Isaiah 41:10
Preparation: Beforehand, prepare at least two things to happen “magically” when you point a remote control in that direction. For instance, get the youth group to stand in unison when you point the remote at them, and then sit back down when you press the remote. Get the person in charge of the lights to dim and brighten the lights when you point the remote at them. Get the pianist/organist or other instrumentalist to play a simple measure when you point the remote at them.
Visual Aids: One or two remote controls
Good morning boys and girls. [Pull out the remote control.] Can anyone tell me what I have in my hands? [Wait for responses.] OK, would you tell me all the different kinds of things you can do with a remote control? [Wait for various responses. Encourage them to move away from just TV controls, and into answers pertaining to remote-control toys, garage door openers, etc.] Wow, so you can do a lot of things with remote controls, can’t you? Well, I have a special remote control here that does some extra special things. [Pull out second remote.] It only does a couple of things, but they’re really special. [Now, show them how your remote performs the tasks that you set up to happen in advance.] See, you can do some really amazing things with this remote control. But, you know, what if I set this remote over here by itself. Could the remote do those special things? [Wait for the “NO’s” to die down.] Why not? [Wait for responses.] A remote control can’t do the special things it’s supposed to do unless someone holds it in his/her hands. Did you know that you are like a remote control? You are. God has some special things for you to do in your life — some really special things. But the only way you can do them is if you are in God’s hand. To do what God wants us to do, we must place ourselves in God’s hands. To do what God wants us to do, we must what? “Place ourselves in God’s hands.” Let’s pray now that today we would put our lives in God’s hands so that He can use us to do some very special things this week. [Read Scripture verse where appropriate.]