Corn Maze, Bonfire &
Devotional (printable
PDF)
Here's a Fall meeting for your group
that's perfect if you have a corn maze (or something like it) in
your area. Have fun, and enjoy the great devotional thought
at the end!
Supplies:
-
A Corn Maze location - or any kind of
maze. (There's a place in Colorado that built a huge maze out
of large bales of straw.)
-
A place to get together after the maze
for a camp fire/bonfire, if possible.
-
Supplies for S'mores or hot dogs or a
great camp fire snack. Include drinks, etc…
-
A Bible
Before the
meeting:
-Confirm the arrangements for
the camp fire after the maze. (Hint: Check with your local police
to see if you need a permit for an outdoor fire for a
group.)
-Recruit volunteers to make
sure food and drinks are ready when the group
arrives.
-Optional: Copy the
discussion questions (below) on slips of paper to distribute so
that everyone knows what to talk about during devotions.
It's Time to GET
LOST!
Have a great time at the maze. Be
sure the group stays together (or stays in smaller groups).
If you're going to divide up your group, it's best if you make the
groups ahead of time. Each maze probably has some ideas about how
to go about solving it. Make sure that the time at the maze
is an enjoyable and fun time. When your group is having a
good time together, God shows up in amazing and unexpected ways,
and great things happen.
Discussion:
Once everyone has arrived at the gathering
place for the campfire, serve the snacks. After the group is
settled, give them the following questions to talk about with 2 or
3 friends. (Or, if you divided them into smaller groups, use those
same groups for the discussion.)
Questions to discuss: (Take about eight to
twelve minutes total for these questions.)
-
What is your favorite thing you about
the maze?
-
What was the most difficult part of the
maze?
-
How is trying to figure out a maze like
or unlike your life, right now?
-
How is running through the maze like or
unlike your relationship with God?
Give a two minute warning before you stop
their discussion time. Gather some feedback, especially for the
last two questions.
Say: "God knows that life is a
journey. God knows that it can sometimes feel like you are
lost and confused, like in a maze. But God promises to not
leave us to figure it out by ourselves."
Read Psalm 119:105.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a
light for my path." (NIV)
Ask: "So - what is the Psalmist
saying about following God? What is the "your word" that is
referred to? Give time for some group
discussion
Say: Here's a question I'd like
you to consider. "What's one thing you can do
- or do differently - starting tonight to make sure the lamp and
the light are part of your life?" (Allow some time
for reflection. Repeat the question once during the
silence.)
God doesn't want you to be lost in
the maze of life any more that I wanted anyone to get lost in the
Corn Maze tonight. As we close in prayer, you'll have the
opportunity to pray for God's help with the question I just asked
you. So if you want to, offer a sentence prayer that starts with
the phrase, "God, help me to …" and then briefly fill in the blank.
Or, you could simply pray, "God, help me to follow you." There's no
order, and you can pray out loud if you'd like. After a little
while, I'll close.
Allow time for people to pray. Don't be
afraid of some silence, but don't let it go too long.
If anyone would like to talk about
how God's light can help you in the maze of life, I (or any of the
adults) would love to talk with you whenever you are
ready.
If there's time after prayer, sing some
songs around the camp fire.