For our in-house Bible study time, we played a game of "Do you really know me?" (which was a lot like the old Newlywed Game). Three sets of good friends volunteered to play. Half of the partners had to leave the room while the remaining partners answered questions about their friends.
What is your friend's shoe size?
What is your friend's favorite food?
What is your friend's middle name?
What is your friend's favorite song?
Does your friend prefer Facebook or Myspace?
Kelli's answers matched all of Kathryn's answers. Fernando's answers matched 4 of Justin's and he had a little help from Dustin matching the 5th answer. Kathy and Brittany matched 3. Everyone who played won prizes from 89.7 Power FM.
Then we talked about what this exercise was all about. Knowing someone. Being known. Knowing God. God knowing us.
During recreation time we headed to the rope's course. After a long wait for the shuttle and getting off at the wrong stop, we managed to make it to the course. Our guide really put us to the test -- we had to rely on each other, trust each other, and most of all, have a little faith.
Pastor Spoo brought four pairs of shoes to the stage tonight to illustrate proprioception or where we are spiritually.
He held up a pair of fuzzy slippers first. These shoes represent comfort. Slipper-followers are in it for the blessings and eternity in Heaven. They aren't prepared for any rough terrain.
Next came a pair of pink high heels (he promised us they were not his). This pair of shoes are tight . . . uncomfortable. The high heels-followers are stuck on the rules and not their relationship with God.
He then held up a pair of shoes he called his Sunday shoes, describing them as the shoes he only wears on Sunday. Sunday shoes-followers only walk the walk one day a week.
Lastly he showed us his favorite pair of shoes, ones that his kids like to walk around in when they are playing dress up. "When I want to look like Daddy" shoes-followers are simply practicing the faith of their parents and do not truly have faith in God themselves.
Stepping away from the shoes for a moment, Pastor Spoo shined the spotlight on Phillip and Nathaniel. Jesus said to both, "Follow me." See their different responses here. It was interesting to compare and contrast these two friends. One enthusiastically followed and told someone else. The other was skeptical, probably stuck up and prejudiced, and needed proof. While the responses were different, the end result was the same: they both followed Jesus.
Which brought us back to the shoes . . . well, not really.
Truly following Christ is best represented with bare feet.
Our devotional tonight started off with a wild game of Marco Polo. We played 3 rounds:
1) Two players who knew each other very well -- Kelli and Kathryn played this round. Kelli was blind-folded and Kathryn was strategically placed on the other side of the room. The rest of us were quiet (as best as we could be). Kelli said, "Marco." Kathryn said, "Polo." Kelli found Kathryn easily.
2) Kelli and Kathryn played round two. Kelli was blind-folded again, but this time all of us were told to make some noise to distract her. Kathryn was strategically placed in the kitchen. It took a little longer, but Kelli knew Kathryn's voice and found her.
3) Round three -- two players who did not know each other well -- Fernando and Clay. Fernando was blind-folded. Clay was strategically placed outside on the porch. We were instructed to make as much noise as possible and to distract. Fernando had a hard time hearing Clay's voice and it took him a while to find him.
We then dissected the game and what it represented. See if you can figure it out.
The floor was then open for us to share when we have heard God's voice or felt his presence. Several shared their testimonies and we ended our devotional time in a big circle, holding hands, and singing Jesus Loves Me.
The focus for today: The presence of the Shepherd.
No comments:
Post a Comment