Note to Teacher

The focus of this week is on the call, in chapter 5, to imitate God. Specifically, we are to imitate God by loving the way Jesus loved.

Ice Breaker: Rhythmic Imitation

Begin by asking all the participants to sit in a circle. Explain to them that you are going to build a specific beat by copying one another. It will begin with one person clapping a specific rhythm. When that person finishes, the person on the right will imitate that rhythm and add some of his/her own. The next person does the same, until the game makes it back to the original person who does the entire rhythm.

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Discussion

The key to this passage is in 5:1. What does that verse tell us to do?

Looking at the verses before it, how does this passage tell us to imitate God?

Take a look at those verses again and ask yourself, which of those is most difficult in the following settings:

In math class?
At a sporting event?
In an argument with your parents?
In an argument with your friends?
At youth group?

Activity

Before the meeting, take a moment to look through the scripture passage and write down each of the actions it says on a separate piece of paper (tell the truth, don’t steal, etc.). You can make multiple copies of the statements if you want the game to last longer. On the back of each page, write a number and keep a record of which numbers go with which statement. Place each of the pieces of paper on the ground in a path leading to some specific place that has a prize of some sort. Place the papers on the floor in a path, number side up (the actions face-down). This game will work similar to the classic board game “Candy Land.”

Before you begin, remind the students of all the actions found in the verse and tell them that you are going to play a game that will require them to remember the different statements. Have the students line up. The first person in line will say the name of one of the actions. You will look at the list of numbers and tell them where they are heading. Before they are allowed to move, they need to give you an example of how they would do what the Bible says in their life. When they have given an example, they move to that space and turn over the paper so everyone can see. Then, the next person goes.

The next person will say a different action from the scripture and repeat the process. After everyone has gone, and it’s time for people to move to their second spot, students have the choice of moving to a piece of paper with the words visible or trying for another one.

If you want to make the game last longer, you can make some of the spaces require the player to move back three spots, and so on.

Virtual Option: For the virtual option, you can make a game board on a poster board with the statements in the squares and cover them up with sticky notes with numbers on them. Student locations can be marked with a different color sticky note.