15+
Paper Rules
A selection of recent newspapers, a large sheet of paper per team, marker pens, scissors, glue sticks and a prize
Hand out the newspapers to everyone. Find examples of articles where the key point is that someone broke some rule or other. Cut out and paste them on to the large sheet of paper. You should stick to one article for each separate rule they notice being broken – so you can’t, for instance, use more than one article about theft.
Use the marker pen to write the title of the broken rule under each piece.
Reflect upon the rules broken
The Best Rule Of All?On a piece of paper write each of the Ten Commandments – spaced out. Use the following headings for each commandment:
Now ask everyone to look at the sheet of commandments, and individually score beside each - put a mark (out of 10) for:
Is being a Christian about more than keeping a set of rules? (Of course; it is about putting Jesus first.)
What holy and human laws do we need to follow? (Very complicated question. We should obey the law of the land, hesitating only when it comes into clear conflict with God's will. We should try and obey Jesus' command to love one another more than anything else. See also the answer given in the section above and the Bible reference.) How about social distancing rules?
Why did God set out laws? (Originally God only set out one command. The further laws only arrived because we broke the first one.)
Wouldn't He let us do what we want if he loved us? (He does give us absolute freedom, using laws to guide us in our behaviour. A child given absolute freedom to play in the traffic or with matches wouldn't last long.)
Finally read the following passages and ask everyone to sum up the key message:
A selection of recent newspapers, a large sheet of paper per team, marker pens, scissors, glue sticks and a prize
Hand out the newspapers to everyone. Find examples of articles where the key point is that someone broke some rule or other. Cut out and paste them on to the large sheet of paper. You should stick to one article for each separate rule they notice being broken – so you can’t, for instance, use more than one article about theft.
Use the marker pen to write the title of the broken rule under each piece.
Reflect upon the rules broken
- What rules do we find very difficult to keep?
- Why do they think that is?
- Would the world be a better place if we kept rules?
The Best Rule Of All?On a piece of paper write each of the Ten Commandments – spaced out. Use the following headings for each commandment:
- Put God first
- Don't worship idols
- Don't misuse God's name
- Keep the Sabbath
- Honour your parents
- Do not murder
- Do not commit adultery
- Do not steal
- Do not lie in the witness box
- Do not covet
Now ask everyone to look at the sheet of commandments, and individually score beside each - put a mark (out of 10) for:
- Relevance today
- Seriousness today
Is being a Christian about more than keeping a set of rules? (Of course; it is about putting Jesus first.)
What holy and human laws do we need to follow? (Very complicated question. We should obey the law of the land, hesitating only when it comes into clear conflict with God's will. We should try and obey Jesus' command to love one another more than anything else. See also the answer given in the section above and the Bible reference.) How about social distancing rules?
Why did God set out laws? (Originally God only set out one command. The further laws only arrived because we broke the first one.)
Wouldn't He let us do what we want if he loved us? (He does give us absolute freedom, using laws to guide us in our behaviour. A child given absolute freedom to play in the traffic or with matches wouldn't last long.)
Finally read the following passages and ask everyone to sum up the key message:
- Romans 3:20
- Romans 5:20
- Galatians 2:16
- Galatians 3:19
