Your group will discuss how Christ followers should live through the “hills and valleys” of life.

 

Play a round or two of a word association game. Invite a student to join you on stage and ask them to say the first thing that comes to mind after you say a word. Possible words: summer, sports, water, bed, vacation, TV, phone, ocean, hill

 

Say something like, “That was fun. And there were definitely some random answers! One of the words we used was ‘hill’ – and I can’t help but think about ‘valley’ when I hear the word ‘hill.’ I think about ‘low’ when I hear the word ‘high.’ Highs and Lows, Hills and Valleys – it’s like it is the rhythm of life. Each of us has highs and lows – we all walk though the hills and valleys of life. The question is, ‘How do we walk in the highs, and how do we walk in the lows?’”

 

Play the new video from Tauren Wells called “Hills and Valleys” for your group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iDuZv_5MQk&feature=youtu.be 

 

Say something like, “So, just to give us some perspective, let’s play ‘High Low.’ We will take turns going around and sharing your worst part of the day and then we will share the best part of our day. I’ll go first.” After your students have shared, ask, “What is something we learned doing that?” (We all have highs and lows.)

 

Say, “Now, let’s look at a guy who really had a bad day.” Read Job 1. Discuss:

Say something like, “Let’s think of all the great blessings God has given us. In fact, let’s list some of the ways we are blessed.” Have the students list the blessings they are experiencing or have experienced.

 

Say, “And then, let’s list the ‘valleys’ we are facing.” This may be more difficult. So be patient and ready to talk to students abut some of the hurts and low points in their life. 

 

When the students are finished, pray over both lists.