DISCOURAGEMENT

The lesson was originally developed and produced as a one-hour –drama-comedy” that incorporated the various elements of Sidewalk Sunday School into it: songs, games etc. To help is adapting this lesson to your use we will present the outline as well as the format we originally used.

Christians get discouraged just as much, maybe even more at times, than other people. We want to serve God, we want to hear from God, we want to lead fulfilling lives in Him. As background to the lesson there is someone playing the role of a guardian angel. Though they cannot be seen or heard by our subject, whenever the angel gives instructions or passes a comment the subject feels the –suggestion” of that idea.

1. Aimlessness & loss of direction.

This element involved someone seeking direction in life going off to the jungle to seek God. Along the way he comes across a singing fish (one of the many now available in novelty stores etc.) as well as a talking loaf of bread! The emphasis is on ones desire to seek God and find His will, that when we donŒt have it then we feel life is aimless.

2. Temptation.

When we are discouraged then that provides room for the devil to come in and tempt us with something that is attractive and that will lead us away from God. In this we use a snake puppet that again talks to us. First, it sympathizes with us in our predicament, makes us doubt God is interested and then –suggests” itŒs own plan. In this discussion the angel also makes its suggestions to us, which the subject ultimately acts on.

3. Loneliness.

The last concept is that when we are discouraged it seems that there is no one we can turn to, that its seems we have no friends. All we need is someone to be a friend that we can turn to and whom can encourage us. In the original production we used a life-size ostrich puppet that was sent by the angel to befriend our subject. Guess his surprise when the ostrich talks to him!

God has been trying get our mans attention - a singing fish, talking bread, talking snake, talking ostrich. Yet in the Bible God used a donkey to get someoneŒs attention, how much does he want get ours and encourage us.

The subject eventually leaves to the refrain of the song –GodŒs got a plan” (from JESUS IS MY HERO tape & CD.)

Some fun elements we added:

Our man is going to go hunting. He has a large water rifle which he shoots into the audience. As he shoots the water gun, a smoke bomb goes off. When the bomb goes off a team member throws a rubber chicken so that it looks like it was shot down.

In the –lake” (in this case the baptismal) we placed a large blow-up killer whale which he had to fight off every time he went to the water.

When he meets the ostrich he faints. The ostrich then gives him the –kiss of life”, which of course is all wet & sloppy.