Note to the Teacher

The key phrase in the scripture for this lesson is “Follow me.” The icebreaker invites youth to play a game that constantly changes the upside and the downside. The discussion encourages students to think about what it truly means to follow Jesus. The activity allows youth to play a second game that encourages them to wonder about their choices. Times are based on a fifty-five-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Upside Downside Up (15 minutes)

Place cups (half upside down and half right side up) around a room. Split the group into two teams calling one team “upside” and the other “downside.” When you yell, “Go,” have team upside begin to turn over all the cups that are right side up to be upside down. At the same time, have team downside turn all the cups that are upside down to be right side up. The team that turns over the most cups, within the length of time you allow the game to be played, wins.

Option 1:

If playing with a large group, consider adding a few “special tasks” under some of the cups that must be done in conjunction with the game. For example, “Go find your favorite person in the room and have that person skip across the room before you can go back to playing the game.” Another idea is to have the student take one of the cups, fill it with water, and drink it before going back to the game.

Option 2:

To make the game harder, consider having a bucket of objects for each team. Every time the team turns a cup over, they are required to put the object under the cup. If they find the other team’s object, they must return it to that team’s bucket before they can proceed. A personal favorite is colored rubber ducks.

Read Scripture (5 minutes)

Our scripture reading today involves stories of becoming the people of God. It’s an opportunity for us to remember that we are called to repent and believe the good news of Jesus.

Discussion (15 minutes)

How do you think you would respond if someone asked you to “follow” him/her in person? What would you want to know about that person before you say, “Sure, I’ll follow you.”
Before you follow someone, how might you test that person’s trustworthiness?
The scripture (Mark 1:20) indicates that Zebedee (James’ and John’s father) was left on the boat when his sons went to follow Jesus. What kind of reaction do you think he had? How would you react in that situation?
How do you think the prophet Jonah’s life might have differed from that of James and John or Simon and Andrew? How might it have been the same?

Activity and Discussion (20 minutes)

Take this lesson to the next level by getting students’ hands and imaginations involved. Consider playing inverted “Simon Says.” Students play “Simon Says,” but they must invert what “Simon” says and do the exact opposite. If Simon says, “Walk,” players do the opposite and stop.

Points for discussion:

Talk about a time when you felt God was telling you to do something but, like Jonah, you were not interested.
In our game of inverted “Simon Says,” you stopped when you were supposed to walk. Is this ever something you have done in your relationship with Jesus? Please explain.
If you were Jesus and you were trying to convince people to follow you, how would you convince them?

TOTAL TIME: 55 minutes