Students will come to understand that we are united through Christ’s love and that our diversity, when respected and embraced, only makes us stronger together.

 

Choose two different sports (or more if you have a large group). Separate your group into two teams. Give them these instructions: We are going to play ________ (whatever sport you have chosen) but we are going to play using ________ (the other sport) rules. Make sure to have the appropriate sporting equipment available. Leave it there. Let them interpret the challenge. (Determine time based on what time you have – doesn’t have to take much, but can be fun for a longer period of time.)

 

Talk about what made the game difficult. How did they sort out how they were going to play the game? Did they identify a leader? Who knew the real rules, and if no one did, how did they proceed? Ask the students what were the things that the games had in common: two teams, fun, equipment, rules, challenging, competition? Were there also aspects that confused us, made us ask questions? Did we rely on the experience of others?

 

As Christians, there are so many things that we have in common with our neighbor and yet, there are so many things that make us diverse. In Nicole C. Mullen’s song “One” you will hear a mix of voices, a mix of things that make us one, remembering we are all “one” simply in how we answer the Master’s challenge to love!

 

Play the song. What words or phrases stand out to you? When the song is finished, challenge the students to reflect on what the “love” it talks about looks like. How do they “love”? How about their families? Their friends? This study group? Is it different from the song or the same? How do you know? Give them time to answer if they choose. 

 

Depending on the size of your group, invite students to look at the five Scriptures. Pair students up or create smaller groups. Give each one a verse to reflect on and discuss. Have them answer these questions:

 

Have each group then share with the larger group what they have come up with and possible action steps. Ask students to write down things they hear on their Student Guide.

 

Loving someone is never easy—although we like to think it is. It requires attention and hard work. Why? Because we’re all different. We have different gifts and talents; different backgrounds and experiences that color our responses to different situations. We understand differently. However, if we put on the Ears of Christ and listen to each other, we can come to recognize our differences as opportunities to grow in our love for each other and for God. If we become the hands of God, reaching out to those around us in love, we embrace the love that God has equally for each of us. If we don’t then we become that clanging cymbal and noisy gong. What are you going to do?

 

Close in this prayer from

Ephesians: 3:16-17 –