Jesus Said "I Am..."

A sneak preview of what we're going to be looking at on Sunday night at our "Generate" youth gathering at The Church on Rise Park. This time's theme is the "I am's" of Jesus, to help us think about who we are in the future sessions.

(note form...)

• Laminated Pictures given out on entry, determines groups for discussion.
• Intro  -
  
  • We want to think about who we are, how we grow, what our calling is, but in order to do that, we need to think about who Jesus is, who is the one who calls us.
    
  • Introduce small group time
    
  • Jesus made some bold claims… Seven “I Am” statements that give us a clue about him
    • So what?!
    • What do these claims say about who we are in relation to him?
    • What do those claims say about who Jesus is?
      
  • Smaller group explorations of one of 6 “I Am” sayings of Jesus in John:
    • Bread of Life - 6:48
      • Object: Loaf of Bread (different types)
    • Light of the World - 8:12
      • Object: Candles/Light Bulbs (fairy lights)/Matches
    • Door/Gate - 10:9
      • Object: Lego/Jenga Bricks(Giant)/Stair Gate
    • Good Shepherd - 10:11
      
      • Object: Sheep/Crook
    • Resurrection & the Life - 11:25
      • Object: Plant time lapse/seeds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-iPp6yn0hw 
    • True Vine - 15:1
      • Object: Vine with Grapes/Grape Juice
        
  • At each one there will be a passage from the bible (which gives context to statement), a big piece of paper and pens for notes/doodles, a discussion facilitator, something physical to touch/taste/smell/build/look at/etc, and a series of questions to start the discussions. The questions will be the same at each. Each group will only consider one “I Am” to give it ample time and exploration, and will then be encouraged to feedback to everyone else.
    • Questions:
    • What are the properties of the thing Jesus claims to be? (Think big, and outside the box! Multiple perspectives encourages growth!) 
    • What do you think that tells us about Jesus?
    • What do you think that means for people who follow Jesus?
    • How should that impact the way we live our lives?
• Prayer
• Small Groups  -  6 FACILITATORS 
  • Smaller group explorations of one of 6 “I Am” sayings of Jesus in John, answering the questions above.
• Feedback  - 'Chair of wisdom' - I found inviting young people up to share where they can sit 'on the chair of wisdom' and tell us what they think works and its fun.
• Why “I Am”  - 
  • Why did Jesus say it like he did?
    • Moses and the burning bush - God said “I Am YHWH”
    • Jesus lines himself up with God, stakes his claim as God, tells people that he has something to say.
    • And he calls us to line ourselves up with him accordingly
      • Bread - He feeds us and sustains us
      • Light - Guide, revealer, attractor
      • Door/Gate - Protection
      • Shepherd - Watchman, leader
      • Resurrection and Life - breath, heartbeat
      • Vine - we are the fruit
  • Isaiah 6:8-9a: 
    I heard the voice of the Lord say “Whom shall I send? who will go for us?”
    Then I said “Here I AM! Send Me!”
    And he said “Go…”
  • So who are you? When you say I AM do you recognise that God goes with you? I Am strong through christ, I am clever through christ, I am 13 years old with Christ...
    Do you encourage? teach? help? What I AMs of Jesus do you show in your life? What could you show?
• Reflective Response Activity
  • Way, Truth, Life - 14:6… sums up them all… purpose, meaning, completion
  • A chance to pray/respond/reflect on anything that has jumped out as being important for individuals.
  • Space and people available to pray
  • writing on laminated picture given at start to take away and use as a bookmark or magnet or something