If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring supplies with them to class. As students are entering and getting settled, ask your students to share something that they do so well that they could practically do it in their sleep. Answers could include simple things like brushing their teeth or things like shooting a layup or playing a scale on their musical instrument. Once everyone is settled and has had a chance to share, ask:

• How did you learn to do those things so well? (Answers may include: I’ve done it so many times, practice, I’m just naturally good at it, etc.) 

In his book Outliers, author Malcomb Gladwell discusses an idea that’s become increasingly popular in recent years: the theory that it takes 10,000 hours to completely master a skill to the highest level. Gladwell’s rule doesn’t apply to mastering every skill. For example, you can learn to drive a car proficiently in far less time. Instead, it applies to having “world-class expertise” in a particular skill. This could be something like mastering the cello to the level of playing in an elite orchestra or mastering swimming to the level of being able to compete worldwide.

Although it doesn’t take 10,000 hours to master just anything, developing new skills still requires time. Let’s take a look.

Play the following video [0:51]:
Forget 10,000 hours, focus on the first 20

Mastering a skill or hobby requires time, discipline, and dedication. It doesn’t happen overnight! This time and determination is also true of our spiritual practices, such as reading scripture and attending church.  

• Think about the worship service at our church. Let’s see if we can “map it out.” What happens first? (As your students respond, write or diagram their responses on the whiteboard or screenshared document. Ask your students to detail as much as they can about your church’s normal worship service. Continue until you have a good outline of the service. This could be fairly short or long, depending on your church’s worship style.)

Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home.)

• Now, think about your relationship with God. What things are part of your regular relationship? Take a minute to “map it out” on your index card. (Tell students if they don’t have a relationship with God, they can map out what they think a relationship might look like. Students will likely include items such as reading the Bible, praying, attending church, helping others, etc.)

Going to church is something many of us do over and over again. Our relationships with God might also be the same way. While it’s good to practice spiritual rhythms, sometimes, we can start to feel like they get repetitive. It can be easy for us to just “go through the motions,” like we would when we brush our teeth. God wants more from us than just mindless worship though. Today, we’ll look at what God had to say to the Israelites when they were just going through the motions.