Inspired by the song: Your Love is a Song Artist: Switchfoot

The Theme: The evidence of God’s love is all around us

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 103

The Point: God’s love is gracefully displayed everywhere we turn. Like a beautiful melody that sticks in the mind, His love brings hope, peace and comfort to all who place their trust in Him.

The Warm Up: Use the following grouping activity to move students around and get them interacting with a variety of people. Start by instructing them to get into groups based on likes, interests or descriptions. Examples would be “get into a group with those who share the same birthday month as you” or “those who wear the same size shoe as you” or “those who share the same favorite ice cream flavor”. After a few rounds, call for them to get into groups based on numbers by saying, “get into groups of 11” (fill in the number you deter- mine). Finish by getting them into groups of 6 or less which they will stay in for the study and discussion of scripture.

While this is activity is going, play the song “Your Love is a Song” in the background. You should be finished by the time the song ends. As you transition to the Main Event, ask if anyone noticed the music in the back- ground. If so, see if they can name the song title or artist. Challenge them to think about how often over the course of an average day they have music playing in the background. Why is music so much a part of our daily lives?

Music is powerful; it can motivate, encourage, calm or energize. It can bring back memories from our past or set the pace for the moment we are in.

The Main Event: Play the Switchfoot song again and challenge them to really listen to the words this time. Encourage students to write down phrases that stick out to them (refer to the space provided in the Student Guide). As the song finishes playing, invite several students to share any thoughts that came to mind as they listened. Read this quote from Jon Foreman (lead singer and songwriter for Switchfoot), “There are reoccurring themes in my life. Because I write about the things I'm wrestling, these themes often find themselves in mul- tiple songs. I used fight against this concept. Now I see these songs as interconnected, sequels in a real life documentary. One idea that I'm continually wresting with is the concept that the Creator of heavens and earth would love a wreck like myself. This idea has been the seed for a few of my songs, they are a trilogy of sorts: "Let Your Love Be Strong," "Your Love is Strong," and "Your Love is a Song." From the article, “Switchfoot Shares Song-by-Song Discussion” published in 2009 on www.hmmagazine.com

Say, “In this song, Jon Foreman describes the love of God like a symphony, like beautiful music that brings hope. Listen to how the prophet Zephaniah describes the love of God in scripture.”

Read Zephaniah 3:17 (from the NIV84 translation) “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Refer to the Student Guide and instruct students to answer the following question in the space provided: Based on your own experience and what you know to be true, how would you describe the love of God?

Have students gather in their groups from the opening activity. Instruct them to look through scripture and find verses that describe the love of God and the impact of His compassion on the world. (NOTE: you may want to provide a few concordances or show students how to use an online Bible resource like www.biblegateway.com to search for topics). Examples of passages could be: Psalm 36:5-10, John 3:16, John 15:9-13, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 8:31-39, Ephesians 3:16-19, etc..

Allow a volunteer from each group to share at least one verse they discussed.

The Wrap Up: Instruct groups to write a song or rhythmic poem based on the words of Psalm 103. Encourage them to highlight the unfailing love of God along with their response to His compassion. Allow groups to share their song or poem before you close in prayer.

Contributed by Ali Claxton // Copyright 2011 // LifeWay Christian Resources The Main Event: Listen to the words of “Your Love is a Song” by Switchfoot. In the space provided, write down thoughts that come to mind as you listen:

In this song, Switchfoot describes the love of God like a symphony, like beautiful music that brings hope. Listen to how the prophet Zephaniah describes the love of God in scripture.

Zephaniah 3:17. “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV84)

Based on your own experience and what you know to be true, how would you describe the love of God?

Look through scripture and find verses that describe the love of God and the impact of His compassion on the world.

The Wrap Up: Write a song or rhythmic poem based on the words of Psalm 103. Highlight the unfailing love of God along with your personal response to His compassion...