To begin the session:
Download the “Celebrity Causes” worksheet here.
After class members have arrived, allow them to work in groups to try to put the causes listed there in order according to the number of celebrity supporters. After a few minutes, reveal the answers according to the website looktothestars.org:
1=Addiction (78 celebrities), 2=Voter Education (145 celebrities), 3=Autism (227 celebrities), 4= Veteran/Service Member Support (343 celebrities), 5=Homelessness (762 celebrities), 6=Environment (985 celebrities), 7=Cancer (1486 celebrities), 8=AIDS & HIV (1621 celebrities), 9=Children (2757 celebrities)
Lead into Bible study saying: “Celebrities gravitate to particular causes based on what is popular at the time. Popular causes give people a purpose in life—at least for a while. The disciples of Jesus, on the other hand, were enlisted in a cause that gave them eternal purpose.”
To encourage personal application:
The age of the Internet has changed the way some organizations encourage others to support them. Crowdfunding websites such as kickstarter.com, gofundme.com, and myevent.com allow individuals to write an appeal for funds for a cause of their choice. Before class, print out 3–5 different appeals from one of these sites. As an alternative, have class members access one of these sites through a smart device.
To apply the lesson text in which Jesus explains to Peter what it means to follow him, divide the class into groups, giving each access to a crowdfunding appeal. Have them try to write a similar appeal, encouraging others to become Jesus followers.