Main Point: We cannot be true followers of Christ if we are not willing to let Him be the Lord of our lives.
Discussion Starter: Job Negotiations
This discussion starter employs a skit entitled “Yeah…That’s Gonna be a Problem.” You can do it live in front of your group, or you can record it beforehand and just show it as a video. (The latter is usually easier to do – and better – because you can insert silly sound effects, and you don’t have to worry about flubs; they’re edited out in the production phase. But both formats will work.)
(The setting is in a professional office. A desk and two chairs – one on either side – is really all you need to pull this off. One person, the Boss, is interviewing the second person, the Job Applicant. The gist is that the Boss is willing to hire the Job Applicant, but the Job Applicant is having one difficulty with the position after another.)
Boss: Let’s see here, Mr. Jones. Everything about your resume looks in order. I like the amount of experience you have. You seem to have everything we’re looking for in this new position. If you’d like the job, it’s yours.
Job Applicant: Great! I’ll take it!
Boss: Congratulations! Do you have any questions?
Job Applicant: Ummm…what time do I need to be in the office each day?
Boss: We like to have everyone in their offices by 8:00am.
Job Applicant: Yeeeeaaaahhhhh…that’s gonna be a problem. You see, I usually sleep in until about 11:00am or so. I could probably be here by noon every day. 1:00pm at the latest.
Boss: (Slightly incredulous look on his face) Well…I’m not sure that’s going to fit into our….
Job Applicant: (Interrupting) By the way, does my office come with a TV in it?
Boss: No. None of the offices have a TV in them.
Job Applicant: Yeeaaahhhhhh….that’s gonna be a problem. There’s no way I can miss Oprah in the afternoon! (This is a lot funnier if the Job Applicant is a guy.) Man, she’s great! So insightful. She really grips my emotions in all the right places.
Boss: (Dazed look on his face) Well, instead of watching TV on the clock, the rest of our employees actually spend their time here…working. We can’t afford to….
Job Applicant: Speaking of affording stuff. I really want a new car so I’m gonna need my first paycheck now.
Boss: (Growing very impatient) That’s impossible! You haven’t even started yet. There’s no way we can pay you for work you haven’t even done yet. I mean, that wouldn’t….
Job Applicant: Yeaaaahhhhh….that’s gonna be a problem. You gotta be able to do something here. You’re the boss. I mean, can’t you pull some strings or something?
Boss: I’m afraid I can’t pull any strings for you…
Job Applicant: Oohhh…and pulling strings reminds me that I don’t want to pull a hamstring. I need to leave early on Tuesdays and Thursdays; I’m in a terrific yoga group. We just started the Downward Facing Dog position and it’s amazing what it can do for your gluts. That cool?
Boss: Yeeeeaaaahhh…that’s gonna be a problem. In the immortal words of Donald Trump: “You’re Fired.”
Job Applicant: So, I guess this is a bad time to ask for a raise, huh?
The End
Transition Statement:
How silly did that sound? A guy who wants a job telling his brand new boss all the stuff he wants, needs, and won’t do. Pretty crazy sounding in that context. But, if we’re willing to tell the truth, we do the exact same thing with Jesus all the time. We tell Him there are things we want, and we tell Him there are things we won’t do. That’s even more ridiculous! This problem comes from the fact that we don’t see Jesus as our Lord. So, let’s spend the next few moments talking about that to see if we can change it.
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: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our names and whether or not you’ve ever said, “You’re not the boss of me!” to anybody.
- ASK A FEW: Do you think the boss from the skit reacted too harshly in firing the job applicant? Why or why not?
- ASK A FEW: If you were the boss in that skit, would you have fired the job applicant as well? Why or why not?
- ASK A FEW: Do you see Christians approaching Jesus the way the job applicant approached the boss? If so, in what ways?
- ASK A FEW: Why do people approach Jesus like that? (Leaders – Because some people only see Jesus as Savior instead of Savior AND Lord.)
- ASK SOMEONE: How was Jesus introduced to mankind…even at His birth? (Leaders – Jesus was introduced as Savior and as Lord. That’s huge!)
- ASK A FEW: What does it mean to treat Jesus as Savior AND Lord, instead of just treating Jesus as Savior?
- ASK SOMEONE: What are several of the commands given in this passage? (Leaders – prepare your minds, be self-controlled, hope in Jesus’ revelation, do not conform to evil desires, be holy, and live life as a stranger on earth.)
- ASK SOMEONE: According to verse 16, what kind of lives are we to lead, and what’s that mean?
- ASK SOMEONE: According to this passage, what did the Father use to redeem our lives?
- ASK A FEW: What does it mean for Jesus to be our Savior, and what does it mean for Him to be our Lord?
- ASK A FEW: Based on this passage, do you think Jesus has the right to be Savior and Lord? Why or why not?
- ASK A FEW: What happens if we do not let Jesus be our Savior and our Lord?
- AROUND THE CIRCLE: If you can, I’d like for each of you to share one area of your life that Jesus isn’t Lord over.
- AROUND THE CIRCLE: Now, let’s each share one thing we’re going to do differently this week to show Jesus He IS the Lord over that area of our lives.
Read the following passage:
Luke 2:11 (NIV)
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
Read the following passage:
1 Peter 1:13-21 (NIV)
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Wrap Up:
When we were growing up – especially if we had an older brother or sister – at some point, they would tell us what to do or how to act, and we’d respond with that ancient phrase, “You ain’t the boss of me!” Let’s face it: we don’t like to be told what to do…by anybody!
Sometimes, we bring that attitude into our relationship with Jesus. Now, granted, we’d never look at Jesus and say, “You ain’t the Boss of me!” but we convey that message every time we disobey Him, every time we choose to be unholy, every time we forget that it was by His blood that we were redeemed.
Jesus is our Savior. That’s how we have eternal life. There is no other source of eternal life on Earth. Period.
But Jesus is also our Lord. That means, He is our Boss. He is our Leader. He must be in control. And when we choose to disobey or disrespect our Lord, there will be consequences. You were living your life your way…and that’s why you needed a Savior in the first place! Why would Jesus save you and then turn you back over to yourself? That’s silly. He knows you need new leadership in your life and He’s the only One who can give it.
As we wrapped up tonight, you were asked two very important questions: what’s an area of your life where Jesus isn’t Lord?, and what are you going to do about it this week?
If you need help talking about the answers to those two questions, we’re here to help. Just grab one of our adult leaders before you leave.
Close in Prayer
Idea by Danette Matty
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.
toby
August 30, 2016 at 12:00 amYou're not the boss of me!..