Moving Tables and Chairs for God

One of my favourite lessons at Step is Ultimate Questions and this week, Mary and I, along with several other volunteers have delivered it to 240 Year 8 students at Sandringham School. It’s always great to witness the reaction of the young people as they enter their room with the tables and chairs moved to one side, with a large open space created for discussions on life’s big questions. Chris once coined a phrase that youthwork is about moving tables and chairs for God. This lesson is certainly an example of this and the simple act of moving the furniture creates a different space with a unique feel.

Each lesson has a volunteer from the class with a vital role. They read the question out to the class before everyone discusses their views in small groups with the Step team joining in with their conversations. After a little while everyone is invited to vote with their feet by moving to either side of a line dividing the room, depending on what their answer would be (usually a yes or no answer). The student volunteer then chairs a discussion, choosing people from each side of the line to share their reasons. Finally, the volunteer decides which side gave the most convincing arguments, which determines which route the lesson takes.

The lesson asks questions such as:

Is God real?
Is the Universe an accident or was it designed?
Does humanity have a purpose?
Does God cause suffering?
Is there an afterlife?

We have been blown away this week by the articulate, well thought out answers the 12 and 13 year-olds have given. They have shown a level of maturity beyond their years in both their reasoning but also their listening skills. It has provided a space for the young people to express their anger at God’s perceived lack of involvement in climate change and suffering in the world, admit their confusion at how the universe could have begun, share their hopes of an afterlife and for those with a faith to boldly share what they believe and why to their peers.

We are also excited that many of the young people now want an after-school Ultimate Questions Club so we are now pursuing what this could look like and when we can launch it to continue these conversations. I'm sure whatever form this new group takes, it'll involve moving a few more tables and chairs along the way.

Geoff