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THIS WEEK’S PASSAGES Hebrews 13:5-8, Colossians 2:6-10
BACKGROUND PREPARATION
Find some pictures of old X Factor (or other talent / reality show) contestants who had five minutes of fame but are now less famous. Draw a tree with roots on a large piece of paper or on smaller pieces to give out to individuals.
FAMOUS FACES AND NOT SO FAMOUS FACES
10 mins
Get hold of some photos of X Factor stars who were famous when they were on the show (or similar shows) but have now been forgotten about. Ask the group to try and identify who they were and remember something about them or a song they sang. You could perhaps include a couple of one-hit wonders and a couple of red herrings. Alternatively, ask the group to come up with some of their own ideas of people who were very famous and are now relatively obscure.
A NEW REALITY SHOW
15 mins
Ask the group to split into groups of three or four and get them to come up with a new type of reality or talent show. Encourage them to make it as original as possible - or it could be along the lines of TOWIE, The X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing but with a new twist. Get them to demonstrate what it might look like, why the people in it may become famous, what judges would take part or what the characters would be like.
Ask:
• Would fame from their reality show last?
• What motivates people to take part in reality television?
• How much of what you see is real?
WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FAME?
15 mins
Ask:
• What is fame?
• Why do you think we are so obsessed with it currently?
• Are there elements of celebrity culture you are attracted to?
• Would you like to be famous? Why?
Say: what we are offered in Jesus is so much more than what is offered by fame. Jesus not only gives us eternal life but also life to the full while we are on this Earth. It is not that fame in itself is necessarily wrong but instead that our worth cannot come from fame as it is temporary and will fade. In God’s eyes you are incredible all of the time, not just when you have done something which generated one million hits on YouTube or won The X Factor. It is an everlasting love.
Read Hebrews 13:5-8 and say: the writer of this passage urges believers to be satisfied with what they have got. Is this what our culture tells us? Would fame be something as many people strived for if we took this advice?
Being deeply rooted
5 mins
So in a world obsessed with overnight fame, how do we stay close to Jesus and avoid chasing the next craze or celebrity? Read Colossians 2:6- 10 and say: this passage encourages us that after giving our life to Jesus, we then need to continue to be obedient to him and let our roots grow deeply in him. If a tree is really deeply rooted, it is so difficult to pull out of the ground even if relatively small. However, if roots are shallow, it can be easily ripped up. In verse eight, Paul talks about not being led astray by empty philosophy, but this will happen much more easily if you are not deeply rooted.
HOW CAN WE BE DEEPLY ROOTED ?
15 mins
Draw a tree on a large piece of paper or get the group to do this individually with pictures of trees on smaller sheets of paper. Get them to think about what gives them deep roots. Answers may be straightforward, such as reading the Bible and praying, but try and get them to think beyond this to specifics like friends helping them, getting more involved at church or setting aside specific times to pray.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR?
5 mins
Ask:
• What are your dreams for your life on earth?
• How would you like to be remembered? Spend a little time thinking about these and also praying and giving these dreams to God.
KEY POINT #1
In verse eight of the passage it says, ‘Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever’. Nothing else can claim this. We do not have anything that is the same yesterday, today and forevermore but he is - and we can be secure knowing we do not need to chase fame as we are sons and daughters of the King. Our worth comes from being an important part of an eternal plan rather than a moment of fame courtesy of our singing or ability to eat bugs in the jungle.
KEY POINT #2
All through the Bible and often in church we talk about being deeply rooted and staying close to Christ. It was something that Jesus talked of often. He had disciples who were with him much of the time as he wanted to build relationships with them and be part of their lives. He wants that with us also. He wants us to know him and his truths so well that we are not swayed by whatever the newest thing in our culture is. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the new things that come along but we need to know first and foremost that Jesus is at the centre of our lives.
