Be Empowered Activities

Select The Activities Below

Identify a cultural practice from a Biblical nation. Find a way to creatively share and express the identified practice, highlighting the relevance of that practice then and in your life today (i.e., cook a dish and describe it, express something learned in a painting, a song, a poem, or develop a photo journal).

Read and reflect on Mark 4:35-41. Write or tell a story about a crisis or “storm” you’ve experienced in your life.  Compare your “storm” to the disciple’s crisis. Write about “your boat in the storm” experiencing, describing the storm, your feelings, your thoughts, and the dialogue with the others in “your boat” as well as your encounter with Jesus.

Compare “Your story” to one (or more than one or all) of the stories of “Mary” in the Bible. Choose one of the “Marys,” and from her perspective, write a speech that she would share with 21st-century women regarding the principle of surrender.

Alabaster Box: Mary of Bethany 

 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, He went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood before him, weeping at his feet, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” – Luke 7:36-39

Blessed and Highly Favored: Mary, Mother of Jesus

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” –Luke 1:28

 

Delivered from Demons: Mary of Magdalene 

Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. There Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out… – Luke 8:1-2

 

Standing By Til’ The End: Mary of Clopas 

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. – John 19:25

 

At Jesus’ Feet: Mary of Bethany

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42

 

A House of Prayer: Mary, Mother of John Mark

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. – John 12:12

  • Prepare a 5-minute devotional centered around Exodus 34:6-7. 
  • Read Exodus 34:6-7. Note the lessons learned from this passage regarding who God is. Jot down the points you want to share and highlight about who God is. 
  • Develop an objective using this statement template: “All of us can know God more intimately by doing/understanding these 1-3 things _________________________.
  • Identify the 1-3 things that can be done or understood to know God more deeply. These points should be grounded in the passage. Remember this is a 5-minute devotional, so your points must be straightforward, without extensive arguments, proofs and sub-points. If you have one point, you can go deeper into that point, but if you have three, be sure the three can stand on their own without a lot of clarification and explanation. 
  • Identify “Your Story” or your LIFE example to illustrate the points of the passage. Remember, the point always is to reflect Christ. So keep your story, your props, illustrations, etc., from overshadowing “Jesus.” 
  • Write a word-for-word transcript of your devotional message inclusive of your introduction, your message, and a powerful conclusion. Write, write, write, then edit, edit, edit. Five minutes of speaking is about 600-800 words. Your final draft should be written the way you plan to share it. Shorter sentences are better than long, complicated ones. Avoid religious jargon. Make it personal, conversational. 
  • Practice, practice, practice. Imagine you’re having a conversation with a friend. Record yourself, and then listen and critique. It’d be best if you know it so well, you can deliver it without notes. But if you need notes, develop cue cards or have an outline. You want your presentation to be as natural and as engaging as possible. 
  • Share your message. Sharing with a small group is a great place to start. And you can always share with your friends here at Mazuri Ministries! We’d love to hear from you! Please visit www.mazuriministries.org and share your insights. 

Spend time in the Word identifying who Christ says you are in Him. Then complete take each of the identifiers and insert them into the following statement:

I am ________________ (site text) and it shows in the way I _________________!

For example, I have a gentle, quiet spirit (I Peter 3:3-4) and it shows in the way that I am able

diffuse tense situations. 

Then create an “I am” Collage. Grab a canvas and paint, draw, clip words or phrases from magazines, use photos of yourself/family/friends/places, and/or adhesive letters and stickers. Unleash the inner artist in you and have fun! 

Here’s a link to beautiful “I am” artwork to be purchased – www.theblackgirlsx.com

And of course we’d love to see your creations. So please share a photo at www.mazuriministries.org.  

Perspective is the way one’s perceptions, values, or opinions impact the way you view a story. Perspective is influenced by factors like cultural background, education, spirituality, and language. These details all inform a distinct way of perceiving the world, which in turn shapes the narrative (From <https://www.supersummary.com/perspective/>). 

I saw this great activity in the YouVersion Plan: Seven Day Anxiety Detox. As we think about perspective, I want you to engage in the following activity. 

I want you to look around where you currently are and count 5 things that are red. 

Ready, go!

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Okay, now without taking your eyes from this page, can you remember how many things surrounding you that were yellow?

Pretty hard to recall, isn’t it?

That’s because you were so focused on red that you could not see yellow even though it was there. Sometimes our perspective or our focus regarding a situation can cause us to have tunnel vision. We only see or look for the “red” and we miss the “yellow” all around us. Choosing to look for or to see the “yellow” doesn’t discount the “red.” But one of the purposes of sharing your story should be to give others a glimmer of hope, to help them see beyond the “red”, no matter how hurtful or painful the “red” might be. 

Your Story Prompt: Think about a painful, hurtful, or challenging experience that occurred in your life or in history. Write your memories of the experience. Get it all out. Then reframe the story to see it in a more positive light. Highlight any good from the difficult scenario or think about the positive advice that you could give others who are in a similar situation to make them feel better. 

Of late, society’s view of Christians is that we are silent when it comes to issues of “justice”, race relations, and meeting the needs of the oppressed. After having completed the My Fight for Justice Bible Study Series, write a personal position statement that refutes this claim. 

Be sure that your statement is in alignment with Biblical Truth, provides examples of how you have been engaged and/or how you intend to be engaged, is clear and concise, is shared in love, and invites/welcomes dialogue. 

Back To Your Story Be Equipped Activities L.I.F.E Lessons (All Bible Studies)