Giving All

GOAL: To teach the members the value of giving our all in everything that we do.

DYNAMICS:

1. Generate excitement from the members by setting the mood. Arrange the venue like that of a funeral. Put up curtains, candles and flowers around your activity venue. If possible set up a lectern. This will help them have fun and still take the activity seriously.
2. After the opening worship, the leader introduces the activity.
3. Ask them to write their eulogies. A eulogy is like a speech. It is given at a funeral and speaks about the deceased.
4. As much as possible make them picture the event. At the moment of their death, someone will come up in front of everyone and give a eulogy. Ask them, “If you were to write this eulogy, what would be in it?” Then, tell them to write it. Tell them that the eulogy shouldn’t be too long.
5. Clarify that you are giving them a limited time to do this (inform them exactly how many minutes you’re giving them) and that they will be asked to read this later on. It is important to tell them this so that they will know what to expect and be able to pace themselves.
6. After the time is up, ask them to divide into their households and have them share. Each one must be able to share in this discussion. Again, tell them exactly how much time they have for this. Every once in a while remind them how many more minutes they have left.
7. When the time is up, gather them together and tell them to choose 1 or 2 from their groups to share in the big group. If time permits, you can choose additional sharers. You may also ask for volunteers. Pray and be open to the Lord’s prompting. He may be leading someone to share.
8. After this sharing, wrap up the activity.
9. Close with fast songs and a closing prayer.

MATERIALS:
Pens
Paper
Props to make the venue look like a funeral (candles, flowers, podium or lectern)

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE:

Opening Worship 15 minutes
Introduction to the activity 5 minutes
Writing of the eulogy 15 minutes
Small group sharing 30 minutes
Big group sharing 20 minutes
Wrap up 20 minutes
Closing Prayer 5 minutes

INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTIVITY

Give out papers and pens to all the members (even the service team and core group). Before you give the instructions for the activity, give this introduction.

So, what do you think about our set? Do you think its morbid?

For many people, death is a morbid thought. They don’t want to talk about funerals much less imagine them there. But, death and funerals also lead people to think about life. How life was lived and spent.

Pretend you died and this is your funeral. What would people say about the life you led? Write a eulogy --- your eulogy. With the life you lived so far, how would your eulogy be? What would you say about you?

Give the group the instructions here.

PROCESSING THE ACTIVITY

After the activity, give this exhortation.

Life is short.
Life is not forever. Before you know it, it’s gone. We live our day to day lives unaware of the things to come. We make plans and arrange our lives accordingly, but we never really know if we will live to see these plans realized.
Many of us take for granted the time that we have now to live thinking that there will always be time to do it later.

“…if the of the house knew that the thief would come by night around the certain hour, he would stay awake to prevent his house to be broken into…” (Mt 24:43)

Leading excellent lives now
Make the most of your life now. Not just because there won’t always be a “later”, but because there is so much you can do with your life now if you do.
Every person is significant and we affect each other’s lives in a manner we cannot fully imagine. We may not know it but we are creating experiences and rich memories for and with others and shape the way they live somehow. We can make a difference!
This is why it is important for us to strive for excellence in everything that we do --- NOW.

Giving our all
“Stay awake, then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Mt. 24:42)

Don’t waste your time. You were given your life to be lived. Let’s avoid regret while we still can. Act now and believe that the Lord created you for a purpose. That purpose should be served now, not tomorrow.

Give your all in everything that you do. No task is too big or too insignificant. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

We study and go to school not just for ourselves but that we can help others more effectively.
We finish our household chores not for ourselves but that we can be excellent and dependable.
Worship like there’s no tomorrow! Worship with all your heart, mind and soul!

No matter how difficult or menial the task is, strive to put all your efforts into it because it could benefit someone and because it could be the last you’ll ever do.

CONCLUSION
A highly respected teacher was once asked by his students how he wanted to be remembered in the long run. He answered,

“a rolled up tube of toothpaste”

He wanted to be remembered as someone who was spent up living out his purpose. He wanted to be remembered as someone who gave his all…someone who lived his life to the full. The life that the Lord died to give him.

The Lord gave His life to give you yours. Seek to live a life worthy of such a sacrifice. Pray and ask God to show you how to give your all. Ask Him for opportunities to serve, be spent and consumed. And at the end of your days, find peace in knowing that you have lived your life to the full.

REFLECTION / DISCUSSION STARTER
What might the Lord be telling me through this talk?