Here's a devotional out of the "archives" from Al. Every month ZONE
members get two of these as part of their regular updates.

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Devo #8: Why Did She Do That?

Purpose:

To help students understand exactly what Jesus did for us.

Passage:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His
poverty might become rich.  2 Corinthians 8:9

Props:

You will need a piece of coal, or charcoal if coal is not
available, and a diamond. You could borrow an engagement ring if
you are a trusted person.

* Show the class the coal and ask if they know what it is and how
it is used in its present state.
* Ask if they know what the coal could become.
* Show the class the diamond and explain to them that this was once
a piece of coal.

Diamonds are made of the same substance that the lead in your
pencil and coal is made of. It's just that the atoms themselves are
arranged in a way that makes them tighter than any other substance.
The bonds are formed when carbon exists at very high temperatures
and under very high pressure. Natural diamonds are made very deep
in the Earth where high temperatures and pressure exist naturally.
If we want to become a diamond kind of person, then we must
willingly put up with the trials and tribulations that shape and
form our character.

Plan:

In the early 80's there was a section of town in Chicago known as
Cabrina-Green. It was infiltrated with crime and gangs. The gangs
paid no attention to the law and often the law was afraid to go
into the project to help with problems. One day the mayor went into
the community and told the people that help was on the way. They
all took it as a lot of political gibberish and didn't pay much
attention to it. Within the next week the mayor decided to move
into Cabrina-Green just to see what it was like. The mayor was a
woman who was not afraid to put her life on the line to help others
no matter how bad the conditions were.

* The mayor was once a piece of coal that, because of her mission
to help others, became a diamond.
* It took her years to be molded into the person she became much
like a piece of coal to a diamond.

Ask your teens...

1. How does this story remind you of what Jesus did for us?

2. How do you think the residents of Cabrina-Green felt when they
found out someone cared about them?

3. How do you feel knowing that Jesus gave up everything to die
for you?

4. Who in your church has given up something to help others?
Read: John 3:16; Philippians 2:5-11

Performance:

Read John 14:27 and ask for volunteers (or ask everyone) to have it
memorized by the next devo time. Reassure them that Jesus came to
live with them and give them peace. He will move into their
neighborhoods no matter what the situation.

Christian teens are diamonds in the rough just waiting to be
challenged and to serve.

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Blessings!
Paul and Al
http://www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone