WHERE DO I FIT?

DISCOVERING STRENGTH IN UNITY

Overview: This message is designed to buuild unity within your youth group and help teenagers

understand how every individual is valuable.

Getting Ready: There are 3 illustrations you’ll need materials for. For the Puzzle Madness

illustration, you will need 2 large puzzles with huge pieces (use a children’s puzzle or make your own

with some paint, cardboard and electric jig saw). The total number of pieces should be approximately

the same as the number of students in your group. For the Confusing Picture illustration, you will

need one large jigsaw puzzle with 500-1000 pieces. For the Strength in Numbers illustration, you

will need approximately 20 16-oz. plastic cups and a piece of plywood (2’x2’x3/4’’).

MESSAGE OUTLINE

Opening:

1. Puzzle Madness: Remove one piece from each puzzle and mix all of the pieces from both

puzzles together. Pass out one piece to each student. Now, they must mingle around and find

other students they can “hook up” with. When two students’ pieces are joined, they should search

around for other matching pieces together. The contest is to see which group can get their puzzle

together first (of course, they don’t know which group they will be in until they find matching

pieces). Each group will get stuck at the end, as they realize there are missing pieces.

2. Let them mingle in confusion for a few moments, then pull out the two missing pieces from your

podium. (“I suppose each team was looking for each one of these?”)

Puzzle Points

1. All the pieces are needed to complete the puzzle.

a. Even though we had all of the pieces except one, the puzzle was not complete.

b. Our youth group cannot be closed to a select group.

c. We need everybody—every part—every piece!

d. 1 Corinthians 12:12: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though

all its parts are many, they form one body…”

2. Each piece is unique in its shape, size, and color.

a. Our individual differences are not a weakness, but a strength. Each of us combined

together makes a beautiful picture.

b. If all the pieces were the same, it would be a boring picture.

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c. 1 Corinthians 12:17 says, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of

hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” Every

part is necessary to the whole.

d. Sometimes we feel odd or different, and can’t see how we fit (here, you can show a

puzzle piece from the back side). But that’s okay. God has made you and placed you into

this world with a purpose.

e. God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were

born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

f. 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one

of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

3. One piece is not more or less valuable than the other.

a. Each part plays a specific role and fills a divine purpose.

b. 1 Corinthians 12:15-16 explains that our worth is not determined by which piece we are.

We can’t say, “If I’m not an edge piece, then I’m not part of the puzzle.”

c. We also can’t say we don’t need a certain piece! (1Corinthians 12:21)

d. We need to value those around us and each of us needs to do our part.

e. Ephesians 4:16 says, “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every

supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (The

Living Translation says it a little differently: “…so that the whole body is healthy and

growing and full of love.”)

4. When we discard or lose a piece, the whole picture suffers.

a. If a part is missing, we are all affected. Everyone was upset and disappointed when a

puzzle piece was missing! Imagine how much stronger our youth group would be today if

we all responded with that same intensity when one of our youth group members was

“missing”!

b. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26

c. When “John’s” friend stops coming to church it not only impacts him, but all of us! Every

part is essential.

d. With every individual piece, we are stronger. Even if just one piece is missing, we are

lacking.

5. United we attract; divided we distract.

a. Confusing Picture: Dump out or throw a 500-1000 piece puzzle on the floor or into the

crowd.

b. What statement do those 1000 pieces make? What picture does it make?

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c. Now show the puzzle box top. Which makes more sense? What would be more clear or

convincing to people who pass by?

d. Remember where we started? You became effective when you found one person to

“hook up” with. Then another, and another. . .

e. One of the reasons the world is frustrated with church is because often they only see a

fragmented, broken, disgruntled, backbiting, and gossiping picture.

f. Our unity paints a picture that attracts others to Christ! When they see and hear us

worship together, we give them a glimpse of heaven.

g. One of us can’t convey all of the attributes, beauty, love, and compassion of Christ (hold

up one of the small individual pieces.) It won’t fit. It takes all of us to do it (hold up the box

top).

h. Our unity should not only be visible here at church, but at school also:

Act like you know each other at school!

Stand up and support one another.

i. Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow!” (1Corinthians

3:6)

6. We are effective when we stay connected.

a. Ask for 6 volunteers to help you form an amoeba. Have the students form a circle and

lock arms together. Bring up one more volunteer, who will represent a visitor.

b. How many of you have seen an amoeba under a microscope? It is basically a blob.

c. If there happens to be a piece of dust or lint on the slide, the amoeba seems to just

absorb it into its system.

d. Here comes Bill, a typical guest to our youth service.

e. As a youth group (amoeba) we have a choice. Are we going to allow him into our circle?

Or do we give him the cold shoulder and snub him off?

“Cliques” are not caused by people doing things, but by people NOT doing

them.

Open up your circle of friends to include more.

f. A good amoeba, like Christ, will accept new members into our group (“Bill” goes into the

circle) and we smother them with love, acceptance and kindness.

g. But wait, “John” and “Todd,” two members beside each other in the circle, get into an

argument! (Arms break apart and the circle opens up.)

h. “Bill”, our visitor, wanders off through the opening. He is discontent, frustrated, and hurt

because there is nothing different here than with his other friends in the world.

i. Bill goes to hell and it is our fault!

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7. What we can’t do alone, we can accomplish together.

a. Our strength comes from being joined together.

b. Strength in Numbers: hold up one of the red plastic cups and ask, “How many of you

believe I can stand on this red plastic cup?” Stand on it, letting in crunch. “But let’s see

what happens when we decide to work together.” Place the remainder of the cups

upside-down on the floor or table. Place the board on top of it, and then stand on the

board. It should support you (you may want to practice this beforehand).

Closing:

1. Philippians 2:1-5 says, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any

comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then

make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and

purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better

than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests

of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…”

2. Briefly review the seven puzzle points.

3. Close in prayer for unity within the youth group.

4. As the students leave, give each one of them a piece of the original two puzzles to take home as

a reminder to live this message this week.

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SMALL GROUP GUIDE

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What stood out to you about the message “Where Do I Fit In?”

2. Do you feel like our youth group walks together in unity and love? Why or why not?

3. What unique gifts do you feel you offer to our youth group?

4. What can we do as a youth group to reach out to first time guests more effectively?

5. How many of you remember your first time to a youth service here? What made you stay or get

involved? Did you ever feel like you didn’t fit in?

6. The example with the plastic cups was an eye opener! What things can we accomplish as a

group that we couldn’t do on our own? How can we create a healthier support system within our

youth group?

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Where Do I Fit?

1. All the _______________ are needed to _______________ the picture.

2. Each piece is _____________ in its shape, ______________, and color.

Our individual differences are not a __________________, but a

strength.

3. One piece is not more or less ____________________ than the other.

________________ 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held

together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,

as each part does its work. (The Living Translation: “so that the whole

body is healthy and growing and full of love.”)

4. When we discard or lose a _____________the whole picture ________________.

5. United we _______________, divided we __________________!

6. We are effective when we stay ________________________.

7. What we can’t do ______________ we can accomplish

______________________________.

Where Do I Fit?

1. All the _______________ are needed to _______________ the picture.

2. Each piece is _____________ in its shape, ______________, and color.

Our individual differences are not a __________________, but a

strength.

3. One piece is not more or less ____________________ than the other.

________________ 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held

together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,

as each part does its work. (The Living Translation: “so that the whole

body is healthy and growing and full of love.”)

4. When we discard or lose a _____________the whole picture ________________.

5. United we _______________, divided we __________________!

6. We are effective when we stay ________________________.

7. What we can’t do ______________ we can accomplish

______________________________.

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