Set Your Mind

Overview

• Icebreaker: “Where’s Waldo” or “Category is… Chaos!”
• Bible Reading: Colossians 3:1-11, CEB
• Discussion Questions
• Active Learning Activity: Obstacle Course Dodgeball
• Prayer

Note to the Teacher

The key phrase in this scripture (for this lesson) is “Think about the things above and not things on earth. You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” The sermon takes this to mean that we are called to “live as though we were already [in heaven] in how we treat one another, how we respond, how we build community, and through acts of compassion and caring.”

The icebreaker challenges youth to focus on a specific task, demonstrating how easy or difficult it is to train our brains to shift through the chaos and focus on a goal. The discussion encourages them to think about what they are focusing on in life, what they are being distracted by, and what is really important for a fulfilling life. The activity demonstrates walking through life while avoiding distractions and influential voices that aren’t important and may be harmful.

Times are based on a fifty-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Icebreaker (10 minutes): Focusing on tasks despite distractions.

Option 1: “Where’s Waldo“ (No Tech, Medium Prep)

Supplies: Where’s Waldo books or printed scenes from Google (could also use “Look and Find” books) – enough for all students to be able to pair up.

Students pair up and work together to find all the hidden images in the scenes.

Discussion: After the activity, talk to them about how they – without realizing it – just trained their brains to focus on a specific goal (finding the hidden images) while ignoring the chaos trying to distract them. Discuss how we can train our brains throughout life to focus on the positive things we see and experience rather than getting overwhelmed by the distracting negativity.

Option 2: Category is… Chaos! (Low Tech, Low Prep)

Supplies: Paper, pens/pencils, timer, cell phone or TV

This activity can be done individually (easiest), in pairs (harder), or in teams (most difficult and most chaotic).

Give students a piece of paper and something to write with. If in pairs or teams, they will choose who will be the writer, while the others tell them their answers. You will give the students a category, and they will have twenty seconds to write down as many answers as possible to fit that category. For example, “Category is… animals,” they must write as many animals as they can think of on the paper. Spelling and handwriting count! Answers must be legible for them to get points. Give each student/pair/team one point for every answer they come up with, then move on to the next round. See who can get the most points overall.

Here’s what makes this chaotic: while the students are writing, be as distracting as you can be. Play music from your phone, play videos on the TV, talk, move objects around the room, and so on. Make it hard for them to focus on the task.

Discussion: After the activity, ask students how difficult it was to focus. Talk about how “we live in a distracted and distractible world,” but we need to keep our minds focused on the important things in life: God, kindness, positivity, and so on.

Example Categories: Animals, dinosaurs, countries, oceans and seas, TV shows, book titles, Disney princesses, mythological beings, breakfast foods, desserts, things that are slimy, things that smell bad, things that have spots, things you find in a park, things you have in your backpack, names that begin with “F,” disciples of Jesus, books of the Bible, people in the Bible, ways to address God.

Bible Reading (5 minutes)

Our scripture reading comes from the epistles (letters) of Paul. In this passage, the author tells us to get rid of “anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. Don’t lie to each other.” Instead, we need to “take off the old human nature with its practices and put on the new nature” by living like and for Christ, who “is all things and in all people.”

Read Colossians 3:1-11.

Discussion Questions (15 minutes)

Themes: mindset, worldly influence and distractions, focusing on God.

• What were the first things you did when you woke up this morning? What were the first things you thought about?
• “‘Think it, imagine it, and it is yours’ was a popular mantra not too long ago.” Today, we call this manifesting. Name some things you want to manifest in life. Do you think manifesting works? Do you think manifesting is biblical?
• Throughout our lives, many voices, images, videos, posts, and ideas influence us. We are constantly told, “If we do this thing, if we buy that stuff, if we live in this manner, if we look like that, then [...] our lives will be full of passion and power and fulfillment.” What are some things you are being told you need to have for a good life?
• Where do these ideas come from? (examples: other people, social media, tv, etc.)
• Do any ideas that come from your friends at church, worship, or Bible study?
• What makes those ideas attractive and easy to consider?
• To whom should we be listening and influenced? Why them? (Reminder, there are no "correct” answers – this is purely a “should” question.)
• What do you think your life would be like if you ignored all those voices and ideas telling you what’s important and focused on what you feel is important?
• Paul tells us, “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” How can we focus on God through all of this?
• What would your life look like if you prioritized living like Christ and for Christ?

Active Learning Activity (15 minutes)

Obstacle Course Dodgeball

Supplies: Soft balls (or wadded-up paper), furniture, and obstacles

Students will mimic walking through life, avoiding obstacles, influences, and distractions while focusing on what’s really important: living a life worthy of Christ.

1. Students help set up an obstacle course by moving furniture and objects. There should not be a straight path from one end to the next. (Adjust the course and simplify it to include students of all abilities.)
2. Choose a few students to be the influencers, who will toss the balls/paper wads at those making their way through the course.
3. The other students must make their way through the course, dodging or hitting the balls out of their way.
4. Play a few times, switching up the influencers.
5. After the activity, have students help clean up and put the room back together.

Take time to debrief the experience in light of the scripture and discussion.

Prayer (5 minutes)

Close the session.

Pray with the students, asking God to help us keep our minds focused on him.

You can also ask if anyone has any joys (things they want to thank God for) and any concerns (things they want to ask God to help with). Ask different students to pray over each joy and concern to encourage participation from everyone.