Focusing In
Youth Resources
REVIVING THE SPARK
Study Skits Of Biblical Truths For Youth
Earl: How could you do that to me? You were supposed to say "five."
Hattie: What ya doin', Earl?
Earl: Playing the lottery. I just missed ten grand by one number.
Hattie: I feel your pain. But why are you so into this?
Earl: You taught me to dream big again. If I win the thirteen million dollar jackpot, I'll have it made. All my dreams will come true.
Hattie: But, Earl, is that really God's way of doing it?
Earl: Oh, I got the spiritual base covered. I'm gonna buy me the best guitar money can buy and get my own fancy studio. I'll call it "Earl's Ecstatic Etudes." The crowds will love me. I'll have them praisin' the Lord!
Hattie: There might be a problem with all that, Earl.
Earl: What's wrong with "Earl's Ecstatic Etudes"?
Hattie: First of all, it's all based on winning the lottery. You're spending your hard-earned money on a one-in-a-million gamble. Are you paying your bills?
Earl: I figured I'd catch up when I got my first big payoff.
Hattie: But more important than that, are you learning anything about God's wisdom and strength? God only uses people who first want to be like Jesus. Otherwise, your dreams will become nightmares.
Earl: Oh well, I don't need any nightmares.
Hattie: Let's see if we can't redirect you just a tad.
Focusing In
Questions to consider:
1. Is gambling wrong? If it is wrong, why is it wrong?
2. Why is what we are more important than what we have?
The key point:
Gambling is not a subject covered directly by the Scriptures. But "a man with an evil eye hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him" (Proverbs 28:22). Is gambling an attempt to shortcut one's way to wealth? Paul said, "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Is gambling addicting?
But the real snare is in our ability to rationalize questionable behavior for good ends. "I'll win the lottery and give half of my winnings to the church." The trouble is that we run the risk of becoming ensnared by the means, while the end is seldom realized. Is God looking for people with big pocketbooks or big hearts?
But let's not condemn Earl too harshly. He means well. He just needs to be redirected a tad.
Hattie: What ya doin', Earl?
Earl: Playing the lottery. I just missed ten grand by one number.
Hattie: I feel your pain. But why are you so into this?
Earl: You taught me to dream big again. If I win the thirteen million dollar jackpot, I'll have it made. All my dreams will come true.
Hattie: But, Earl, is that really God's way of doing it?
Earl: Oh, I got the spiritual base covered. I'm gonna buy me the best guitar money can buy and get my own fancy studio. I'll call it "Earl's Ecstatic Etudes." The crowds will love me. I'll have them praisin' the Lord!
Hattie: There might be a problem with all that, Earl.
Earl: What's wrong with "Earl's Ecstatic Etudes"?
Hattie: First of all, it's all based on winning the lottery. You're spending your hard-earned money on a one-in-a-million gamble. Are you paying your bills?
Earl: I figured I'd catch up when I got my first big payoff.
Hattie: But more important than that, are you learning anything about God's wisdom and strength? God only uses people who first want to be like Jesus. Otherwise, your dreams will become nightmares.
Earl: Oh well, I don't need any nightmares.
Hattie: Let's see if we can't redirect you just a tad.
Focusing In
Questions to consider:
1. Is gambling wrong? If it is wrong, why is it wrong?
2. Why is what we are more important than what we have?
The key point:
Gambling is not a subject covered directly by the Scriptures. But "a man with an evil eye hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him" (Proverbs 28:22). Is gambling an attempt to shortcut one's way to wealth? Paul said, "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Is gambling addicting?
But the real snare is in our ability to rationalize questionable behavior for good ends. "I'll win the lottery and give half of my winnings to the church." The trouble is that we run the risk of becoming ensnared by the means, while the end is seldom realized. Is God looking for people with big pocketbooks or big hearts?
But let's not condemn Earl too harshly. He means well. He just needs to be redirected a tad.
