Due to some schedule constraints, I won’t be posting Filipino translations at this time. Hope you understand friends.

Listen Up Y’all: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Opening Salvo

Who are rebels? What do they do? Can you share your idea of rebels to the group?

Some rebels are suicidal and destructive while others are just silent.

The suicidal rebels. These rebels can sacrifice their very lives for their beliefs. Some people who espouse revolution do this. Some young people are also suicidal rebels, they destroy their lives and their dreams because they are rebelling against their parents and their world.

The silent rebels. These are rebels who are silent and who look successfully outwardly. But inside their minds and their hearts, you will see a different reality. They don’t show it but they are actually rebelling inside their hearts.

There is a different kind of rebel, which we will discover towards the end of our session.

Do you consider yourself as a rebel? Why? How? What are you rebelling against? Teachers, parents, adults in the church? God?

What Was That All About?

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most popular parables shared by Jesus to his students. It shows the relationship of two brothers and their father.

The younger son is a true blooded rebel. He took his inheritance from his father, went off to other lands, hurt his father and abandoned everything he knew. Yet, he experienced hardships, difficulties, bankruptcy and humiliation. Eventually, he went back to his father when he remembered all the good things in his father’s house.

Let’s examine the response of the father to the prodigal son’s return. Did he get angry? Did he drive away the son?

He welcomed the prodigal son with arms wide open. That is what God wants us to do—to return to his will and to his love.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 shows the transforming power of Christ. He changes us inside out! When you are in Christ, you are a new creation.

You become transformed and then you are called to become a Transformer!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

How did you display rebellion in your youthful lives? Do you feel like you are a “prodigal child”? How can you return to God?

Roll Out

Watch and analyze the song “Home” by Daughtry by visiting this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzYyBYLc9kQ. Share your reflections about going home to God’s loving arms!

Lyrics of Home by Daughtry

I’m staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I’m going to the place where love
And feeling good don’t ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel’s a different kind of pain.

Well I’m going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I’m not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don’t regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I’m going home.
Well I’m going home.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I’ve not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love remains true.
And I don’t know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

So I’m going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I’m not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don’t regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,

Be careful what you wish for,
‘Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don’t want.
Be careful what you wish for,
‘Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

Oh, well I’m going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I’m not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don’t regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I’m going home.
I’m going home.

image credit: http://www.traceymcnee.com

Opening Salvo

Before beginning the session, the BS leader should bring a pitcher of clean water to the session room. Don’t tell the participants right away what that is for.

Do you remember Bagyong Ondoy and Pepeng last year? Did you experience floods? How did you deal with it? A lot of people died because of these typhoons. Farmers and store owners in Northern Luzon also lost thousands of pesos because their crops were totally destroyed. The houses of other people were also destroyed.

Water was everywhere. ”

But where is water now?

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

“The Isabela provincial board this week approved a recommendation to place the province under a state of calamity after the DA reported drought-related losses of at least P1.61 billion in farms in 36 towns and a city.” Furthermore, PAGASA warned about a 40-degree Celsius summer in Isabela and the rest of Northern Luzon.

This summer, we are experiencing unbearable heat.

Do you ever feel thirsty?
It’s not only the body that gets thirsty. The heart, the mind and the spirit also gets thirsty.

What Was That All About?

Isaiah 55:1-9 records the promise of God to satisfy the people who will trust in him. Let’s look at the properties of water. What are the common uses of water?

Nourishment of the body. They say that you can survive more than a month without food. But your body can only survive for a week without water! This is why we need to drink water to bring important nutrients to various parts of the body and to take away the dirt materials.

Cleansing. We take a bath with water. We clean plates, cars and our clothes with the use of water. Without water, we may not be able to clean up.
Growing crops. Without water, rice, corn and other plants cannot grow. In fact, water is very important to life that we cannot exist without water.

God says in Isaiah 55:1-9 that we can turn to him for the water that can nourish our bodies and our souls. God’s water is not bottled. It is free and cannot be bought by money.

Through God’s water, we, as his followers can change our ways, we can be cleansed from our sins and we can be like King David, who followed God even in difficult situations.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

What are the things that you thirst for? Money? More toys and gadgets? Love of your parents? Respect?

What happens if you fill your thirst with what does not satisfy? (example, if you drink saltwater instead of fresh water).

How can you quench these thirsts?

Listen Up Y’all: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Opening Salvo
Share the following pictures with the group

Why do you think the pet looks like the master?
Do you have a pet that looks just like you?

What was that all about?

Our passage in Philippines 3:17-4:1 is about the apostle Paul providing important instructions to the Christians in Philippi.

The apostle Paul is saying “pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.”

Paul followed Jesus. So along the way, Paul became more and more like Christ. What are some of the ministries that Jesus did?

Healing the sick.
Preaching.
Loving the unlovable.
Visiting the prisoners.
Did some miracles.

Paul also did these things that Jesus did. He also suffered in prison in much the same way that Jesus did. But because Paul loved Jesus, he still followed.

John Wesley is another person who followed Jesus and the example of Paul. As the founder of Methodism, he also gave away a lot of his possessions for the poor. He helped heal the sick, not miraculously, but he helped in obtaining medicines for them. He also traveled a lot just to preach the good news of salvation.

This is God’s promise to us. One day in the future, we will be like Him—in spirit and in body. Paul says in Philippians 3:21 that “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”

We will certainly become just like our master!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
How can we become like Jesus? Is it difficult?

Roll Out
What are some practical ways in which we can live like Jesus and Paul in our church, at home, in the school and in our community?
End in prayer.

image credit: SFGate

Listen Up Y’all: Luke 4:1-13; Romans 10:8b-13
You can be creative in the reading of the scriptures. You can act out the temptation of Jesus by assigning one youth to be Jesus and the other one to be the devil.

Opening Salvo
Ask the participants if there are things that they would love to have (i.e. PSP, new clothes, good grades, boyfriend, girlfriend).
What would they do to get what they want? Are they willing to cheat and compromise just to get what they want?

As they say “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Sometimes, temptation and sin starts with a desire for something good.

What was that all about?
In Luke 4:1-13, we read about the temptation of Jesus in the desert. He faced several kinds of temptation.

1. Bread and body needs. After fasting for 40 days, Jesus must have been very hungry. Then along came the devil who said, “if you are the son of God, turn this stone to a loaf of bread.”

Question: What are some of the body’s needs and luxuries that tempt you?

2. Fame, power and riches (Goods, guns and gold for some). The second temptation was about power. If Jesus would bow down to the devil, he will get fame and power. He would have become a movie star or a politician.

Question: Do you want to be rich, powerful or famous? How can these things lead you away from God?

3. Miracles! The last temptation is about miracles. Being the son of God, he would have been able to fly. But he restrained himself and rebuked the devil. Even if God can save him, it is not good to tempt God for miracles and signs from heaven.

Question: Do you often ask God for a sign (for anything that you want)? What if God does not grant your requests?

Temptations begin with a desire in our hearts. Sometimes, the desire is good. You just want to taste good food, you want a new gadget to play with, or you want to have good grades to please your parents.

Let us be clear. Temptation is not sin. Temptation is the road to sin. If you don’t give in to temptation, you do not sin. It will become sin if:
1. You choose the wrong methods to achieve something good like cheating in school to get good grades.
2. The time is not right for what you desire. This is evident in unwanted pregnancies and premarital sex.
3. Or you probably desire the wrong thing like being the most popular gangster in town.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Let’s watch a short video about temptations. It’s called the marshmallow test.
Download the video/s here.

Roll Out
After watching the video, ask the participants for ways in which they can fight temptation. Look specifically for terms such as self-discipline, self-control, accountability, asking help from friends and family.

End in prayer.

FILIPINO TRANSLATION

Makinig Kayo: Luke 4:1-13; Romans 10:8b-13

Pwedeng maging creative sa pagbabasa ng Bible passage natin. Sabihan ang isang kabataan na maging Jesus at isa naman ang magiging devil na siyang susubok kay Kristo.

Opening Salvo
Tanungin ang mga kasapi ng grupo kung may mga gamit silang gustong bilhin o magkaroon (i.e. PSP, new clothes, good grades, boyfriend, girlfriend).
Anong gagawin nila para magkaroon ng mga ito? Okay lang ba na mangupit o mandaya para makuha ang gusto nila?

As they say “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Sometimes, temptation and sin starts with a desire for something good. Ang umpisa ng temptation at kasalanan, kadalasan ay galing sa magagandang intentions.

Ano Daw Yun?
Sa Luke 4:1-13, mababasa natin ang pagsubok kay Jesus sa disyerto. Heto ang iba’t ibang pagsubok na dinaanan niya.

1. Bread and body needs. Pagkatapos niyang mag-fasting sa loob ng 40 araw, gutom na gutom siguro si Jesus nun. Tapos ayan na ang devil para sabihin sa kanya, “Sige nga, kung anak ka ng Dios, gawin mong tinapay ang mga batong ito.”

Question: Anong mga pangangailangan ng katawan at pagkain ang nagiging temptation sa inyo?

2. Fame, power and riches (Goods, guns and gold for some). Ang sumunod na temptation ay tungkol sa POWER. Kung papayag si Jesus sa gustong mangyari ng Devil, magiging sikat siya at makapangyarihan. Pwede siyang maging politiko o kaya eh isang sikat na artista!

Question: Gusto mo bang maging mayaman, makapangyarihan o kaya ay tanyag?  How can these things lead you away from God?

3. Miracles! Ang huling temptation ay tungkol naman sa miracles. Dahil anak siya ng Dios, kahit tumalon siya, sigurado namang ililigtas siya ng Dios. Pero hindi niya pinabayaang makontrol siya ng temptation ng devil. Sabi nga ng Rivermaya, “kasalanan bang humingi ako sa langit ng isang himala…” Tinatawag tayo ng Dios upang magtiwala sa kanya at hindi upang magtiwala sa himala.

Question: Do you often ask God for a sign (for anything that you want)? What if God does not grant your requests?

Temptations begin with a desire in our hearts. Madalas, mabuti naman at maganda yung gusto nating mangyari. Sino ba ang ayaw sa masarap na pagkain, mga bagong laruan at magagandang grades na pwedeng ipagmayabang sa mga magulang?

Let us be clear. Temptation is not sin. Temptation is the road to sin. If you don’t give in to temptation, you do not sin. It will become sin if:
1. You choose the wrong methods to achieve something good like cheating in school to get good grades.
2. The time is not right for what you desire. This is evident in unwanted pregnancies and premarital sex.
3. Or you probably desire the wrong thing like being the most popular gangster in town.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Manood tayo ng isang maikling video tungkol sa mga temptations. Ito ay tinatawag na marshmallow test.
Download the video/s here.

Roll Out
After watching the video, ask the participants for ways in which they can fight temptation. Look specifically for terms such as self-discipline, self-control, accountability, asking help from friends and family.End in prayer.

image credit: babi via Flickr

Listen Up Y’all: 1 John 4:7-21; 2 Corinthians 3:7 – 4:2

Opening Salvo

How do you show love?
Are you into PDA? Public Display of Affection?
Do you feel loved? By whom?
How does God show that He loves you?

What Was That All About?

Love! Aah… This is probably the bestseller topic among young people nowadays. People just love talking about love or at least what they think is love.

How many times have you heard “God is love?” Do you know where that verse can be found? It is in 1 John 4 of course. In 1 John 4:7-21, the apostle John showed several kinds of love.

God’s love. God does not love us only by giving blessings, answering our prayers and caring for us. The ultimate expression of God’s love is the way he sacrificed his Son, Jesus Christ, to take away our sins.

Love for God. We respond to God’s love with our obedience and by loving him with all our hearts, all our minds, all our strength and all our lives!

Love for other Christians. John says that “anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” The apostle also asked Christians throughout history to love other Christians.

The apostle John did not mention the following in this passage, but it is found elsewhere in the Bible.

Love for family and friends. Jesus said that it is easy to love those who love us also. These people are usually family and friends. They just love us for who we are. No strings attached.

Love for the opposite sex. We are attracted to the opposite sex. That is how God wired us. We even ask for textmates, friends (boyfriends and girlfriends?) during Christmas Institute and in schools. We develop love for a special person in our lives.

Love for enemies. This is probably the most difficult kind of love that Jesus preached about! Who would want to love people who hurt us and who want to destroy us? But this is one of the commandments of Jesus.

In our churches, we sometimes love only those who are like us. If they are different, if they do no look like us, if they do not go to the same school, if they do not like the music we like and the things that we do, we ignore them, we do not associate with them.

But 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says that “wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” We may not look alike, but God loves us all the same.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Let’s take a look at the people inside the church. Is it easy or difficult to love other Christians?
What are the things that make us hate other people? How can we deal with those feelings of hate?

Roll Out

Look at the following pictures. Which of them are more lovable? How can we love each of these people?

The Addict

The Terror Teacher

Taong Grasa

If you can’t download and print these pictures, then ask the participants about the people they hate. Then discuss how can they show love to the people they do not like.
End in prayer.

FILIPINO TRANSLATION

Basahin ang 1 Juan 4:7-21; 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:2

Unang Bugso

Paano mo ipinakikita na mahal mo ang isang tao?
Ma-PDA ka ba? Public display of affection?
Nararamdaman mo bang may nagmamahal sa iyo? Sino?
Paano mo nararamdaman na mahal ka ng Panginoon?

Ano Daw Yun?

Pag-ibig! Uyyy… Ito na siguro ang pinakapatok na pinag-uusapan ng mga kabataan ngayon. Madalas pag-usapan ng mga tao ang pag-ibig at kung ano sa tingin nila ang pag-ibig.

Ilang beses mo na bang narinig ang katagang “God is Love?” Alam mo ba kung saan sa Biblia ito makikita? Nasa 1 Juan 4 eto. At kung babasahin mo ang 1 Juan 4:7-21, may ilang uri ng pag-ibig ang binabanggit ni Apostol Juan.

Pag-ibig ng Dios. Minamahal tayo ng Dios hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng mga blessings, o kaya sa pagsagot ng mga panalangin natin. Ang ultimate expression ng pag-ibig ng Dios ay ang pagbibigay niya sa kanyang anak na si Jesus upang mamatay sa krus at linisin ang ating mga kasalanan.

Pag-ibig sa Dios. Ipinapakita naman natin ang ating pagmamahal sa Dios sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa kanyang kalooban at mga kautusan at sa pagmamahal sa kanya nang buong puso, buong isip, buong kalakasan at buong buhay natin.

Pag-ibig sa ibang mga Kristiyano. Ang sabi ni Apostol Juan, “sinumang umiibig ay anak ng Dios at nakakikilala sa Dios.” Bilin din ni Juan na dapat ang mga Kristiano ay magmahalan!

Hindi na nabanggit ni Juan ang mga sumusunod pero matatagpuan pa rin ang mga ito sa ibang bahagi ng Biblia.

Pag-ibig sa Pamilya at mga Kaibigan. Sinabi ni Jesus na mas madaling mahalin ang mga taong nagmamahal din sa atin. Usually, ito ay ang ating mga pamilya at mga kaibigan. Mahal nila tayo hindi dahil sa kung anong mga dahilan kundi dahil tayo ay pamilya at friends.

Natatanging pag-ibig. We are attracted to the opposite sex. That is how God wired us. Minsan nga sa CI o kaya sa school, kinukuha natin ang cellphone number ng ating mga friends (boyfriends and girlfriends?). We develop love for a special person in our lives.

Pag-ibig para sa mga kaaway. Ito na siguro ang pinakamahirap na uri ng pag-ibig na ipinakita ni Jesus. Sino bang gustong mahalin ang mga taong ayaw sa atin at nananakit sa atin? Yun nga lang, isa ito sa mga uto ni Jesus.

Sa ating mga simbahan, kadalasan, mahal lang natin yung mga katulad natin. Kapag hindi natin sila kapareho sa pananamit at ugali, hindi natin sila pinapansin!

But 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says that “wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” We may not look alike, but God loves us all the same. Mahal pa rin tayo ni Lord kahit na ano pa man tayo at kung sino pa man tayo.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Tingnan natin ang mga to sa loob ng Church. Madali ba o mahirap mahalin ang ating kapwa Kristiyano?
Ano ang mga rason bakit “hate” natin ang ibang tao? Paano natin matatanggal ang ganitong feelings?

Roll Out
Tingnan ang mga pictures sa itaas? Alin sa kanila ang lovable at alin ang hindi? Paano kaya natin ipapakita ang pagmamahal sa mga taong ganito?
If you can’t download and print these pictures, then ask the participants about the people they hate. Then discuss how can they show love to the people they do not like.
Tapusin ang session sa panalangin.

image credits: Teacher; heart; taong grasa;