(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will discuss the good news that God is with them at all times.
(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Provide a flashlight for each group of two students.
Instruct students to find a partner. Give a flashlight to one person in each partner group. Darken the classroom. Instruct the partner with the flashlight to shine the light on the other person’s body. Instruct the student in the spotlight to try to move away from his or her shadow. Allow partners to move around the room for one minute as the student in the spotlight tries to separate from his/her shadow. Instruct partners to switch places and repeat the activity. Ask: Was it possible to separate from your shadow? If students realize they could hide their shadow by placing a larger object between them and the flashlight, ask: Were you really separated from your shadow or was your shadow simply hidden from view?
Ask: Looking back at Psalm 139:7-10, what did David say about our efforts to evade God’s presence? (We can never evade God’s presence.)
Invite students to mentally list all the places they have been in the last three days (Examples: school, church, sports activities, visiting friends, at the mall or movies.) Ask: How does it feel to know that God was with you in every one of those places? When is the knowledge of God’s presence comforting to you? How might the certainty of God’s presence influence your actions in the future?
Conclude by encouraging students to thank God for His presence in their lives.