Why Does Jesus Seem So Distant? Series

Opener Activity: Clap

This game is a variation of the old faithful "Hot/Cold" game. One person is chosen to be "it" and asked to leave the room so they can’t hear or see what is going on in the room.

Take about 1 minute and pick an action as a group for "it" to do when he/she returns. (A Jumping Jack, Pick Their Own Nose, etc).

When "it" is given the signal to come back in the room he/she has to guess what he/she is supposed to do by walking around, touching things in the room or performing random actions.

The group will clap louder and faster the closer "it" gets to completing the task.

Remember there is no talking or other clues, but there will be a considerable amount of laughter, and you will be shocked at the detailed and complicated things you can get a person to do simply by clapping.

Opener Activity Option 2: I Need a Shoelace

This game can be played with small or huge groups. The up-front person divides teams (in audiences of rallies or other large gatherings you can make each section of chairs a group).

The up-front person then yells out a demand for a somewhat common item that people might have on them. The first team to bring up that item wins that round. Have each team elect ONE runner to run the item up to the person up front.

Examples:

I need a...

shoelace

student body card

2 shoes tied together

1 belts hooked together

nail file

chewed gum

someone with food in their teeth

sock with a hole in it

movie stub ticket

Driver’s Liscense

quarter older than 1980

hair brush

tic tac

#2 pencil

Opener Illustration: The Wheelbarrow

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev used to tell of a time when there was a wave of petty theft in the Soviet Union.

To curtail this the authorities put up guards around the factories.

At one timberworks in Leningrad, the guard knew the workers in the factory very well.

The first evening, out came Pyotr Petrovich with a wheelbarrow and, on the wheelbarrow, a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking object inside.

“All right, Petrovich,” said the guard, “what have you got there?”

“Oh, just sawdust and shavings,” Petrovich replied. “Come on,” the guard said, “I wasn’t born yesterday. Tip it out.”

And out came nothing but sawdust and shavings.

So he was allowed to put it all back again and go home.

When the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated.

Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration. “Petrovich,” he said, “I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go.”

“Wheelbarrows, my friend,” said Petrovich, “wheelbarrows.”

Sometimes finding God can be so difficult, and He seems so far away, but in reality, He’s around us all the time.

There are some things however that can seem confusing at times.

Why Don’t I Always Feel God?

1. Maybe You Are Oversensationalizing

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?” - John 6:29-30

2. Maybe Your Heart Has Hardened

”In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, you will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal. - Matthew 13:14-15

3. Maybe You Haven’t Been Obedient

”He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” -- John 14:21

4. Maybe You’ve Built A Wall Of Sin

”Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short, that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” --Isaiah 59:1-2

5. Maybe You’re Not Tuned In

”You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. `I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, `and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.” --Jeremiah 29:13-14