Youth Group/ Adult Group Activity: A Better Than Average Day

On May 7th our men's group used the below activity, "A Better than Average Day" for its monthly meeting. It is an activity that can be used for youth programs of older teenagers.

Begin by asking what would make your day a "better than average day"? Below are some of the responses to this question our participants shared:

Unanticipated company stops by.

Goals set for the day are met during the day.

Found time to relax and meditate.

Started the day feeling isolated from God then, by a chance occurrence, found he is, indeed, present.

Planned to do something "good" for someone with others and it happens.

An opportunity to help another emerges.

Our expectations are uplifted when we observe others doing "good deeds".

A second question was asked: it is baseball season and your batting average is .240. The average batting average in your league for your position is .260. Will you feel you have had a better than average season if you hit .240 (better than your average)? Or must you hit better than .260, the average for the league, to have a better than average year?

Responses were mixed. Most felt hitting above their own average made for a better than average season but about a third of those participating felt we should set the standard higher in order to challenge ourselves. We then discussed the pros and cons of applying the higher standard to other aspects of our lives.

Five scriptures were presented and reviewed:

I Corinthians 9: 23-25 ... Paul talks about running the race then concludes that the earthly race is for temporary glory. Scripture tells us our heavenly prize is eternal.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ... run the race with your eyes set on Jesus.

Luke 21:1-4 ... The story of the widow who gave all she had as compared to the rich man who gave more but only a portion of his possessions. Who was the "better than average giver"?

Matthew 25: 34-40 There are actions that make a difference and, thus, make our day better than an average. Jesus advised, "What you did for the poor, you did for me".

Luke 5: 14-16 Luke calls us to let our light shine. When we do, we are clearly having a "better than average" day.

We closed by reading the Beatitudes in the beginning of Matthew chapter five and examining which of these we need to prayerfully move towards to make our days better than average. Is it working for peace or being humble and, thus, more open to the call of the Spirit. We recalled that Elijah on the mount spoke of the need to be sensitive to the still, small voice of God. Although it is both still and small, the voice is powerful indeed.