READY, SET…GO!
(print ready PDF)
Preparing for a local day-of-service event
PURPOSE
Use this youth meeting to prepare for a day-long local mission
experience.
SET-UP
Place two tape lines on the floor about 5-feet apart and long
enough for at least five people to stand behind.
SCRIPTURE
Acts 4:34-35
WELCOME
As youth arrive for the meeting, assign each one a number.
Depending on how many you expect number them so that there are no
fewer than two and no more than five teams.
OPENING ACTIVITY
Assemble the teams and line them up behind one of the lines.
Give the following instruction;
This is the shortest relay race in history! Each team member
will race to the finish line…yes, that's the finish line just five
feet away…and once you've crossed the line the next person can go.
Any questions? Good!
READY, SET…GO!
Watch the race and declare a winner at the end.
DEBRIEF
Have teams sit together in circles. Ask them to discuss the
following questions:
• What did you think of this race?
• What sort of preparation might it take to get ready for a race
like this?
• Who might not be able to participate in a race like this?
After these questions, ask for feedback from the small groups.
Look to draw out the following points:
• It wouldn't take much work to get ready for this race.
• There are very few people that wouldn't be able to run a race
of just five feet.
• The race was so simple it didn't even seem like a race.
Now ask:
• How is this race like going on a one-day mission trip?
• What are some things that make a one-day event easier than
other mission trips?
READING
Read or select someone to read the following verses:
In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus
was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers and no one went in
need of anything. Everyone who owned land or houses would sell them
and bring the money to the apostles. Then they would give the money
to anyone who needed it. - Acts 4:33-35
DISCUSS
Say:
This passage from Acts talks about the early church that was
exclusively local - based in Jerusalem. Together they worked to see
that no one was in need.
Ask:
• How might our one-day mission trip be a reflection of
the way the early church worked?
• What benefits might there be to helping local people in
need?
Say:
In your small groups each of you share and discuss what you hope
will happen through your one-day of service to people in need. Once
everyone has shared we'll close our time in prayer.
Allow time to share. As the groups wrap up close in a
prayer something like this:
Dear Lord, thank you for putting us in a community of people
that have the resources to help others. We can help both far and
near, Lord. It's especially exciting for us to be able to bring
help and hope to our neighbors. Help us to be like the early church
sharing what you've given us so that no one is in need. We look
forward to seeing you at work in and through us in our upcoming day
of service. Amen.