The Gift of Tongues

Speaker’s Outline

I. Introduction.

• A. We all have been prayed with for baptism in the Spirit. Having asked and received, the Holy Spirit is at work in us in a new way.
• 1. Part of the Spirit's work is implanting a desire in our hearts to have more and more of God, to continue to experience Him more intimately.
• 2. One powerful experience some lack is speaking in tongues.
• B. In the Bible, we first encounter speaking in tongues in the book of Acts, on the day of Pentecost.
• 1. It was something totally new, appearing only at this time.
• We have encountered the other spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8 10) in the Old Testament and the gospels (Note: an example of interpretation is Daniel figuring out the handwriting on the wall). But the gift of tongues is new.
• 2. The gift of tongues is also unique. It is a prominent feature in the church established at Pentecost.
• C. Speaking in tongues is for all of us. "Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:5).

Speakers’ Training Workshop

TALK No. 1: COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING


Speaker’s Outline

I. Communication is an exchange of meaning.

• A. Two people may talk and exchange ideas, opinions or words, but if they do not mean what they say or say what they mean, the result is miscommunication.
• B. The purpose of communication is to bring two or more hearts and minds together to become one.

II. Important Facts About Public Speaking

• A. Reality: Good speakers are MADE, not BORN.
• B. Elements for effective public speaking:
• 1. Use your own style.
• Do not copy someone else’s style.
• 2. Do not read your talk.

CFC Youth For Christ Discovery Camp

AN OVERVIEW

I. OVERVIEW

The Discovery Camp is a three day, two night camp intended for members who have gone through the Youth Camp and have been in YFC for one year. Ideally, each batch of Youth Camp participants will go through this together a year after their camp. You may also put two batches of Youth Camps together.

This camp serves as a refresher for the members and will bring them to a deeper level of commitment to God, to YFC and to their households.

In their Youth Camp, they learned about how giving their life to God is the only way to be happy in this life. In this camp, they will discover very basic, very real and very crucial issues in their lives.

The youth live in a social environment where there are conflicting values. They can be easily confused and misled. It is important to help them gain understanding about these crucial issues in a manner that appeals to them and will make them more open and accepting.

Family Enrichment Recollection 1

Objectives:

1. To provide a venue for parents and youth to address common concerns and to thresh out areas of difficulty, with the goal of achieving unity and building a peaceful environment in the home.
2. To strengthen family life by educating both parents and children about their roles, skills, and responsibilities in building a Christian home.

Spiritual Warfare

GOALS: To help YFC members become more aware of the Spiritual conflict in service;
To teach YFC members how to spiritually prepare for service or a youth camp.

DYNAMICS:

1. This talk is to be given in preparation for serving in the Youth Camp.
2. Find a fun way to pair each member with another member. You can draw lots too. Before the talk, have the activity. Make sure that everyone has picked a name. Ask them to keep the name in mind until further instructions.
3. After the reflection, lead the group to pray for the up coming Youth Camp and for protection for all God’s people around the world working for His victory.
4. Tell them to group themselves into their households and share on the guide questions below.
What stuck you the most about the talk?
Share an experience wherein you felt the spiritual battle.
5. Ask them the name they picked out from the activity earlier. Tell them to speak with that person to set a time to pray for each other and remind each other to pray for the camp and for each other’s protection.
6. End with a prayer of empowerment and end the session.

The Greatest of These

GOAL: To teach the members the value of forgiveness, humility and the healing power of prayer.

DYNAMICS:

1. The talk is meant to lead the members into the prayer-healing session later on. Since the prayer session may take much of the prayer meeting time, it is advisable not to have a game or activity for this assembly.
2. Arrange the seats in a circle wherein everyone is part of the circle. The speaker can move around inside or sit with the group. It would be good for the group to be in this arrangement so that there will be no need to break the momentum and go straight to the healing session.
3. Music can play a big part in this activity. Invite a music team to assist or prepare songs that can help the members into a prayerful mood during the prayer-healing session. Reflection songs may be a big help as well. Also, jubilant praise songs may be played for the mini worship after the prayer-healing session.

On Hands & Knees

GOAL: To encourage YFC members to serve without conditions.
To build up the identity of each household.

DYNAMICS:

1. Begin the activity with worship.
2. Give a short introduction about the activity and give them instructions.
3. Ask the to divide into their household groups.
4. The materials will either be distributed to the members or the members will be asked to provide for their own.
5. Instruct them to come up with a banner for their group using only their hands. Tell them that no paintbrushes will be provided and they will not be allowed to use one.
6. Tell them that they should draw or paint images that best represent their household and the individuals within. Encourage them to be creative.
7. The newspapers will be used on the floor to prevent any spillage and the cloth rags/tissue paper to wipe any stray paint.
8. At the end of the activity, ask each household to come forward to present the banner to the whole assembly. Tell them to choose a spokesperson to explain how they came up with their work.
9. After each household has presented, gather them to process the activity.
10. After the talk, lead them into a reflection (You can sing “Song of the Servant” as a reflection song). Lead them to a commitment to serve God and His people.
11. To end, play fast songs and close with a prayer.

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.

Compassion

GOALS: To teach the members the value of compassion.
To encourage YFC members to be sensitive to the needs of others before their own that they would see how life-giving caring for others is.

DYNAMICS:

1. Scout for or prepare a picnic venue that is conducive for fellowship and sharing.
2. Inform the group that there will be a picnic for the next prayer meeting. Build up the activity to excite the members.
3. Ask them to bring food and drinks good for at least 2 people or just enough food to share. Consider the best way to minimize costs for everyone. Nothing should hinder the members from going!
4. Before the meeting, the service team should set up the picnic venue. They should set the picnic mats and the table.
5. After worship, the prayer meeting leader gives the opening exhortation.
6. The leader instructs the members to divide into their households and to put their food in one place.
7. The leader tells the group that there are only two instructions that they should follow:
• You are not allowed to get food for yourself.
• You can only get food for someone else in the group.
8. The leader now gives time for the members to eat their food. The members can play games, sing songs, and share amongst each other as they eat their food.
9. You may give them the following guide questions:
• Have you ever failed to care for others?
• Make concrete resolutions to reach out to others who may need you.
10. Gather the group together and give a closing exhortation and a closing prayer. The picnic can go on after you pray if the circumstances permit.

Pat On The Back

GOALS: To teach YFC members the culture of honoring
Aims to build and uplift lasting relationships through positive encouragement and respect.

DYNAMICS:

1. After the opening worship, instruct everyone that they should have a piece of paper and a pen.
2. The prayer meeting leader or the speaker will give the short exhortation on honoring. (a brief outline is attached to this module)
3. Ask them to have the paper taped to their backs.
4. Tell them to go around and write on the backs of as many people as they can. They should write what personality trait or characteristic they like best in that person. They should sign/write their names after what they wrote so that the person will be able to identify who wrote what.
5. Tell them to think about what they will write because they will be asked why they wrote what they did later on. Many people tend to just honor people and do not really mean what they say. They do not even think about it. Encourage them to consider how this person has blessed them in any way.
6. It would be good to have songs played throughout the activity.
7. After the given time, gather the group to form a big circle in such a way that everyone is a part of the circle.
8. Ask them to pick out what struck them the most of all the things written on their papers. Then, ask for 3 to 5 volunteers or choose people to share that with the assembly.
9. The sharer will read the characteristic or trait that he/she chose and mention who wrote it. Then, have the person who wrote it say why they wrote that. It is good for the honoring to be heard by everyone. This way, the person will be honored by all.
10. Give the final exhortation.
11. To end, sing fast songs and close with a prayer.

Friends For Life

GOALS: To teach and pass on the YFC culture of brotherhood/sisterhood in friendship.
To exhort each one to become a better friend to others

DYNAMICS:

1. Divide the group into 2 groups of around 25 members each. You can put households together to form the bigger group. If you need to, you can form more than 2 groups.
2. Ask them to form a straight line with their hands on the shoulder of the person in front of them. Then ask them to form a circle by having the first person in the line reach out for the shoulder of the last person in that same line.
3. Then instruct them to bend their knees and sit or lean on the lap of the person behind them. This will be the basic stance for the whole activity. Explain that the objective of the game is to keep the circle intact in that stance.
4. While in this stance, each group will follow your instructions for movement. You can make them move 3 steps back and 5 steps forward. You can also ask them to move sideways, from left to right. You can even ask them to go around.
   NOTE: Make sure each person is really leaning on the lap of the person behind him/her. It is so easy to get away with just bending their knees. The success of the activity lies in that they rely on each other to maintain the circle. It is important that you make sure they follow the stance.
5. It would be more exciting if you keep score. Award a point to a group for each time that group accomplishes your command without breaking the circle. In the same way, deduct points from the group that breaks the circle.
6. Then, for the final contest. Stand up on a chair and hold out a handkerchief. Designate a starting line and at your signal have both groups race to get the handkerchief from your hand. They should still be in the basic stance.
7. After the game, gather them to process the activity. Give them the mini talk on friendship. The outline is with this module.
8. You may have sharers about how they have been hurt by bad friendships and how they have found real friendships in YFC. (e.g. someone who was involved in fraternity violence, someone pressured to take drugs by their peer group, etc.)
9. During the pray-over, have someone play slow songs to help set a prayerful atmosphere.
10. After the pray-over session, play fast songs to end the activity and hype up the people. You may play songs on friendship and ask them to approach each other and affirm them of their commitment to being a real brother or sister to them. Join them in this.
11. Ask them to divide into their households and share among each other with the reflection questions as guide.
12. To end, gather them again with fast songs then end with a prayer.

Egg

GOAL: To encourage the members to participate and give importance to their households
To build up the households

MATERIALS:
 Eggs
 Newspaper
 Masking Tape

DYNAMICS:
1. Ask the participants to divide themselves into their households.
2. Give each group an equal allocation of the materials. Limit the materials.
 1 egg
 2 sheets of newspaper
 one yard strips of masking tape
3. Instruct them that their main objective is to protect the egg in the best possible way using only the limited materials that you have given them. Tell them that the egg will be tested for “quality control”. It may be tossed around and dropped later on.
4. Encourage them to strategize and plan together. Ask them to come up with a name for their group. Give them 3 minutes to do this.

NOTE: During this time, go around and observe those who are actively participating in the activity and those who are not. Note some names of those who are involved. You can refer to them later on when wrapping up the activity. when the time is up, gather them and explain that you will call one group at a time to “challenge” the egg they have prepared. Simultaneously, have members of the group toss the egg to each other with a considerable distance between them. Then, have each group stand in front of the whole club to introduce themselves. Take the group’s egg, stand on a chair and drop the egg to the floor. Create as much suspense, tension and excitement as you can. Be conscious not to take too spend too much time on this. Notice that those who participated actively in the preparation of the egg are the ones most excited and affected by the tossing and dropping of the egg. They are more interested in what happens to the egg because they took part in protecting it.

5. After each group has had their turn, ask them to check the condition of the egg.
NOTE: Affirm everyone for a great time. Congratulate those who were able to protect the egg. If there is time ask them how they were able to do so. What strategy did they use?
6. Gather them together and get them to settle down for the wrap up.
7. After the wrap up, ask them to divide into their households again and share with the guide questions:
What are your expectations from the household?
What can you contribute to this household?
8. Close with a prayer.

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE

Gathering/Teaching of Songs 30 minutes
Opening Worship 15 to 20 minutes
Activity 30 to 40 minutes
Processing the activity 15 minutes
Sharing by groups 30 minutes
Closing Prayer and announcements 5 minutes

PROCESSING THE ACTIVITY
Have you ever read the book, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery? (This book is usually given as book report assignments for high school students) In this book, the Little Prince was from a different planet and had one rose that he protected and loved very much. Then, he came to earth and saw a whole garden full of roses just like his rose. He was disappointed to see that his rose was not as special and as unique as he thought. But, as one other character in the book said,

“It’s the time you wasted on your rose that made it so important”

It was funny to see all of you so excited and worked up over an ordinary egg. Some were nervous, others were even shouting. (Mention some names of those you noticed were particularly involved in the activity. “For example, look at ______. He was close to tears when the egg was being dropped and tossed around! He was so involved in the planning and wrapping of the egg…”) This is because you spent time on the egg. What made the egg different from any other egg was the time and energy you gave into “protecting” it. As with anything you will ever be involved in, you will only get what you put in. You reep what you sow.

Here in YFC, we, along with your coordinators and household heads, will try our best to make the whole year fun, exciting and meaningful. Just as what the Christian life should be --- fun, exciting and meaningful. But, you will have to be involved. You will have to give of your time and energy. Just as with the egg.

We don’t want to waste your time. We definitely don’t want to waste ours. You heard about “It’s better to give than to receive”? I think whoever came up with that knew that when you give, you always end up with more. When you open up to the friendships you have in your household or in this group you’ll end up having great fun with great friends. You’ll end up with more than you gave. The only way you’ll ever get the most out of YFC this whole year is if you give the most. That’s the irony of it. It’s your call.

Family Talk

GOALS: To help YFC members value their family as God’s special gift to them.
To encourage YFC members to take an active role in strengthening the family.

DYNAMICS:

1. Discern a speaker for this activity.
2. Prepare 1 to 2 sharers and brief them accordingly.
3. Open with worship.
4. After the talk and the sharers, give the guide question for reflection.
5. For the reflection song, have the music ministry play a song that can lead the group to reflect.
6. Ask the group to divide into households to share among each other with the reflection question as guide.


SUGGESTED SCHEDULE

Opening Worship 15 to 20 minutes
Talk Proper (with sharers) 30 to 40 minutes
Reflection 5 minutes
Sharing by households 30 to 40 minutes


TALK OUTLINE


Introduction
We may be very different from each other, the things we like and don’t like, our situations, opinions, etc. But one thing we all have in common is the family. We all came from families. Whatever family situation you are in, you still belong to a family. Even if your parents are separated, you still came from them.

The family has been known to make or break a person. In the U.S. 70 % of all juveniles in state reform institutions come from fatherless homes. You see, whether we like it or not, the family has so much influence in our lives and in the lives of all those who will come in contact with us.

The Lord has a beautiful plan for the family. We should begin to take an active part in making our family what it should be.
I. The Family Situation

If we want to make our family life happy and complete and if we want our relationships within the family to work out, we should understand the situations that our families are in.

A. Limited time

The family is pressed for time. If you live until you’re 80 years old, you would spend only about 23 to 30 years of your life with your families. Out of those 23 to 30 years of your life, take out the time you spend:

- in school
- sleeping
- out with your friends
- on the phone
- etc

You see, when you add it all up, you really don’t have much time left. Remember that, the next time you waste your time whining, complaining or fighting with your parents or siblings just because you don’t get what you want.

B. Each family member is different from each other
Realize that each person in your family is different, each with their own preferences. You can’t expect them to know what you want or to understand why you want it.

C. Each family member has individual struggles
You may be going through difficulties in school, with your friends, with your boyfriends. But do you realize that your parents have their struggles, too? And that their struggles may be much bigger than yours? They could have trouble at work and that means trouble providing for you and your schooling. That means problems putting food on the table.

Rather than get angry that they don’t understand you, why not try thinking about them for a change?

D. No one chose to be in their family
We were all born into our family. We are in our family not by choice but by the will of God. So, each time we complain about our family or compare them with other people we tell God that He made a mistake.

As you can see, the family is in such a fragile state. There are so many factors that can shake the foundation.

II. The Key

Here’s a story that I feel can make my point clearer.

There was once a family on vacation that got into an accident and no one survived except their pet monkey. At the scene of the accident the police were interrogating their only witness --- the monkey.

They asked the monkey, “What were the children doing right before the accident?” The monkey made signs and gestures that they were fighting. Then they asked “What was the mother doing?” In signs and gestures again the monkey answered that she was nagging. They asked again, “And what was the father doing?” The monkey gestured that he was drinking. Lastly they asked, “So, what were you doing?”

The monkey said he was driving.

If we are dealing with the problems in our families with same amount of knowledge the monkey had about driving, we are bound for disaster. Many families are broken because troubled, imperfect, weak, and often-selfish people take it upon themselves to drive.

As we discussed earlier, with all the differences and individual struggles each family member has, all this makes the family so volatile, so easy to break.

We have to give God the wheel. He has to be real enough to us, so much so that we trust Him with our families. He has to be more than just the guy in our textbooks who parted the sea. He is so much more than that. He is real. He is our Savior. Let him take control.

A. Protect the unity
When our parents made a promise to be there for better or for worse, we were part of that promise. We should commit to be there for our parents and siblings, not just when things are good but especially when things go bad.

Christ alone can unite us like this because He loves us good or bad. Pray hard for the strength and the love to love your family unconditionally.

B. Trade everything for the joy of the Lord
Trade your anger. Trade your jealousy. Trade your complains and hurts. Your and your family’s imperfections can be made perfect through the love of Christ!

C. Lead other families to Christ
You should take it upon yourselves to lead other families to Christ. To be wounded healers. Even if you are going through difficulties with your family, you can be a source of inspiration to other people.

Don’t be a bad influence on your friends when they tell you about their problems with their parents. Instead of helping them indulge in their anger or resentment, pray for them and be there for them as strength.

III. Conclusion

Christ is the answer. You may have been looking for a way out or a solution. You don’t have to look farther or try so hard to run away. Christ is waiting to help you. He’s been waiting all your life. Let Him.

We are called the “Springtime Generation”. We are the generation that will live out this new millennium. This is our millennium. It is in this millennium that you will grow up, and raise your children in. It is in this millennium that you can make your mark. All these politicians, businessmen, economists, etc. have very little time left. You, on the other hand, have so much ahead of you. We can make or break this millennium.


IV. REFLECTION / DISCUSSION STARTERS

1. What is the Lord telling me through this talk?
2. What can I do to as a God’s servant, to strengthen my family?

Heaven Knows

GOALS: To teach YFC members about discernment and the value of seeking God’s advice in all that they do.

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.

Fools For Christ

GOALS: To help YFC members understand and appreciate the YFC culture of Praise and Worship
To help YFC members develop their spiritual gifts

DYNAMICS:
1. Discern a speaker for this activity.
2. Coordinate with the music ministry what songs will be sung during the activity. This activity will be more effective with a music ministry that knows the dynamics of worship – can flow smoothly from one song to the next and can play while people are singing in tongues
3. The music ministry should be briefed thoroughly regarding the flow of worship. A music ministry / music ministry leader may also be “imported” from a more mature group if need be.
4. After the gathering song (and an optional energizer or game), a simple prayer will be used to open the meeting. (Worship will come after the talk).
5. After the talk and activity – which will be worship, the group divides into households to share their experience in the worship (refer to the talk outline).
6. The whole group gathers again for the closing summary and prayer by the speaker. (He should be encouraged to also include prayers for birthday celebrants / those with special concerns).
7. The group may be asked to sit down again for some announcements just before the final jubilant song.

Dare To Be Daniel

GOALS: To challenge YFC members to have conviction like that of Daniel and his young friends.
To inspire them to stand up for God even if it means standing alone.

DYNAMICS:

1. Discern a speaker for this activity.
2. Prepare 1 to 2 sharers and brief them accordingly.
3. Open with worship.
4. After the talk and the sharers, give the guide question for reflection.
5. For the reflection song have the music ministry play Refiner’s Fire or another song that can lead them to reflect.
6. Ask the group to divide into households to share among each other with the reflection question as guide.

One Year Household Assembly Topics

TITLES:

1. DARE TO BE DANIEL
2. FOOLS FOR CHRIST
3. HEAVEN KNOWS
4. PERFECT MOMENTS
5. EGG
6. FRIENDS FOR LIFE
7. PAT ON THE BACK
8. COMPASSION
9. GIVING ALL
10. KNEE DEEP
11. THE GREATEST OF THESE
12. SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Discovery Camp 2 - Talk 5: Discover Your Power

Discovery Weekend
Expanded Outline


TALK 5: DISCOVER YOUR POWER

I. Introduction

A. We are the most powerful creation of God because we are created in His image and likeness and because He gave us dominion and control over all creation.

B. It is when we know God that we discover the power that is in us. Our goal in life and our mission in SFC is to discover this power, to use this power in us, and to bring this power out in others so we can serve God.

II. Without God We are Weak and Powerless

Here are common sources of weakness for those who have not found God.

A. Hurts and suffering are a source of weakness.

B. Guilt and fear are a source of weakness.

C. Anger and hatred are a source of weakness.

D. Pride, selfishness and vanity are a source of weakness.

E. Vices are a source of weakness.

F. Laziness and apathy are a source of weakness.

III. The Source of Power and How to Cultivate Them

A. Prayer

1. Start your day with prayer. Begin the day with joyful expectation of God’s surprises.
2. Spend your day in prayer by being conscious of God’s presence in everything you do and everyone you meet. Convert the boredom of daily routine (traffic) with a special time of joy by being in a prayerful stance and always asking yourself: “What is the loving thing to do?” or “What would make God happy with the choices I face?”
3. At night, recollect and thank God for His goodness and the privilege of living a productive day.

B. Passion for Service

1. The more I serve, the more I learn and the more I grow.

2. The more I serve, the more I love and the more I am loved.

3. The more I serve, the more I heal and more I am healed.


4. The more I serve, the more I bring joy and the more I find joy.

C. Zeal for Righteousness

1. Power is having the moral authority to lead and the moral authority that comes form being right with God.

2. Power doesn’t just come from what I say or do but how I witness to God’s righteousness in my life.

D. The Decision to be Happy

1. The decision to be happy is not dependent on what others do or do not do for me. It is not dependent on what they give or withhold form me. But, believing in my heart that it is what I deserve because I am loved by God.

2. It is not something that I can buy, even with all the money in the world, nor is it something I am deprived of because I do not own anything. Therefore, I can be more powerful in my simple life as a farmer or as an a driver than a bank executive or powerful businessman because the Spirit of God is in me and I live a happy and contented life because that is enough for me.

IV. Conclusion

A. We live a life of power because it is our birthright as sons and daughters of God who is the source of all power.

B. We are called to live a life of power and to be a source of power. We have to have a passion for life, the passion to love and care for others, and the passion to serve in SFC because this is the community where we have received an empowered life and where we are called to serve.

C. Sharers: They will answer the question, “What have they discovered in the conference?”

D. Reminder: Before the start of the talk a group of singles will present a dance number to the tune of “We’ve Got the Power!”

E. The talk will end with:

1. The Christian song of power.

2. A prayer of empowerment to be led by the speaker.

Discovery Camp 2 - Talk 4: Discover Your Pleasure

Discovery Weekend
Expanded Outline

TALK 4: DISCOVER YOUR PLEASURE

I. Introduction

A. We live in a suffering world where many people are unhappy because they have chosen to live at the level of existence without God as a source of joy.

B. But for us in YFC, the love of God is very real and it is our source of joy because we are loved by God. We know He has a beautiful plan for us to be happy and successful in life.

C. We have discovered the sources of our pain and unhappiness and have allowed God to deal with them victoriously, as we have just experienced this afternoon. Now, we want to learn how to live joyfully, which is the only way to live for us, by discovering our pleasure in life.

II. Discovering Our Pleasure: What are Our Pleasure?

A. Our highest source of pleasure is God. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to be happy in everything that happens to us, in everything that we do, in the people that we meet, and the places that we go to.

1. Everything is beautiful if we see through the eyes of God. Every person is worth loving if we relate with them with a heart that wants to love because we have God as our source of love.

2. Happiness is a state of the heart and it is a decision.

a. Happiness is a state of the heart.

(a) I am happy because I am loved by God.
(b) I am at peace because my heart rests in God,
(c) I love because I was made by God to love.
(d) I love because no one is undeserving of my love.

b. Happiness is a decision

(a) I will not allow anyone to steal my joy away from me.
(b) I will love even the most difficult and undeserving person.
(c) I will be a source of joy to the people around me.

B. Achievement is a source of pleasure.

1. All our achievements are an offering to God of our talents and skills
2. If all our achievements are used to serve God and to contribute and add value to the life of other people.
C. Our possessions, wealth, and all other resources are a source of pleasure.

1. If we have hearts that are grateful and content with what we have and we are not envious of what others have.
2. If we realize that we are only stewards of our possessions and they are to be shared; especially with those who are in need and those who have less in life.

D. All our relationships are a source of joy.

1. Our family is a source of joy.

a. I can be happy as a son and daughter if I honor and respect my parents and forgive them for their mistakes and shortcomings.
b. I can be happy also with my blood brothers, sisters and other members of my family, If I relate to them with love, honor and respect, and if I offer the best of myself and bring out the best in them.

2. My brothers and sisters in YFC are a source of joy.

E. The source of true pleasure is not just in receiving joy but in sharing and giving joy to others. I am happy when I see others are happy… when my parents are happy… when my brothers and sisters are happy with the things I do for them.

III. Conclusion

A. Every moment of our life is a celebration because there are so many perfect moments and so many genuine sources of pleasure.

B. We can convert our workplace into a place of joy by the spirit of joy and love we bring with us. Our homes will become an oasis and a source of pleasure because of the joy that we generate in all our relationships. And, all the activities of YFC will be a cause of excitement because we are happy with our brothers and sisters, with our God whose presence is very real in our community.

C. So tonight we will celebrate, party until we drop dead, because we are a community that knows how to enjoy life to the fullest.

IV. Activity

A. For reflection:

1. List down the three (3) events in your life that have been a major source of joy.
2. List down the three (3) persons in your life right now who are major sources of joy.
3. List down three (3) places that you associate with pleasure and joy. (Ex. My home, my workplace, Bacolod, Boracay, etc.)

B. Sharing: Ask some brothers and sisters to share their experiences of joy.

C. Greeting.

1. Tell the participants, “Right now your brothers and sisters around you are your immediate source of joy. Let’s go around the whole conference hall/area and say to as many brothers and sisters we meet, “You’re my source of joy. I really appreciate your friendship.”

2. Tell them that as they greet one another with joy, they must hold hands, embrace or hug each other.

3. While this is going on in the are some should sing the song, “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Discovery Camp 2 - Talk 3: Discover Your Path

Discovery Weekend
Expanded Outline

TALK 3: DISCOVER YOUR PAIN

I. Introduction

A. Pain is real. To live is to be in pain. “When we are cut, we bleed.”

B. Jesus Christ did not come in comfort and luxury. Instead, His glory is in living a life of pain and overcoming it.

C. “To experience joy is to acknowledge pain and to overcome it.

II. We are Called to Discover and Overcome Pain

A. What are the common sources of pain?

1. Pain we are born with.

a. Being born poor
b. Being raised in a broken or troubled family
c. Feeling ugly or feeling not good enough in anything

2. The things people do that cause a pain.

3. The things that we do – the consequences of the bad choices and decisions we make.

III. How to Deal with Pain

A. Know that pain is real and that we need to deal with it.

B. Decide to be victorious over the pain.

1. Let go. Do not hold on or hang on ort nurture the pain. Decide to heal, to forgive, and to forget the pain inflicted on us by people.

2. Decide to let go of the guilt over the pain caused by our mistakes.

3. Decide to let go on the fear over circumstances and situations over which we have no control but trust that God is in control over these things.

C. Just trust that God did not allow us to go through the pain to punish or put a burden on us, but to help us learn and grow.

1. Realize that the pain we go through can be sweet pain for us if we trust in God who is in control. That through all the pain we go through He is refining us, fine-tuning us, sharpening us, toning us so that we can be more perfect and be a better source of strength and joy for others.

2. Concretely, how do we deal with others?

IV. Activity

A. Directions:

1. Write down the three (3) events or situations in your life that have been the source of your deepest pain.

2. Write down the three (3) persons in your life who have caused you your deepest pain.

3. The persons and events that are written will not be shown to anyone. They are things that only you and only God know.

4. The pain can only go away if you offer the pain that these experiences have brought to you and if you allow God to take the pain away.


B. Prayer

1. Let’s take 10 minutes to pray and to write down our experiences. (Someone will sing, “Spirit of the Living God” and/or “Refiner’s Fire” while participants are writing and praying.)

2. Instruct the participants to hold what they have written and join the speaker in praying over their pain.

a. Pray for the release from pain. Tell them to offer their pain and to ask God to take their pain away.
b. Minister to the pain of others. Move to other brothers and sisters around you and pray over the pain.

3. Bring a large trash can to the front of the participants and put a big candle on each side of the trash can. Ask them to come forward, put the pain written on paper on fire, and throw it in the garbage bin.

4. Tell everyone to watch the smoke rise and allow God to wipe away their tears from their eyes. As the fire consumes the list of pains, tell them to see in the smoke the hand of God turning what was for so long real pain into ashes that will be blown away by the wind until nothing is left in your heart but joy.