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January 13, 2012


By the end of Whirlwind, we want students to KNOW the impact media can have on their lives and their relationship with God.

By the end of Whirlwind, we want students to BE ABLE TO begin to think critically about what media they are exposed to.

Talk Notes:










Part 1: Time to Check-in

Pass around a bowl of M&M’s and have everyone take one.  They have to share something about their Christmas Break based on what color they picked.
   

Red: Favorite Christmas gift they gave

    Green: Favorite Christmas gift they received
    Blue: Favorite Christmas tradition their family has
    Brown: Favorite thing they did over the break
    Orange: New Year’s resolution
    Yellow: They pick what to share

Open in prayer.


Part Two: Time in God’s Word

In a given week, how much TV do you watch?  What do you usually watch?

What was the last movie you went to see in theaters?  

What was the last movie you rented?  Who did you watch it with?

What was the last video game you played?  What was it rated?  How much do you pay attention to video game ratings?

What kind of music do you listen to?  What song have recently been listening to non-stop?

If a stranger picked up you iPod or mp3 player and scrolled thru your music, what conclusions would they most likely draw about you?

How important is media (TV, music, movies, video games) to you?

If you were completely cut off from media (no music, no movies, no tv, no gaming), how long do you think it would take before you went crazy?

Do you think god cares about what you listen to, watch or play?  Why or why not?

If so, what do you think god would say about your media choices?

Read Romans 12:2.

What do you think it means to “conform to the pattern of this world”?

What are some of the patterns in our world that are obviously unhealthy?  What patterns might not seem unhealthy, but might go against God’s will?

How easy would it be for you to conform to the patterns of our world?

What role might our media choices play in causing us to conform?

What do you think it means to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”?

Read Philippians 4:8.

What might this verse say about “renewing your mind”?

Listen to Romans 12:2 again, but from the Message translation:

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

How does this verse apply to what we’re talking about with media?

How can your relationship with God impact the media you are exposed to?

Challenge: Try to apply these verses to what you watch or listen to.  How does your media measure up to Philippians 4:8?



Part Three: Time for Prayer

Close in prayer.

Creative Ideas:

• Develop a prayer ritual that you use every week.  This becomes part of your group identity.  For example, form a circle and hold hangs as you pray.
• Open a time for praising God and have each student say a word that describes God.
• Begin a prayer sentence and have each student complete the sentence.  For example, “God, this week help me to...”
• Spend a few minutes in silence before someone closes the prayer time.