Dreaming the Life: Me, Them, Him

(5-10 minutes)
Learners will consider what ambitions for their life might need to be abandoned in order to follow Jesus.

(5–10 minutes)
Provide paper and a pen for each learner.

Instruct learners to create three columns on their sheet of paper labeling the first one “Me.” Direct them to list in that column some of the characteristics of where they’d like to be in life in five years. After a few moments, prompt learners to label the second column “Them,” and lead them to list where others would like to see them in five years. These might be general societal expectations or perhaps ones that are more personal from friends or family. After a couple of minutes have learners label the last column “Him,” and guide them to prayerfully consider what Jesus would like to see in their life in the next five years.

Once learners have made their three lists, direct them to notice any differences among them. Admonish them to specifically consider what needs to disappear or change from their “Me” list and be overcome from their “Them” list in order to make both match up with their “Him” list. Lead them to cross out anything that needs to be abandoned, circle what will need to be overcome, and swap what needs to change with its replacement. Challenge learners to maintain their lists, adding to and adjusting them, as they continue to work through the rest of the Radical Bible study.