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Music Resources

Artist: David Dunn
Song: I Wanna Go Back
Album: Yellow Balloons
Featured In: MVL 96

Resources for YLO Members

File Downloads:

David Dunn

Leader Guide

Artist: David Dunn
Album: Yellow Balloons
Song: I Wanna Go Back
From: MVL 96
Writer: Lyle Witcher | Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Thomasville, Georgia

Theme(s): Faith

Objective

Students will have an opportunity to make a commitment in some way to Jesus for the first time or to “come back” to Him.

From the writer: I’ve already been praying for you and your students as I share this study. I encourage you to pray over this study if you choose to use it. The video, lyrics and back story from David Dunn is very powerful and it can make for a meaningful, life-changing, time for your students. Godspeed!

Warm Up

Play games that your students played as a child. Some examples might include: Red Rover; Red Light/Green Light; Duck, Duck, Goose; Musical Chairs; Freeze Tag. Then, sings songs that they sang as a child in Children’s Church, VBS, etc. Some examples might include: Jesus Loves Me; The B-I-B-L-E; This Little Light; I’m in the Lords Army.

Transition

Ask:

Remember when you were a child and you sang some of these songs (or) played some of these games? What were some of the feelings you had then? How happy did it make you to participate in things such as this?
What does having a “child-like” faith in Jesus mean?
What is your faith like today? What changed?

The Video

Say, “The video we are going to watch came from David Dunn’s need to go back to his child-like faith in God after experiencing a tragic loss in his life. As you watch this video, be reminded of your child-like faith. In fact, it’s okay to remember those times when it was just you and Him. As the video plays, reflect on how thankful you are for the gift of salvation (John 3:16-17; Romans 6:23) and thank Jesus, in a small prayer, for what He did.” Show the video.

Transition

Ask:

What stood out in the video to you?
What are some of the lyrics that “jumped off” the page and spoke to you?
How does it make you feel that you are loved by Jesus?

Bible Study

Use these Scriptures to look up and read. It would be great if you added some Scriptures that speaks to you (the leader) about how Jesus loves you. Matthew 18:2-4; John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23 (idea: use the “Bridge” illustration by the Billy Graham Evangelism Ministry – Google it – you can come back at the end of the study to share the Gospel with everyone, which, along with the video would be very powerful to share God’s plan through the love of Jesus); 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:7-12. Discuss:

What, or how, do these Scriptures speak to you?
Would you be willing to share how Jesus has loved you through your “ups” and “downs”?

Say, “In an interview, David Dunn shared that the loss of his two-year-old niece made him reevaluate his faith. He was reminded to have faith like a child. The song and video reminds him of a time when he, as a child, understood who Jesus was and that Jesus loved him. He then shared that he grew up and felt as though faith became a mountain of theological thought and religious actions that he had to climb. He didn’t want to be in that rut anymore. So, he wrote the song to remind us, and himself, that the important issue about faith is Jesus and His love.

Really, it is that simple. What must we do to receive this love? This is a great time to share the Gospel using the “Bridge” illustration as a guide. If you are uncertain how to share the Gospel, ask your pastor, staff member, or a seasoned adult to come in and share at this point.

Wrap Up

Maybe play the video again or have the song playing in the background. Give students the opportunity to make a commitment to Christ for the first time or to “come back” to Him. Remind students what FAITH is – Maybe use this formula:

FAITH =

Forsaking

All

I’ll

Trust

Him.

And then, close in prayer.