STARTER KIT FOR

2009

SHINING

IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS

FOR YOUTH LEADERS

Produced by the
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist
Youth Ministries Department
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INTRODUCTION

A Chinese pastor was known for always instructing new converts to begin witnessing as

soon as possible. One day, upon meeting a newly baptized member of the church, the

pastor asked, Brother, how long have you been a Christian?

About three months, the man answered.

And how many souls have you won to Christ?

Oh, the new convert said shyly, Im only a learner.

Shaking his head disapprovingly, the pastor responded, Young man, the Lord doesnt

expect you to be a full-fledged preacher, but He does expect you to be a faithful witness. Tell me,

when does a candle begin to shinewhen its already half burned up?

Certainly not, the convert stated. It offers light as soon as its lit!

Thats right, the pastor said with a smile. So, let your light shine right away.

In the dark of night, even one candle can be seen from a great distance. When that same

candle shares its flame with other candles, very soon whole areas can be lighted. Were called to

be light bearers to the world; to first shine, and then share our light with others in the dark

places of sin.

Christs parable about the candle hidden under a bushel has a lot to say about what God

expects of us. When weve been given the light of truth, were supposed to shine! What He has

placed in our hearts was never intended to be kept a secret; to remain hidden. Let your light so

shine before men, God commands, that they may see your good works, andheres the part

that many fail to graspglorify your father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). The light that is in

us is meant to glorify God, not us. Its His goodness that shines; His compassion, His tender regard

for fallen humanity that our light illuminates.

This year, our goal is to challenge youth to shine and share the light God has placed in their

hearts. The dark world is waiting for the light of Gods love.
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SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

FIRST QUARTER

SHINING FOR GOD

HIS WITNESS
Invite members of your group to find or create a series of skits depicting the various
methods Christ used to touch the lives of those around Him.
Perform these skits for your church family, explaining why you're studying this particular
aspect of Christ's life and how you plan to use those methods to reach the community.

GETAWAY
Spend a weekend by the shores of a local lake, examining the stories of Christ's life
centered in Galilee.
Place those happenings in today's world, using modern words and examples and determine
how the group can evangelize the community using those ancient ways of witnessing.
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SECOND QUARTER

SHINING TO THE FAMILY

HOUSEBOUND
Invite each in your group to choose one member of their family as their "witness target."
Their assignment is to show that person (the witness target) one thing about God this
week.
Have them report back to the group the results of their action (if any) and share what they
learned from the experiment.

LITTLE THINGS
Prepare a Sabbath service highlighting the little witnesses that Christians can share in the
homeno grand schemes, no multi-city meetings, just one-on-one witnessing in the home.
Use skits, music, and readings showing church members how they can share God's love
anywhere.
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THIRD QUARTER

SHINING TO PEERS

LOUD SILENCE
Spend a session discussing ways of generating a "silent witness" at school or work. This
might include displaying spiritually uplifting artwork in your office, your choice of music and
literature, and the ways you react to life situations.
Have each person in the group choose one and apply it.

FRIENDSHIP
Organize a weekend of activities to which your members can invite their friends.
On Sabbath, hold health and relationship seminars.
On Sunday, schedule games and other outdoor activities.
Each day let your visitors know that you're trying to make their lives better and more
meaningful.
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FOURTH QUARTER

SHINING IN THE CHURCH

THANKSGIVING
Maintain a large bulletin board at your church with a supply of note cards and invite
members to write short notes of thanks to God for their blessings.
Include some artwork and decorations in and around the board.
Refresh the board every month with new decorations, artwork, and notes.

THIS IS ME
With your pastor's blessing, create a complete Sabbath service where each member in
your group shares what God has done for them in the past.
Some may witness in song, others through the spoken word or skits.
Make sure each member glorifies God, not themselves.
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QUOTES

"God has given us the gift of speech that we may recite to others His dealing with us, that
His love and compassion may touch other hearts, and that praise may arise from other souls also
to Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light" (Counsels to Parents,
Teachers, Students, p. 243).

"The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly life carries an almost irresistible influence. By
revealing in our own life the character of Christ we co-operate with Him in the work of saving
souls" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 340).

"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I
seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself,
my witness is not true" (Words of Christ, as quoted in John 5:30, 31).

"The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach
good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).