My Way Vs. Wise Way
Posted by: Buffalo Dream Center
Topic: Being A Peacemaker
Verse: Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God. Matthew 5:9
Props:
Signs – Selfish Desire + Bad Choice = Bad feelings and consequences
God + Good Choice = Good feelings and consequences
Instructions:
Discussion:
Introduction:
What have we been talking about?
What is a conflict? Where do conflicts start?
What are some bad ways people deal with conflicts?
What are some good ways people deal with conflicts?
How we deal with conflicts is all about what? (Choices we make)
-There are 2 different formulas for choices.
-Who likes math?
-In math we learn about different formulas for problem solving. (i.e. On Monday Johnny earned $10.00, on Tuesday he earned $5.00 etc . . . How much money did Johnny have at the end of the week/)
-There are also formulas for the way we make choices.
Formula #1 – the “MY Way” Formula
Selfish desire + Bad choice = Bad feelings and consequences
For Example:
Selfish Desire
I want to go play football after school. I don’t care about my chores. My mom isn’t home. So, who cares?
Bad Choice
Go play football. I’ll deal with the chore thing later.
Bad feelings and consequences
I get home and my mom is there. I am not allowed to play football for the rest of the week. It isn’t fair my mom is so mean. I am so mad and frustrated.
Formula #2 – the “WISE Way” Formula
Desire to please God + Good Choice = Good feelings and consequences
Please God
I want to go play football. My mom left me a note to do my chores. They will take ½ hour. If I do them first then I can still play football maybe just not as long.
Good Choice
Do my chores before playing football
Good feelings and consequences
I get home from football and my mom is home. She is so happy that I did my chores. She cooks me a nice dinner. I get to play football everyday for the rest of the week.
Bible Story
The Story of The Really Bad Son
a. Once there was a man with 2 sons
b. One son was really good-always obeyed, helped, honored
c. The other son was really bad- disobeyed, dishonored, lazy
d. When the bad son grew up, he went to his parents as asked for the money they were saving for him for college.
e. He said he would never make it to college, and he wanted to move out.
f. Sadly they gave him the money. He left
g. He went to the big city and wasted it all – party, drinking, drugs.
h. One day he was hungry with no place to go. He was sleeping under bridges, picking through garbage cans for food.
i. He thought about all the people that worked for his parents. How they got paid, had a place to sleep and food.
j. He decided to return home to his dad and ask for a job.
k. When he was a long way off, his dad saw Him.
l. His dad ran and hugged him. He called for a worker to get the son a new outfit.
m. He called for another worker to plan a welcome home party.
n. The son said I am so ashamed I am not worthy of this treatment.
o. The dad said, “You are my son, I love you and I am happy you are home.”
p. The son realized that dishonoring his parents only lead to his own destruction. When he returned home his heart was different.
Conclusion: Sometimes choosing the “MY Way” seems like the most fun, and best way. The best way to make choices is the “WISE Way”.
Pledge: I promise to do my best to make choices according to the “WISE Way” not the “MY Way.
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