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30 May 2011
Scripture Refere nce : Proverbs 15:5
Take home point: When you are trying to protect your feelings, you are foolish.
What You Need: Nerf gun and Nerf darts, Plastic shield (ie. Armor of God)
PREPARATION: Pick a child and give them the shield. You will keep the Nerf gun.
Application:
John has this nice shield that I have given to him. I have this Nerf gun. (Start to shoot your helper. They will begin to hide behind the shield and defend themselves. Play it up for a few minutes.)
When your leader is correcting you, do you look at it like they are shooting at you? Is your first reaction is to defend yourself? If you are defending yourself against your leader, you are not receiving from your leader. You are too worried about how that person is hurting you and you are not thinking about how they are trying to help you. You need to have an attitude adjustment, and put down the shield and allow your leader to mold you.
Yes, it can be a little unnerving to open yourself up like that. It is not always easy. But when you do, you will receive a lot of valuable information to improve your life.
A good verse to back this up is Proverbs 15:32, “He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.” That phrase is so strong, “he who ignores discipline despises himself.” So, in other words, do not be foolish, listen when people correct you!
How do you respond when people correct you? Do you think they are trying to hurt you? Then you need to change your attitude. Have you ever been to the grocery store and you saw a kid just having a temper tantrum when his mom told him “no”? Doesn’t that just make everything awkward? Now if that little boy would stop and listen he would hear why he can’t have a candy bar right now. He is too busy screaming that he can’t even hear the reasons.
Listen to what your teacher or coach is saying. Ask questions if you don’t understand. Make the changes they are asking for. Forget the past and keep running your race.
Other possibilities:
• You could have a mini-war, depending on how many Nerf guns and shields you have.
• You could also have teams (girls versus boys).