Theme: Materialism
Scripture: “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (
Preparation: Bag(s) of Christmas candy large enough to accommodate your group
Give each teenager a piece of candy and invite the group to eat, then ask: “Why do you think candy is so appealing? What makes candy so enticing?”
(Write answers on a white board if you like.)
Comment: During this season, we often get swept up in our desires for those things that make us feel good or give us a quick thrill. As statistics show, the average American will gain 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. We like to feel good, and satisfying our desires is one of the easiest ways to make ourselves feel good. However, candy only satisfies for a few minutes, then we realize candy actually makes us crave more candy. Before we know it, we just can’t stop eating it.
Ask:
• What are some things that will satisfy us on a deeper level?
• What are the gifts God gives us?
• How can we receive these gifts?
• What can we do to wean ourselves away from craving material things?
• What are some gifts we can give to others this season?
