interlínc: Resources

Music Resources

Artist: Switchfoot
Song: Native Tongue
Album: Native Tongue
Featured In: MVL 103

Resources for YLO Members

File Downloads:

Switchfoot

Leader Guide

Artist: Switchfoot
Album: Native Tongue
Label: Fantasy Records
Song: Native Tongue
From: MVL 103
Writer: David Gantt | Central Baptist Church | Oak Ridge, North Carolina

Theme(s): Love

Objective

In a world where hate is louder than love, students need to understand that love for each other is a command and not an option. Also, that love for each other can help heal wounds and prevent new ones.

Warm Up

Begin your lesson by having a few students answer each question aloud. Give them a few seconds to think over their answers first.

Describe a moment when someone said something to you that impacted you in a profound way.
Tell about a time when you said something that profoundly impacted someone else.
What made these moments so profound?

Transition

Say, “Everyone has heard the phrase, ‘actions speak louder than words.’ However, our actions and our words are important. The Bible speaks about conveying love through both our words and our actions. The band Switchfoot has made a music video with insight into the subject.”

The Video

Play the “Native Tongue” video by Switchfoot. Then ask, “What do you think they mean by ‘love’ being the native tongue language?”

Bible Study

Read Matthew 22:34-40 aloud to the group. Explain that in an effort to try to trip Jesus up, the Pharisees asked Him the question about the greatest commandment. As a bonus, Jesus didn’t just offer them one answer, but two. The first is to love God with every ounce of your being and the second is to love people the same way we love ourselves.

In our world today, you hear way more about how people hate each other and less about people loving each other. Love is something that everyone can understand and can tell how it feels to be loved. Hate is the same way.

However, when Jesus offers up the second greatest commandment, He is saying that we are to love and take care of each other the same way we would ourselves. When we are hungry, we eat; so, feed the hungry. When we are sad we look to be consoled; so, console the sad. Whatever we do for ourselves because we love ourselves enough to meet our needs we should be doing for others. If the world would start to speak a language that everyone could understand then a lot of the issues with hate would dissolve. So, speak the native language of all God’s creation and love one another.

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think Jesus gave the two commandments instead of just the one the Pharisees asked for?
What do you think Jesus meant by love others the way you love yourself?
What are things that we do for ourselves? How can we do those things for others?
What would it look like in your home if everyone there always operated out of a “love others the way you love yourself” mentality? In your school? At work? In your youth group/church?

Wrap Up

It’s easy to say we love each other. The real test comes when we try to show that love through the way we treat, talk to/about, and interact with others. Jesus didn’t say, “While you’re loving God with all your being, could you make an effort to love each other a little bit too?” He wanted to make sure that they knew that this is the second greatest commandment, not the second greatest suggestion. And the level of love that is commanded is that you love everyone the exact same way you love yourself.