Leader Guide

Theme
Confidence; In Christ

Objective
Students will learn that Christ empowers his followers to enable them to go “all in.”

Warm Up
Blind Faith – Make a bunch of “poker chips” to use in this game. (I found a couple of images of chips online, created a page full of the images, printed it off, copied it, cut the pages and made “square chips” to hand out.) Have the students form small groups of four or more. Hand out decks of some kind

of playing cards (I used several Uno decks and a couple Rook decks) and the “chips” and have the groups play a few rounds of “high card wins the hand.” Dealer gives five cards to each player, and players then can discard up to four of their cards for replacements from the dealer. To start play each player draws one of his own cards (WITHOUT looking at it!) and holds it on his forehead where the other players in the group can see

it. Players “bet” their “chips” on hope they’ll hold the highest card – winner keeps the chips won for that round and a new round begins. Play until someone holds all the chips! Have some rocking music playing in the background and let the kids have a great time!

Transition
Many of your kids (especially the guys) will be familiar with “Texas Hold-Em” poker style games. Discuss the game a bit with the object being to highlight concepts which will appear later in

the videos such as “Risk” “Gamble” “Poker face” “Raising the stakes” “R.I.P.

to the old man” “Bluffing” & “All In.” Here are some starter questions that you can use:

• What was your favorite part of this game?

• Did playing with worthless “chips” diminish the fun?

• What if you were playing with real money – your own money?

• Did you ever go “all in” on a hand? • Are there any similarities between

games of chance and faith? Explain. The Videos

*Flame has 2 related videos on this DVD: “All In” and “Read ’Em & Weep.” We’ll mainly be teaching from the first song, but feel free to use the second to strengthen the message. Tell your students to watch closely for visual clues and phrases and to remember them
for later discussion. Play the videos.

Transition
Share the story about the famous tightrope walker who garnered world- wide attention when he announced that he’d walk a wire stretched across the Niagara Falls. Crowds were awed as he accomplished the feat. Then, he announced that he’d do it again, this time pushing a wheelbarrow. He turned to the crowd and asked, “Do you believe I can do it?” “YES!” He focused on a very enthusiastic sup- porter and asked, “Do you really believe I can do it?” “ABSOLUTELY!”

“Alright, then – get in the wheelbarrow.” The crowd had faith in the hero, but no one could be found to put their faith to the test. Their faith had no real substance. They were unable to go “all in.” Discuss:

• What are some reasons we might have doubted God?

• How is faith different than gambling?

• What images and phrases struck you in the video?

Bible Study
Hand out the Student Guides. Read through Hebrews 11:1 and 2 Peter 1: 2-3. Have your kids fill in the missing words and discuss the questions.

Now faith is the ____________ of things hoped for, the _____________ of things not seen.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine __________ has granted to us

__________ pertaining to life and godliness, through the _______ __________ of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence”

• Can you “believe” that you’ve been given everything you need to go “all in” for Jesus?

• What do these verses say about confidence a Christian should have?

• Can you see that your faith might turn to assurance as you experience Christ and His power in your life? (We don’t just believe in Jesus, we come to know Him personally!)

• Remember the chip’s “names” on the card table – what sins/chips are you holding on to that keep you from going “all in” for Jesus?

Wrap Up
Use this time to challenge your young friends to go “all in” with their relation- ship with Jesus. Close in prayer.