START: Becoming a Good Samaritan - Leader's Guide

MICHAEL R. SEATON with Ashley Wiersma

six sessions

Becoming a Good Samari ta nleader’s guide

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 10310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 1 6/4/09 10:42:48 AM6/4/09 10:42:48 AM

ZONDERVAN

Becoming a Good Samaritan Leader’s GuideCopyright © 2009 by Michael R. Seaton

Requests for information should be addressed to:Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechan-ical, photocopy, recording, or any other — except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. www.alivecom-munications.com

Interior design by Ben Fetterley

Printed in the United States of America

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Con t e n ts

For Starters 5

A Word to Leaders 9

Session 1 Becoming a Good Samaritan 13 Who Is My Neighbor?

Session 2 Caring for the Sick 16 How to Fight Global Epidemics and

Prevent Diseases

Session 3 Seeking Justice and Reconciliation 19 How Fairness Changes People,

Communities, and Nations

Session 4 Honoring the Poor 22 How Best to Serve Those in Need

Session 5 Tending to God’s Creation 25 Why Environmental Stewardship Is

Biblical and Beneficial

Session 6 Loving the Forsaken 29 How to Care for the Disabled, Orphaned,

and Incarcerated



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For S tar t ers

Thanks for choosing this Zondervan small group DVD curriculum. Please take a few minutes to read this helpful information before you begin.

The accompanying DVD features the following com-ponents:

• Six video teaching sessions with John Ortberg and contributions from more than four dozen leaders in the Chris tian community worldwide

• Previews of other products for your small group to consider

• ROM materials that your church or small group may use to facilitate a successful expe-rience, including marketing and promotional resources

What Other Materials Are Needed for a Successful Small Group?

• Television or computer monitor

• DVD player (and stand, extension cord, etc.)


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• Watch or clock for monitoring time

• start> Becoming a Good Samaritan participant’s guide (one per group member)

• leader’s guide (printed copy available in DVD case/electronic copy on the DVD-ROM; either can be shared in groups with rotating leader-ship)

• Bible — Old and New Testaments (one per group member)

• Pen or pencil for each participant

Good to Know

• This curriculum works equally well in church and home group settings. Each of the six sessions is formatted to be a 60-minute experience. In time-sensitive settings, you will need to follow the time frames provided in the session outline more closely. When time is not an issue, you can allow participants a chance to dig deeper into the study material. In either case, remember these are sug-gested time frames and are open to adjustment as you see fit.


For Star ters

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• Watch the session 1 video segment in its entirety and read session 1 of the participant’s guide prior to starting the group experience. This will give you a feel for the material, the timing of the sections, and how you might want to customize the cur-riculum to best match your group’s needs.

• Also read “A Word to Leaders” (beginning on page 9 of this leader’s guide) prior to session 1. The author wrote this letter to help you understand his hope and prayer for those who are about to begin this journey. Reflect on this message and your own hopes and desires for the group you’re about to lead, then take two to three minutes at the start of session 1 to inform your group about the journey they are about to experience.

• After watching the session’s video segment, your group will move into a discussion of the topic and the content you’ve just viewed. Afterward, the group will be asked to start> Becoming a Good Samaritan by engaging in one positive activity prior to your next group meeting. Please do not let your discussion time run so long that there is not adequate time left for planning the activity. If participants are denied the opportunity to put


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faith into action, then they’ve lost a key reason for doing the curriculum.

• At the end of the “Group Interaction” portion of each session are sections entitled “Personal Reflec-tion” and “Ready for More?” Before closing, be sure to encourage participants to dig deeper on the session theme prior to the next meeting, using the questions and resources provided here.


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A Word to Leaders

When I consider the state of my spiritual journey, too often the phrase that comes to mind is “reluctant Chris tian.” It’s not because I don’t believe the tenants of the Chris tian faith, but because I’m reluctant to embrace a “living” faith that impacts every nook and cranny of my life.

Don’t get me wrong: I get the “Chris tian world-view” part. I love the community, the worship, the friendships, and the spiritual growth — all of which comes with “being a Chris tian.” But if I’m not careful, the being-a-Chris tian thing can also come to mean things like

safety,

comfort,

withdrawal from the world around me.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” — Mother Teresa


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True, I’m a good Chris tian man, a good Chris tian hus-band, and a good Chris tian father. But can a reluctant Chris tian be a Good Samaritan too?

As a leader, you know there are many ways you can help your small group or church fully understand and live out their lives as vibrant members of the body of Christ.

This curriculum only deals with two parts of that body — the hands and the feet. But by taking that step and reaching out with those hands, your small group or church will experience Christ in head-and-heart ways they never thought possible.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, both the priest and the Levite “saw” a need, but because of busy schedules, commitments, fear, or misunderstanding, they chose to walk on by. It was the third man — the least expected man — who finally chose to help.

God gave all three men in this story eyes to see, but only the Good Samaritan “saw and took pity” (Luke 10:33). Can we train our eyes to see the same way and our hearts to prompt us to get “off our donkey” and do something? I believe the answer is yes.


A Word to Leaders

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When you invest not just your mind, but also your hands and your feet in helping meet the needs that seem to abound, the abstract becomes real. Head-faith becomes heart-faith; and, thankfully, the reluc-tant become fully committed followers of Christ.

My prayer for this curriculum is that eyes will be opened to the problems facing our world, our com-munities, and our neighborhoods and that hearts will be inspired to respond with expediency, with com-passion, with love. You are a leader because God has put a desire in your heart to help your brothers and sisters gain the full measure of understanding of what it means to be a Christ-follower. Through this curricu-lum, you and your church or small group will show a waiting, watching world not reluctance, but resolve for meeting the needs that collectively we face. Eyes to see and a heart ready to respond — these are the realities awaiting you, now that you’ve chosen to start>.

— Michael R. SeatonCreator, start> Becoming a Good Samaritan



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SESSION 1

Becoming a Good Samaritan

Who Is My Neighbor?

Before You Lead

For the best experience in leading your small group, it’s important to preview session 1 on the DVD, famil-iarize yourself with the session outline, and gather the necessary materials.

Session Outline

I. Get Connected (1 minute)

II. Know Your Neighbor (2 minutes)

III. Give Your Heart and Mind to God (1 minute)

IV. Learn Together (30 minutes)

V. Discuss “Becoming a Good Samaritan” (20 min-utes)


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VI. Now Is the Time (5 minutes)

VII. Close with Prayer (1 minute)

Get Connected (1 minute)

Have someone in the group read aloud the brief description of the session 1 theme on page 12 of the participant’s guide.

Know Your Neighbor (2 minutes)

Using one or two words, ask all group members to share their current beliefs or assumptions about the session 1 theme by answering the question on page 13.

Give Your Heart and Mind to God (1 minute)

Open in prayer, using the idea provided on page 13.

Learn Together (30 minutes)

View the session 1 video segment on the DVD. Remind participants there is space to take notes on page 14.


Becoming a Good Samaritan

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Discuss “Becoming a Good Samaritan” (20 minutes)

Using the questions on pages 14 – 17, discuss the DVD content and session topic more fully. You may not have time to answer every question — but try not to get too bogged down on any one of them.

Now Is the Time (5 minutes)

It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into action by engaging in the activity on page 18. Be sure not to shortchange this critical portion of the session by leaving too little time for it.

Close with Prayer (1 minute)

Encourage participants to dig deeper into the session 1 theme by using the “Personal Reflection” and “Ready for More?” material on pages 20 – 26. Then end with prayer, offering up your own words of thanksgiving or the prayer that is provided on page 19.


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SESSION 2

Caring for the SickHow to Fight Global Epidemics

and Prevent Diseases

Before You Lead

For the best experience in leading your small group, it’s important to preview session 2 on the DVD, familiarize yourself with the session outline, and gather the necessary materials.

Session Outline





V. Discuss “Caring for the Sick” (20 minutes)


Caring for the Sick

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Discuss “Caring for the Sick” (20 minutes)



It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into action by engaging in the activity on pages 32 – 33. Be sure not to shortchange this critical portion of the session by leaving too little time for it.




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SESSION 3

Seeking Justice and ReconciliationHow Fairness Changes People, Communities, and Nations

Before You Lead


Session Outline






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V. Discuss “Seeking Justice and Reconciliation” (20 minutes)










Seeking Justice and Reconciliation

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Discuss “Seeking Justice and Reconciliation” (20 minutes)







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SESSION 4

Honoring the PoorHow Best to Serve Those in Need

Before You Lead


Session Outline





V. Discuss “Honoring the Poor” (15 minutes)




Honoring the Poor

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Have someone in the group read aloud the brief description of the session 4 theme on pages 70 – 71 of the participant’s guide.








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Discuss “Honoring the Poor” (15 minutes)


NOTE: Because of the more involved “Now Is the Time” activity in this session, only 15 minutes are allotted for this group discussion.


It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into action by engaging in the activity described on page 77 (the “Privilege” exercise itself is found on pages 92 – 94 at the end of the session). Be sure not to short-change this critical portion of the session by leaving too little time for it.


Encourage participants to dig deeper into the ses-sion 4 theme by using the “Personal Reflection” and “Ready for More?” material on pages 79 –91. Then end with prayer, offering up your own words of encourag-ment or the prayer that is provided on page 78.


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SESSION 5

Tending to God’s Creation

Why Environmental Stewardship Is Biblical and Beneficial

Before You Lead


Session Outline






26

V. Discuss “Tending to God’s Creation” (20 minutes)










Tending to God’s Creation

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Discuss “Tending to God’s Creation” (20 minutes)





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Encourage participants to dig deeper into the ses-sion 5 theme by using the “Personal Reflection” and “Ready for More?” material on pages 103 – 118. Then end with prayer, offering up your own words of encouragement or the prayer that is provided on page 102.


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SESSION 6

Loving the ForsakenHow to Care for the Disabled, Orphaned, and Incarcerated

Before You Lead


Session Outline





V. Discuss “Loving the Forsaken” (15 minutes)


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Loving the Forsaken

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Discuss “Loving the Forsaken” (15 minutes)


NOTE: Because of the more involved “Now Is the Time” activity in this session, only 15 minutes are allotted for this group discussion.


It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into action by engaging in the activity described on pages 125 – 127 (the “Cardboard Testimonies” exercise itself is found on pages 141 – 142; the “Story Hunt” exer-cise, suggested for individuals to do on their own, is found on pages 143 – 146). Be sure not to short-change this critical portion of the session by leaving too little time for it.


Encourage participants to dig deeper into the ses-sion 6 theme by using the “Personal Reflection” and “Ready for More?” material on pages 128 – 147.


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Then end with prayer, offering up your own words of encouragment or the prayer that is provided on page 127.


Documents

START: Becoming a Good Samaritan - Leader's Guide