YouTube Discussions

Selfie

January 28, 2014

Main Point: Smile… You’re God’s Masterpiece

Discussion Starter: Dove’s Real Beauty videos don’t really require an introduction. Most of us remember seeing the viral YouTube “Evolution” video where a woman sits down and is bombarded by people applying make up and hair… and then Photoshop… to attempt to measure up to the world’s definition of beauty.

Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty has had enough of the world’s unattainable definition of beauty, and their brand new video, Selfie, opens the door to incredible discussion about our struggle to measure up to what the world thinks we all should look like.

Introducing the Clip—(You Say Something Like This): When someone takes a picture of you in a group of people, what is the first thing you look at in the picture?

Yourself, right?

Don’t feel bad. Me too. We all do it. If everyone in the picture looks great, but “I” look bad… then it’s a bad picture. But if everyone else looks awful, but “I” look good… then it’s a good picture.

Funny how that works.

Now, consider the selfie. The selfie take the photographer out of the scenario because now we are the photographer, we are usually the only person in the picture, and WE have all the power to take, retake and capture that perfect image that we want others to see.

How many snaps does it usually take? Honestly? Think about it for a second. Do you just take one snap of you over your bowl of Cocoa Puffs… or do you have to usually reposition, repose and find that perfect angle?

You’re not alone. Watch this…

The Clip: The video can be found at the following link: http://youtu.be/BFkm1Hg4dTI

Transition Statement- (You Say Something Like This): It was nice to hear some of these girls be refreshingly honest about the struggles we feel when we look at ourselves. I can’t help but think of what some of those girls said:

“I worry a lot about my positioning in the picture because I do have a really round face…”

“I hate my rosey cheeks because people I always say I look like a tomato.”

“I hate my braces and I hate my glasses… I wanna say I hate my whole face.”

Do you ever think these kinds of thoughts? Is outward appearance something that should dominate our thinking?

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: Describe, or show us, your favorite picture of yourself. Why do you like it?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: Some of the girls in this video shared some pretty honest thoughts about what they didn’t like about themselves. What are some of the insecurities you have about your looks?

Quick Thoughts: (You say something like this)

I could try to tell you, “Don’t get so caught up in your looks. Looks don’t matter.” But in all honesty, I would struggle to tell you that, because I, and most people in this room don’t want to be repulsive. No one wants to be ugly. The question is, “How much should we dwell on outward appearance?”

AROUND THE CIRCLE: What about you? How important is outward appearance?

ASK A FEW: How do we know when we make outward appearance too much of a focus?

Read the following passage:

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

ASK SOMEONE: What does Paul describe us as in this verse?

ASK A FEW: Why do you think he calls us a masterpiece?

ASK A FEW: Paul is talking to a group of believers in this letter and he tells them that God has created them anew in Christ Jesus. What do you think he means by that?

ASK A FEW: How does that make you feel to know you are God’s masterpiece, made new by Christ to do good things?

ASK A FEW: What is some of the “new” that happens to us when we put our faith in Jesus?

ASK SOMEONE: What does the verse say we can do when he creates us anew?

ASK A FEW: What are some of the different ways God uses different people to do good things?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: What are the unique ways God can use you?

ASK SOMEONE: When God changes us and molds us to do good things, is that focusing on our outward appearance, or who we are inside?

Wrap Up—(You Say Something Like This):
Let me show you a picture of a beautiful woman. (Show picture of Mother Teresa)

Maybe that’s not the picture you were expecting to see. That is a picture of Mother Teresa, a woman who dedicated her life to helping the sick and the dying. This woman’s humble service garnered international attention. She was invited to international events, National prayer breakfasts with the world’s greatest leaders, TV interviews… you name it. She was truly famous.

Don’t hear me wrong. Simply good deeds don’t make us valuable. Our value comes from God, and He proved that by paying a great price for us (I Peter 1:18-19), and when we surrender to Him and let Him slowly change us, mold us and make us new (Romans 12:2), He’ll use us to do great things. These things will point others toward Him… not us (II Corinthians 4:5), which is nice, because we don’t have to obsess over our looks.

You won’t find any picture of Mother Teresa obsessing over her looks in a mirror. She was an amazing example of someone who allowed God to use her unique gifts for His glory.

Mother Teresa was beautiful because she was God’s Masterpiece, created new in Christ Jesus to do His work. Her compassion for others was amazing. Her humility and selfless attitude was incredible. God used this woman’s unique gifts in a way that impacted the world.

How can God use you?

Think about that as we close in prayer.

CLOSE IN PRAYER

Smile… you’re God’s Masterpiece!