Discussion Guide

Teaching Point:
Life is sometimes a struggle between right and wrong, rich and poor, successful and unsuccessful.

Opening Questions:
• How do you picture your life two years from now; five years from now; ten years from now?
• Would you say that you are more hopeful or doubtful about your future?
• What is your measure of success? Money? Fame? Power? Integrity?

Discussion:
“Counting Stars” by One Republic is a fun and catchy song with lyrics that seem to express a sense of struggle between rich and poor, right and wrong. Challenge students to identify the things that Ryan Tedder seemed to be struggling with as he wrote these lyrics. He starts with dreaming of how his life with his wife would be, but is torn between the idea of money and the ideal of simplicity. He struggles with “just doing what we’re told”—a common struggle among musicians in the “industry”—but also with feeling right about doing right when wrong seems to feel better. There are many ways to see the lines, “Everything that kills me makes me feel alive” and, “Everything that drowns me makes me want to fly”—but my take is that there is exhilaration in overcoming impossible situations. Finally, he says, “Take that money, watch it burn, sink in the river the lessons I learned” which seems to imply that life lessons are more important than being rich.

Matthew 7:7 is the “flashing sign” that he refers to. What do you think that means?

Read Proverbs 4:12 and 16:25. The trap that we so easily fall into is the “feelings” trap. There is so much pressure to be politically correct and “tolerant” in ways that we know are wrong but it “feels” better, or at least it is easier to just go along and not rock the boat.

Conclusion:
Throughout our lives we will have to weigh our values and dreams, comparing them with the truth of God’s Word. After thinking about that and considering the struggles expressed in this song, would you change any of your answers to the opening questions? What is your biggest area of struggle? Remember, God can give you the wisdom and the strength to negotiate these areas and come out victorious. That is exhilarating!