Goals:

• To lead participants to recognize that there is no such thing as a Christian alone.
• To discuss the personal fears or faith issues that we need to overcome.

Objectives:

• To discuss different ways the theme of light is discussed in the Gospels and Epistles.
• To investigate the connection between light and wisdom on a practical level.
• To explore the darkness we allow into our souls and how it keeps us from letting our light shine.
• To use the parable of the wise and foolish virgins to discuss wisely managing his/her spiritual resources.

Activities:

Activity #1: Theme Talk

Last time we talked about the Light of Christ and how it relates to our lives. Christ fills us with this light to put our faith into action, bear witness to Him in the world, including doing good to others. Anyone who has tried this will immediately know that it is harder than it sounds. In this session we will discuss some of the challenges of letting our light shine.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things that are exposed are made [visible] by the light, for whatever makes [things visible] is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:8-17) (Passage should be in workbook/ handout.)

In this Epistle, St. Paul makes a connection between walking in the light and being wise, as well as being in the dark and being foolish. In everyday life we make the same connection, with phrases such as “I’m in the dark on this one” meaning I’m confused or unable to answer a question, and “I have seen the light,” meaning I have figured something out.

Talk about a time you really felt “in the dark” about something but help came along and “enlightened” the situation. It should be personal and significant.

Ask the following questions, leaving a pause at the end of each for people to think and reflect.

• Have you ever felt “in the dark” for an extended time? What was the cause of the difficulty? How did it resolve?
• Did you ever experience a moment of clarity in which everything around you suddenly made sense and you could “see” what was going on? What was it and what happened?
• Who or what do you turn to in times of “darkness”—confusion, worry, and uncertainty—to help you light your way? What or who doesn’t help?

There are times we actually choose darkness over light. Among many people it is actually very “cool” to be dark. People who try to walk in the light are often labeled as “uncool” and can even be rejected by others.

And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-20)

The session leader tells a personal story of when he/she hid his/her light or has lived in darkness and why.

Christian life is filled with many situations like these. The Church constantly reminds us to “Walk as children of light,” understanding “what the will of the Lord is.” This understanding, or “discernment,” is an essential tool for any Christian.

Jesus Christ made the connection between light and wisdom, darkness and foolishness, in the parable of the ten virgins:

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2“Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3“Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4“but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5“But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7“Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8“And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10“And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12“But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

Break into small groups to discuss the parable and explore our attraction to darkness.

Activity #2 Small Group Talk

Discussion Questions (20 minutes)

Remember there are no “right” answers for these—only honest ones!
About the parable:

• What might the oil symbolize? What is the “oil” of Christian life that keeps our light shining through dark times? (Faith, spiritual life, hope, love, courage, discernment, light of Christ etc.)
• Do you think it was fair for the wise virgins to tell the foolish ones to go get their own oil? Why? Why not? What would have happened to them if they shared? (If the wise virgins had given away their oil, none of them might have found the Bridegroom, Christ. Was it fair for the foolish to be unprepared?)
• How could you apply this to your own Christian life? (Can a person give their faith to another? They can share it but the other person must decide to have his/her own faith in the end or not. If we compromise our own faith all the time for others, eventually we will have none left for ourselves.)
• Do you think it was fair for the Bridegroom to shut the door on them? Why? Why not? How does this relate to the Christian life? (If we put off being Christian until Christ comes, when it is too late, we earn what we get. If we never really get to know Him until the end, is it unfair for Him to say He does not know us?)

Exploring our attraction to darkness:

• What is the darkest experience you or someone you know has had.
• In what ways have you or someone you know hidden the light from the world? Why?
• Why do we sometimes prefer the “darkness” to the “light”? What is attractive about the dark? What are the benefits of living in the light instead?
• How can we retrain ourselves to prefer the light to the darkness? What ways of thinking do we need to change?

Come back to the main group and discuss as a whole for 10 minutes.

Activity #3: Games for the wise and foolish

Game 1: 3-D Minefield

Purpose: To demonstrate the meaning of discernment on a physical, immediate level.

Materials:

• Blindfolds for each participant
• A large room with furniture or stuff in it for an obstacle course.

Directions

1. Each person picks a partner to form a team.
2. Each person lines up across the room from his or her partner.
3. In between the two is an area of furniture, chairs, or other obstacles to walk around without touching. There should be no place in which a person can walk straight across without touching something. This may include things hanging from the ceiling.
4. One of the partners chooses to go first, and puts on the blindfold tight (no peeking!). When the leader says to start, the person blindfolded begins walking across the room to his/her partner. The partner calls out directions to take to the partner.
5. The hitch is that the partner cannot touch any of the obstacles. If he/she does, he/she must start over. Add the chaos and confusion from the fact that every other team is trying to do the same thing at the same time!
6. After the first side gets over switch roles. If people are having a tough time with it, you may have to give a “three strikes and you’re out” rule. (The door is shut!)

One of the great challenges of having discernment as a Christian is knowing to whom and when to listen. Every day we are bombarded with different messages telling us to go this way or that with our lives. Someone has to be our light for us and guide us through the chaos. That person is our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gives us spiritual leaders (priests, monastics, godparents, etc.) to guide us through our life.

Game 2 Balloon Trolleys

Purpose: To work together as a team to make it through a difficult situation.

Materials:

• Balloons, inflated (water balloons would be a challenging outdoor option).
• Obstacle course (use one from before or create new one) The longer it is the more challenging it will and may be played outside.

Directions:

1. Form two teams. If using this game along with last one, use the two groups divided on the sides of the room, so no one will be on a team with former partner.
2. Each team forms a single-file line.
3. Between each person place a balloon. The balloons must stay between each person in the chain. Participants may not use their hands to touch the balloons or to hold on to each other.
4. Each team must make its way through the obstacle course (should be arranged to provide equal distances and difficulties) without dropping any balloons to the floor.
5. Teams that drop a balloon or cheat by using hands suffer consequences: either stop and get the balloon back in place without using hands, or go back to the beginning. If a balloon pops the team member must go back to the beginning to get a new one.
6. The first team to complete the course is dubbed “the wise,” the losing team, “the foolish.” The course should be tough enough to make it difficult to make it through without mistakes. Obstacles might include climbing over or ducking under something, for instance.

The Balloons represent the “oil” of Christian life: the precious faith and spirituality that we must preserve and maintain to help us through tough times. If we are wise we know how to manage our spiritual resources. If we are foolish, we will constantly find ourselves having to tread over old ground, relearning life lessons until we get them right.

Session Conclusion:

We have many challenges and obstacles in this life to living the full Christian life and letting our light shine. Looking back at these games, what parts were the most difficult? What were easiest? What was unexpected?

Journal Reflections

Reflecting on your own life, answer the following questions in your journals:

• What are my greatest challenges, obstacles, or fears?
• Which of these do I create myself, and which of these come from outside sources?
• Where is life easiest—that is, in what areas do I see myself as most blessed?
• From where does my help come?
• To be prepared for something (an exam, project, trip, etc.) means to be ready for it. This usually includes acquiring certain tools, knowledge, and/or skills. How can I better prepare for God’s call for me to “let my light shine?” What do I need to know?
• What skills and tools should I have?

Psalm 121, which is quoted in some of our services as a Prokeimenon, says,
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
With faith in Christ, we are never alone and always have a sure source of help.

Option: If time allows, share with them the text and music of the Holy Week Tropar, “Behold the Bridegroom Comes at Midnight,” from the Bridegroom Matins of Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

(Games courtesy of the text: Butler, Steve, and Rohnke, Karl. Quicksilver: Adventure Games, Initiative Problems, Trust Activities, and a Guide to Effective Leadership. Kendall/Hunt. Dubuque, IA. 1995.)

		Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry Orthodox Church in America PO Box 675 Syosset, NY 11791 http://yya.oca.org yyacm@oca.org The Hub | Back to top