Music Discussions

Ride

October 19, 2016

Dynamic Image Main Point of Discussion:
Christians can find answers to the tough questions in life if we seek the gift of peace that Jesus promises His followers

Introducing The Song:
Twenty One Pilots are arguably one of the hottest acts in show business right now. The video for Ride has over 230 million views, and Twenty One Pilots are having one of the best years of any act in music, and things just seem to be getting better.

The alternative duo currently has two singles in the Hot 100, which is a very rare feat. By managing to have two such massive hits at the same time, the up-and-coming pairing joins some of most beloved company in history. According to Billboard, only two other rock acts in history have managed to place a pair of singles in the top five on the Hot 100 in the same week: Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. (www.forbes com)

Ride is essentially a song about the journey through life, and while at times the ‘ride’ might be easy, there are important questions we need to find answers for. The song explores themes like ‘who should I live for?’ and ‘where can I find peace’? Ride also points out that we can definitely overthink life and therefore miss out.

The Music Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw-0pbY9JeU

Song Lyrics:

“Ride”

I just wanna stay in the sun where I find
I know it’s hard sometimes
Pieces of peace in the sun’s peace of mind
I know it’s hard sometimes
Yeah, I think about the end just way too much
But it’s fun to fantasize
On my enemies who wouldn’t wish who I was
But it’s fun to fantasize

Oh, oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride

“I’d die for you,” that’s easy to say
We have a list of people that we would take
A bullet for them, a bullet for you
A bullet for everybody in this room
But I don’t seem to see many bullets coming through
See many bullets coming through
Metaphorically, I’m the man
But literally, I don’t know what I’d do
“I’d live for you,” and that’s hard to do
Even harder to say when you know it’s not true
Even harder to write when you know that tonight
There were people back home who tried talking to you
But then you ignored them still
All these questions they’re for real
Like “Who would you live for?”,
“Who would you die for?”
And “Would you ever kill?”

Oh, oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride

I’ve been thinking too much
I’ve been thinking too much
I’ve been thinking too much
I’ve been thinking too much
(help me)
I’ve been thinking too much (I’ve been thinking too much)
I’ve been thinking too much (Help me)
I’ve been thinking too much (I’ve been thinking too much)
I’ve been thinking too much

Oh, oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time
Taking my time on my ride

Oh, oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my

I’ve been thinking too much
Help me
I’ve been thinking too much
Help me

I’ve been thinking too much (I’ve been thinking too much)
I’ve been thinking too much (help me)
I’ve been thinking too much (I’ve been thinking too much)
I’ve been thinking too much
Help me

Transitional Statement:
Say something like: All of us can relate to the feeling that life is a ‘ride’, and along the way we ask many questions to try and figure out our journey. Issues like meaning, purpose, value, and where to find peace are universal questions, but not every answer put forth by our culture or various worldviews is based on truth.

Tonight we’re going to explore the song a little more deeply, and hopefully by the end of our discussion, we will all have a better vision for how to answer these questions in a way that gives us peace on our ride through life.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we dive in, everybody take a few minutes and talk about a memory from your road trip that you really enjoyed.

ASK A FEW: What made that road trip so memorable?

ASK A FEW: In what ways is life like a road trip? (There is a beginning, we are headed to a destination, we don’t know what will happen along the way, etc.)

ASK A FEW: Does it seem like Joseph and Dun are enjoying their ‘ride’? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: Do you think most everyone can relate to these words? Why or why not?

Oh, oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Oh, I’m falling, so I’m taking my time on my ride
Taking my time on my ride

ASK A FEW: What events or circumstances in your life have led you to a feeling or ‘falling’?

ASK A FEW: What do you think is they are getting at with these lyrics?

I’ve been thinking too much
Help me
I’ve been thinking too much
Help me

ASK A FEW: Do you think they have found the peace they were looking for? Why or why not?

Read the following passage from the Bible:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(Youth Leader: explain to the students that the context of this passage is after Jesus tells His disciples that He will be leaving this world, and because of that news, they are afraid of their future ‘ride’ and probably feeling like they are falling.)

ASK A FEW: If we played the song Ride for the disciples in that moment, do you think they could relate? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: What does the culture say about finding peace?

ASK A FEW: What does the Bible say about finding peace?

(Youth Leader: The Greek word for ‘peace’ in this passage signifies a sacred gift of wholeness, health of soul, and inner tranquility)

ASK A FEW: If Jesus promises us peace as a gift, what do we need to do to receive that gift?

ASK A FEW: What is the relationship between receiving the peace that Jesus gives and answering the questions brought up in Ride?

ASK A FEW: How do Jesus’ encouragement of “do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” apply to you right now?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: How has your view of your personal ‘ride’ through life been impacted as a result of our discussion tonight?

Wrap Up:
Viewing life as a ‘ride’ is a helpful metaphor to understand that we are on a journey that can be both amazingly happy and terrifyingly uncontrollable. However, sometimes we can get caught up in overthinking life and trying to figure out all the answers. This week, take some time to reflect on Jesus’ promise of a peace that the world simply cannot provide, and when fear and a feeling of falling creep in, ask Him to help your heart not be troubled or afraid. Here is a prayer that you can use to help remind you of the truths we explored tonight:

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

(prayer attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971)

Close in prayer

Written by Lane Palmer