To encourage students to examine the quality of their role models and to help them articulate the reasons why they admire their heroes.

OVERVIEW

LEADER PREPARATION

• Consider the following questions: Who do kids talk about? Do they have any local heroes? Who is prominent in sports or music?
• Having discovered kids’ current heroes, obtain any video information about them you can find. For sports heroes, tune in on their games or newscasts that describe them. Rock stars should be available through their music videos or interviews. If possible, also seek video material with heroes of the past (e.g., old movies, concerts, shows, and interviews).
• Obtain index cards and pencils for group building.
• Prepare any necessary equipment for use.

GROUP BUILDING

Pass out index cards and ask the group:

• What person do you admire most? Why?
• How do you think your life reflects this?

After the group has written their answers, have each person share with the others their responses. Collect their cards for your future reference on this topic.

GROUP PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

Show the edited video material about current and past popular individuals. Ask any or all of the following questions:

• Why is or was this person popular?
• Is this person a hero to you? Why or why not?
• Define "hero."
• How is it possible for a hero to have a negative impact on followers?
• How can a hero have a positive influence?
• How is Jesus different from these people? How does He fit the definition of a hero?

WRAP-UP

• Most heroes today do not last very long on their pedestal. They disappear more and more quickly.
• Heroes are mortal.
• Jesus transcends our expectations of heroes. He is personal and waits for us to make Him the center of our lives.

cCYS