Youth Bible Study/Song Discussion for Katy Perry’s, Firework Submitted by Vanessa Young, 17 December 2010
Opening Question: Have you ever felt like you were just having an ‘off day’? Not feeling like yourself for whatever reason, or having a particularly tough day? -
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What contributed to what was wrong that day (did you figure it out, or did it remain kind-of a mystery even to you all day?)? Are there specific things that sometimes trigger these sorts of ‘off days’ for you? (Not enough sleep the night before, not eating breakfast, an argument with a friend or family member, getting a bad grade, your sports team not having a good practice or losing a game?) Have you ever felt like you’ve had an ‘off week’ or an ‘off month’ even? What caused it, and what do you think made it feel so off?
Video: Watch the video for Katy Perry’s song, Firework, on Youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw After the video, either display the lyrics for all to see (projected) or distribute handouts with the lyrics: Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind Wanting to start again Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards One blow from caving in Do you ever feel already buried deep Six feet under, scream But no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there's still a chance for you Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta’ ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what your worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gonna’ leave 'em fallin' down You don't have to feel like a waste of space You're original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow And when it's time, you'll know You just gotta’ ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what your worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gonna’ leave 'em fallin' down
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It's always been inside of you, you, you And now it's time to let it through Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what your worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky Baby you're a firework Come on let your colors burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gonna’ leave 'em goin’ "Oh, oh, oh!" Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Discussion Questions After the Video: -
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Can you relate to some of the initial questions asked in the lyrics of the first verse? What made you feel that way? (Are there other song lyrics that stood out to you or really struck a cord with you?) o Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind Wanting to start again o Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards One blow from caving in o Do you ever feel already buried deep Six feet under, scream But no one seems to hear a thing What were some of the challenges exemplified in the video that could make someone feel like this? (Can you relate to any of these, or know someone who has sometimes had a difficult time because of something like these?)
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o Feeling helpless in a domestic violence situation o Having low self-esteem/body image o A sense of hopelessness due to cancer or another serious illness o Suppressing homosexual identity o Being bullied for a hobby or interest that matters to you Why do you think these sorts of things (or others, as volunteers might suggest) would feel so deflating, or cause someone to feel dull/dark/low? If you’ve ever felt like this, what did you do about it? (Are there things that you do or people you talk to that help you feel better again?)
Scripture: Read Matthew 5: 13 – 16 out loud – [Jesus said,] “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Reflection: During the time of Jesus, salt was highly valued because of what it could do to preserve food for considerably longer periods of time than would otherwise be possible without it, and because of the added taste it could provide to otherwise bland foods. Even though it was and is still very common, it made such a major difference at the time Jesus made this reference, and it continues to make a major difference in the many ways it is used today. To say that someone is the “salt of the earth” these days is to suggest that that person is of great worth. You could elaborate on this sentiment to suggest that someone who is the ‘salt of the earth’ adds value to your life, preserves or even creates things that are good, that without them your life would be much more bland, or that their presence adds infinitely more flavor and worth to your relationship with them!
Christians are called upon in this passage to be the salt; to remember who God has called them to be and who Jesus asked them to be directly in this passage from The Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew. To be the “light of the world”, “giving light to all in the house”, “letting [our] light shine before others” so that not only others can benefit from our kind and loving actions, but also so that God is glorified in all that we do. What a privilege, to be God’s light in the world and show how much God loves us by loving others with the light God’s given us! As children of God’s Creation, this light is within us and should never be covered up “under a bushel basket”, but always visible for any and all to see. Especially when we’re having a hard time or going through difficult circumstances, it would be easy to think that our light is less visible or for us even to forget that it’s there at all, but these verses (and the Katy Perry’s song, Firework) help us remember that the light (or fireworks) inside us never goes out, even during the most difficult times; that God’s love is a constant source of light that shines equally bright within us always.
Closing Questions: -
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Have you ever heard someone use the expression, “you are the salt of the earth”, or the Sunday School song, ‘This Little Light of Mine’? Do you think most Christians remember how important salt and light are in this way: given by God, meant for us to actively live out and share with others? Who do you know that is ‘the salt of the earth’ (of great value), and how so? How do you ‘let your light shine before others’? (at school? at home? with friends? with co-workers at your after-school job? with teammates? with neighbors? at church?) What are some ways you could intentionally be the salt? What are some other ways you could intentionally let your light shine?
Closing Prayer: Be sure to ask for any specific prayer requests, or even if someone in the group might like to pray for the group, or suggest a type of prayer to use as a group, or use the following prayer – God, thank you for sending your son, Jesus to brighten the world and save us all from eternal sin and darkness. We’re thankful to receive your light and the gift of your promise of eternal life in baptism, and ask that you help us remember that gift even in the hardest times we might face throughout our lives. Help us recognize how powerful the light within us truly is because of who it was that put it there, and help us to never be too discouraged or sad or afraid or embarrassed to shine brightly before others like Jesus asked us to. Thank you for loving us and filling us with your powerful light. All these things we pray in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Bible verse and song correlation attributed to Pr. Kelly Faulstich
