ETS 1 by kwdesigns

equipped to

SERVE

Before You Begin From Amy… There is a tension I have felt over the past twenty years regarding the Church and its impact in bringing hope and transformation to local communities. For me, this curriculum is an overflow of years of prayer, study and experiential learning. My desire is that you and your community will be deeply transformed for the glory of God through application of the materials Carol Gates and I have put together here. Hopefully this curriculum can inspire you and give you tools to begin a conversation with fellow believers where you are. I pray that our journey can give you courage to step out in new ways to be the fragrance of Christ where you live. For the past 3 years Carol and I have developed and taught this curriculum together at our home church. Prior to that I spent 10 years working on staff at our church in Student Ministries, assisting in the spiritual formation of senior high and college students as it relates to learning about and serving those who tend to be marginalized in our communities and cities. My goal was to help students see serving others as a lifestyle and not an event. I wanted to expand their worldview so that they could see the world through the eyes of Jesus. It has been an amazing journey and one that I treasure deeply. The tension I have felt has been generated by three sets of verses that have been at the forefront of my heart and mind in recent years. The first set of verses is: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:3-7 NIV

These have been driving verses for me in a number of ways, but the most striking has been that of seeing the parallel life God is calling us to as we go about the daily needs and practical callings of our own personal lives. He knows we have daily obligations, tasks and duties…but He calls us to a higher view of not only looking to our own interests but also to the interests of others. For me, that has been some amazing, reality-based encouragement. It actually has been very freeing! My life should have the possibility to integrate the two…looking after my interests AND the interests of others. I must make room for both. Balance and boundaries must be in place in order for this to be a reality. And what a loving constraint it is! God knows we could easily become obsessed with our own interests. By contrast, we could also pour out our lives for others and in the process neglect our own families’ health and interests. What a loving God we serve, He knows how

we are made and He knows what will bring true life to our community and to our own individual lives. The next verse that has pressed in on me and my life is this: “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3

So what does it look like to serve others with love? Pairing this verse with the Philippians verses calls for careful consideration. No selfish ambition, no vain conceit, filled with love. So where do we start with this? As daunting as it seems, Jesus makes it simple. He calls us to spend time with Him. Not too complicated…kind of like a childlike faith. Jesus tells us very clearly how this should look: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:31-40

Jesus says to be faithful and to walk with Him. Be faithful to look for people who are hungry, thirsty, sick, outsiders, in prison…and serve them. Our lives must intersect with their lives. This is not optional if we are truly orienting our lives around following Christ. And this is for the good of all. We are all richer for having spent time in one another’s company. I cannot recount the number of times through the years I have been serving alongside students and adults who have said something to the effect, “Now this feels like true life!” as they were serving others in difficult places. It is almost as if they were designed for this. Hmmm. So here we are, desiring to be disciples of Christ and it demands that we have humility. If you have ever witnessed ministry done without humility, you have it etched in your mind the object lesson of what God does not intend. We are to be humble. Always. I once heard the definition of a disciple to be, “a learner under discipline.” So here we have landed with this curriculum that helps us to train our minds so that we can serve others out of compassion, understanding and humility. We have carefully put together

some of the best materials we know of so that we, as communities of believers, can work through a dialogue together to better serve our neighbors. We want to be true learners, grappling with issues close to home and far around the globe so that we can think well as we minister in word and deed. God has called us to be life giving and in order to be just that we must take the time to learn. This study has been developed as a broad overview and is in no way complete, but it is a starting point. We believe it to be something that is applicable anywhere, in any setting, because the issues are universal. Be blessed as you do the hard work of learning and embracing your community for the glory of God.

From Carol…. I am a nurse and have been on staff as a faith community nurse for 10 years, coordinating a health ministry at our suburban church outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Part of my job has allowed me to be a part of different faith-based health initiatives in the Heartside neighborhood, which is downtown Grand Rapids and has the greatest concentration of shelters and agencies that serve folks that are poor and homeless. It was through these years of serving downtown, partnering with other agencies, and developing relationships with many from Heartside that God has deepened my understanding. We have a Biblical mandate to care for the poor, homeless, and those that are marginalized. God is already working in powerful ways in many urban ministries in our area. There are ways to be involved that are helpful and some that are harmful. Each person has assets that God wants to use for kingdom work. And there’s no greater joy than when our story intersects with God’s story and to know that we are where God wants us. Both Amy and I and our families have not been called to relocate and we live and attend church in a more affluent suburb of Grand Rapids. We found there are many in our church and community that don’t understand the above concepts. They don’t embrace the Biblical mandate to care for the poor. They are fearful in locations and around people that are different. They don’t understand they have gifts that God can use and don’t feel purpose in their lives. Feeling this frustration, I continued to ask God for wisdom to assist in the transition to get folks out of our comfortable church to serving the poor well in our city. I read the book Ministries of Mercy, by Tim Keller, who is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. His church has a powerful urban ministry and in the book suggested serving study groups. Their serving groups were a model to equip the church to serve well, blending the power of the Word and study and actually getting out serving. I contacted them for materials to replicate this at our church and

they had none to share. This is when our journey began to develop our serving study groups. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been four years and four different study groups that helped us develop this serving study group template that can be modified for you to use in your church. Our goal here is to share our journey and materials with the hope that God can use this in many settings, so that many believers are better equipped to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities.

Format of the Serving Study Group

The study is designed to cover ten sessions of classroom time and ten sessions of learning/serving in the community. It could be that your group needs to adapt this schedule to suit your needs and timeframe. Look at the core material and then determine the best way to expand or contract the elements as needed. Our group met weekly from the end of September to the end of April. Classroom time was spent in two-hour blocks, although it could easily be adapted to be shorter than that based on the needs of your group. When we met to learn and serve in the community we spent three-hour blocks to allow for preparatory devotional time as a group, travel and learning. Realistically, this study can be tailored to suit whatever time your group has. Two Components A note about the components. This is designed to be a serving study group. The name reflects the two parts: the serving or experiential component and then the study or educational component that makes this group rich. Many groups focus on academic learning in a classroom setting while never getting an opportunity to put into practice what they have learned. And likewise, there are some who jump into serving without taking time to understand ways to truly help and not hurt those they are serving. The schedule for this study was set so that we would alternate gathering in a classroom to be learners and then the next week would be in the community listening, learning and serving. As facilitator of the classroom sessions we encourage you to step back and be a guide to the process, rather than a teacher. The Holy Spirit is in your midst. Allow Him time and space to be free to work on the hearts and minds of your group. Even as you lead, you are a follower of Christ and He has things yet to accomplish in your life. Treasure your role as a guide who is an active part of the process. It is a good thing to allow silence and margin for the work of the Spirit to be honored in your class.

CLASSROOM COMPONENT

There are ten sessions for classroom learning that involve studying Scripture, watching video presentations and discussing the concepts being presented.

These study sessions are intended to be interspersed every other week with hands-on experiences out in the community, but they certainly can stand alone as equipping sessions to challenge and expand the vision of your group.

COMMUNITY COMPONENT

When using this curriculum with your own group, it will be important to identify where you feel called to come alongside area agencies serving people in need. Choose a community group where you resonate and have a passion for learning more and being a part of. Amy often says, “What issue makes you cry or keeps you awake at night?” The community group of our focus has been the poor and homeless in downtown Grand Rapids. Your group could be refugees, widows, orphans, victims of trafficking, elderly or any group that you feel God is drawing you to become involved. The first three months of our group, the focus of our serving time was spent meeting with agencies and individuals in the community with the goal being to learn as much as we could about the agencies that are currently ministering in the community and to broaden our understanding of the needs in the area. We wanted to be humble learners, taking note of how God was already at work. At the end of those three months, we met as a group and did an asset assessment (see below). The purpose of this gathering was to assess the collective assets we have as a group, pray and think about the agencies we had visited and then see where our group could best serve. For the remaining months, we then served every other week partnering with that agency. This ended up being about six separate times of serving together. Asset Assessment To help us consider where our group should serve we did a simple group exercise called “Head, Hands, Heart.” This helped bring into focus where our strengths were as a group. Each person in our group was given the assignment to identify what they believe their gifts/assets are relative to these 3 categories. They were then given sticky notes to write those specific areas on and place them on the wall corresponding to the category. For example, a “head” asset could be knowledge of budgeting, legal issues or a language. A “hands” asset could be gardening, construction or cooking. A “heart” asset could be counseling, prayer or listening. Then we each took a few minutes to explain to the group our individual assets. Once each person had a chance to share, the wall was covered with the beauty of our variety of gifts. This helps to value each other and our differences and to get a picture of what we have to offer collectively as we minister as a team. We then reviewed our experiences in the community and came to a consensus on where our gifts as a group would best connect with an area agency. We then contacted that agency, let them know our assets and timeframe that we could serve, and asked them if they could use our team.

Experiential Specifics Before any of your trips out into the community it is very important to consider the following thoughts. It is critical for us to serve out of an overflow. We need to spend time in the Word, in prayer and seeking His direction. We found that we cannot presume that folks are spending time in prayer before they come to our group, so we made it part of our serving session. Every time we went into the community we added Read and Reflect (R & R) time. We scheduled time so that we could leave our church, go to a location in our community and have designated, directed time to read the Word, focus our hearts and minds, and pray. We met at churches, parks, markets and parking lots. We developed a directed reading each time that included a portion of Scripture and directed questions and prayer for them. These were printed and handed out as we began our quiet time. Once we arrived to our spot, we had about 15-20 minutes for this and it was critical that this we spend this time. We recommend you pray over the specific group you have and provide devotional material that you believe would encourage and equip your group to learn and serve with humble hearts dependent upon Christ. End of Class Retreat At the end of the class we scheduled a retreat time away to process the whole year and have time to pray and listen to where the Lord was directing us. It was the â&#x20AC;&#x153;so whatâ&#x20AC;? of the whole year and probably the most important element of the group. We tend to run from one thing to the next without pausing and processing. We believe it is important to pause and listen to how God has changed us, grown us, and to evaluate the next step in our lives. For our group it has been a very sacred time away together, noting the work of the Holy Spirit and appreciating even more deeply the beauty of the Body of Christ. Please make a plan for how best your group can set aside a time and place for this vital part of the class. If you would like a template to guide your retreat, please email us at the address listed below and we will be happy to share our format with you. Evaluation After you have completed the Equipped to Serve study we would greatly value a follow-up evaluation on your experience. If you would send an email to servingstudy@gmail.com requesting a class evaluation, we would be happy to send one to you. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Resources used in Equipped to Serve curriculum PovertyCure Six part series on human flourishing. This series challenges conventional thinking and reframes the poverty debate around the creative capacity of the human person, made in the image of God. www.povertycure.org DVDs are available as hard copies and sold as part of a 6 part series • Disc 1 Charity That Hurts • Disc 5 The Power of the Gospel

Urban Entry Five part series provides firsthand encounters with the people, culture, and unique challenges of the inner city. It provides resources, guides, and other tools geared to generate meaningful discussion. www.urbanentry.org DVDs are available online and/or hard copies • UE 1 Anything Helps • UE 3 Road Trip • UE 5 Outlook

When Helping Hurts Small Group Experience-online videos A series designed to help small groups reconsider their strategies in ministry as it relates to poverty alleviation. https://www.chalmers.org/media/category/whh-small-group-experience View free online at the website, can be streamed or used as a saved file • • • •

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 4 Unit 6

Miscellaneous website resources • Race: The Power of an Illusion: Session 3 The House We Live In:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/race • Frontline: A Class Divided: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/view.html • The Story of Race: a History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No5ai6LZLFg • CCDA 2011: Richard Twiss session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGw7AU6VDOs

Materials to read: When Helping Hurts: The Small Group Experience by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert Contact us with any questions or requests for Equipped to Serve materials at: servingstudy@gmail.com

Class 1

SERVING STUDY

Journey of Discovery Share your vision and plan for the group year… what you personally hope to discover and what you hope as a class to discover. Roadmap for our Journey Our class sessions will be in a format that is much like having a roadmap. We have 3 things that will guide us: The Word of God—what does it have to say about our topic? You can be sure that there will be principles and commands in God’s Word to guide us in our journey. This quote is one that is especially helpful to think about: “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.” John Stott (Authentic Christianity) The Spirit of God—as we learn together the Spirit of God is among us, longing to guide us, teach us and illuminate truth for us. Be attentive to Him! The People of God—we will learn from people as we watch the video materials, we will learn from each other, and we will learn from people we meet out in our community on our journey of serving. We will meet some stunning people as we interact with local ministries and those whom they serve. Be alert to what God would like to teach you through other people. People made in His image. Word, Spirit, people...God will use all three, so be ready to be challenged and refined in ways that are disruptive in the best sense of the word. Devotional Life In our learning and our serving as a class it is vital that we each remain intimately acquainted with God and His Word. If we neglect the discipline of individual private time spent with the Lord in prayer and in reading of His Word, we will pay deep consequences. Three thoughts related to this: 1) the concept of breathing good air first (like the instruction on an airplane to breathe oxygen from your own mask first before trying to assist others) 2) solid devotional life can decrease arrogance and help us realize our utter dependence upon God 3) keeps it ALL in perspective...grounded in the Word for all of life Prior to each of our times of learning/serving out in the community we will take time to spend time as a group in prayer and in the Word, so please always make a habit of bringing your Bible and journal to class each time we meet.

Journal We will have a journal for each of you to use during this study. Much of what you learn will be recorded here, so please interact with your journal in some way…do not neglect it. It will become a living document that traces God’s Hand and fingerprints all over your heart. Use it to: • record things that challenge, puzzle or encourage you during our videos • note things that stand out to you from other class members’ points of view • write perspectives that have been impacted by our visits with those in the community • record things that God brings to mind during the week as you live your life in the Word and prayer

Please always come to class with your Bible and your journal. Scripture Let’s open our Bibles and look at 2 passages of Scripture as we set out on this journey of learning, serving and flourishing together: • Philippians 2:3-11 (read aloud) • 1 Corinthians 13:3 (write on board)

When Helping Hurts DVD Lesson 1 (15 minutes long) https://www.chalmers.org/media/category/whh-small-group-experience Questions: 1) Did the words that the people in the video used to describe poverty surprise you? 2) Consider someone you know who is poor. Think for a minute about that person’s life. Can you see ways that the 4 areas of broken relation ships affect their life? • • • •

God (poverty of spiritual intimacy, worshipping false Gods) Self (poverty of being, too high or too low self esteem) Others (poverty of community, exploitation/abuse of others, selfishness) Creation (poverty of stewardship, loss of true life purpose, laziness or workaholic)

3) How might thinking about this person’s poverty in terms of these 4 broken relationships change the way you interact with him or her? Share An important element of our class will be to share our thoughts and fears with one another in an effort to allow the Spirit of God to speak into those areas. For our opening class we will actually keep one of our fears private and ask for Lord to speak into this fear throughout the duration of our class sessions. There will be a time at the close of our class year to privately review this fear and see how the Lord has met you. Please take a minute to think of one fear you have of serving people who are different than you in

our community. Turn to a page near the back of your journal and write down what fear that is and what group of people it involves. Prayer Each class time will be closed in prayer. Be alert to how God would best have you use this time, being faithful to pray for: • each other • your community • your church You may want to encourage your class members to make room in their journal to jot prayer requests.

Class 2

SERVING STUDY

This truth makes all the difference in the world... affects everything • Matthew 22:36-39 (read aloud)

So we’re made in His image, for His glory and for His purpose. The purpose of loving Him with all we are and loving others. Because these truths are incredibly counter-cultural it is important that we base everything we think and do on these realities. When Helping Hurts DVD Lesson 2 (12 minutes long) https://www.chalmers.org/media/entry/small-group-experience-unit-2 Read page 26 background story of “Are We There Yet?” prior to watching DVD

Watch lesson 2

Discussion: 1) Review definition of “Poverty Alleviation”: “A process in which people, both the materially poor and non-poor, move closer to living in right relationship with God, self, others, and the rest of creation.” 2) Think back to a situation in which you tried to minister to people who were materially poor. Did your approach reconcile the four broken relationships in each of you? 3) Were there any ways that your approach actually contributed to greater poverty in the 4 relationships in each of you? If so, what could you do differently in the future? 4) Think back to the story about Alisa that we read just before watching today’s lesson. What do you think “success” would look like in her story? 5) How do you think we as individuals or we as a church could help people like Alisa when they walk into our church? 6) Read aloud page 30, the rest of the story in the Close section. So encouraging! Urban Entry DVD 5 (15 minutes long) Discussion: Ask the class for any observations (use the ideas below to jumpstart the conversation) • • • • •

Don’t be an elephant Expectations/stereotypes have a huge impact We ALL are needy Be a HUMBLE learner long before doing “things” Be prayerful about the long-term plans that can unfold in our daily lives

Journal Spend a few minutes journaling responses to either of the DVDs we watched. Prayer Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 3

SERVING STUDY

Remembering the 4 Relationships diagram, how do you think the ministry we learned about last week is doing in ministering to the 4 areas? Scripture We’re going to read a few chunks of Scripture...please note in your journals anything that strikes you or informs you about God’s love and care for people. Divide up the following verses for people to read aloud: • • • • • •

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Deuteronomy 10:17-22 Matthew 25:34-36 Luke 10:29-37 Isaiah 1:10-17 Acts 6:1-7 (notice what led to the increase in believers... when widows were cared for!) • Acts 11:27-30

What do we learn about our great God as we reflect on these verses? Poverty Cure Disc1 Part 1 (25 minutes long) Global poverty is presented in today’s DVD. Think locally as well, it all applies. We’re working at training our minds to have mature impulses rather than actions based purely on emotions/just “doing something.” Let’s work hard to be humble learners...the definition of a disciple is:

“a learner under discipline.” Today let’s discipline our minds to track well with what God has for us as we watch the DVD together. Watch DVD session 1 Discussion: The concept of dignity & creative capacity interrupts our arrogance as we interact with those who are in material need. God sees the potential in the outcasts...so should we. The DVD spoke of a distinction between emergency relief and long-term assistance. What are the dangers if the two forms of assistance get confused? What role should prayer play in our efforts to help people in poverty? Read Jerram Barrs quote: Pages 147-148 from Heart of Prayer The author refers to this quote from Francis Schaeffer: “We draw a distinction between men and women who pray that God will build His kingdom and will be pleased to use their efforts as He does.” Jerram Barrs then goes on to say, “They believed that there was a fundamental distinction, not a minor one, between Christian believers who seek to live in this reality and Christian believers who think it possible for them to build God’s kingdom. Indeed, we may say that if we imagine that we are building God’s kingdom for Him, we will soon be trying to build our own kingdoms rather than the Lord’s. As we read Jesus’ prayer (in John 17) for the Father to bless His work, we must recognize that the Schaeffers were right about this.” Jerram Barrs, Heart of Prayer, p 147.

We can become very controlling, possessive and inflexible if we put ourselves in the wrong mindset here, prayerful dependence is KEY. Again, in the words of Jerram Barrs: “For all of us, whatever our place of calling in society and our place of service in the church, it is not enough for us to be obedient to God. It is not enough for us to work hard and with intergrity. It is not enough to apply ourselves to teach God’s Word accurately and faithfully. Unless there is prayer as well as our faithful work in whatever job we do—prayer as well as our ministry (of whatever kind); prayer as well as the work of teaching; prayer as well as the work of worship; prayer as well as the work of counseling; prayer as well as the work of serving; prayer as well as the work of hospitality—no one will be truly blessed, no one will be changed, no one will believe, and no fruit will come from our labors. Of course, God may choose to do His saving work despite our lack of prayer. But if that is the case, no thanks will be due to us; no praise will be given us from God; no “Well done, good and faithful servant: (Matt. 25:21, 23), will be spoken to us. No commendation or reward will be forthcoming from the Lord, no matter how intense our labors have been. We may say to Him: “But I have done mighty works in your name; I have prophesied in your name! Does this not count for anything?” (This is a rough paraphrase of

Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23.) If we did not do all things in dependence on the Lord, and to serve Him, then all that God has accomplished, despite us, will count for nothing in terms of any truly pleasing and acceptable service to Him.” Jerram Barrs, Heart of Prayer, pp 147-148.

Let us not have the Lord do His work “despite us,” as Jerram refers to here. Let us truly be dependent upon the Lord in prayer as a class. This will make all the difference in the world as we approach our learning and serving. Prayer Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 4

SERVING STUDY

I Thessalonians 5:10-11 Philippians 4:8 I Corinthians 12:12-26 James 2:1-5

Please keep these verses in mind as we watch today’s video. When Helping Hurts video 4 (15:30 minutes long) https://www.chalmers.org/media/entry/small-group-experience-unit-4 Discuss the questions on page 52 of the “When Helping Hurts Small Group Experience” prior to the video. Watch video Discussion: Give definitions: • Needs-based development: A development approach that focuses

on the deficits and shortcomings in the life of a person or community. • Asset-based development: A development approach that focuses on identifying, mobilizing, and connecting the God-given capabilities, skills, and resources of a person or community. Questions: 1) Reflect on the materially poor people in your life. What God-given gifts do you see in them? Do you think that these people are aware of their gifts? 2) List a few ministries that you and/or your church are involved in. What level of participation by the materially poor do these ministries currently incorporate? 3) What could be done to move toward a more cooperative, communityinitiated level of participation? Prayer Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 5

SERVING STUDY

Journey of Discovery Your class may have been out in the community visiting a ministry site, taking a prayer walk, or simply been in the classroom doing a session together. Allow time for the following discussion: From week to week our class really is on a journey of discovery together. We would like to take a few moments right now to reflect on what you learned from our last time together. The Word of God, Spirit of God and people of God were all at work during our last meeting as a group. Reflecting on our last class session, do you have any further thoughts regarding asset-based ministry? Remind your class of the concept of prayerful dependence...building God’s kingdom and not our own as we seek to serve. Keep the months ahead in prayer as you prepare for partnering with an area ministry agency or expanding your current church ministry to those who are living on the margins of life. Scripture Divide up the following Scriptures to be read aloud by class members. These verses set the scene for the powerful story we will be hearing today: • 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 power of being a new creation...a reconciler, because we’re reconciled • Genesis 1:27 our nature is that of being made in His image, inherently of worth! (as opposed to our world’s value of “usefulness”) • Matthew 6:12 Lord’s prayer...constant state of need for forgiveness both ways! • Luke 23:32-34 extraordinary forgiveness...we can never outdo this kind of forgiveness • Colossians 3:12-13

PovertyCure session 5 (22 minutes long) *Please warn the class of sensitive material regarding the Rwandan genocide; it is necessary to watch this DVD and though it is a difficult and horrific tragedy it is appropriately documented in this session. Watch DVD session 5 Discussion: What a beautiful portrayal of whole life discipleship! The power of faith & the Word of God were incredibly displayed here.

(Allow the class a few minutes for open discussion.) Questions: 1) In light of what we are processing, how do you think we are we doing as the Church...do the vulnerable and weak have places of discipleship? Every image-bearer has deep physical and spiritual needs. Let’s be sure to pray for creativity in our ministry and diligence to care holistically. 2) In our ministry we will spend time with people who have been deeply hurt. We need to be good forgivers and help others to seek the same. What are ways we can do that as we minister? (speak out of our own lives of the power of forgiveness, point others to examples in Scripture that draw us to the power of forgiveness) 3) This story we watched is a vivid demonstration of the need for a moral base in our lives. Without the moral compass of forgiveness and truth, how might this have looked different? “Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.” Henri Nouwen “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire; the great men who built up the Middle Ages; the English evangelicals who abolished the slave trade, all left their mark on earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” C.S. Lewis

Prayer Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 6

SERVING STUDY

Matthew 20:29-34 Mark 10:46-52 Luke 18:35-42 John 5:1-8

These are all examples of Jesus reaching out to people in need and affirming that they indeed are seeking change. These verses lead us into today’s lesson where we’ll learn about how people change and the dynamics in place for helping to make genuine steps toward change. When Helping Hurts session 5 (12 minutes long) https://www.chalmers.org/media/entry/small-group-experience-unit-5 Prior to watching the lesson pause to ask the following questions: Think of a time when you have taken positive steps toward making changes in your own life...what caused you to take those actions? (no answers needed, just have your class think for a minute)

Now I’d like you to think of an individual who has had a positive impact on your life...how did that impact occur and what did you appreciate about their approach? (again, just think about it) Watch lesson 5

Discussion: Prior to watching the lesson we thought about times in our lives when we’ve made changes...what triggered you to make the changes you made? The lesson talked about triggers for change being: • a recent crisis • the burden of the status quo becoming so overwhelming that people want to pursue change • the introduction of a new way of doing or seeing things that could improve people’s lives Questions 1) Consider materially poor people who you have met so far in our visits in the community, what potential triggers for change do you see in their lives? 2) What types of things could undermine the triggers in their lives for change? 3) Where and why do you think the process of change falls apart in many lives of those who are materially poor? 4) How can we as a group, as a church and individuals be a support to positive change in the lives of the materially poor? 5) Back to the power of prayer that we discussed in previous lessons...what are some strategic ways we can pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in individuals, churches and area ministries to the materially poor? Let’s commit to pray that we continue to have soft hearts and seek His guidance as we ourselves need changing as we reach out to the materially poor and the ministries who serve them. Prayer Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 7

SERVING STUDY

Journey of Discovery Your class may have been out in the community visiting a ministry site, taking a prayer walk, or simply been in the classroom doing a session together. Allow time for the following discussion: From week to week our class really is on a journey of discovery together. We would like to take a few moments right now to reflect on what you learned from our last time together. The Word of God, Spirit of God and people of God were all at work during our last meeting as a group. Reflecting on the last class discussion we had regarding triggers for change, I want to remind you of our conversation where we learned from Jesus about reaching out to people in need and affirming that they indeed did want change in their lives. It is important to treasure the dignity of individuals and to really grasp the concept that there are in fact, people who do not desire change...and we need to respect that. In thinking through possible triggers for change we identified these triggers: • a recent crisis • the burden of the status quo becoming so overwhelming that people want to pursue change • the introduction of a new way of doing or seeing things that could improve people’s lives Today’s lesson will challenge each of us in an area that there is surely need for us to grow. Let’s open in prayer and invite the Spirit of God to open our hearts and minds to what He has for us today. Scripture Read aloud Matthew 5:1-12 Watch DVD version of these verses Urban Entry Session 1, Bonus Information, Beatitudes (1 ½ minutes long) Briefly discuss observations or responses to this. Very powerful 1 ½ minutes! Urban Entry Lesson 3 (15 minutes long) Prior to watching the lesson, pause to ask the class to jot down any observations, thoughts or challenges they may have while watching the lesson. Watch lesson 3

Let’s take a few minutes to quietly reflect and write in our journals about how we personally are doing in handling diverse cultures. Ask yourself a few questions… 1) How am I doing when it comes to interacting with people who are culturally different from me? 2) How am I being challenged in this area? Where do I need to grow? 3) Do I have a lingering prejudice or set of stereotypes that I need God’s help with? Discussion: Use the sheets at the end of the lesson with verses already printed with questions, or use the references below to look them up together...your choice, choose what verses you’d like to cover based on time. Reading and Questions: Read: (you will find these verses and questions printed out on the following pages) • Philippians 3:4-11 • Acts 9:1-19

Based on these passages how would you describe Paul’s cultural background? How did it influence his understanding of God? What is your cultural background? How does it influence you? Read:

• 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 • Galatians 2:11-21 • 2 Corinthians 11:21-29

Based on these passages what do you learn about how Paul gave up his culture or suffered in crossing cultures? Read:

• Galatians 3:23-29 • 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Paul calls for a unity among diverse believers. Why? Read: • • • •

Galatians 5:1-6, 13-15 Romans 14:13-23 Philippians 2:1-5 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

How does Paul expect communities to deal with diverse cultures? Prayer Lord, please give us soft hearts and an awareness of Your desire to make us more like You in treasuring humanity and seeing each person I meet as an image-bearer of You.

Verses & Questions for Lesson 7 1. Based on these passages how would you describe Paul’s cultural background? How did it influence his understanding of God? What is your cultural background? How does it influence you? Philippians 3:4-11 (ESV) ...though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Acts 9:1-19 (ESV) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen

instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. 2. Based on the three passages below what do you learn about how Paul gave up his culture or suffered in crossing cultures? 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV) For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Galatians 2:11-21 (ESV) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

2 Corinthians 11:21-29 (ESV) But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 3. In the following verses, Paul calls for a unity among diverse believers. Why? Galatians 3:23-29 (ESV) Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV) As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 4. In the following verses, how does Paul expect communities to deal with diverse cultures? Galatians 5:1-6 (ESV) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every

man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. Galatians 5:13-15 (ESV) For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Romans 14:13-23 (ESV) Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Philippians 2:1-5 (ESV) 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 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, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (ESV) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should

say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Class 8

SERVING STUDY

Opening Begin with Urban Entry Session 1, Bonus track, Beatitudes (1 ½ mins) This is valuable to use with your class from time to time because of the way it confronts each of us in different ways and draws us to live more compassion filled, Christ-like lives. Journey of Discovery Your class may have been out in the community visiting a ministry site, taking a prayer walk, or simply have done the previous classroom session together. Regardless, it is important to allow time for reflection as a group. Our last class discussion was on the topic of cultural diversity, specifically we watched the Urban Entry video of the multiracial couple and we read verses and thought about Paul and how his ministry involved embracing AND dropping his culture...depending upon the situation. Discuss: What areas did you journal about last week? Where you are being challenged? What specific stereotypes do you personally need the Lord’s help processing? As we continue the journey of thinking through the culture we come from and how it could possibly be a blessing or a hindrance, it will be important to allow the Spirit of God to bring sight where we’re blind, healing where we’re wounded and trust where there is fear. Today we will watch two different clips regarding issues of race. A few instructions: 1) Please journal thoughts, questions or responses that you want to remember while watching and we will dialogue afterwards. This is so important! 2) Please understand that none of what we are watching is intended to make you feel guilty. We are disciples...learners under discipline. So we invite the Holy Spirit to be free to work in our hearts as we take in this material. 3) Our goal is to seek to understand others’ journeys as well as our own. 4) Consider how God wants to use this material in your life and your sphere of influence. I promise you this: God can & will use you to confront racism if you are willing. This is a difficult topic...we need to offer a safe place for dialogue and a boatload of grace. God offers that to each of us, and we then can extend it to one another. Yes? This classroom needs to be a safe place to openly talk through these issues.

Scripture Genesis 1:26-27 Have a class member read this aloud…or better yet, have a few different class members open their Bible and have multiple voices read these verses aloud. Simple, but very powerful. The Story of Race: a History (8:28 minutes long) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No5ai6LZLFg Watch the clip Ask for thoughts of those in your class. The clip is obviously an overview of just a part of the world for a specific few hundred years’ time. It is meant to help get us thinking. Guide your class in a way that allows safe conversations and reactions. Steer the discussion as needed to honor the Lord and each other well. Push yourself and your class to trust God to change any parts of your heart that are hardened, wounded or cold. A Class Divided-Blue Eyes Brown Eyes (17 minutes long) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/view.html Watch the clip, chapters 1 & 2 Let’s discuss any reactions we have based on what we’ve just seen. Considering that God is the One Who created diversity, the One Who values all of His creation and made each of us in His very image...it can inspire us to serve others well and get to know Him better through the variety of people we meet. Praise God that He has us on a journey of transformation day by day, moment by moment. Prayer Based on time, pray with great sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 9

SERVING STUDY

Journey of Discovery Your class may have been out in the community visiting a ministry site, taking a prayer walk, or simply have done the previous classroom session together. Regardless, it is important to allow time for reflection as a group. Think of questions specific to what you experienced as a group and lead a time of reflection. Our last discussion in class was on the topic of race. Specifically, we watched the video clips of the classroom experiment with brown eyes/blue eyes and the overview of the history of race in America. What areas did you journal about last week that have further challenged you personally? We are on a very important journey of discovery as we take class time to consider racism and its effects on our society and us. Today we will continue to watch a video that will challenge us to consider the effects of institutional racism. As you watch and listen, please note what institutions you learn about that uphold racist practices and policies. A few instructions, reminders from last week: • Please journal thoughts, questions or responses that you want to remember and we will dialogue afterwards. • Please understand that none of what we are watching is intended to make you feel guilty. We are disciples...learners under discipline. So we invite the Holy Spirit to be free to work in our hearts as we take in this material. • Our goal is to seek to understand. • Consider how God wants to use this material in your life and your sphere of influence. • This is a difficult topic...we need to offer a safe place for dialogue and a boatload of grace. God offers that to each of us, and we then can extend it to one another. This classroom needs to be a safe place to openly talk through these issues. Race: The Power of an Illusion: Session 3 The House We Live In (30 minutes long) You will need to purchase the rights to view this for $2.99. It will be available for you to watch for a 7-day period, so be sure to purchase it within the proper timeframe for your class session. Purchase Session 3 at the following website: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/race Watch the video (for this class discussion start it at 26:33 and watch to the end) Discussion A few observations to begin the conversation:

“Claiming we don’t see race won’t end racial inequality.” “We don’t ask for stereotypes, we inherit them.” Questions: 1) The narrator spoke of equal opportunity, yet needing to look at equality of condition. What conditions most disturb you as you think through recent history in America and the impact on segments of the population? 2) In the video it was said that “we need to be willing to make the invisible visible” and to “look at who is included and who is not” in the places we are. Are there any issues or concerns that come to mind for you? 3) Is there something that God may be nudging you about, that is in your sphere of influence to make visible? Ideally, this will be an ongoing conversation in our church and our families. Please be faithful to journal continued thoughts so that we can journey with one another on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives relative to this topic. Prayer Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church.

Class 10

SERVING STUDY

CCDA 2011: Richard Twiss session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGw7AU6VDOs Watch from the beginning up to 1:20 just for an introduction. Then watch from 18:50 to 43:34 and stop the video. This will allow for a good presentation and give time for discussion. Discussion: Reminders: • We are disciples...learners under discipline. So we invite the Holy Spirit to be free to work in our hearts as we take in this material. • Our goal is to seek to understand. • Consider how God wants to use this material in your life and your sphere of influence. • This is a difficult topic...we need to offer a safe place for dialogue and a boatload of grace. God offers that to each of us, and we then can extend it to one another. This classroom needs to be a safe place to openly talk through these issues.

Questions: 1) Sometimes it is easy for us to forget that we too have a culture and carry it with us wherever we are. In sharing Christ we need to be alert to honor and respect people of differing cultures we intersect with. How tempted are we in our efforts of evangelization to snuff out the cultural beauty of people we serve? 2) Richard Twiss spoke of some very harsh realities in our history. Not only is it horrendous for a culture to behave the way some of our forefathers did, we must consider the loss for everyone. We all are now missing out on their unique role in the body of Christ. Take a minute to think through people groups who are missing due to violence from others. Spend a minute or two journaling who comes to mind and then share with the class who came to mind for you. 3) Were any of you surprised that it was only in 1924 that Native Americans were granted citizenship? 4) Were any of you surprised at the comment regarding voting rights? Imagine how it would feel to have the heritage of our Native American brothers and sisters. Think of all the stories passed down through the generations of how life had changed and so many rights were denied. How might this affect your ambition and hope as the younger generation? It is crucial that we continue to seek to be humble and respectful as disciples. To learn of history, to strive to understand and live empathetic lives, to be attentive to the burdens that weigh down our Native American brothers and sisters is truly what Christ has called us to if we intend to be compassionate disciples. Christ wants to bring comfort, peace and true Hope to the Native American community. Prayer As the Holy Spirit leads, close the conversation in prayer. Based on time, consider individual prayer requests or close in prayer asking God to minister to each class member, the community and your church. Final Retreat We will have an opportunity for more debriefing at our final class retreat. The retreat time is a culmination of all our class sessions and will be a rich time of directed activities to allow us to interact privately and as a class with all we have learned together. Please make it a priority to be part of this vital capstone to our learning sessions. Retreatâ&#x20AC;Śdiscuss the time, place and any relevant details for your class.