The Samaritan Way. Lifestyle Compassion Ministry Study Guide. David W. Crocker

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1 The Samaritan Way Lifestyle Compassion Ministry Study Guide David W. Crocker Copyright 2010 by David W. Crocker. Permission is granted to reproduce these materials for use with The Samaritan Way: Lifestyle Compassion Ministry by David W. Crocker (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2008).

2 The Samaritan Way: Lifestyle Compassion Ministry by David W. Crocker Study Guide Introduction In recent years many believers and congregations have rediscovered the biblical mandate to minister to the least of these as Jesus says in Matthew 25. As a matter of fact, there is a large scale movement towards hands-on ministry to people in need by believers of all stripes and persuasions. The Samaritan Way was written to resource individual believers, small groups and congregations in adopting lifestyle compassion ministry. Many congregations will find The Samaritan Way to be a useful resource in helping their members understand more clearly the biblical vision for ministry to people in need as a matter of lifestyle. They will discover in its pages many practical suggestions as to how individuals can act on the stirring in their heart to minister to the helpless and hopeless. They will see in this book a proven process for moving an entire congregation into lifestyle ministry. This Study Guide is provided as an additional resource by the author of The Samaritan Way to facilitate the use of the book for these purposes. It is designed in such a way as to provoke deeper reflection on the book s emphases and insights as well as their personal application. The ultimate goal of this study is to lead small groups of believers to take up or to renew their commitment to compassion ministry as a lifestyle, and through their experiences and encouragement, to lead their church to make compassion ministry an ongoing aspect of their church life. It is recommended that the book be studied in small groups under the guidance of a Leader, although individual study works, too. Each participant should have his/her own copy of the book and this Guide. The Guide may be reproduced as needed. It is set up for 10 sessions of approximately one hour in length with an Introductory session, one session for each chapter of the book and a wrap-up session at the end. This Guide is divided into two parts: Student Guide and Leader s Guide. The Student Guide provides questions for each participant to facilitate deeper reflection and personal application. The Leader s Guide contains suggestions as to how a Leader might guide each session in this study. 1

3 Student Guide Session One Read the Introduction in The Samaritan Way. (This may have to be done in class if books are not available prior to the first session.) Record your answers to the questions below in the space provided. Do you believe this is a true story? Why or why not? How would you describe the attitude of the police officer when he got the call to check out the traffic issue? How did his attitude change? What caused this change? In one word, describe the officer s attitude when he took food to the homeless man. Does this story remind you of any in the Bible? What is your typical response when you are faced with a situation like the one described in this story? 2

4 Session Two (Chapter 1) Chapter 1 tells the stories of four believers who have taken up lifestyle compassion ministry. With which one do you identify most? Why? From what you have read in this chapter, how would you describe lifestyle compassion ministry? Do you know a person in your church whose story could be included in this chapter? (Don t be bashful about including yourself in your answer to this question if this is true of you.) Do you believe these stories are typical or unique for churchgoers today? Why? 3

5 Session Three (Chapter 2) In Chapter 2 the author says When Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, he was establishing a timeless, perfect model of compassion ministry. Do you agree with this statement or do you think the story was mainly Jesus response to the question Who is my neighbor? The author makes the point that once-admirable priorities can get screwed up by one s desire for success. Do you agree? If so, how has this played out in your life? Are there ways your church may have compromised biblical values to achieve success according to worldly or denominational standards? How do you answer the question on page 37: Where does compassion come from? Why don t we see the needs of people we encounter daily? What could we do to help us see them? Jesus said the Samaritan had compassion. What evidence does the story give to support that claim? What does this evidence say to us and the claim we make to be compassionate? No point in Chapter 2 speaks to lifestyle ministry more than the statement (page 41) Compassion sees it through. What are the implications of this point to your practice of compassion? 4

6 Session Four (Chapter 3) In Chapter 3 the author makes the statement The biggest barrier to lifestyle compassion ministry is a self-centered attitude (page 47). Do you agree or disagree? Why? What does Jesus reading of Isaiah in Nazareth (page 49) tell us about his ministry? What does it tell us about our ministry? The following quote from Milfred Minatrea is given on page 52:... churches are filled with members who have adopted and adapted to the consumer culture. Just as they count on Wal-Mart meeting their material needs, they expect their church to provide religious goods and services. Can you verify the truthfulness of these statements in what you observe in churches in your community? How are they true of your church? How do popular notions of membership contribute to the it s about us mentality? What does Max Lucado s idea We are like the moon, a sphere of mass without a light of our own... say to you about how you can use your experiences, skills and opportunities to minister to people in need? 5

7 Session Five (Chapter 4) Prior to reading Chapter 4, how would you have described each of the following: Homeless persons? Poor persons? Incarcerated persons? Elderly persons? How do your prior conceptions of the needs of the poor compare to the factors the World Bank found as characteristic of the poor given on page 66? Are there any young people like Jessie Staley (pages 68-69) in your community? Who do you know outside your church that fits Crocker s description of victims of disease? How many of the bullets on pages apply to your church? 6

8 Session Six (Chapter 5) What does Crocker mean when he says: The boomerang effect has too much influence on how we encourage believers to get involved in compassion ministry (page 83)? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Make a list of your reasons for serving people in need? (Be honest in making your list!) What does this list tell you? On pages Crocker cites Michael Elliot s Reasons Why God Wants Us to Play with Poor People. Which of these reasons appeals to you most? Why? Can you add any to the list? Crocker states (page 87) that the Matthew 25 inasmuch statement by Jesus suggests that we need the poor because they provide opportunities... to serve Jesus. How do you feel about this? Is it reasonable to think Jesus is embodied in some way in the poor we encounter from time to time? How does lifestyle compassion ministry impact one s sense of purpose? Have your own experiences in compassion ministry affected your personal sense of purpose like the one in the story on page 91? Part of Crocker s argument that we need the poor is that compassion ministry leads to spiritual growth. In 3 sentences write your own rebuttal OR affirmation of this argument. 7

9 Session Seven (Chapter 6) In Chapter 6 Crocker makes what some might say is a bold claim, namely that the changes occurring in churches today are comparable to the Reformation. Do you agree or disagree? Why? When involved in compassion ministry (perhaps in an Operation Inasmuch project), have you seen or heard a witness shared with a recipient of the ministry? Was the witness facilitated by the ministry? How? What is the difference between being and doing and sending and supporting described in the quote by Milfred Minatrea on page 112? Being Doing Sending Supporting Which of these phrases best describes your church? Why? What is your reaction to the story reported on pages ? What would it take for something like this to take place in your church and community? 8

10 Session Eight (Chapter 7) As you read the story of Mariner s Church s involvement in compassion ministry in the initial pages of Chapter 7, what were the factors that led them to become a powerful example of lifestyle compassion ministry? Crocker says some people just get it and therefore don t need help to transition from one-day or short-term ministry projects to lifestyle ministry. Do you know anyone like that? Read pages and put into your own words each of the phases of movement into lifestyle compassion ministry: Expose Experience Engage Look at the chart on page 123. Can you identify people (either in your church or in your community) who fit each of the 3 levels of involvement shown in the chart? On a scale of 1 10 with 1 being totally resistant to making lifestyle compassion ministry a priority and 10 representing not only attitudes but consistent behaviors of lifestyle compassion ministry, where would you assess your church s position in lifestyle ministry? Why? If you were responsible to develop a strategy to move your church into authentic lifestyle compassion ministry, what would that strategy look like? (Note: Don t simply repeat the steps given on pages in the book, but develop a strategy for your church.) 9

11 Session Nine (Chapter 8) Take a long, hard look at your church s culture. Using the template for examining a church s culture given on pages , answer the following questions: Are the culture setters in your church elected leaders or non-elected but highly influential people? What are the real (not necessarily the stated) values of your church? How do the values of your community influence your church s culture? What is your church s vision statement? (It may be called Mission Statement.) What stories in your church s life have power? When was the last time your church (or significant church leader) took a big risk and why? Using Crocker s description of a culture of compassion ministry given on pages , how do you rate your church s standing in each of these areas (1 lowest rating; 5 highest)? Churches with a culture of compassion ministry embrace and practice what it means to be truly externally focused;... have significant numbers of people deployed throughout the community in ministry;... often use terms such as compassion or serving the community or focused outward to describe their church;... have a reputation in the community as caring for for the community;... compassion ministry influences their decision making;... people are attracted to them because of their compassion ministry. Which of these characteristics is true of your church? What has the church done lately to celebrate this fact? 10

12 Session Ten Review your responses to the questions throughout the prior sessions of this study and list below the 5 most significant lessons learned. 1. Lessons Learned in this study Complete the assignment given by the Leader at the end of Session Nine: Write a story describing your church several years into the future reflecting the church s implementation of lifestyle compassion ministry. 11

13 Leader s Guide Preparation This Leader s Guide is meant to augment the Student Guide for the study of The Samaritan Way. The Leader should read the entire book prior to beginning the study and each chapter and complete the Student Guide portion for that chapter each week prior to the session. If possible, it is recommended that the Leader share with his/her senior pastor and/or other appropriate church leaders (Missions Committee Chair, Community Ministry Team Leader) about this study and invite them to read The Samaritan Way on their own. One option presented at the conclusion of this study is to invite these leaders to participate in the final session to hear the lessons learned and implications of those lessons for the congregation. Being aware of the study and/or having read the book on their own will facilitate their participation at the right time. Finally, pray. Make prayer a regular part of your preparations for each session. Pray for wisdom and spiritual insight as you guide your group through the study. Pray for each participant by name. Note that the ultimate goal of this study is to see each participant either take up compassion ministry as a lifestyle or renew his/her commitment to such a lifestyle. For most people this will be a big step requiring courage and leadership of the Spirit. Session One Distribute copies of The Samaritan Way and the Study Guide to participants unless this has been done prior to this session. Have participants introduce themselves and share one meaningful experience in compassion ministry. If your church has done an Operation Inasmuch, ask participants to share what they did in that event and what it meant to them. If the church has not done an Operation Inasmuch or one-day ministry blitz, ask participants to share their experiences with short-term mission trips (domestic or international). Ask participants who have experienced either Operation Inasmuch or a short-term mission trip whether they have heard a fellow participant say the following: Why can t we do this all the time? Lead the group through Session One of the Student Guide allowing time to read the Introduction in the book if necessary. Session Two (Chapter 1) Ask 4 participants to retell each of the stories told in Chapter 1 of the book in his/her own words. (Note: You may want to ask them in advance of the session.) Ask: What impresses you most in these stories? 12

14 With which story do you identify most? What do these stories tell you about lifestyle compassion ministry? Who do you know in our church whose story could be included in Chapter 1? Are these stories typical of church folk or unique? Session Three (Chapter 2) Ask: How did you answer the first question in the Student Guide? Have the group count off by twos (e.g. first person is 1; second person is 2; third person is 1; etc.). Ask the Ones to take the pro side of the debate mentioned in the second question in the Student Guide and the Twos to take the con side. Allow both sides 10 minutes to plan their arguments in their group. Then stage a debate for more minutes and then debrief the entire group for 10 minutes. Chapter 2 of the book makes the point that we often overlook or neglect the needs of victims of one kind or another because we don t see them. Give the class the following assignment for the next session: As you go through this next week, record every need you encounter... anywhere, any time, any person, and be prepared to share what you saw in next week s session. Session Four (Chapter 3) At the beginning of this session, remind the participants of the assignment given at the end of the last session and ask for voluntary sharing of what they found in the way of people s needs. Ask: What sort of impact, if any, has this experiment had on the way you see people in your daily life? Review the questions and participants responses to the questions in this session of the Student Guide. In Chapter 3 the author is pretty hard on the church, or some churches. Ask the group: Do you think Crocker was too critical of churches today or has it about right or not hard enough and why? This chapter of the book contains a brief discussion of concepts of church membership. Ask: What would you say is our church s idea of membership? How, if at all, does membership as we see it impact ministry to people in need, particularly people outside our church? There are two options for leading this session. Session Five (Chapter 4) Option 1: Ask various members of the class to research the needs described in Chapter 4 of The Samaritan Way and give a brief report to the class on their findings. Encourage these members to 13

15 focus their research on your community rather than simply going online to obtain information unrelated to your location. Option 2: Invite a person from the community with extensive knowledge and experience with poverty, homelessness, imprisoned and elderly persons to share the needs from your own community. Encourage your expert to share actual stories of families and individuals who struggle with the needs mentioned in Chapter 4. As time permits, give participants the opportunity to share some of their responses to the questions in Session Five of the Student Guide. Close this session with the following question: How has Chapter 4 of the book and/or this session challenged your preconceptions regarding people in need? Questions for class discussion: Session Six (Chapter 5) What was your initial reaction when you read the title of Chapter 5? When you finished reading the chapter, did you want to rename it or leave it as it is? Who can tell us what the author means by the phrase the boomerang effect he describes in the early pages of Chapter 5? Can you remember a time when a call to get involved in hands-on ministry to people in need included something about what such ministry would do for you? When you made a list of your reasons for serving people in need (Question 2 in Session Six of the Student Guide), what did you learn about yourself? Prior to this session, ask a participant who is familiar with Rick Warren s The Purpose Driven Life to summarize Purpose #4 from that book as an enlargement of Crocker s point about ministry to people in need giving purpose for one s life. Can anyone verify in his/her own life the book s claim that ministry to people in need contributes to spiritual growth? Why do you think this is true? Session Seven (Chapter 6) Prior to this session ask a class member (or do it yourself) to research the Reformation and summarize it for the class, pointing out some of its influences on the way Protestants do church today. A brief summary can be found at: After summarizing the Reformation from the Sixteenth Century, ask: Why do you think the author claims that the movement toward compassion ministry may eventually become another reformation of the church? In your opinion does this movement have any chance of impacting the ways churches and denominations go about their business like the Reformation of Martin Luther s time? If so, what does this suggest about congregations not yet involved in this movement? 14

16 Ask: How might hands-on ministry to people in need effect evangelism? Has anyone been part of a person s decision to follow Christ as a direct result of ministry to that person or someone he/she cares about? Ask: Who can explain what a missional church is? (See pages ) Is our church a missional church? Why or why not? Session Eight (Chapter 7) Review participants responses to the questions in Session Eight of the Student Guide. Drill down a bit more on the final 2 questions. Save about 30 minutes of this session for participants to develop a group strategy to move your church toward authentic lifestyle compassion ministry. Divide the group into smaller groups of 3 or 4 people and ask them to discuss their own answers to the final question in the Student Guide and blend them into one strategy. Close out the session by each small group share with the larger group. Session Nine (Chapter 8) The purpose of this session and Chapter 8 in the book is to help readers/participants in your group come to grips with some of the intangibles that are likely to contribute to resistance to lifestyle compassion ministry. The questions in Session Nine of the Student Guide are likely to provoke a lot of discussion and some disagreement in the group as to what your church s culture is and how it will aid or impede a transition toward lifestyle compassion ministry. You will want to take care not to leave this session on a negative note, sending the participants away despairing that their church is hopeless even if some in the group voice such a perception. Do your best to strike a balance between lively debate and honest assessment on the one hand with grace and gentleness on the other. Close out this session with a season of prayer for your church and her leaders, all of them. Celebrate with prayers of thanksgiving how God has blessed the church through the years and wants to use those blessings for even greater ministry in the future. Assignment for Session Ten: Re-read Chapter 8 of The Samaritan Way giving special attention to the author s descriptions of the two churches on pages Write a short story describing your church several years into the future that reflects the church s implementation of lifestyle compassion ministry. Use any information or sharing from previous sessions and imagination necessary to record a compelling story of the church s lifestyle compassion ministry. Session Ten (Chapter 8) There are two purposes for this final session: (1) to formulate a clear vision of what lifestyle compassion ministry will look like in your church and (2) to share that vision with appropriate leaders. Option 1: Have a participant share his/her story with the rest of the group and discuss the similarities and uniqueness with others stories. 15

17 Option 2: Invite the senior pastor and/or other appropriate ministers and/or lay leaders to hear a sampling of participants stories and react to them. Lead the entire group in a discussion of the implications of these stories. Suggested Reading Externally Focused Churches, Eric Swanson & Rick Rusaw, Group Publishing, 2004 The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Reggie McNeal, Jossey-Bass, 2003 Breaking the Missional Code: Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community, Ed Stetzer & David Putman, Broadman & Holman, 2006 Shaped By God s Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches, Milfred Minatrea, Jossey-Bass, 2004 Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out, Robert Lewis & Wayne Cordeiro, Jossey-Bass,