Retreat Resources
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RETREAT RESOURCES “THEREFORE BE IMITATORS OF GOD, AS BELOVED CHILDREN, AND LIVE IN LOVE, AS CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR US, A FRAGRANT OFFERING AND SACRIFICE TO GOD.” VISIT BGAV.ORG/IGNITE TO DOWNLOAD THESE ELECTRONIC RESOURCES! BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together ABOUT THE RESOURCES Dear Youth Leaders, This time last year, we prepared to meet at Eagle Eyrie for our middle school retreat. How could we have known what the past year would bring? We are looking at a different world in many ways, and yet, we know that despite the many changes we have experienced, one thing remains true. We still worship a living God, who is moving and working in our world. As youth leaders, whether we are meeting in person or online, we have a group of youth who are looking to us for guidance and connection in this unprecedented time. We may not be able to gather in October at Eagle Eyrie, but we would like to give you resources to bring the youth retreat to you! In this packet, you will find Bible studies, devotionals, and other materials that explore our theme: Reimagined. We will look at Ephesians 5:1-2 and think about what it means to be made in the image of God and how to walk in love in our world. We invite you to create an opportunity for your youth to connect with God, and we would love to see what you do! These materials can be used with both middle and high school youth. The Bible studies and activities can be completed in one weekend or stretched over a longer period of time. Whether in person or online, we want to see how you are exploring what it means to be image bearers in our world. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #BGAVREIMAGINED in your pictures and videos! In Christ, DOWNLOAD ELECTRONIC RESOURCES: Cadance Tyler BGAV.ORG/IGNITE 2 BIBLE STUDIES THEME: Reimagined Our world has been turned upside down in 2020. We have had to reorient life in a pandemic. School is different. Church is different. Work is different. In light of this change, how do we reimagine what it looks like to be the Church? Things are different in so many ways, but God has not changed. These two studies will look at what it means to be made in the image of God and how we, as image bearers, can reflect that love. SCRIPTURAL FOCUS: Ephesians 5:1-2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Chapter five of this letter discusses what it means to live as children of God. In chapter four of Ephesians we find a call for believers to imitate the forgiveness of God (4:32). Our specific passage in chapter five continues with that thought. Though we are called to forgive as God forgives, we are also called to be imitators in all parts of our lives. We are called to imitate “the life of Christ as a whole, summed up in his going to the cross, that represents his unselfish sacrifice for others” (The People’s New Testament Commentary, 608). This behavior toward others reflects God’s love. As believers, we are to act with love in all that we do. SOURCE: The People’s New Testament Commentary by M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock. Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. BIBLE STUDY SETUP: Whether you meet in person or online, you can still enhance learning. Consider playing the suggested play list before your study and during activity times. If you are not meeting in person, create the playlist on Spotify or another format and share it with your students. Make sure that you have the needed materials or let them know what they will need for each study. You know your students best. Feel free to add or alter activities to best suit the needs of your students. 3 BIBLE STUDY ONE: WHO AM I? NEEDED MATERIALS: paper, markers OPENING ACTIVITY: Have youth create a self-portrait. It can be their whole body or face. At the end of the study, they will write words on this portrait, so make sure that they keep that in mind during the creation process. (If you are online for this study, you could have students create this portrait ahead of time. During the opener, students could show their picture or talk about what it was like to create the picture.) READ: Ephesians 5:1-2 (Print off two or three different translations of this verse and have three volunteers read them. Some suggestions are NIV, NRSV, and the Message [a helpful paraphrase]) DISCUSS: What are some words or phrases that stood out to you in this passage? HIGH SCHOOL: What do you think it means to imitate God? Can you think of a time when you saw someone imitate God in their actions? What did that look like? LEADER: This is a time to add information about the passage that you found when preparing or any other teaching points that are applicable for your group. It could be helpful to add the definition of image as youth think about what it means to represent Christ. An image is a visual representation of something. Remind the youth that our faith is part of all parts of our life, not just our time in church with other believers. We should be reflecting God every day in all situations. You can give an example of times when you saw your youth imitate God. This may help them in the next activity. ACTIVITY: There are seven categories below. Give youth one category at a time. Have them brainstorm ways to imitate or glorify God in these situations. For example, in school, they can be honest with their work. They can reach out to those on the margins or who are bullied. This can be a large group activity or a small group activity depending on your Bible Study format. You can write their ideas all in one place or have youth write it down on their own sheet of paper. After the study, post one category each week on social media with their ideas as a challenge for youth to live out their faith. CATEGORIES: School, Our Bodies, Friendships, Creation, Our Minds, Church/Youth Group, Our Community READ: Matthew 22: 36-38 DISCUSS: We have been created to imitate and reflect God. Is it difficult to remember this when we are outside of church? If so, why? What should we do if we mess up and aren’t a reflection of God in a situation? What are some ways to remember who we have been created to be? RESPONSE: Have youth hold their self-portraits. Play music or have a quiet time of reflection. Have youth think about how God has created them. Ask youth to write positive traits and gifts that they have which could be used to glorify and imitate God around their pictures. Encourage youth to put these portraits somewhere in their rooms as a reminder of being an image bearer. PRAY: End the session in prayer for your youth so that they would reflect God in all they do. 4 BIBLE STUDY TWO: WHO ARE MY NEIGHBORS? NEEDED MATERIALS: index cards, pens OPENING ACTIVITY: Have each youth think of a favorite spot in the community that surrounds your church. Remind them to keep this spot in mind, but don’t say it out loud! Ask each youth to describe this place in two sentences on an index card without saying the name of the spot. Perhaps it’s a favorite restaurant or park. Maybe it’s the playground by your church. Example: Dairy Queen: This place is a great spot for a sweet treat. It’s located beside the library. Your youth can be a cryptic or descriptive as possible, as long as they keep it to two sentences and don’t say the name. Read each card out loud and have youth try to guess the neighborhood spot! READ: Ephesians 5:1-2 (Ask for a volunteer to read the theme passage again.) LEADER: Review the previous Bible study topic. Now that we have thought about who we are created to be, it’s important to think about our neighbor. God has created all of humanity, not just those in the church. It’s important that we live out God’s example and love in our interactions with others. DISCUSS: How does Christ’s love for us serve as our example of how we love others? Who in your community may feel unseen or unloved? (example: those in a nursing home, the homeless, children being bullied in school) ACTIVITY: This game can be played in person or online. Pick a youth to begin, and have them say, “I love my neighbors who….” At the end of the sentence, have them pick a talent or preference that they do NOT have. When they say the statement, anyone who can relate to it gets to stand up and say, “I’m that neighbor!” If you are online, they can wave instead of standing. Pick someone else or go in order so that everyone gets a chance. Examples: I love my neighbors who are seniors! I love my neighbors who play sports! I love my neighbors who can speak Spanish! DISCUSS: It’s pretty easy for you to love each other, even if you all have differences. You are around the same age and in the same youth group. When might it be uncomfortable for you to love a neighbor? How do we respond to those who aren’t easy to get along with or who are not like us? READ: Luke 10:29-37 LEADER: This is a place for the leader to add their thoughts and teaching points about this passage.