Activity one: people who said yes to discipleship (1-2 hours)

Background: Many people were called by Jesus to be disciples. Some answered the call, others did not. This activity focuses on five people who said yes to discipleship. Two of them, Mary Magdelene and Peter, knew the human Jesus. The others, Paul, Lydia, and Prisca (Priscilla) only knew the Spirit of the Risen Christ. We will explore how saying “yes” to discipleship changed and effected their lives.

Materials:

· Newsprint or poster board

· markers

· Bibles

· Paper and pens or Spiritual Life Journals

1. Disciple Biographies in Art

Divide the participants up into four groups. Assign each group one (or the pair) of the disciples we are learning about. Ask each group to read the scriptures about their disciple(s) and do a large poster in words and art about who that person was, what happened to them, who they seemed to become.

Mary Magdelene: Luke 8:1-3; John 19:25; John 20:1-18; Mark 15:40-41, 47; Mark 16:1-11; Matthew 27:55-56, 61; Matthew 28:1-10

Peter: Matthew 4:18-22, John 13:1-11, Luke 22:47-61, Acts Chapter 2

Paul: Acts chapter 9:1-31; Acts 16:16-39

Lydia: Acts 16:11-15, 40 and Prisca (Priscilla): Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 24-28 and Romans 16:3-5

When everyone is finished with their art projects, have the groups come together and share and explain their posters to the other groups.

2. Journal writing and Discussion

If your whole group is less than ten people your can probably do this discussion all together. If you have move than ten, divide up into groups of five or six. Have someone from each disciple group in the discussion groups.

Have the group take five to fifteen minutes to do some journal writing/drawing on the following questions:

· Judging from the picture you got of who followed Jesus, what kinds of people do you think could be disciples?

· Would you choose any of these people (Mary, Peter, Paul, Lydia, Prisca) as friends?

· How do you think becoming disciples changed their lives?

· How are you like Mary? How are you different from her?

· How are you like Peter? How are you different from him?

· How are you like Paul? How are you different from him?

· How are you like Lydia? How are you different from her?

· How are you like Prisca? How are you different from her?

Invite the group to discuss their answers to the questions.

Activity two: Disciples you know (1-2 hours depending on how many leaders speak)

Background: Disciples are not just people in the Bible. Anyone who follows the ways and teachings of Christ are Christ’s disciples.

Preparation: Have the leaders of the group (adult and/or student leaders) think about how they became a disciple. Have each of them prepare a short 3-5 minute story of how they became disciples or are becoming disciples. The following questions may help them prepare:

· What kind of family were you raised in? Were they religious or not?

· Did the adults who raise you express their own faith? How?

· How did you know what they believed?

· Were you raised in the church?

· What does living as part of the Christian community (church) mean to you?

· Were there any significant people in your life that you would consider disciples?

· How would your life be different if you weren’t part of a faith community?

· What parts of Christ’s teachings are the most important to you?

· When do you most feel the presence of God?

· What does the word disciple mean to you?

1. Stories from Scripture and current life:

· Read Acts 2:42-47 out loud. This is a picture of how the early disciples lived together.

· Have the leaders share their stories.

2. Journal Writing and Discussion

Have the groups take five to fifteen minutes to do some journal writing/drawing on their reflections of the stories they’ve just heard and the same questions that the leaders used in preparing.

Invite the group to discuss and share some of what they recorded in their journals.

Activity three: Becoming Disciples (1-2 hours)

Materials:

· A strip of plain cloth about three inches wide and two feet long for each participant

· Fabric paint or marking pens to decorate them

· A pillow for the closing ritual

Each one of us is called to decide if we want to follow the teachings of Jesus. Being a disciple is more than just saying “I’m a follower of Jesus’ teaching”. It is living out those teachings.

Read: Romans 12:1-8 and have a brief discussion of what it means.

Give each person a strip of cloth. Tell them that a stole is a symbol of discipleship and ministry. Invite them to turn their strip of cloth into a stole by decorating it with their name and words or symbols of who they are, what talents or gifts they have, and what kind of things they can do in the world as they follow the teachings of Jesus. If there are people who are uncomfortable saying that they are disciples of Jesus, have them make stoles to symbolize that they are on an ongoing spiritual journey.

When everyone is finished (or as part of your closing if you are using this on a retreat or at camp) “Commission” each person using their stoles. Some people may not be ready to call themselves disciples. Include them in the ritual by asking God to continue to bless them in their searching and journey.

· Stand in a circle and invite each person to come and kneel in the middle one at a time, holding their stole. (A pillow on the ground would be helpful)

· As each person kneels ask them, “What is your name and how can you be a disciple?” When they respond say, “________________ (Name), I commission you in the name of God who created you, Christ who redeems you, and the Holy Spirit who sustains you to use your gifts. May God give you the strength to be a faithful disciple.”

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press