How to Share Your Faith Using Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal, the game show series rolled out mid-season by NBC, consistently lands both its weekly broadcasts in the Top 20 TV rankings. The simple premise of the show is the opportunity to win a cool million if only the contestant can guess which of the 26 models holds the one case containing $1,000,000. Other cases hold a wide range of smaller dollars amounts.
The 25 unselected cases are opened one by one. The 'dealing' enters the scene when the show's 'bank' offers to purchase the case chosen by the contestant based on the fluctuating odds of whether it appears the player chose wisely or poorly. These odds are recalculated by the banker at intervals as more and more of the remaining cases are opened. But the contestant's unbridled greed frequently wins out over the sure-fire offer made by the banker.
By now you're no doubt thinking...how can I possibly use Deal or No Deal to talk about God with my friends? Great question - here are some ideas:
- This game show doesn't involve trivia, physical challenges, or much skill on any level - other than trying to calculate odds, which in this case are so complicated that even an MIT grad would need access to some serious technological tools to come up with more than an educated guess. The primary decision driver seems to be the contestant's ability to restrain their greed. Ask your friends whether they think humans come with an innate human desire for 'more and more'. What do you think motivates people to turn down thousands of 'guaranteed' dollars for the chance to win more? Talk about what you think makes some people greedy, while others appear content with very little material stuff.
- Generosity is often considered the opposite of greed. Do you desire to live a life of generosity or greed? Few people will openly admit they want to be greedy, though many people make choices that result in them living their lives that way. What do you think makes some people generous and some greedy? Are you involved in something that demonstrates a heart that generously pours into the lives of others? The Bible tells us that generosity has to do with 'the purposes of God working in our lives.' 2 Cor 8:3-5 describes it this way:
They gave offerings of whatever they could - far more than they could afford! - pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. (The Message)
- Generosity flows from a heart that loves others. The Bible tells us straight-up in 1 John 4:19, "We love because He first loved us." Share how Jesus' love has touched your life and changed your heart and made you more generous and caring toward others. If you've been to a Dare 2 Share Conference and participated in the Outreach Service Project collecting canned food, share about your experience and what you learned about generosity.
- Ask your friends what they think 'luck' really is? If you believe God is sovereign, is there such a thing as 'luck'? Share with your friends the truth that God cares about them and their lives, and is at work drawing them into a personal relationship with Him. Mt. 10:29-30 describes how God's involved in the details of our lives, putting it this way:
Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. (NLT)
Deal or No Deal provides a brief, unvarnished glimpse into each contestant's character and motivations. We all fall short in the 'selfish and greedy' department - that's why we all need Jesus' grace and forgiveness. Don't keep it to yourself - generously spread it around to your friends. Deal?
