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MESSAGE OVERVIEW
This weekend is all about connection. Real connection comes from being real, not fake. We hope your students felt the freedom to be real last night. However, we also know that when groups of people get together—even when it’s in the context of church—it’s still messy. People are broken and imperfect outside the church, and they’re broken and imperfect inside the church! Sometimes that messiness pushes us toward self-protection and away from community.
BOTTOM LINE
Community creates a place for connection.
SCRIPTURE
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. // Mark 2:1–4
ACTIVITY: Spider Web
Students can always opt out of a physical activity if they don’t feel comfortable. However, our hope is that with your encouragement they will choose to challenge themselves.
Start with a group activity by taking the provided cord and creating a “Z” pattern between a door frame no higher than five feet. This is important.
Work together to get everyone through the “spider web.”
There will be various restrictions or limitations that will force students to work together and depend on one another.
Only two people may crawl under the bottom string, and no one goes over the top string.
All other students must pass through the center web strings. Leaders are not to be passed through the web but are spotters on both sides.
Everyone must be passed feet first through the web.
For an extra challenge or if a student is dominating the activity, you can force the group to work in silence as they try to work together.
When finished, collect the cord and save it for the Session 3 small group activity.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
ACTIVITY DEBRIEF
What made this easy? What made this hard?
Who spoke up the most?
Did anyone need extra help? Was it hard to ask for help?
If you were to do this all over again, what would you change?
Did anyone find that activity challenging? Did you find that activity easy? What would you have done differently?
Depending on others can be really hard. When have you found yourself in a situation where you had to be vulnerable and depend on others?
When have you had to ask your friends or community for help?
WHAT GOD SAYS
Read Mark 2:1–4
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
Name all the obstacles the friends faced on their way to take the paralyzed man to Jesus.
If you were in the same situation as the paralyzed man, how would you have felt about your friends if your friends did that for you?
Has there ever been a time in your life where you needed support but didn’t have it?
WHAT WE CAN DO
The paralyzed man was free to be his real self and free to depend on his friends. How can this group be a safe place for others?
How can we create a place for everyone to feel comfortable being real about their lives?
Are there things we notice in our group that could keep those within our group from being real?
How can you be a mat-carrying friend for others?
WRAP UP
Leaders, thank students for being real and opening up to the group. Remind your students that they are not alone. Let them know you are there for them. Let’s be real with one another and experience real connection.
Close in prayer.