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"The Hidden Treasure" by Danielle Early
BIBLE STUDY SESSION 112
CONNECT (10-15 minutes)
Say, “Now, around this room, I have hidden pieces of blue paper that you will try to find. Each one of these is worth a million dollars. Their contents are highly precious and very valuable. Let’s call them hidden treasure. I want you all to get up, look around the room, and find each one. Each paper is folded; so don’t open them when you find them. Just get the paper and come back, and then we will talk about them together.”

On each piece of paper, write a scenario of a “possible future” – futures that seem unlikely to be desired – drawing on different historical figures as well as people we know today. For example:
  • “Wrote fourteen Christian books yet was never recognized for it, was seven times put in bonds, was driven into exile, and even stoned while preaching the Gospel” (the Apostle Paul)
  • “Has worked as a high school youth pastor for the past twenty years and has never once received any fame or recognition for it”
  • “After inheriting millions of dollars, immediately turned around and gave it all away anonymously and loved doing it”
  • “After a prestigious career as a professor and theologian, he left all that to spend the last ten years of his life working day in and day out in a facility for people with developmental disabilities” (Henri Nouwen)
  • “Gave up a successful career, car and home to live among the poor”
Let the students get up and find the blue pieces of paper.

Once everyone is seated again with their paper, say, “How did you feel when you were looking for those papers?” Allow the students time to answer.

Have each person go around the room, and read his or hers aloud. Then say, “What do you think about the contents?” After some discussion, ask, “How would it make you feel if I said that each one of these people had such a joy about what they were doing?”

Continued...
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