we’ve produced, but it bears repeating: think with them. through what you want the young people to Active Participation: Tongue Relay experience when they first arrive to your event. Get all the students involved in running this We would love to hear your report about how “Tongue” relay. Be sure to have a talented your Speak Life Youth Event went. Please email Imagine you’re a teenager coming to this youth videographer or two on hand to capture the photos, links to your video of the event, and ministry for the first time. Drive into the parking kids while they’re playing. You’ll use that video your description of how it went to lot. What do you see that makes you think this in a bit. [email protected]! event is going to be great? Step out of the car. What will you hear that will reinforce that First, have the kids form teams of four Theme opinion? As you walk toward the building, what members. There are four tasks to be completed Words are the primary way in which we other senses will you pick up that will get you in (one at a time) in this relay. When you give the communicate. Words are powerful—for good the mood to have a great time? GO! signal the first person runs to the table, and for bad. They build up, and they tear down. completes the task, and runs back to the team. This youth event, built around the powerful Here are some preliminary ideas. Rework and As soon as the first player tags the second music video of Tobymac’s Speak Life song, will add to them in order to set your Speak Life player, the process repeats. First team to finish help you engage your students in discovering Youth Event apart from the other experiences all four tasks wins. (You should award a copy of the power of the tongue—and the thumb. your young people have. Tobymac’s Eye On It album to each team – A bustling parking lot • A “Sign In Here” member as a prize!) Here are the four tasks: A teenager’s day is filled with words. From the banner • Chalk outlines of bodies on the – Players race to a table where torrent of words that come from their teachers pavement or cement, leading into the main they are given a maraschino cherry that has a to the flood of words that are transmitted and room • A microphone hooked into a sound stem. They are to eat the cherry, and then tie received over their phones and computers, system, with people taking turns to say positive the stem into a knot—all in their mouth—no words dominate their daily experience— words for all to hear. hands. thousands and thousands of words every day. – Loud, thumping music emanating from – Players race to a table where inside the building • Positive words being said they are given a Life Saver candy. They are to As the wisest of men once wrote, “When words over the sound system outside • Greetings stick the Life Saver on their tongue, and then are many, sin is not absent.” (Proverbs 10:19) from friends (youth group members who arrived run through an obstacle course (which should earlier) involve jumping over and climbing under This event will encourage students to explore – Ummm. Gotta get creative here. objects) all while keeping their tongue stuck out the issue of the tongue and how powerful Taste – Life Saver candy—handed out when with the Life Saver on it. If the Life Saver drops words can be in bringing life or death to people students sign in. off their tongue, they have to go back to the on various levels. – Sign-in card, pencil • Speak Life previous obstacle. lanyard or wristband – Players race to a table where Program they are given a piece of wrapped bubble gum. What follows are a bunch of ideas organized Sign-In (The kind that’s shaped like a block works around a “typical” youth meeting structure. One of the most valuable things you can get great.) They are to pop the gum (wrapped) into That structure is designed to move the crowd from this activity is a bunch of new names, their mouth, unwrap the gum (in their mouth), from high-energy participation to focused addresses, emails, and phone numbers. Make and then chew the gum until they can blow a attention. Think of an inverted pyramid, with the your sign-in procedure as “fun” as possible. bubble at least as big as a ping-pong ball. width of the pyramid representing the energy – Have plenty of Sign-In cards printed – Players race to a table level of the students. You want to start with a up, and hand them out to students as they where they are given a small bowl of pudding. bang, and slowly transition through stages to enter the area. Then have a separate sign-in They have to put the bowl on the floor, kneel where they are quiet and paying attention to table where the cards are turned in. down, and lap the pudding out of the bowl with what is being communicated. – Having Speak Life just their tongue. lanyards or wristbands printed up can be We’ve also included two useful pieces: the relatively inexpensive. Tell the young people

Transition Transition Wrap Up Turn down the lights, crank the sound system Explain that while insults can make for good Lead your group toward a conclusion by and have everyone find a place to sit. If you comedy in movies, they can be destructive in directing them to the actions suggested under have a live band available, they should play a real life. The Bible has a lot to say about the the Live It Out section of the Student Guide. high-energy instrumental. Then pump the power of our words – and Tobymac addresses Write the name of a person or persons whose Speak Life song through the sound system the issue in his powerful new song and video, forgiveness you need to ask for because you while you show the video of the Tongue Relay Speak Life. tore them down with your words – whether and watch the kids laugh and cheer as they see spoken or written. themselves and their friends on the big screen. The Video Play Tobymac’s Speak Life video. Ask your Write the name of a person or persons who you Welcome students to pay attention to the lyrics and any need to proactively “speak life” to in the week Have your best up-front person take the stage concepts communicated visually. ahead, not necessarily because you have and welcome everyone. Briefly describe what mistreated them, but simply because you don’t the Speak Life Youth Event is. Emphasize that Transition do it enough. the theme comes from the song and video by After watching, ask students to share about any Tobymac. lyric or element of the video that stood out to Pray that God will help your group to follow them and why. Then explain that you will be through in reaching out to these people on their Settle Down reading some verses of Scripture to help spark lists with words of humility, grace, Display these insulting phrases from famous a conversation. encouragement, and kindness. movies, and have students guess which film they are from. Make a game of it by awarding Bible Study Follow Up prizes for winners. You can easily find more of Read James 3:3-12 and Ephesians 4:29. Draw Your Speak Life Youth Event doesn’t end when these negative, demeaning movie phrases attention to the Look It Up section of the everyone drives out of the parking lot. In fact, online, if you want to add or replace these with Student Guide and answer these questions as while the heavy lifting is over, you still have a lot others that may better fit your group. a group: of work to do to take advantage of what was In modern-day language, explain the meanings accomplished during the program. In the week “I’ll explain and I’ll use small words so that of the metaphors James uses when describing after your event, you’ll want to… you’ll be sure to understand, you warthog- the power of the tongue: faced buffoon.” (The Princess Bride) • bits in horses mouths Connect With New Kids “You are a sad, strange, little man. And you • the rudder of a large ship Take a look at that pile of sign-in cards sitting have my pity.” (Toy Story) • a spark setting off a forest fire on your desk. That’s not really a pile of cards; “Freaking IDIOT!” (Napoleon Dynamite) What if you REALLY lived as though what it’s a pile of GOLD! There’s GOLD in them-thar “You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of James says is true about the tongue being a cards! With your volunteer leader team, caliginous junk!” (The Wizard of Oz) “restless evil, full of deadly poison?” How might organize the cards in the manner that fits your “You stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf- this reality help you be more cautious with your situation—by grade, school, gender, etc. herder!” (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire words? Do you think James is exaggerating Identify which cards represent students who Strikes Back) here, or being accurate with his assessment of aren’t yet a part of your youth ministry “You two are just dumber than a bag of the tongue? Explain. community. Assign volunteer leaders to contact hammers!” (O Brother, Where Art Thou) In your own words, what does Paul essentially each “new” student sometime in the coming “Why don’t you just say it? I’m the worst toy- tell the Ephesian people in Chapter 4 Verse 29? week. They can call the new kids (which is maker in the world. I’m a cotton-headed ninny Define or describe “unwholesome talk.” preferred—talking over the phone gives a muggins.” (Elf) personal connection that other methods don’t), “You know, a lot of people go to college for Direct your students to answer these questions text them, send them an email, mail them a seven years.” “I know… they’re called doctors.” in the “Talk It Over” section: note (most teenagers rarely get anything in the (Tommy Boy) • Who has the most “power” to either tear you mail), or – do them all! CAUTION: Do not “stalk” “I don’t want to talk to you no more, you down or build you up with his or her words? a new kid by asking to be Facebook friends. empty-headed animal food trough wiper. I fart Why does he or she have that power? Doing so would be “creepy” unless you are in your general direction! Your mother was a • Being completely honest about your own already friends with the student. hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!” habits, if you were to die tomorrow, would you (Monty Python and the Search for The Holy be described as a person who left a legacy of Advertise The Next “Big Deal” Event Grail) “speaking life” to others, or “speaking death” to When you run your Speak Life Youth Event, you them? should already have on your calendar and be Live Music • What makes it easier to say, text, and type prepared to promote your next “big deal” event If your youth ministry has a band, encourage things that tear others down rather than build . Once you have your sign-in cards, send out a them to play a few songs here. If possible, start them up ? promotional flyer to each student. with a popular secular song or, better yet, Tobymac’s Speak Life. We’ve even included a chord chart for them to use.

Transition Transition Wrap Up We have developed many more resources to Turn down the lights, crank the sound system Explain that while insults can make for good Lead your group toward a conclusion by help you with your Speak Life Youth Event, and have everyone find a place to sit. If you comedy in movies, they can be destructive in directing them to the actions suggested under including an exhaustive list of scripture verses, have a live band available, they should play a real life. The Bible has a lot to say about the the Live It Out section of the Student Guide. a chord chart for the song, and the Student high-energy instrumental. Then pump the power of our words – and Tobymac addresses Write the name of a person or persons whose Guide. Get them all at interlinc- Speak Life song through the sound system the issue in his powerful new song and video, forgiveness you need to ask for because you online.com/speaklife. Some resources will be while you show the video of the Tongue Relay Speak Life. tore them down with your words – whether available only to Team interlinc-YLO Members. and watch the kids laugh and cheer as they see spoken or written. For more info call 800-725-3300. themselves and their friends on the big screen. The Video Play Tobymac’s Speak Life video. Ask your Write the name of a person or persons who you Welcome students to pay attention to the lyrics and any need to proactively “speak life” to in the week Have your best up-front person take the stage concepts communicated visually. ahead, not necessarily because you have and welcome everyone. Briefly describe what mistreated them, but simply because you don’t the Speak Life Youth Event is. Emphasize that Transition do it enough. the theme comes from the song and video by After watching, ask students to share about any Tobymac. lyric or element of the video that stood out to Pray that God will help your group to follow them and why. Then explain that you will be through in reaching out to these people on their Settle Down reading some verses of Scripture to help spark lists with words of humility, grace, Display these insulting phrases from famous a conversation. encouragement, and kindness. movies, and have students guess which film they are from. Make a game of it by awarding Bible Study Follow Up prizes for winners. You can easily find more of Read James 3:3-12 and Ephesians 4:29. Draw Your Speak Life Youth Event doesn’t end when these negative, demeaning movie phrases attention to the Look It Up section of the everyone drives out of the parking lot. In fact, online, if you want to add or replace these with Student Guide and answer these questions as while the heavy lifting is over, you still have a lot others that may better fit your group. a group: of work to do to take advantage of what was In modern-day language, explain the meanings accomplished during the program. In the week “I’ll explain and I’ll use small words so that of the metaphors James uses when describing after your event, you’ll want to… you’ll be sure to understand, you warthog- the power of the tongue: faced buffoon.” (The Princess Bride) • bits in horses mouths Connect With New Kids “You are a sad, strange, little man. And you • the rudder of a large ship Take a look at that pile of sign-in cards sitting have my pity.” (Toy Story) • a spark setting off a forest fire on your desk. That’s not really a pile of cards; “Freaking IDIOT!” (Napoleon Dynamite) What if you REALLY lived as though what it’s a pile of GOLD! There’s GOLD in them-thar “You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of James says is true about the tongue being a cards! With your volunteer leader team, caliginous junk!” (The Wizard of Oz) “restless evil, full of deadly poison?” How might organize the cards in the manner that fits your “You stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf- this reality help you be more cautious with your situation—by grade, school, gender, etc. herder!” (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire words? Do you think James is exaggerating Identify which cards represent students who Strikes Back) here, or being accurate with his assessment of aren’t yet a part of your youth ministry “You two are just dumber than a bag of the tongue? Explain. community. Assign volunteer leaders to contact hammers!” (O Brother, Where Art Thou) In your own words, what does Paul essentially each “new” student sometime in the coming “Why don’t you just say it? I’m the worst toy- tell the Ephesian people in Chapter 4 Verse 29? week. They can call the new kids (which is maker in the world. I’m a cotton-headed ninny Define or describe “unwholesome talk.” preferred—talking over the phone gives a muggins.” (Elf) personal connection that other methods don’t), “You know, a lot of people go to college for Direct your students to answer these questions text them, send them an email, mail them a seven years.” “I know… they’re called doctors.” in the “Talk It Over” section: note (most teenagers rarely get anything in the (Tommy Boy) • Who has the most “power” to either tear you mail), or – do them all! CAUTION: Do not “stalk” “I don’t want to talk to you no more, you down or build you up with his or her words? a new kid by asking to be Facebook friends. Written by empty-headed animal food trough wiper. I fart Why does he or she have that power? Doing so would be “creepy” unless you are Team interlínc Writers in your general direction! Your mother was a • Being completely honest about your own already friends with the student. Ken McCoy, hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!” habits, if you were to die tomorrow, would you Jumpstart Ministries, (Monty Python and the Search for The Holy be described as a person who left a legacy of Advertise The Next “Big Deal” Event Escondido, CA Grail) “speaking life” to others, or “speaking death” to When you run your Speak Life Youth Event, you them? should already have on your calendar and be Jeremy White • What makes it easier to say, text, and type Live Music prepared to promote your next “big deal” event Valley Church, If your youth ministry has a band, encourage things that tear others down rather than build . Once you have your sign-in cards, send out a Vacaville CA them to play a few songs here. If possible, start them up ? promotional flyer to each student. with a popular secular song or, better yet, Rick Bundschuh Tobymac’s Speak Life. We’ve even included a Kauai Christian chord chart for them to use. Fellowship, Poipu HI

17:20 – A man of perverse heart does not prosper; SPEAK LIFE VERSES he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. SPEAK LIFE CHORDS Psalm 17:3 – Though you probe my heart and exam- 17:28 – Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, ine me at night, though you test me, you will find and discerning if he holds his tongue. VERSE 1 nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. D A 18:4 – The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, Some days, life feels perfect 19:14 – May the words of my mouth and the medita- but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. E F#m tion of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Other days, it just ain’t workin’ Rock and my Redeemer. 18:6 – A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth D A invites a beating. The good, the bad, the right, the wrong 37:30 – The mouth of the righteous man utters wis- 18:7 – A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are F#m E dom, and his tongue speaks what is just. And everything in between a snare to his soul. 39:1 – I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my D A tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as 18:20 – From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach Its crazy, amazing is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. E F#m long as the wicked are in my presence.” We can turn a heart with the words we say 141:3 – Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, D A watch over the door of my lips. and those who love it will eat its fruit. Mountains crumble with every syllable. F#m E 52:4 – You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! 21:6 – A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting Hope can live or die vapor and a deadly snare. 139:4 – Before a word is on my tongue you know it CHORUS completely, O Lord. 21:23 – He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. D A Proverbs 4:24 – Put away perversity from your So speak life, speak life mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25:15 – Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, E F#m and a gentle tongue can break a bone. To the deadest darkest night 6:16-19 – There are six things the Lord hates, seven D A that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying 25:23 – As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue Speak life, speak life tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that brings angry looks. E F#m devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush 26:28 – A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a When the sun wont shine and you don’t know why into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a D A flattering mouth works ruin. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted man who stirs up dissension among brothers. 27:2 – Let another praise you, and not your own E F#m D 8:7 – My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope detest wickedness. A E 28:23 – He who rebukes a man will in the end gain You speak love, you speak… 8:8 – All the words of my mouth are just; none of more favor than he who has a flattering tongue. D A F#m E them is crooked or perverse. 30:32 – If you have played the fool and exalted your- You speak life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) D A F#m E 10:6 – Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but self, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over You speak life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh) violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. your mouth! 10:11 – The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, Jeremiah 9:8 – Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks VERSE 2 but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his Some days the tongue gets twisted / Other days my thoughts just fall apart / I do, I don’t, I will, I won’t / 10:14 – Wise men store up knowledge, but the neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him. It’s like I’m drowning in the deep / Well it’s crazy to mouth of a fool invites ruin. Ephesians 4:29 – Don’t let any evil talk come out of imagine / Words from our lips as the arms of com- your mouths. Say only what will help to build others passion / Mountains crumble with every syllable / 10:19 – When words are many, sin is not absent, but Hope can live or die he who holds his tongue is wise. up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen. 10:31 – The mouth of the righteous brings forth wis- BRIDGE dom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. James 1:26 – If anyone considers himself religious A and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he Lift your head a little higher, 10:32 – The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, deceives himself and his religion is worthless. F#m but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Spread the love like fire, 3:3-12 – We put a bit in the mouth of a horse to make it A 11:9 – With his mouth the godless destroys his neigh- obey us. We can control the whole animal with it. And Hope will fall like rain, bor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. how about ships? They are very big. They are driven D E 11:11 – Through the blessing of the upright a city is along by strong winds. But they are steered by a very When you speak life with the words you say A exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. small rudder. It makes them go where the captain wants Raise your thoughts a little higher 11:12 – A man who lacks judgment derides his neigh- to go. In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the F#m bor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. body. But it brags a lot. Think about how a small spark Use your words to inspire can set a big forest on fire. The tongue also is a fire. The A 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue is the most evil part of the body. It pollutes the Joy will fall like rain tongue of the wise brings healing. whole person. It sets a person’s whole way of life on fire. D And the tongue is set on fire by hell. People have con- When you speak life with the things you say 12:19 – Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying A tongue lasts only a moment. trolled all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures Lift your head a little higher 15:2 – The tongue of the wise commends knowl- of the sea. They still control them. But no one can con- F#m edge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. trol the tongue. It is an evil thing that never rests. It is full Spread the love like fire, of deadly poison. With our tongues we praise our Lord C# 15:4 – The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, and Father. With our tongues we call down curses on Hope will fall like rain but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. people. We do it even though they have been created to D When you speak life with the words you say. 15:28 – The heart of the righteous weighs its be like God. Praise and cursing come out of the same answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn’t be that way. D A Can fresh water and salt water flow out of the same – To man belong the plans of the heart, but from Some days, life feels perfect. 16:1 spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. olives? Can a grapevine bear figs? Of course not. And a 16:23 – A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his saltwater spring can’t produce fresh water either. Written by Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore, and Ryan Stevenson. lips promote instruction. © 2012 Achtober Songs (admin. at EMICMGPublishing.com)(BMI) / 1 Peter 3:10 – Scripture says, “Do you want to love Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing / Songs of Emack 17:4 – A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays life and see good days? Then keep your tongues / Jamnu Music (Admin. by Universal Music – Brentwood Benson attention to a malicious tongue. from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies.” Publishing) / Hole-Steen Music (ASCAP)

LOOK IT UP James 3:3-12; Ephesians 4:29 In modern-day language, explain the meanings of the metaphors James uses when describing the power of the tongue: • bits in horses mouths

• the rudder of a large ship

• a spark setting off a forest fire

What if you REALLY lived as though what James says is true about the tongue being a “restless evil, full of deadly poison?” How might this reality help you be more cautious with your words?

Do you think James is exaggerating or being accurate with his assessment of the tongue?

Rewrite Ephesians 4:29 in your own words.

Define or describe “unwholesome talk.”

TALK IT OVER Who has the most “power” to either tear you down or build you up with his or her words?

Why does he or she have that power?

Being completely honest about your own habits, if you were to die tomorrow, would you be described as a person who left a legacy of “speaking life” to others, or “speaking death” to them?

Why are saying, texting, and typing things that tear down rather than build up so easy for us?

LIVE IT OUT Write the name of a person or persons whose forgiveness you need to ask for because you tore them down with your words – whether spoken or written.

Write the name of a person or persons who you need to proactively “speak life” to in the week ahead, not necessarily because you have mistreated them, but simply because you don’t do it enough.

Pray that God will help you to follow through in reaching out to these people on your list with words of humility, grace and kindness.

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