EXTRAordinary Lesson 1
Script
| Time: 5–10 minutes Supplies Handheld mirror Prepared sticky notes Bible Let’s Begin Hold up the mirror. “When you were really little, you probably didn’t spend much time wondering what everyone else was doing. There is actually a child development term about this called parallel play and it’s when people play next to one another without interacting with the other person or trying to influence each other.” “You liked the shirt you liked or didn’t even notice it. You played what you wanted to play. If your best friend sat by someone else, you might not have thought much about it.” “But as we get older, we start noticing more.” Place a sticky note on the mirror. “We notice what other people have.” Add another. “We notice who is friends with who.” Add another. “We notice what everyone is wearing.” Add another. “We notice when we’re included and we definitely notice when we’re not.” Continue adding several of the prepared sticky notes. “We might start wondering:“ -Does she like me? -Why did she choose her to sit by? -Should I have that too? -Am I good at this? -Do I fit in? Show the covered mirror. “None of those thoughts are strange or even unexpected. Growing up means you’re going to start noticing new things. But there’s something we need to learn to do with all those thoughts.” Hold up the mirror. “Because if every thought gets to stick…” Point to the covered reflection. “…pretty soon, it can become hard to see clearly.” “So what do we do?“ Catch It Choose one sticky note from the mirror. Read: Why did she sit with her instead? “Maybe I notice that my friend is spending lots of time with someone else.” “That’s a thought. I noticed it.” “I don’t have to pretend I didn’t think it. I can catch it.” Check It Hold up the Bible. “Then I can check it.” “Is my thought telling me something that’s actually true? Does it hold up against God’s Word?” Point to the note. “Does my friend sitting with someone else mean she doesn’t like me anymore?” Pause. “Not necessarily.” Remove the note. Choose another: I wish I had what she has. Check it: “Does someone else having something good mean God hasn’t given good things to me?” Remove it. Choose: She’s better at that than me. “Maybe she is really good at it! We don’t have to pretend she isn’t.” Check it: “But does her being good at something make me less valuable?” Remove it. “No.” Change It Point to the remaining notes. “This is where we change what gets to stick.” Remove: “Why wasn’t I invited?” “I can feel disappointed without deciding it means nobody likes me.” Remove: “I wish I looked more like her.” “I can notice something beautiful about someone else without deciding something is wrong with me.” Remove: “I want what she has.” “I can enjoy what someone else has and still be thankful for what God has given me.” Continue removing the remaining notes until the mirror is clear. Bring It Back to God Hold up the clear mirror and then the Bible. “God isn’t asking you to stop noticing things. You’re going to notice friendships. You’re going to notice clothes and talents and parties and compliments and what other people have. You’re going to have moments when you feel left out, jealous, unsure, or like you really want to fit in a certain way. The question is: What will you do with those thoughts when they come?“ Open to Isaiah 43:1. “God gives us something steady to come back to.” Read: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.“ Place the sticky note that says WHAT GOD SAYS IS TRUE along the edge of the mirror. “Before I let a thought stick, I can bring it back to what God says.” “I am known.” “I belong to Him.” “I can trust Him.” “I can be thankful for what He’s given me.” “And I can let His truth guide the way I see myself and others.” Ask What are some things you notice more now than you did when you were younger? Is it wrong to notice that someone has something you want? What can happen if we keep comparing ourselves to other people? If a friend spends time with someone else, what might your brain immediately tell you? What else could be true? How can you be happy for someone else when they get something you wanted? What can you do when a thought starts to “stick”? Wrap Up “You don’t have to believe every thought that pops into your head. You can catch it. You can check it against what God says. And when it doesn’t match His truth, you can change it. Growing up means you’re going to notice more and more about the people and world around you. So let’s learn now to let God’s truth be what sticks.” |
But now, this is what the Lord says-he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1
