You’ll need:
· Jumanji
· An instruction guide or owner’s manual from something complicated to operate
· A No Trespassing sign (Youth)
· ? A portion of an actual metal or wooden fence ?
Footloose and Fence-Free
As we get started, what are fences used for?
Most people hate to be told what to do. So the idea that God has commands for us to follow can irritate us a bit. A lot of non-Christians view Christianity as a restrictive set of rules that have to be followed or else. Sadly, many Christians live with a surprisingly similar mindset. Today, we are going to use the idea of a fence as a metaphor for God’s rules and commands and to help us understand why God gives us directions and commandments in the Scriptures. It brings out God’s desire for us to be truly joyful, safe, and intimate with Him by staying close to Him.
The Opening Act:
What would happen if in a couple of weeks while we are at the zoo, all the fences in the zoo collapsed and the animals began to run free?
Well, in today’s movie clip, we see a bunch of animals running free. Take a look at this clip from the movie Jumanji.
You know, when there are no fences, there can be a lot of destruction caused by things running wild. This is true with nature, and it is true when we cross the fences that God has established.
Many people perceive fences as something negative. Fences hold them in. They block their path. They create boundaries that limit their freedom. If we think of the rules God has for us as fences, then we often have the same reaction. God’s the party pooper putting up random fences to mess up our lives and make them boring. So we’re going to take a look at why God puts those fences in our lives. We’ll also look at the results of ignoring the guidelines that God lays out for us and climbing over the fence.
The Main Event:
1. When we run free we have no limits, and that hurts after a while!
What do you think would happen to an elephant running loose in a big city?
Well, if an elephant got lose and was running wild, there would be no limits, but in the end, it would probably be killed so that they would be able to protect everyone else. It might be free and without limits for a while, but it ends up hurting itself in the end.
In the same way, God puts fences up in our lives in the form of His commands and scriptural advice. This godly instruction keeps us out of places that we shouldn’t be and in places that are safe and close to Him! It isn’t because the zookeeper wants to ruin the elephant’s life that he keeps the elephant from running around the city. It is because he wants the elephant to be safe.
Now, as we think about God’s word, and His commands, what are some of the fences that God doesn’t want us to hop over?
Here is an illustration for you to picture. A train is unlike a car in the sense that it’s forced to follow the train tracks. On one hand, that might seem like a bummer and like a lack of freedom. But think of the other option? Take a speeding train off the tracks and what do you have? You have a horrible train wreck with cars piled on top of each other. The tracks are the guides that keep the train from destroying itself. God’s commands are our guides, our tracks if you will that keep us from destroying ourselves.
In Proverbs 3:1-2 it talks about these fences and their purpose. Listen to this passage, Proverbs 3:1-2 says, “1”
Now, what does the writer mean by prosperity?
So, we learn that fences are in place to keep us safe, and keep us from destroying ourselves. Because when we run free, there are no limits, and eventually that will hurt us.
2. When we run free we hurt others!
What danger would the zoo-free elephant pose to the people in the city?
Well, in the same way when we break through God’s guidelines for our lives, those around us get hurt from time to time. Not only do we hurt ourselves eventually, but we usually hurt the people around us too.
Have you seen some of the instruction manuals for things lately? What do you usually do with instruction books? Use them? Throw them away? Store them someplace?
Well, Nellie just got a new camera, and the instruction manual is so difficult to read. The manufacture of the camera took time to write down every little thing. They gave us all the instructions that would be needed to use the new camera. Now, had Nellie not skimmed over that first, there would be a change that she would not understand how to use this new camera.
Well, we are given the do’s and don’ts in so that we won’t ruin the object and so that we can know how it all works. And God has given us His instruction manual in the form of the Bible so that we know how things are suppose to work, and so that we don’t ruin or hurt ourselves or others in the process.
In II John 1:5-6 it says, “2”
So, we need these fences in our lives so that we don’t hurt those around us.
3. When we run free we run away from the one who takes care of us!
What do you think the elephant’s caretaker is thinking and feeling while the elephant is rampaging the city?
Well, God has given us commands so that we will remain close to Him. His commands are there to protect our relationship with Him. And if we break His commands and jump those fences, we can become distant from God.
In John 14:23 it says that, “3”
Well, God wants to be able to take care of His children. And when we run away, and we jump those fences, we are no longer close to Him, and in turn, we have run away from the one who takes care of us.
The Grand Finale:
Even though it may not seem that way, why are God’s fences in our best interest?
Now, what I want you to do is think about some of the fences that God has set up, that you have been jumping lately. Whatever it is, I challenge you to pray about that in the week to come, and realize that the fence is there to keep you save, to keep those around you from getting hurt, and to keep you close to your caretaker, God.
Encore:
Get It?
· What, or who, suffers when we hop over God’s commands for us? (Us, Others, God)
· When we ignore God’s commands, how can we get hurt?
· When we ignore God’s commands, how can we hurt those around us?
· When we ignore God’s commands, how does it affect God?
· In what way is the Bible the instruction book for our lives?
· God has said if we keep His commands, we will remain close to Him. Why is that so important?
· We all like freedom. Freedom is good. So what’s the danger of too much freedom?
· Why does God give us the freedom to break His commands? Why didn’t he just make us like those dogs with little electric collars that get shocked when they get near the fence?
What If? The Big Picture:
· What do people struggle with more: Knowing God’s commands or following them? Why do you say that?
So What? It’s Your Life:
· How can we know God’s commands better?
Does anyone have anything that they would like to add before we close?
Youth Activity¾No Trespassing Sign!
After your students spend time in silent prayer, offer them the opportunity to come
forward and, using a marker, sign the sign as a show of spiritual commitment. Hang
the sign in the room so it can be seen each week as a reminder of this commitment.
Well, if there is nothing else, just remember that God has given us commands and rules for a reason. They protect us. They protect those around us. And they keep our relationship with God, our caretaker, strong. If we don’t understand this, we’ll probably jump the fence because we don’t understand its purpose. The result is that our lives will run recklessly out of control and away from the safety of God’s loving arms.
Let’s Pray!
(? Step Over The Fence ?)
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