Music Discussions

Wide Awake

March 23, 2012

Main Point of Discussion: Christians should be wide awake and cautious. We don’t have to fall for future lies, regardless of what we’ve done in the past.

Discussion Starter: Wide Awake by Katy Perry.
Katy Perry’s latest hit Wide Awake is all about the rebound. The lyrics that talk about overcoming heartache after a relational upset, match the music video, which features a fairy tale-plot, where a young Perry looks through a story book that features the previous Teenage Dream era singles, each one serving as a chapter in the book. In the end, she learns to recognize the lies of the Prince Charmings that come her way. After all the breakups and disappointments, she says she’s “wide awake.”

The Music Video:
The clip can be viewed on YouTube for free by clicking on the following link: http://youtu.be/k0BWlvnBmIE

Wide Awake

I’m wide awake
I’m wide awake

I’m wide awake
Yeah, I was in the dark
I was falling hard
With an open heart
I’m wide awake
How did I read the stars so wrong

I’m wide awake
And now it’s clear to me
That everything you see
Ain’t always what it seems
I’m wide awake
Yeah, I was dreaming for so long

I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn’t dive in
Wouldn’t bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete

[Chorus]
Falling from cloud nine
Crashing from the high
I’m letting go tonight
I’m falling from cloud nine

I’m wide awake
Not losing any sleep
Picked up every piece
And landed on my feet
I’m wide awake
Need nothing to complete myself, no

I’m wide awake
Yeah, I am born again
Out of the lion’s den
I don’t have to pretend
And it’s too late
The story’s over now, the end

I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn’t dive in
Wouldn’t bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete

[Chorus]

Thunder rumbling
Castles crumbling
I am trying to hold on
God knows that I tried
Seeing the bright side
But I’m not blind anymore
I’m wide awake
I’m wide awake

[Chorus]

I’m wide awake
I’m wide awake
I’m wide awake
I’m wide awake
I’m wide awake

Transition Statement:
After watching that video, it sounds like Katy Perry has taken a moment to reflect on her life. She admits she’s made mistakes and been treated harshly. She realizes that not everyone in her life is who they actually claim to be. She confesses that she’s taken some hits for being gullible. But she also says she’s had enough. Going forward, she’s gonna be wide awake. She won’t fall for lies anymore. She’s going to try to see people as they truly are. She’s had enough disappoint, heartache, and pain. The interesting thing is, God would give Christians similar advice to what Katy Perry dishes out: “stay wide awake.” Let’s break up into our groups and talk about that for the next few moments.

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 get stated, let’s take a second to share our names and a “wake up moment” from your past.

ASK A FEW: The video leads us to believe that Katy Perry was acknowledging her past mistakes, but also saying, “Going forward, I’m wide awake.” What did she mean by that?

ASK A FEW: Most of us know that Katy Perry was raised in a Christian home, that she was once a Christian singer, and that she has recently gone through a very public divorce. Do you think this song ties in with her real life in any way? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: Her song included several biblical references. Can you find them, and explain what she meant by them? (Leaders – She mentions being “born again” and coming “out of the lion’s den” and “God knows I tried” and “not blind anymore.”)

ASK A FEW: When we face something tragic like loss, broken relationships, upset, or disappointment, what are some of our reactions/responses that we go through?

ASK A FEW: Katy Perry claims to be “wide awake” now, and not falling for any more of the lies from fake Prince Charmings. What is a good way you and I can be “wide awake” when it comes to lies and falsehoods?

ASK A FEW: What advice do you think God would give Katy Perry going forward?

Read the following passage:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

ASK A FEW: What are some of the instructions Peter gives to Christians?

ASK A FEW: Peter’s version of “wide awake” is to “be self-controlled and alert.” Why is it important to be self-controlled and alert?

ASK A FEW: How might Katy Perry’s life have been different if she’d have been more self-controlled and alert?

ASK A FEW: How would your lives be different if you were more self-controlled and alert?

ASK A FEW: Why do you think the Bible likens the Devil to a lion?

ASK A FEW: The Bible makes it clear that the Devil is a liar. In fact, he’s even called the Father of Lies in Scripture. Peter tells us to “resist him” in this passage. What are some good ways to do that?

ASK A FEW: How does it make you feel knowing that you have brothers and sisters all over the world going through the same sort of suffering you’re enduring?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: If you remain “wide awake” this week, what do you think you’ll see?

Wrap Up:
We watched a music video tonight that seemed to be a play-by-play recap of some of the singer’s biggest mistakes. All the way back to childhood, Katy Perry seemed to be falling for lies and trickery, and paying a big price for it. Sadly, many of us know exactly what she’s talking about. We’ve also fallen for lies; we’ve also been manipulated.

It stinks to be taken advantage of, or lied to, or manipulated. That’s never fun. It leads to pain and a hard heart.

But Katy also talked about her new mindset going forward. She said that from now on, she’s going to be “wide awake.” What she means is that she’s going to be a little wiser; she’s going to look before she leaps. She’s not going to be somebody’s fool any longer. Good for her.

But we need to heed the same advice, advice that Katy seems to be taking straight from Scripture. We looked at Peter’s warning to the ancient church and walked away with great counsel about how to live our modern lives. We need to be self-controlled and alert because we have an enemy that wants to destroy us. But we can resist him, standing strong in the company of our brothers and sisters, refusing to be his victim any longer.

Why don’t we take a few moments and act on this passage. Let’s break up into groups of 3 or 4, no more, and spend a few minutes asking God to help us live lives that are “wide awake” and keyed in to the devil’s trickery and lies.

(Leaders: Provide a few moments for this. You might also want to offer a few pointers for the prayer time.)

No matter what mistakes we’ve made in the past, we don’t have to repeat them. Let’s live “self-controlled and alert” lives so that God gets the glory.

Close in Prayer

Written by David R Smith and Paschoal Trentini