Draw and Drink

"The area was decorated with blue and white cotton curtains tied back with purple linen cords that ran through silver rings fastened to marble columns. Couches of gold and silver rested on pavement that had all kinds of designs made from costly bright-colored stones and marble and mother-of-pearl. The guests drank from gold cups, and each cup had a different design. The king was generous and said to them, "Drink all you want!" Then he told his servants, "Keep their cups full." - Esther 1:6-8

An artist friend of mine pointed me in the direction of a guy named Cheeming Boey. He enjoys decorating styrofoam cups with sometimes simple, and other times complicated designs. You can see much of his work over at flickr by clicking here.

I began thinking of ways to incorporate a youth group project that involves decorating cups while reading various passages of scripture that center around the importance of cups. Take Joseph's interpretation of dreams for example:

Forgiveness

"The king's personal servant told Joseph, "In my dream I saw a vine with three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its grapes became ripe. I held the king's cup and squeezed the grapes into it, then I gave the cup to the king." Joseph said; "This is the meaning of your dream. The three branches stand for three days, and in three days the king will pardon you. He will make you his personal servant again, and you will serve him his wine, just as you used to do." Genesis 40:9-13

Taken in light of Joseph's entire story the group could discuss those things for which they need to be pardoned. After decorating the cups the group could take turns crushing grapes into them and reflect on who it is in their own lives that they need to forgive.

Show-offs

"You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of a cup, and then the outside will also be clean." - Matthew 23:25-27

This passage could be discussed after a youth event that required eating off of dishes that need to be washed. While washing the dishes together as a group you could talk about the things in our own lives for which we are sometimes too proud. Have the youth share examples from their own lives of when they have tried to show off in front of other people. Hand out cups afterward for the youth to decorate. Most of them will only decorate the outside of the cup. Use this as a talking point for the need to be pure on the inside. Discuss ways that God can help us be pure on the inside so that we are beautiful on the outside as well.

Sins

"The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet robes, and she wore jewelry made of gold, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup filled with the filthy and nasty things she had done." - Revelation 17:4

Challenge the group to draw pictures of the filthy, nasty, sinful things in this world on the INSIDE of their cup with washable marker. Chances are this will be pretty difficult and the pictures will end up uglier than they had anticipated. This is the point. Launch into a lesson about filling the cup with something good to drink and how the sinful images now leak into the good tasting drink and thus spoil it. This lesson would work well with the one listed above concerning pride.

Suffering

"Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want."" - Matthew 26:39

This one might require the youth to draw images of suffering on their cups. These images can either represent the suffering that others are going through right now or some kind of pain that they themselves are struggling with. Ask them what things they want God to take away from them right now? What suffering do they wish God would remove from others lives right now? How can they be a part of removing that suffering?

Comfort

"Sisera asked for water, but Jael gave him milk-- cream in a fancy cup." - Judges 5:25

Maybe after some of these deep discussions you can lighten the mood by asking the group what their favorite drink is. Which drink brings them the most comfort or relaxes them? If you can find this out ahead of time be sure to provide it for the youth to fill their cups with at the end of the lesson.

There are many other lessons you could try out like filling the cup to overflowing and talking about God's abundant life in Jesus Christ, or using the cups they decorate to actually fill for a worship service involving communion. Be creative, and know that as stewards of God's creation we should be encouraged to use paper cups instead of styrofoam. Draw and drink.