09.18.04

carrying the ball

Here's the challenge:

The team is to transport the ball,
balanced on a small white ring.

Each team member has one or two
strings to carry

The Goal:

As a team, successfully carry the ball
from one end of the red room to the other end--
--out the door and down the hall--
then back in to the red room
and back on top of the "cup stand" .

A total distance of 200 feet.

Obstacles:

the "round" platform
chairs
tables
food
narrow doors
narrow hall
each other
gravity!

keep it steady!

careful!

how are we going to all fit out the door?

down the blue hallway

who is going to get the door?

slow down!
this is tricky!
we've got a sharp corner to turn . . .

this is tough!

easy down

a little more . . . this way

more . . . this way!

Congratulations team!

Carry each other's burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing,
he deceives himself.

Each one should test his own actions.
Then he can take pride in himself,
without comparing himself to somebody else,

for each one should carry his own load.

Galatians 6:2-5

wait a minute . . .
there sounds like a contradiction in here!

first it says: Carry each other's burdens
but then it says: each one should carry his own load

what gives?

a little lesson in Greek--

Carry each other's burdens (BAROS)

each one should carry his own load (PHORTION)

the Greek word baros means crushing weight

the Greek word phortion is a military term indicating
the expected amount of weight that every soldier
is expected to carry.

. . . there are responsibilities
that we are required to carry ourselves . . .

we are not to be freeloaders!

. . . but there are times . . .

when someone is burdened by crushing cares
and difficult events in life that are too much
for one person to carry all by himself

. . . help carry the ball . . .

encourage and refresh them spiritually,
pray for them,
ask how you can help

. . . what about you? . . .

have there been times when you
thought you might break under the weight
you were trying to carry by yourself?

who helped carry your "ball" ?

take time to draw a picture . . .
--you are the ball in the middle--
who is carrying you?

take time right now to say a pray
and thank God for sending strength and encouragement
to minister to your needs

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
debt?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
a court appointment with a judge?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
struggles in school?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
struggles with work?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
a serious illness?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
alcohol addiction?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
drug addiction?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
challenges of new parenthood?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
relationship challenges?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
damages from the recent storms?

are you, or someone you know
burdened with
pornography addiction?

How can I pray for you today?

Lord, help me to be sensitive to the needs of other people.
Help me to stop being so self-consumed with my own concerns
that I am negligent in recognizing the need of people
around me who need help and prayer.

Holy Spirit, help me see through the masks people tend to wear
to cover up what is really happening in their lives.

Give me the wisdom to know how to approach people who
need strength and encouragement.

cross-connected
update:

check out previous red worships--archive

Resource List for 09.18.04

The Holy Bible (Message, NAS, NCV, NIV, NLT)
online

Sparkling Gems from the Greek (Rick Renner)
buy the book

Experiential Youth Ministry Handbook (John Losey)
buy the book