Major Concept: What’s Next?
Gospel Connection: Philippians 1:1-11
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each one of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Review of prior Sessions:
Definition of Poverty
Four Broken Relationships
Poverty Alleviation
God-Complex
Dependency
Types of Help: Relief, Rehabilitation, Development
Paternalism
Fostering Change
Networking
Opening Exercise:
15 Minutes
Put two students out of the room so they cannot hear. These are your actors.
Have two students volunteer to be their “puppet masters.”
Have two students volunteer to write their scripts.
Have one student volunteer to read the story.
Have one student volunteer to be the narrator
Have one student volunteer to be the “fact checker.”
Tell the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
The reader will read Luke 18:9-14 only 1 time. Instruct the class to listen well because he will not repeat himself.
After the narrator has read, give index cards to the script writers who will write out the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Give the “scripts” to the “puppet masters.”
Bring in the two students who could not hear the story.
The puppet masters will position the actors according to the narrator’s retelling of the story.
Have the narrator begin the story with the puppet masters moving the actors in accordance with what the narrator says.
When the narrator gets to the prayers, the puppet masters should give the “scripts” to the actors who should read the “scripts” verbatim.
The fact checker should be following along in his or her Bible and noting errors in the story
When the narrator finishes the story, the whole group, minus the fact checker, should offer suggestions and corrections.
The fact checker should give a final analysis of how well the group acted out the story.
This lesson teaches us about humility and also about being in unity and working together interdependently as we all need each other to get the story correct.
Reflection Question:
Consider Interdependence. What do you need from the materially poor?
Video:
15 Minutes - Lesson 6
Reinforcement:
We are the wealthy and the powerful.
A suggestion from a powerful outsider can be heard as a command.
A question can be interpreted as an order.
This is particularly at play in indirect cultures.
We must be humble and aware.
God is still there even where resources are limited.
Hanging out is WORK! We need people to hang out and foster relationships.
Pursue their dreams. Use their resources. Use their gifts.
Principals for Healthy Partnerships
Focus on relationships, not just on accomplishing something
Interdependence – Recognize that you need them.
Shared Control
Skin in the Game – They must contribute something. It must cost them something.
Be hesitant to make suggestions
Repent of pride and a material understanding of the world.
Review Questions:
1. How can we overcome the perception of us as the powerful ones?
2. How can we foster hope?
3. How are the materially poor advantaged and disadvantaged? Think spiritually
4. Will you work with the materially poor on a household level, or through partnerships with local and international organizations working with poor communities?
5. How can we be useful, satisfied, and purposeful in the background?
Gospel Close:
Review Gospel Connection verses
How did Jesus humble Himself? What did He leave to become human?
Can you think of a time when you put the interests of others before your own interests?
What would it look like for us to empty ourselves? What would be the hardest thing to give up?
Reflect on your ministry. Who can you sacrifice for this week? What does that look like?
Pray