Robin Hagendorn and Lena Sweet (DEO) have become friends through The Gathering Place, a shelter for homeless women and children in Denver. Photo: Steve Keener

See a need. Fill a need.
Youth discussion activity based on Mark 12:28-34
by Jeremy Kempf

Brief discussion
Focus on verse 33. The Bible says that loving God and loving our neighbors are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. What does that mean today, in a time where we don’t do burnt offerings?

Movie: Robots (20th Century Fox Entertainment)
This movie is a great illustration of learning what it means to love other people through serving them. The main character is a boy (robot) who becomes inspired by a television show to become an inventor, but later finds out that his path in life is different that what he thought.
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Clip I: Chapter 3 - "The World of Big Weld"
Stop the DVD after Rodney says “That’s it, Dad! I have to look for...a need!"

Background: Rodney has now left home for the big city. He has come up with an invention that he hopes will be good enough to get him hired at Big Weld’s company. He has just arrived at the front gate.

Purpose of clip: Make sure the group has heard the phrase “See a need, Fill a need.”
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Clip II: Chapter 8 - "Those days are over"
Stop the DVD when scene between ‘Rodney’ and ‘Tim’ is over.

Background: In this scene Rodney meets a group of robots in a hardware store. They are there to fix the neck of one of the robots whose head has fallen off.

Purpose of clip: Rodney isn’t able to use his talent in the way he hoped because Big Weld’s company isn’t accepting new inventors.
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Clip III: Chapters 13-14 - "Outmoded" and "The Rusties"
Stop the DVD when the group of robot friends make it back safely to the stairs in front of their house.

Purpose of clip: Make sure the group understands the problem. The older robots can’t get parts anymore because the company wants them to buy upgrades. Unfortunately they can’t afford them, so they are doomed to be sent to the chop shop.
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Clip IV: Chapter 16 - "Repairs by Rodney"
Stop the DVD as the robots are cheering for Rodney.

Purpose of clip: Rodney sees a need and he uses his knowledge of robots to fill the need. See a need, Fill a need!
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Group activity
Use a chalkboard or whiteboard. Divide it into two vertical sections. Title the sections “Need” and “Filled.” First write down the need from the movie in the first column and how it was filled in the second column. (Need: Older robots couldn’t get fixed. Filled: Rodney fixed them.) Then ask the group to come up with examples from the Bible of needs being filled. If needed, help their thinking process by giving an example. (John 9: 1-9. A blind man needed to see = Jesus spat on the ground and healed him. Luke 10: 30-37. Man is beaten and robbed = a Samaritan comes to his aid.)

Option: have several students read Scriptures out loud and ask the group to identify the need and how it was filled. The Bible is full of these stories.

Related Personal Story
Tell a personal story of you or someone you know who lives a life of loving others by filling their needs. Someone who lives his or her life by the motto: See a need, Fill a need.

Discussion
Divide into smaller groups as size allows and discuss the following:

• What are some of the ways we can love the people in our lives?
• How can we fill their needs?
• Our neighbors include people outside of our schools, churches, and circle of friends.
• How can we, as a group, get involved in the surrounding community and discover the needs that exist?
• Outside of youth group, how can we use our gifts to fill needs of our communities?
• In what situations is it ok not to fill a need?
• How do we ask for help when we, too, have needs?
• What do we do if someone doesn't want our help?

Encouragement
As part of your prayer life, ask God to open your eyes to the needs of others, both in the church and outside of the church. Pray for the strength and the tools to fill those needs.

Suggestion for Prayer
Lord, open our eyes to the needs around us. Give us the wisdom to know how to serve those needs. Bless us with the strength that can come only from you. Accept our service to others as love for you. Amen.

Jeremy Kempf coordinates recruitment for Mennonite Mission Network's Christian Service programs. Contact him at for information on service programs and opportunities.