DYNAMICS:
1. With your team, prepare an obstacle course in advance. The venue for the activity may be indoors (big room) or outdoors (field).
2. Begin the activity with worship.
3. The prayer meeting leader will give the instructions for the activity.
4. Ask them to find a partner and give each pair 1 blindfold.
5. Instruct them to designate one leader and one follower among each pair.
6. The object of the game is for the pair to get across the obstacle course with one of them (the follower) blindfolded and the other one (the leader) leading the partner through the course by giving instructions or guidelines. The leader is not allowed to hold his/her partner.
7. Have a long piece of rope that goes through the obstacle course. The blindfolded member will hold on to this rope as he/she goes through the course. The partner or the leader will give him instructions like crawl, duck, jump, etc.
8. To save time, do not wait for each pair to finish the course to make the next pair start. Just give ample space between each pair. It may even be good for the activity that the follower (the blindfolded one) will be hearing different voices and would have to tell which of these voices belongs to his/her leader.
9. When they have finished the course, have them trade places or trade roles.
10. Gather the group after the game to process the activity.
11. Ask them to divide into their households and share with the guide questions given.
12. To end, play fast songs then close with a prayer for the gift of discernment and learning to listen and follow God’s word.
MATERIALS:
- Blindfold
- Mini-obstacle course (rope, chairs, tables, etc.)
SUGGESTED SCHEDULE:
Opening worship 15 to 20 minutes
Introduction (giving of instructions) 5 minutes
Activity 40 minutes
Processing the activity 15 minutes
Sharing by households 30 to 40 minutes
Closing Prayer 5 minutes
PROCESSING THE ACTIVITY
After the activity, give this exhortation.
What did you feel going through the course blindfolded? Were you scared or worried? Did you feel unsure?
Many times in our life we will be in situations where we won’t know what to do. We will be like we were a while ago in the game, blind. Much of our future is uncertain. There are infinite possibilities. So many things can happen that we never could expect no matter how much we try.
As you were going through the course with the help of your partner, did you feel more secure? Imagine how many bumps or bruises you would have if you walked straight rather than ducked?
We may not know the way around our obstacle courses, but our God, who loves us, does. He knows what plans He has for us. (Jer. 29:11) He knows how we’ll react, how we’ll stumble, how we’ll rejoice when we come out of our obstacle courses triumphant. So, let Him lead you. He can spare you from a lot of pain if you listen to Him.
Establish and protect your prayer time. This is the only way you will ever be able to recognize His voice from the noise in this world and in your head. No lightning will strike, although He could let that happen if He chooses to. He will speak through other people or whisper through a rainbow.
Like in the game, you will hear a lot of different voices in your life. If you listened to the voice of the other leaders during the course and ducked when you should have jumped, you would get hurt. Sometimes the voice of the world is louder than the voice of God. So, pray hard! That is the only sure way you can tell for sure the voice of your Master.
Everything and anything can happen. You will never be sure. Do not put your trust on anything else but the Lord, who is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will never change. He will always guide you to the best place you could ever be --- with Him.
Seek to listen to Him. Only He knows the way. He is the Way.
REFLECTION
Share about your situation now and in what way you need to listen and know God’s instructions for you.
Thanks for this =)
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