"If the 'Smell' is Right"
BOX 1
Vanilla Extract
"_____ shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see."
Faith
You're at the mall to go to the movies with your friends. You see your friend group doing something that they should not be doing and that the Bible says is not good. Which spiritual sense are you using?
Sight
I never wrote a bestselling book, ran for political office, or started a social media account. Yet thousands of years later, people around the world still organize their entire lives around the things I said and did. Who am I?
Jesus Christ
Someone walks into your school wearing something unusual, acting differently, and not fitting in with everyone else. Before you even know their name, people have already formed opinions about them. You remember Jesus' teachings about judging others. What would Jesus do?
Something along the lines of:
- Don't judge.
- Look at the heart rather than the outward person.
- Treat them with love, respect, and compassion.
BOX 2
Wax Melts
"So faith comes from _______, that is, _______ the Good News about Christ."
Hearing
You're about to go to bed and instead of reaching for your phone, you grab your Bible and read it. What spiritual sense are you using?
Touch
Everyone around me probably thought I was just another person in the crowd. They didn't know my story, what I had been through, or how much it took just to get there. But the person I came to see noticed something nobody else did. Who am I?
Woman with the Issue of Blood
You're in a group chat when someone starts spreading something embarrassing about another student. Everyone is adding their own comments, and the conversation is getting worse. You remember that Jesus taught people to love their neighbors as themselves. What would Jesus want you to do?"
Something along the lines of:
- Don't talk about them badly. (Gossiping)
- Treat them with love, compassion, and respect.
- Love them like you love yourself.
BOX 3
Pickle Juice
"_____ and ___ that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"
Taste, See
You're walking on the campus of your school and hear someone telling you something that doesn't sound like something the Bible would say. What spiritual sense are you using?
Hearing
I have a Biblical pen and piece of paper, and I have decided that I am going to write down the wisdom that God has given me for future generations to read for centuries to come. This is because I am a man after God's own heart.
You may ask me 3 questions.
David - One of the writers of Psalms.
There's someone at school who has a reputation for making bad decisions. Most people avoid them, and some even make jokes about them. You remember that Jesus spent time with people others rejected. What would Jesus do?
Something along the lines of:
- Forgive them, pray for them, and help them do better.
- Build a bridge no one wants to build.
- Treat them with love, respect, and compassion.
BOX 4
Raw Onion
"For she thought to herself, "If I can just _____ his robe, I will be healed."
Touch
(x2) As you're watching a movie, you notice a couple of scenes that have bad images AND bad language in them. You begin to question if this is something God would want you to watch. What spiritual senses are you using here?
Sight and Hearing
I made it in the greatest history book known to the world. No microphone, no alarm clock, and no warning, I simply just made my presence known three separate times and it just so happened to make a grown man stop and think about his mistakes. Who am I?"
Rooster (From Peter's story that crowed three times.)
Someone has repeatedly treated you unfairly. You've finally been given the opportunity to embarrass them in front of everyone, and honestly, part of you thinks they deserve it. But you remember Jesus taught something very different about how to treat people who hurt you. What would Jesus do?
Something along the lines of:
- Choose to forgive.
- Treat them with love, compassion, and respect.
- Don't embarrass them.
BOX 5
White Vinegar
Fragrance, fragrance
Not everything that looks good on the outside is good on the inside. You encounter something that seems good, but the Holy Spirit tells you to stay away. What spiritual sense are you using? (Think about this week.)
Smell
I was just sitting there doing my job, minding my own business, when someone walked in and decided I was part of the problem. Let's just say I didn't stay standing for very long. Who am I?
Table (That Jesus Flipped)
Someone publicly challenges your beliefs and says something offensive about your faith. Your first instinct is to fire back and prove them wrong. But you remember that Jesus calls His followers to represent Him even when conversations get difficult. What would Jesus do?
Something along the lines of:
- Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
- Speak the truth with love, respect, compassion, patience, gentleness, etc.
- Pray for them.