A discussion for youth on Meditation

The fast-paced culture that many of us live in leaves little room for reflection, a necessary element for learning. It is no wonder that high school students can complete a course in high school and remember little of it. Analyze the spiritual practices of a normal teenage and the dominant component would be attending a church-based program on a regular basis. Again, it’s no wonder that students struggle spiritually upon graduation from high school and they’re ‘out there’ on their own. What if youth ministry leaders helped their students develop personal foundations for their faith? I know that most do that now, but are there methods to help students develop a vital relationship with Jesus Christ?

I think one of the primary means for this is reflection and meditation. Think about it: The ‘dramatic’ moments of spiritual growth in a student’s life are often when they spend significant time engaged and reflecting. Summer camps, retreats, and short-term mission trips provide extended engagement and meditative moments on Scripture and in prayer.

I am disappointed and surprised when I see some Christians critical of meditation, viewing it as an Eastern religious practice. I think Maggie and Duffy Robbins’ book,Enjoy the Silence: A 30- Day Experiment in Listening to God (invert), is a fine example of a Christ-centered approach to spiritual disciplines. And The Prayer Path: a Christ-centered Labyrinth Experience has been a powerful facilitator for prayer and spiritual growth for so many.

One of my students at Bethel College, Randall Bridges, constructed a discussion on the topic for use with teenagers in a youth group. I asked him if I could pass it along for others and he agreed. Feel free to modify and improve it, but it may spur a great 3o-day experiment for you and your youth.

Discussion on Meditation

Before we go, we need to all get on the same page with what we’re talking about here. So, let’s get a working definition of what meditation is. (use newsprint or a whiteboard and come up with a one-sentence definition)

Maybe you and your group can come up with a better word for meditation.

Now let’s discover another fact: Let’s find the average number of hours we all do this every week. So, how many hours would you say, on average, you do this (point to definition) on a weekly basis?

Do you think people automatically associate meditation with Christianity?

What messages do you see or hear (TV, music, movies, magazines, parents, teachers, coaches) about meditating? (You can list these on the board as well)

What does the Bible say about meditation?

Depending on your group, you can have slips of paper, PowerPoint slides, or just have students look these up on their own.

Genesis 24:63; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 63:6; Matthew 14:13; Matthew 14;23; Mark 6:31; Luke 6:12;

These longer passages could facilitate a short 5-minute talk from you: I Kings 19:9-18; Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 17:1-9

So, do you think Christians should make time for the spiritual discipline of mediation?

How has meditation helped some of you with your relationship with God?

You can close with a 7-day experiment of having your students be silent and still without distraction for a period of time (15 minutes? 30 minutes?) without distraction (cell phone, TV, etc) each day that next week. Provide a Scripture reference, a devotional paragraph, or something else for each day to help them be Christ-centered and not just engaging in a relaxation process.

And be sure to have them report back next week on how it went.

The post A discussion for youth on Meditation appeared first on In this Corner of the World - TerryLinhart.com.