Students will be encouraged to decide to follow Jesus with passion and not be complacent.

 

For this activity, everyone must stand up. Explain, “When I call a number, you must lock arms in a tight circle with other students to form groups of whatever number I call out.” Call out numbers that will always leave a portion of the students remaining out of the circles. For example, in a group of 20 you could call out 6 or 7 which will result in either 2 students or 6 being eliminated. Give out prizes to the last two remaining or have them play rock, paper, scissors for one winner.

 

This game was all about relationships – committed relationships at that, since the slow-to-commit got excluded. We were made for relationships with each other and with God. Our determination to commit to a relationship is going to change us.  A committed relationship to God will even earn us a prize, according to the writings of the Apostle Paul.

 

Follow along with the message within this video from Ashes Remain. It describes the search for God and how that experience changes the singer’s life. There is a “before” component and an “after” component. The opening verse describes life without God and the rest of the video describes his life with God. As you watch, write down words that describe what his life was like and what he wants life to be like now.

 

Ask, “Who will volunteer to share what you wrote down?” Allow students to share their answers for a few minutes. Compare the before and after.

 

Say, “Write down a few notes about your life before you met Jesus and after you met Jesus. If you don’t ‘know Jesus’ then all you have is a before story right now – and that’s okay. You can simply write a little about your life now in the before column.” Give students a few minutes to write things down then you may ask if they want to share. You may even want to recruit one or two students beforehand to share their stories.

 

The video is titled “On Fire” so being on fire for God is the bulk of the message. With God, you’re either all in or all out; He doesn’t like lukewarm Christianity. The difference is really parts of our life story before and after we have an impactful encounter with Jesus and come to know Him as our Master and Savior.

 

Paul had a before and after story to share too. It is recorded in Acts 9, 22, and 26. Let’s look at the one in chapter 26 together.

 

Acts 26:1-12 – How would you describe Paul’s life up to this point? What is his purpose? (well-respected Jew seeking to destroy Christianity)

 

Acts 26:13-15 – What happens to Paul in these verses? Who does he meet?

 

So up to this point, Paul had a pretty respectable life, but at this moment he meets Jesus. He knew of Jesus before because he had hunted down and arrested those who claimed to follow Jesus. An encounter with Jesus will change us. You can know of a person and have no relationship with them. I know about all the U.S. Presidents in my lifetime, but I don’t know any of them. I have heard some of you talk about your teachers, so I know of them – but, I do not know most of them personally. Coming to know Jesus Christ changed Paul. It set him on fire as we will see. Let’s continue reading to see how Paul is changed.

 

Acts 26:16-23 – How would you describe Paul’s life after? What is his purpose?

 

The difference in Paul was night-and-day. He went from a Christian hunter to a hunted Christian. The change was quite incredible. Any real decision to follow Christ should set you on fire like Paul. Paul’s “after life” was a life of service to King Jesus. He was on fire for God.

 

What about you? Are you on fire in your “after” life, or have you fizzled out? Maybe yours is just a “before” story. If so, then let’s talk so I can share with you more about Jesus and how to “know” Him. Let today be the first day of your “after” life!

 

Reflect on all that Jesus has done. As you do, I want to leave you with a verse Paul wrote to a man close to your age named Timothy. “For this reason [because of all Christ has done for you] I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…” (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV) Considering all He has done, we should want to commit to Him and not be complacent with the evil of the world. Be on fire; be a light to those around you.