called to imitate Jesus

Transcription

1 juan miguel lago/world vision82008 leaders notes for lesson one called to imitate Jesus Notes to help guide your leadership of lesson one. M at e r i a l s Pens, Bibles, white board, self-stick notes, markers, computer with Internet access, candles for each participant. online Resources from God s Heart for the Poor Gallery Walk handout» Precious In His Sight video» Prayer at 14,000 Feet in the Andes handout» A Response to Homelessness handout» Five Days of Hunger video» History of World Vision handout» History of Woem of Vision handout Prepare for Discussion Consider having a group conversation after the opening prayer. It may be helpful to establish guidelines for your time together. Some participants may have a lot of biblical or cross-cultural knowledge, while others have very little. Be sure to note that this is quite all right and that all are welcome. Ask the group to discuss guidelines that will help create a supportive, learning atmosphere. Record their suggestions on the white board. After all the group s ideas are recorded, end the discussion, noting that you will make copies of these guidelines and distribute them at the next meeting. Scripture Reflection The following commentary will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture Reflection portion of the lesson. John 13:34» Commentary As you probably already know from Scripture, this really wasn t a new commandment. In Leviticus 19:18, the command to love one another was among those that God gave Moses to share with the people of Israel. What is different, even radical, about this news is that we are to love others as Jesus does. Remember that this passage comes just as Jesus and the disciples are about to sit down to share the Passover Feast. Jesus takes off His outer garments, wraps a towel around Himself, and begins to wash the feet of His Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One Page 1

2 leaders notes for lesson one You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. twelve disciples even Judas, who Jesus knows will, in a few hours, betray Him. That s the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have. Luke 4:18» Commentary The context here is Jesus first public sermon. He has just returned from the desert where He has been tempted by Satan and is back in His hometown of Nazareth. In His very first sermon in the synagogue, He reads the text from Isaiah 61. It focuses on the poor, the prisoner, the blind, the oppressed. In His first public announcement, where He effectively proclaims why He is here, Jesus focuses on those in society who are the most in need among us. He sets forth a sort of mission statement for His ministry, with the poor at the center. And outrageously, He proclaims, Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:20). He announces that He Himself is the Messiah and that He has come to bring a new beginning to everyone, including those considered the least. Luke 10: 30 37» Commentary You might want to start with Luke 10:25-29 to set up the story. It recounts a conversation between a man and Jesus about what the man must do to inherit eternal life. Of course, the man answers with the conventional Old Testament reference: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. Do this, Jesus says, and you will live. This was one of those times when, for his own sake, the man should have left well enough alone. But he was so certain he could get the best of Jesus that he persisted. And who is my neighbor? Again, rather than answer the question directly, Jesus tells the familiar story of a man beaten by robbers and left bleeding on the side of the road. Did you ever wonder about that man? The story doesn t tell who he was, where he came from, or what had caused this terrible situation to befall him. Interestingly, when Jesus told the story, He didn t think that information was relevant. He wasn t interested in who was to blame for this man s attack. Rather, He seems more interested in the response of those who passed by the priest and the Levite. The priest and the Levite represent the religious and legal establishment. They see the man lying in great distress, but instead of coming to his rescue, they cross over to the other side of the road. They don t want anything to do with this stranger. It s not until a Samaritan happens upon the injured Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One Page 2

3 leaders notes for lesson one traveler that someone finally comes to his aid, bandaging his wounds, and transporting him to the nearest inn. Why do you think it s significant that it was a Samaritan who had compassion on the wounded man? He was an outcast, the one hated by the others, the one least expected to help. Finally, Jesus asks the question, Which of these three do you think was neighbor to the man who fell among thieves? Was it the priest, the spiritual leader of the community? Was it the Levite, the legal expert? Or was it the Samaritan, hated by Jews and reviled as unclean, who acted in compassion toward his fellow traveler? The young man, not able even to bring himself to say the word Samaritan, answers, He who showed mercy on him. Jesus then looks this man in the eye and concludes what is perhaps the most powerful moral teaching in all of history. Go and do likewise. Jesus then looks this man in the eye and concludes what is perhaps the most powerful moral teaching in all of history. Just four words declare Christ s expectations of every Christian; four words echo His command in John 13:34: Go and do likewise. That s what it means to love one another as Jesus loves. Not just loving the lovely or those who love us, but loving the stranger, the outcast, and the man left bleeding on the side of the road. It means loving our neighbor, no matter who or where they are. And when we do, Jesus says, the amazing thing is that others will know that we are His disciples. That is to be our identifying mark people will know that we are Christ s disciples if we love like Jesus loves. Those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior must be compelled by His love for the world to show mercy to our neighbors, to love them with the love of Christ. Consider Our World Today Prepare for God s Heart for the Poor Gallery Walk. Create four viewing stations by posting the photos provided in the handout (or online at Divide the participants into pairs or small groups. Invite the pairs to spend a few moments viewing the photos, reading the Scripture at each station, and sharing their impressions with one another. Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One Page 3

4 leaders notes for lesson one Choosing a Personal Response Participants share responses to these questions:» What is your reaction to the poverty facts presented earlier?» What are some alternate responses or actions to apathy or paralysis?» How might coming alongside those in poverty also be transformational for the less-poor?» What tugs at your heart? What issues do you feel passionate about?» What does it mean that you might be the answer to someone s prayer?» What might God be calling you to do? Provide participants with self-stick notes and markers. Ask them to write their answers on the notes and post them on a flip chart. After compiling the list, invite the group to review it and note similarities as well as unique ideas. Closing Prayer Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 and Matthew 25:34-40 Choose a reader ahead of time. Form a circle around the reader and provide each participant with a candle. Turn off the lights. The darker the room, the more effective this will be. Light the reader s candle and ask the reader to share the Scripture texts aloud. The reader then lights another person s candle, and participants continue sharing the flame. When all the candles are lit, ask each participant to share where they would like to shed light and hope in the world. Once everyone has shared, end by saying, For all of this, we pray. Amen. Close by extinguishing the candles. Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One Page 4

5 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Psalm 34:4-7 jon warren/world vision 2008 Hope in a World of Hurt Page 5

6 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 jon warren/world vision 2008 Hope in a World of Hurt Page 6

7 Then Jesus said to his host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:12-14 maria isabel valarezo/world vision 2008 Hope in a World of Hurt Page 7

8 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:35-40 raphael palma/world vision 2009 Hope in a World of Hurt Page 8