IMPACT 2004--THE GIFTED

Environment

• As the students enter we will have music videos (Christian) playing on the big screen. We want the students to get the idea that they can impact their world, their church and the culture for the Gospel, by using the gifts and talents that God has given them.


• Around the room will be several large wall hangings of different giftings. These will be black and white and accompanied with markers so the students can mark them color them and anything else they so desire.


• As the students arrive, we can have a photo opportunity similar to what they had last year except this time the characters will be cartoons of the various gifts..


• As the students arrive we will have them pick some kind of object (name tag, sticker, ???) that best describes their gift or talent.



• Mixer

  • We will begin with some sort of game to let them get to know each other, blow off steam, etc. I am open to suggestions on this, though I do have an idea. We can give each of the students an object of some kind and their goal will be to get as many people with their like nametag( to sign it as possible. This should start to group them up.)
  
  
  • After the game we will have all the people group up by the wall hanging that corresponds with their gifting. We will then give them an assignment to find out as much as they can about someone in their group as possible. These groups will stay together for worship.
  
  
  • Gifting groups we used for the weekend are:
  
  
  • Visual Art
  
  
  • Music
  
  
  • Drama
  
  
  • Writing/Poetry
  
  
  • Photography/Technology
  
  
  • Service
  
  
  • Other (who knows what we will get here?)
  
  

  Worship

  • This will consist of two to three contemporary worship songs and prayer.
  
  

  • Session 1. having an Impact

    • The gifting groups sit together throughout the session. The session will deal with using the gifts we have been given by God to do good, serve others and glorify God.
    
    
    • A spontaneous melodrama based on the life of someone who had an impact will be used.
    
    

    Dave's Message:

    • The Gospel According to Spider Man. This is a message I am working on based on a clip from the movie Spiderman. In the clip, Peter Parker (spiderman's alter ego) is talking to his uncle. His uncle tells him that with much power comes much responsibility. later, peter fails to stop a crime and ultimately the person who committed that crime attacks his uncle. The moral of the story. Knowing the right thing to do and not doing it is sin. The gifts we are given by God are power from God to impact the culture for Him. With the power of our gifts and talents come the responsibility to use them to the glory of God.
    
    

    • Breakout session:

      • Small groups based on their gifts will discuss how they can impact the culture and use their gifts to serve God. They will then brainstorm ways too communicate a scriptural message (most likely Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus admonition to be the light of the world since it ties the whole thing together very nicely.) to use their gifts in a presentation Saturday afternoon.
      
      
      • Advisors will also break out by gifting to help advise the individual groups in the hopes of coming up with a project that they can actually complete. I will try to come up with an idea packet for the advisor of each group with some jumpstarter ideas, but I would prefer to have the students come up with their own ideas with the help of the advisors.
      
      
      • Students can start to work on their projects or play games and hang out until snacks and lights out.
      
      
      • I am also considering doing a many parts one body type of project with the group this year as a way of demonstrating how each of us brings something to the body of Christ. If I do this, it will be available to be worked on during free time, etc. Some of the older students may have done this with me before, but for many of them it will be new.
      
      

      Saturday A.M.

      Session 2 An example session

      Dave¹s Message: God Can Have An Impact Through You!

      • (This will be a short session, so that the groups have plenty of time to work on their projects.)
      
      

      Worship

      • Singing one or two worship songs from CDs with power point lyrics. Prayer
      
      
      • I will give a message based on a painting I am doing while speaking to give them an idea what we are doing. The message I am thinking of involves getting the students to look at Gods plan and purpose for their lives and some of the unusual people that God used. This is also a salvation message, so of course they will get the opportunity to examine their walks.
      
      
      • I will also bring sample of some of my other projects to show the students to give them an idea of how I use my gifts to communicate the Gospel.
      
      
      • After the session, we would have the groups begin to work on their projects. As they work we will put various media on the screen for them to see Christians in action using their gifts.
      
      
      • During this time we can mingle and help the students with what they are creating. I intend to help as many groups as possible and really get some hands on time with the kids.
      
      

      What We Will Need for the groups (Breakout sessions):

      • Visual Art: Poster Board, paints, markers, crayons, etc. clay?
      
      
      • Music:
        Miscellaneous music(CD¹s, Tracks), sheet music/lead sheets, microphone(s), lyrics, etc.
      
      
      • Drama:
        Scripts, box of old clothes, props
      
      
      • Writing/Poetry
        Legal Pads/pencils/pens
      
      
      • Photography/Technology
        Digital camera, computer with powerpoint and camera software on it.
      
      
      • Service
        Depends upon the project
      
      
      • Other
        This group will be a group of people who have gifts that are outside what I have planned for. My goal for this group is that they create some way to express what they do and how it can be used to further God¹s kingdom. This group could actually end up being the most fun.
      
      

      Lunch:

      Free Time:

      • Games and activities. This time could also be used to finish up projects if the kids are so inclined.
      
      

      Saturday Afternoon

      Session 3: Putting It All Together

      Worship:

      • Music group will lead singing, drama group will do a short improv skit or something, writers do a reading, artists explain what they created, etc. other gifts will do a short write up/demonstration on how they can use their gifts to serve others or create an example.
      
      

      Dave¹s Message: The Impact of Your Gift

      • This message will be based around a music video, either Stacy Orrico¹s More to Life of maybe Switchfoot¹s Meant to Live.
      
      
      • I will finish this session with a message challenging the students to impact the culture rather than being impacted by it. In doing so they will become the light of the world, with people seeing their good deeds and praising their Father in Heaven. Our gifts are given by God for the service of others and the glory of God. Through challenging the students to look at ways of using their gifts to impact the culture, we will challenge them to fulfill their call to be the light of the world.
      
      

      The Challenge: Giving the Gift!

      • My plan is to have a big gift wrapped box in the front of the room. Students will be given a piece of paper and a pencil. I will call them to prayer over what they have learned this weekend and ask them to seek God about ways that they can go back to their homes, their churches and their schools to use their gifts to serve others and glorify God. They will then write what they plan to do on the papers and place them in the box. We will then pray commissioning them to do just what they said.

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      If you'd like to hear more about doing an Impact Weekend with your group, contact Dave Weiss