We live in a world that is full of people trying to sell us things.
Tonight we are going to think about some of the problems that brings and how that can
effect our attitudes and beliefs
[Play The Simpsons "Bart Wars" - "Marge be not proud"]
The middle bit
In the video we saw that Bart wanted the game 'Bonestorm' so bad that he would rather
risk been caught steeling than going without
Have you ever wanted something as much as Bart wanted 'Bonestorm'?
A PC
A car
A girlfriend?!
As a teenager I used to regularly go to Scarborough shop lifting.
Fortunately, I never got caught
Have you ever been so desperate for something that you have thought about steeling it?
Do you know people who shoplift?
What other ways do people try and get what they want?
Borrowing and don't return
Buying stolen goods
Copying tapes / CD's / Software
In the video, we saw that it was the advertisement for 'Bonestorm' that sparked all of
this off
Do you think adverts effect the way people behave?
In what way?
Has it ever made you go out and buy something?
Do you think it is right that we should be put under pressure to buy stuff?
So do you think we should ban adverts?
The Bible bit
We live in a society that depends on us buying more and more stuff so that we can make
more and more money.
This is called 'consumerism'.
Some would say this encourages people to be greedy / selfish
And that this will result in us using more and more of the worlds resources
Others believe in the saying 'he who dies with the most toys wins'
Do you agree with this?
Matthew 6:19 - 24 P918
"Don't store treasures for yourself here on earth where moths and rust will destroy
them and thieves can break in and destroy them. But store your treasures in heaven where
they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal
them. Your heart is where your treasure is .you can not serve both God and worldly
riches."
Luke 12:13 - 15 P1028
" be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how
much one owns."
What do you think the Bible means when it says "But store your treasures in
heaven " ?
What kind of treasure are we talking about?
[write the following on the white board]
Galatians 5:22 - 23
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
If we are to crave after anything, it should be these things but we all struggle to
do that
Why do you think that is?
Conclusion
I'd like us to spend a moment thinking about the things we crave for and the things we
should crave for
[hand out 'I want' pieces of paper / pens]
Write down some of the things you really want
Computer game
Friends
Money
Boyfriend / girlfriend
What ever
And when you have done that, I'd like you to write down which of these heavenly
treasures you would like in your life
Pray
References
con·sum·er·ism
The movement seeking to protect and inform consumers by requiring such practices as
honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety standards.
The theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is economically beneficial.
Attachment to materialistic values or possessions: deplored the rampant consumerism of
contemporary society.
cap·i·tal·ism
An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or
corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of
profits gained in a free market.