10:00 Introduction Talk: Walk On

Objectives:

• Establish the theme and introduce theme song
• Identify the Christian life as a journey towards God
• Identify what each of us brings on that journey

First Song: Walk On: Pass out lyric sheets
This retreat is a chance for us to step back from our lives and gain some perspective, and take stock of where we are going. We don't retreat to get away from life, but to be able to get into life more deeply. We can do this by talking about things we don't normally have a chance to talk about:

• To talk about our relationship to God and each other and our own souls
• To become aware of the challenges and struggles of living in this world
• To be strengthened to face those challenges and to walk on

Listen to WALK ON by U2.

The Theme of this retreat is "Walk On", based on this Grammy winning song by U2. There's a lot going on in this song, a lot of messages and a lot of teachings. Last Year the theme of the retreat was Choices, especially how the choices we make affect our relationships with God and one another. Walk On has something to do with how we carry the challenge of those choices and where we find it difficult to keep going.

What are some of the ideas that stand out for you in this song?

We just played a game to learn our names: "My name is ______ and I brought ________". This song and this retreat is also about what we bring with us to our life in Christ and also what we need to leave behind.

Jesus Christ said,
29"Do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30"For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:29-32)

Write down the following statement:
Seek first the Kingdom and all the things you need will be added to you.

The song Walk on has a lot to do with seeking the Kingdom of God. It's not an easy thing, and all of us will be tempted to turn back and give up the search. As Bono of U2 puts, it, we are "packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been-a place that has to be believed to be seen." This takes faith, courage, hope, and even perhaps a little bit of foolishness. (share life experience)

When have you been tempted to turn back, to lose the way? How did it turn out?

In the end, as the song says, love is "the only baggage you can bring." Each of us already brings baggage with us when we come to Christ: our hopes, our fears, our experiences, our hurts, and our sins. The walk of Christian life is the process of sorting out our baggage and trying to let go of anything that keeps us from getting to our final destination.

Activity #2: What is in your baggage?

(Write down the answers to each of the following questions on special sheets)

• What are the 3 greatest challenges to your belief in God and His Kingdom?
• What are the 3 most significant hurts you have suffered?
• What are the 3 things you would most want to ask God to give you?

This is our baggage for our walk with God. This is the kind of stuff we will be sorting through for the rest of our lives.

I have a little suitcase here. I'm going to put in my lists. I invite all of you now to put your lists into the suitcase. Keep a copy in your notes for yourself if you like. But this suitcase is going to remain packed for the rest of our journey this weekend. I'll keep it locked. No one will see inside of it, not even me. Only God will see and hear.

The cover of U2's album has a scene of the band in an airport. There is a gate behind them labeled J33:3. This actually an intentional reference to a bible quote, Jeremiah 33:3: 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' This suitcase is our call to God to help us on our walk with Him this weekend and for the rest of our lives.

Team Leader Guide: Walk On Talk 1

Before retiring for the evening, take another 10-20 minutes to discuss in small groups the following questions.

In the song, Walk On, we hear the lyrics:

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it…
Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it, can't buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

• What is this that they are talking about, that "they" can't steal, feel, deny or buy it?
• Who are "they"?
• What do we need to stay safe from?

Try to solve these seeming riddles and bring them back to the main group. One person should report on the small group's findings.

Can the Gospel help us to understand this? Jesus Christ said,
9"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you…

What we can have that no one can steal is God's love living inside us. This can happen when we love one another and open ourselves to experiencing God's love.

18"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20"Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (John 15:9-12, 18-21)

• Why did the world hate Christ?
• Why would the world hate us for being like Christ?

When we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ and make the choice to love, as Christ loves us, we receive two things: a joy that cannot be taken away and the danger of being persecuted and hated for it.

As we end for this evening, may God bless us with the words of Walk On: Stay safe tonight!

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