Handling Media InfluencesSample

This week's key thought is, "On screen is not the real scene. God is the real thing." Keep this point in mind as you read this week's verses, go through the discussion, watch the video, and as you reflect on your interaction with media this week. Talk through these key points throughout the week:

• The reality presented in media is often a COUNTERFEIT of God’s truth. Real people aren’t that funny, that pretty, that fast, that tough, that anything. Everything you see has been enhanced and scripted and modified to show the view the maker wants to present.
• Most media is designed to sell. Some shows may not seem like they’re selling things but their job is to attract an audience of a certain group of people so that advertisers can show commercials to sell that group of people products. The world uses media’s influence over you to use you to make money and gain power.
• What we think about certain brands or products is based on what that company wants you to think. Whichever message you’re exposed to most sways your opinion about which product you want. This also happens with messages that are against what the Bible says—often without us being aware of it.
• Almost all of the things media is trying to sell you is stuff that most people in the world will live their whole life without. You do not need what they’re selling. If you needed it, you would buy it without them spending millions of dollars trying to sell it to you. Stuff can never satisfy you like the amazing adventure of knowing Jesus will.