In Our VoiceGroupThink Guide

Over the course of the next 6 weeks, your group will enjoy a remarkable journey. Wycliffe has

three goals in mind:

I. Translation

The remarkable thing about the living Word of God is that it is constantly being translated. It is

translated from the page to our hearts by the Spirit of God. It is translated from the past to our

present with good application. And it is translated with God’s narrative so that we might better

recognize His voice in our everyday lives. But all of that translation began because God Himself

chose to speak in our language. The goal of this study is to help your group see the value in

God’s incredible initiative to us, how that initiative is valuable to all peoples, and what you and I

can continue to do about it through the Great Commission.

II. Transformation

As the Word of God speaks into lives, it transforms us. That’s not just true personally, but it is true

of communities as well. During the course of this time together, we hope to provide just a small

glimpse of how God actually transforms societies in a better way through the translation of His

Word. Our goal is that your own group would be forever transformed as a result of going on this

journey with us, that it would engage with us and others in making a significant difference in our

world.

III. Transportation

Talk and thought are good, but if this series were to stop there, then we believe your group will

have missed out on the full potential of the journey. Words need to translate to actions. It is not

enough to say “be well fed”, we must also actually provide “food”. So we hope that this guide

transports your group to places they’ve never been, provided some ideas for ways that your

group can transport its good intentions into intentionality, and of course, transport Scripture in

many ways throughout the planet. Wycliffe is essentially all about getting Scripture into the lives of

people in their heart language. We hope you’ll join us in that endeavor.

Sincerely,

Derek Webster

about the author

With twenty years in full time ministry, Derek has taught MDiv student, leaders, and next-

gen thinkers around the world. He has pastored churches to growth and spent ten years

in Europe as a missionary with the IMB. Derek lives with his wife and children in

Richmond, VA.

Welcome.

In Our Voice

Welcome: Ask everyone to share the first word they or their children spoke.

Example: I have three sons. My oldest sons first word was “Daddy”. (I was so proud!) My second sons first word was “ball”. He had a variety of soccer balls, basketballs, rubber balls, etc. and we used to spend hours throwing them back and forth or just playing games. My third sons first word was “Mommy” (my wife was thrilled). My own first word was “Mommy”. - Derek W.

In Our VoiceGroupThink 1

Watch: the following episode as a group: It Starts in the Strangest Place (6:25)

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think it is rude for someone living in a foreign country to never learn the mother tongue of the people? Why or why not?

2. In the video, Dr. Barry Black states, “{God} spoke to Paul..in the accent of his village because that was the best way of making the nexus of that human-Divine encounter.” It is no accident that the New Testament is written in a specific form of Greek - conversational Greek, and not classical Greek. Why do you think it is important to meet others where they are?

3. Who cares if an oral culture becomes literate, or that the literate within that culture, have access to the Bible in their own language? What do you see as being the greatest disadvantage for someone who has to rely on someone else to hear God’s Word?

4. There is something about personal access to the Bible in one’s heart language that actually changes a culture. Imagine for a moment an American culture where the Bible is only available in Latin, and only a select few can speak Latin. Imagine a place where everyone is illiterate (contracts are done orally, there are no documents on home ownership, no capacity to write down thoughts or arguments). How might that scenario affect American culture adversely?

5. Read the following passage: 1 Peter 1:22-25. Underline the following: obeying, truth, so that,

word of God, word of the Lord, word that was preached. How can (or is) the word making its

way into your life? How is that affecting your relationships?

Walk: What can you or your group do practically and personally?

Ideas: 1) adopt a people group through Wycliffe and commit to pray for them each week

for the next 6 months2) partner with Wycliffe - ask for a Skype or other Video conference with either a

translator or a representative for a Q and A. 3) Donate a financial gift or volunteer your time to help in translation efforts.

Words

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In Our Voice

Welcome: Ask everyone to share about a time they felt trapped by circumstances and needed to

make a change.

In Our VoiceGroupThink 2

Watch: the following episode as a group: Health (4:33)

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the danger of believing you can’t escape your circumstances; that nothing will ever change or opportunities arise?

2. In the video, Bangladesh is highlighted as just one example of extreme poverty and socio-economic status. What is the impact of poverty or illiteracy on a nation? What impact does literacy play to break a “cycle of struggle”?

3. Read the following passage: Luke 11:39-42. How do you see that relating to being able to provide health or job training in someone’s mother language? In that context, what does generosity to the poor look like (particularly if combined with justice and love for the poor)?

4. In the video Paul (a Community Development Facilitator) states, “Language is basically fundamental to all real development”. Do you agree? Why or why not?

5. How does access to information and education impact health and economic development in

your opinion?

Walk: What can you or your group do practically and personally?

Ideas: 1) go to Wycliffe’s website to see interviews with doctors and community workers

on the importance of education as it relates to development.2) Partner with Wycliffe to adopt a specific area and commit to help on a short-

term trip sometime in the next 2 years. 3) Look at your own city and see where illiteracy, education and social development are lacking. Join an existing non-profit with the goal of making new relationships and also helping others. Be salt and light.

Words

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