Get the word out

Get the word out A small group resource to get you thinking about your Bible

Contents Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 God with us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 How to use this material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Step I • Connect with God’s word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Activity 1 • The message*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Activity 2 • Mind the gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Activity 3 • Chocolate Christian* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Activity 4 • In my language? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Step II • Explore God’s word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Activity 1 • Instructions from God* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Activity 2 • Praise my soul (part 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Activity 3 • They think it’s all over* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Activity 4 • Down to earth* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Activity 5 • No chance!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Activity 6 • I don’t understand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Activity 7 • Look before you leap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Step III • Respond to God’s word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Activity 1 • Praise my Soul (part 2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Activity 2 • With all my heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Activity 3 • Sing together* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Activity 4 • God from A to Z* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Activity 5 • Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Step IV• Use God’s word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Activity 1 • In focus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Activity 2 • My favourite verse* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Activity 3 • Multiple choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Activity 4 • Babel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Activity 5 • 2025p for Vision 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Step V • Pray for God’s world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Activity 1 • Praying for God’s world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Activity resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Resource for Step 1: Activity 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Resource for Step 1: Activity 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Resource for Step 3: Activity 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

About Wycliffe Bible Translators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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Introduction

This resource is packed full of activities and resources that have been designed for you to use with friends, your home group, cell group, or any small group. This material will help you to have a clearer understanding of the needs of people groups who do not have the Bible in their mother tongue, and of Wycliffe Bible Translators’ vision to start translation with every language community that needs God’s word.

Have a great time together!

God with us For over 1,000 years the Sabaot people have lived on Mount Elgon in western Kenya. Traditionally nomadic herdsmen and hunters, they have become trapped between down-country agriculture and a protected national forest. Resources are limited and their self-esteem has suffered – but joyous music is breaking out over the slopes of this mountain.

Francis Kiboi, a Sabaot with a master’s degree in church history, is one of the team members. He says, ‘Africa has a long history with Christianity. But it’s never taken root because the Scriptures weren’t translated into the local languages. God’s word in mother tongue is absolutely imperative for evangelism and church growth.’

When reading the newly translated Gospel of Luke to a group of people, suddenly an elderly woman understood what she was hearing. She jumped to her feet and called out, ‘Read it again, so the rest of these people can also hear it! I just heard that for the first time! Please read it again!’

The Sabaot New Testament was published, and literacy classes are in constant demand. Mount Elgon is humming with the sounds of reading classes – which are indeed music to God’s ears, as people learn to read his word.

Francis Kiboi says, ‘Before the Scriptures came to my people, Jesus seemed to be distant and foreign. But now that we have the Scriptures in the language, he is walking with us on this mountain. God is with us, and he is Sabaot!’

This is what Bible translation is all about – the power of God’s word in the mother tongue.

Wycliffe Bible Translators’ vision is that a Bible translation project will start in every language that needs it by 2025.

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Introduction How to use this material Not used to small group meetings? Don’t worry – it’s simple. Read each activity, select the most suitable and prepare beforehand. Watch the clock, as time runs away once people start discussing. Some activities don’t need to finish in the time.

There are five steps: • Connect with God’s word – valuing what we have • Explore God’s word – Bible study and quiz • Respond to God’s word – praise with understanding • Use God’s word – applying the Bible and considering the challenges of sharing it • Pray for God’s world – spend time praying for the work of Bible translation and those without the Bible You could choose one from each section one week, and then try some others on another occasion. Or you could just take one activity to add to your regular programme. Adapt and improvise. If time is short, the ones marked with a * as ‘Key Activities’ will probably be the most helpful.

Each activity is also marked with one or more categories and an estimated time – use these to get an idea of each activity and plan your session. The categories to look for are…

• Look at this • Giving • Bible study • Music • Discussion • Prayer More information, resources and follow up to this activity pack are available at wycliffe.org.uk/getthewordout.

Let’s get started!

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Step I • Connect with God’s word Activity 1 • The message* Description: Consider the importance of having Scripture in your own language Estimated time: 5 – 10 minutes Category: Look at this, Discussion To prepare: print or photocopy the verse in the activity resources pages. It’s John 3:16 in Bru (a language from Vietnam) but don’t tell anyone yet. Place the verse in an envelope, seal it and write ‘Important message from God’ on the outside.

Announce to the group that you have an ‘important message from God’ and hand it to one of your group. Invite them to open it and read it aloud. When the group are unable to understand the message, ask, ‘How does that make you feel? And how do you feel about a God who sends a message to you in this way?’

The group might like to know about Cameron Townsend, a young American missionary in Guatemala in 1919. He was distributing the Bible in Spanish. One man from an indigenous people group reputedly asked him, ‘If your God is so great, why can’t he speak my language?’ That was Townsend’s ‘Aha!’ moment. After translating the New Testament into that language, he returned to the USA and founded Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Activity 2 • Mind the gap Description: Test how well you know the Bible Estimated time: 10 – 15 minutes Category: Bible study, Discussion Ask the group one or more of the questions below. Ask each person to contribute.

1. If you could only have one book in your Bible, which would it be and why?

2. Quote a verse from each book of the Bible or name one main event / lesson in each book of the Bible as far as you can go. Use a list of books of the Bible to keep a tally. How can you close the gaps?

3. Name the most widely known book in the Bible. John’s Gospel? How well do you know it? Name the main event(s) in each chapter, as far as you can go. (The leader checks and prompts.) Do you wish you knew your Bible better?

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Step I • Connect with God’s word Activity 3 • Chocolate Christian* Description: Illustrate the disparity of Bible translation between people groups… with chocolate Estimated time: 5 – 10 minutes Category: Discussion Form four unequal groups: half in group 1, a quarter in group 2, two-thirds of the rest in group 3, and the remainder in group 4. Give one piece of chocolate to group 3, a medium-sized bar of chocolate to group 2, the largest bar you can find to group 4, and nothing to group 1.

Discuss: • Is that fair?

• What can we do about it?

• Why might some people not share what they have with the have-nots? What if they had a never-ending supply?

Explain: The giant chocolate bar represents the whole Bible (66 books), the medium-sized bar represents the New Testament (27 books), and one square of chocolate represents one book of the Bible.

The size of the groups roughly represents the proportion of languages in the world that have no Scriptures (group 1: 50%) or at least one book (group 3: 15%) or a New Testament (group 2: 25%) or a complete Bible (group 4: 10%).

Is that fair?

Discuss: What does the Bible say about sharing? Read 2 Corinthians 8:13 and Luke 6:38. What can we do about the unequal opportunities there are to hear God’s word in the language people know best?

Wycliffe’s vision is that Bible translation will begin in every language that still needs it by 2025.

Progress: Number of languages with the Bible: 471; New Testament: 1,223; at least one book: 1,002; in definite need of Scripture: 2,040. (Statistics from September 2011) Visit wycliffe.net/statistics for the latest statistics.

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Step I • Connect with God’s word Activity 4 • In my language?

Description: Experience the feeling of Bibleless-ness Estimated time: 5 – 10 minutes Category: Look at this, Discussion Photocopy or print the four verses on the activity resources pages and cut into equal sizes.

Call four volunteers to the front and give them each a card, blank side up. Tell them, ‘When I say “go!” turn the cards over and read what is written on the other side, all together, at once, out loud.’

Ask the three silent ones what was wrong. (It’s not my language… I can’t pronounce this… I don’t understand this… I can’t read this… There’s nothing on my card… etc)

Discuss: • What would you feel about God if he spoke to you in a language you couldn’t understand?

• What would you feel about the person who gave you a message from God you couldn’t even read?

• This is what it must feel like to many people around the world because the Bible hasn’t been translated into their language yet. How many languages do you think there are without a single verse of the Bible? Under 500? 500 – 1,000? 1,000 – 2,000? Over 2,000? (Over 2,000. Visit wycliffe.net/statistics for latest statistics.)

• Apart from these, Bible translation is going on in… how many languages, do you think? (Over 1,900)

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Step II • Explore God’s word Activity 1 • Instructions from God* Description: A Bible study about the importance of attending to God’s word Estimated time: 30 minutes Category: Discussion, Bible study Read as a group the whole of Proverbs 4.

Consider together one or more of these questions: 1. How can we keep God’s word always in our sight and in our hearts (v 21)?

2. What is the practical value of God’s word? Share examples.

3. Why is it unwise to ignore God’s word?

4. What about those who have never read God’s word, either because they cannot read or because it doesn’t exist in their language? Also, what do we read about this elsewhere in Scripture? (e.g. Romans 10:13 – 15; Matthew 28:19 – 20)

Activity 2 • Praise my soul (part 1) Description: Finding songs in the Scriptures. This activity goes well with Option 1 of Step 3.

Estimated time: 30 minutes Category: Bible study Allocate Psalms to members of the group to work in pairs. They can have several each. They try to identify songs based on those Psalms – they’ll end up singing! Give them 5-10 minutes to do this and then all share. The worship leader keeps a list of those identified (and some to be sung in Step 3 Activity 1).

Some Psalms to look at: 8, 9, 23, 27, 34, 36, 40, 42, 48, 67, 84, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 104, 113, 134, 136, 137, 138, 145, 148, 150.

Point out that some people don’t have the Psalms in their own language, and certainly no songs based on them to feed their souls on (Psalm 119:97).

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Step II • Explore God’s word Activity 3 • They think it’s all over* Description: Quiz time Estimated time: 25 minutes Category: Discussion To prepare: you need to photocopy or print the 2 lists in Round 5.

The leader asks the group to split into two teams. There are 5 rounds. The leader should be the time keeper, keep the scores and announce them after each round and at the end.

Once teams are chosen, the leader asks one person from each team to go with him/her out of the room. They will represent people who do not have God’s word in their language. The leader should quickly instruct them that for Round 1 they should pretend not to know the answer e.g. say ‘I don’t know’ in discussion of the question with other team members. The leader will explain this to the others at the end of Round 1.

Round 1: Men with a mission Rules: Name as many as you can. Team members can confer. 1 point for each right answer, maximum 12 points. If one team does not gain 12 points, the others can try to fill up the total and gain extra points.

Time limit: 2 minutes per team.

Team A: Q1: Name Jesus’ 12 disciples A1:

Simon Peter, John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, Judas, son of James (also known as Thaddaeus)... and of course Judas Iscariot (Acts 1)

Team B: Q1: Name the 12 sons of Israel (original tribes) A1:

The 12 sons of Israel (Jacob) were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher and Joseph. These were the ancestors of the original twelve tribes. (Genesis 35:23 – 26)

Explain to the teams about why two of them didn’t seem to know anything: they represent people who don’t have God’s word in their language.

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Step II • Explore God’s word Round 2: Investing time in the future Rules: Multiple choice. If one team cannot answer, the others can gain an extra point by answering correctly.

Time limit: 1 minute per question.

Q1: (For Team A) At the last count, the largest number of cross-cultural missionaries sent outside their country were Americans. What was the nationality of the second largest contingent?

A UK B Korea C India D Brazil Q2: (For Team B) People from every language group will worship before God’s throne in heaven (Revelation 7:9).

How many people groups can already worship God from the heart, because at least part of God’s word has been translated into their language?

A 3,408 B 1,987 C 4,112 D 2,883 Q3: (For Team A) Translation work is in progress for how many language groups at present?

A 893 B 1,426 C 2,195 D 2,804 Q4: (For Team B) Bible translation still needs to be started for how many language groups?

A 504 B 1,554 C 2,185 D 1,860 Q5: (For Team A) Most of these languages are in three areas of the world with the most translation needs. Papua New Guinea is in one of them. Which of these countries is in another hot spot?

A India B Kenya C Iran D Senegal Q6: (For Team B) And one more is…?

A Sudan B Peru C Nigeria D Pakistan Answers: Q1: D (34,000) Q2: D Q3: C Q4: D Q5: A Q6: C

Round 3: Odd one out Rules: Which is the odd one out? Up to 3 points (1 or 2 points for partial answer).

If totally wrong, the other side can answer.

Time limit: 2 minutes per team.

Team A: A Ephesus B Antioch C Philadelphia D Philippi Answer: D, Philippi is only one in Europe – the rest are in Asia OR C, no record of Paul visiting Philadelphia – only mentioned in Revelation.

Team B: A Silas B Paul C Barnabus D James Answer: D, the only one of these pioneer missionaries to remain within Jewish society; all the others crossed geographic, religious and cultural boundaries with the gospel OR James is the only one to write an eponymous New Testament book.

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Step II • Explore God’s word Round 4: Quick-fire Rules: Complete these famous quotations (roughly, if not word-for-word). First person to answer from either team scores 1 point for a correct answer. Team members give different signals to indicate someone who wants to answer.

Teams need not wait to hear the whole question but if wrong answer is given, the other team can answer.

Time limit: 10 seconds per question once someone has signalled.

1. (From John 14) I am the way… the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 2. (From Matthew 28) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20 3. (From Philippians 2) At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Philippians 2:10 4. (From Joel 2) Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord… shall be saved. Joel 2:32 5. (From Isaiah 52 and Romans 10) How beautiful on the mountains… are the feet of those who bring good news.

Romans 10:14 6. (From Acts 4) Salvation is found in no one else… for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 7. (From Psalm 113) From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets… the Lord’s name is to be praised. Psalm 113:3 8. (From Acts 1) You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you… and you will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 9. (From 2 Timothy 3) All Scripture is God-breathed and… is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 10. From Habakkuk 2) For the earth will be filled with… the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

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Step II • Explore God’s word Round 5: Who, what, where am I? Rules: One member of each team is given a list of names/events/places from the Gospels and Acts. S/He describes each name on the list, without using the word, for the rest of team to guess. One point for each correct answer. If no one can answer, the describer may pass. A copy of list A is given to Team A candidate when ready to start. After Team A finishes, list B is given to Team B candidate.

Time limit: 3 minutes.

List for Team A

List for Team B

1. Simon Peter 2. Wedding at Cana 3. John the Baptist 4. Martha & Mary 5. Caiaphas 6. Barabbas 7. Mary Magdalena 8. Caesar Augustus 9. Joseph of Arimathea 10. Legion 11. 153 12. Cock crows 3 times 13. Potter’s field 14. Doubting Thomas 15. Pentecost 16. Simon the Tanner 17. Ethiopian eunuch 18. Ephesus 19. Barnabas 20. Malta

1. Matthew 2. Herod 3. Elizabeth 4. Zacchaeus 5. Good Samaritan 6. Pilate 7. Simon of Cyrene 8. Gabriel 9. Lazarus 10. Ascension 11. Matthias 12. 3000 13. Damascus Road 14. Stephen 15. Ananias & Sapphira 16. Cornelius 17. Athens 18. Lydia 19. Tent making 20. King Agrippa

Announce winners Final word to everyone: ‘The two people who kept saying “I don’t know” in round one were only pretending!

However, many people around the world (and in the UK) reject the gospel and really don’t know much about it. What is more, more than 300 million people couldn’t find out anyway, because there are no Scriptures in their language.

Some people may think, “Bible translation? Surely it’s all over.” But there is still much to do!’

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Step II • Explore God’s word Activity 4 • Down to earth* Description: Take a look at the Pentecost account.

Estimated time: 15 – 20 minutes Category: Discussion, Bible study Read Acts 2:1 – 12 What did the disciples speak about? v 11 How many places did the foreign visitors come from? vv 9 – 11, 15 Where are these places today? east (Iraq), north (Turkey), south (Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia), west (Italy, Crete) The disciples spoke Aramaic, the foreign visitors spoke the international language, Greek, and the language of their home country. How did the disciples communicate with them? v 8 in their native language What impact did this have on the crowd? v 6 instant attention, bewilderment; v 7 utterly amazed; v 11 understood; v 12 perplexed.

Many people understand several languages, but their native language still means more to them. Why? It penetrates more deeply, to where they think, decide, feel and dream.

So what did they still not understand? v 12 Why didn’t God enable the disciples to speak the international language, Greek?

To show he respects and values the richness of all these languages and cultures. He graciously speaks to us in our heart language. Read Romans 10:6 – 8.

When we get to heaven, will we have to learn Greek songs?

Revelation 7:9 – 10 So one thing we learn from Acts 2 is that if you really want someone to understand…

Use the language that speaks to them deeply.

So how should we talk to people about God – the very young, old, or less well educated? What about people in the UK who don’t speak English very well?

Use a translation in simple English? Help them to learn English? Give them a Bible in their own language if there is one?

What about people who speak one of 2,000+ languages that don’t have the Bible?

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Step II • Explore God’s word Activity 5 • No chance!

Description: Bible quiz with varying levels of Bible access Estimated time: 15 minutes Category: Discussion Form four teams. Half in Team 1, a quarter in Team 2, two-thirds of the rest in Team 3, and the remainder in Team 4.

Give a few Bibles to Team 4, at least one New Testament to Team 2, a few Gospels or Scripture booklets to Team 3, and only an apology to Team 1!

Explain: This is a Bible quiz. The teams represent different languages.

Team 4 speak languages that have the Bible – 10%.

Team 2 speak languages that have the New Testament – 25%.

Team 3 speak languages that have at least one book of the Bible – 15%.

Team 1 speak languages that have no Scripture – 50%.

Each question has a clue – if no one answers, reveal the clue verse for a scramble to the answer. One point for the team to answer the question correctly first.

1. How many people in the capital of the Assyrian Empire were saved from destruction after Jonah went and preached there? Clue: Jonah 4:11. 120,000+ 2. What does the apostle Peter tell the Jews to do in order to receive God’s promise of blessing?

Clue: Acts 3:12,25,26. Turn from their wicked ways.

3. What three promises did God give Abraham?

Clue: Genesis 12:1 – 3. To bless him, to make his descendants a great nation, to bless all nations through him.

4. What does the apostle Paul tell people who aren’t Jews to do in order to receive God’s blessing?

Clue: Galatians 3:8 – 9. Believe God’s promise like Abraham did.

5. Where did Abraham stop when he reached the promised land?

Clue: Genesis 12:6. Moreh, Shechem 6. What major decision did Paul make after preaching to Jews in modern-day Turkey?

Clue: Acts 13:14,46. Only preach the gospel to non-Jews from now on 7. What made Abraham believe God’s astonishing promise?

Clue: Genesis 15:5 – 6. He realised that God made the stars out of nothing, so he could surely make a nation out of Abraham.

So the winners are… probably Team 4. Give them a box of chocolates or other treat.

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Step II • Explore God’s word Discuss: • Why did they win? Is that fair?

• These groups represent how many languages have how much of the Bible. What does this show?

How unfair it is for more than 300 million people who do not have God’s word in their language and so have no chance of answering God’s questions?

Ask Team 1 to read Romans 10:13 – 14, changing ‘they’ to ‘we’.

Those who had a Bible found the answer and won the prize. So what is one reason why we need the Bible? To know the gospel, to know Jesus, the Bread of Life, who satisfies now and for eternity.

Those who didn’t have a Bible didn’t know the answer, so they missed the prize. What about speakers of 2,000+ languages that don’t have God’s word? They don’t know how they can be saved.

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Step II • Explore God’s word Activity 6 • I don’t understand Description: How does it feel to only understand bits of the Bible?

Estimated time: 15 minutes Category: Discussion Explain: Many people around the world understand their own language well and at least one other to some extent. For example, in Nigeria there are 500+ languages. Hausa is widely used to communicate between language groups. The Hausa Bible is often used in churches where there are no Scriptures in the local language. The leader speaks in Hausa, and someone translates off the cuff into the local language. Sometimes, the translator doesn’t understand or can’t explain difficult words like ‘God’ or ‘sin’, so he either guesses or misses them out. Because these are key words, the main point of the message is lost.

Say: ‘This will give you some idea what it feels like. Here is Acts 2:38 – 39 in the King James Version (or another old English translation), from Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost.’

Now display this verse on a PowerPoint presentation, overhead or big sheet of paper: ‘Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.’

What words are difficult to understand or explain? Point them out or underline them: repent, baptised, remission, Holy Spirit, Lord, God, ye, afar, unto, Christ, sins.

If you don’t understand these words, you will miss the main point of the message. But a translator in a church in Nigeria may guess them wrongly or miss them out. Cross out the words underlined and read out the incomplete verse to show how hard it is to guess the meaning.

This is why some people spent years and gave their lives translating it into English you can understand! Now imagine you are the translator. How would you translate these key words so that people today could understand?

Give them time to discuss and give feedback. Then show them a modern translation such as the NLT: ‘Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to those far away, all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ Imagine you are an evangelist. There isn’t much response. What could be the reason? The people don’t understand my language.

What would you do about it? Speak their language!

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Step II • Explore God’s word Activity 7 • Look before you leap Description: Visual aids for thinking about sharing God’s story Estimated time: 15 minutes Category: Discussion Produce a suitcase and a school bag, and ask: What do the suitcase and the school bag have in common?

Carrying, travel Which do you associate with Matthew 28:19 – 20?

Probably the suitcase Why? Probably ‘because Jesus told the disciples to go abroad.’

What is the purpose of the journey?

Make and teach disciples If the suitcase represents a long journey with a special purpose, what does the schoolbag represent?

A short, everyday journey Can you think of a time when one of Jesus’ disciples had an opportunity to ‘make disciples’ in an everyday situation? Acts 3:1 – 8, a God incident and an opportunity to share the good news.

So do you have to go a long way to ‘make and teach disciples’?

And what is the main point about obeying Jesus’ command?

Your purpose, destination.

Imagine you’re setting off to ‘make and teach disciples’ overseas. Apart from clothes, passport (etc), which 5 ‘luxury items’ from the following would you put in your suitcase? ornaments? guitar? TV? mosquito net? skis? mobile phone? medicines? English Bibles to give away? ipod? contact details of people you will be working with, prayer supporters, financial supporters? pet kitten? anti-malarial tablets? electric fan? water filter? anything else?

Discuss your reasons.

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Step III • Respond to God’s word Activity 1 • Praise my soul (part 2) Description: Use Psalm songs to praise God Estimated time:15 minutes Category: Music Sing some of the songs identified in Step 2 Option 2 (above).

Activity 2 • With all my heart Description: A story from Uganda about the impact of Scripture songs in local musical forms Estimated time:15 minutes Category: Music Read this story from Uganda: Music and dance are woven into Banyole culture. They bleed rhythm and beat! When a Banyole spiritual leader dies, a ceremony is held to replace him. People dance and sing to the rhythm of the efumbo drum for days on end. Because of this association with traditional religion, the efumbo and other traditional instruments are taboo in the churches. On Sundays it is common to hear beautiful African voices singing Amazing Grace and other foreign imports – in English!

They neither connect with the words nor the music, because neither is truly theirs.

However, this began to change when 20 Banyole musicians from several church denominations attended a workshop hosted by a specialist in traditional musical forms. Their common purpose was to praise Almighty God using Banyole words and music, including the efumbo. In just five days they composed over 30 songs based on Jonah, John 9 and Psalm 23. Then the songs were recorded and distributed around the churches.

Many musicians had their eyes opened and one church leader said, ‘When the words are ours, it’s one thing, but when the music is ours, we are convinced: God can truly be our God! ‘Now, when someone in church pounds out a familiar beat on an efumbo, eyes light up, bodies sway, the borderline between young and old is erased, and the whole body of Christ joins in – a joy to behold!’

Read Bible verses that exhort us to worship God from the heart (Psalm 150, Psalm 98:4 – 6, Isaiah 29:13, John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 14:15, Luke 19:37 – 40).

Then sing to God songs you know well. Use as many musical instruments as possible, and anything else you can use to make a joyful noise to God.

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Step III • Respond to God’s word Activity 3 • Sing together* Description: Amazing Grace Estimated time: 3 minutes Category: Music If your group has a worship time, then this may be helpful. The words of Amazing Grace are provided on the activity resource pages or are downloadable from wycliffe.org.uk/getthewordout. The first verse, which should be available for the group to sing (put it on PowerPoint, OHP or a big sheet of paper), is in English. Then put up verse 2 in Spanish.

If there is a good lead singer, this should go OK. Then reveal verse 3 in Hebrew – the singing will stop.

Explain: ‘Although we may know some words in Spanish, singing in Spanish did not mean much. Across the world, many people worship in a language they may hardly know, like a trade language.

‘Verse 3 was in Hebrew, so we couldn’t sing at all. This is what it is like to be illiterate. A billion people in the world are illiterate.

If their language is unwritten, that is a further barrier. How can they understand God’s word?

‘Isn’t it frustrating trying to worship when you don’t understand the words?

‘Let’s praise God for giving us his word!’

Activity 4 • God from A to Z* Description: Using our alphabet to help us worship God Estimated time: 30 minutes Category: Music, Discussion This activity can be done in small groups or individually. Distribute sheets of paper with letters of the alphabet written on them.

Write a word or phrase describing who God is, one of God’s attributes, beginning with each letter of the alphabet, and, if possible, a Bible verse with that word or idea.

Eg W: Jesus is the way to God. ‘I am the way… no-one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6) Use ingenuity!

Eg Z: God is zero-tolerant of sin. ‘God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.’ (1 John 1:5) Someone from each group reads out what they have written down.

Praise God for who he is, in your own words.

Then, from what has been shared, choose songs that focus on who God is; as Psalm 95:1 puts it: ‘Sing for joy to the Lord; shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. The Lord is the great God, the great King.’

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Step III • Respond to God’s word Activity 5 • Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven Description: A story from Kenya about the power of Scripture to heal traumas Estimated time: 15 minutes Category: Music, Bible study Read this story from Kenya: Untold numbers of people in Eastern Africa have suffered severe trauma from ethnic conflict and need emotional, mental and spiritual healing through God’s word in their language. People from seven language groups in five countries attended a workshop in Kenya to translate a handbook into these languages, and to be trained to run healing seminars.

André Mpandza writes, The most helpful part for me was sharing the wounds in our hearts with each other. We saw the hurts in our hearts and in the hearts of our communities back home. We were amazed how much we had in common with each other. One man said, We have all suffered the same as though we all came from one country!

‘We wrote our hurts on pieces of paper. After reading some Scripture together, we all put our papers on a large cross on the floor, saying, “I take my suffering to Jesus.” Then we went outside and burned the papers. Seeing them reduced to ashes transformed my heart! This was a real step towards healing for many of us.’

• Read appropriate verses like Matthew 11:28 – 30.

• Give each person a sticky note and invite them to write a letter or word, or draw a symbol for any fears, anxieties, pains, anger, jealousy, regrets, hate, disappointments (etc) they may have, or the name of anyone they are concerned about.

• Fold and stick them on a large paper cross on the floor to signify ‘taking them to Jesus’, like the Christians in Uganda.

• Lead the group in a time of forgiveness. Read Matthew 6:9 – 15 and Philippians 4: 6,7,19. Then thank God for being the answer to all our needs.

• Finally sing songs of thanksgiving to God for listening / accepting / caring / understanding / forgiving / answering / being everything we need.

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Step IV• Use God’s word Activity 1 • In focus Description: A story about the impact of the Scriptures Estimated time: 5 – 10 minutes Category: Giving, Look at this Leader’s introduction: Here is a story from a Wycliffe member in Cameroon, showing how God’s word in the language of the heart speaks straight to the heart. Whether in print, in a sermon, in conversation, by radio, by text message, on cassette, in video, film or DVD, it is ‘the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.’

(Romans 1:16) We were driving through the village of Ngai one day when we stopped to give the village chief a lift. We had just translated John’s Gospel and I had a recording of it. I put it into the car stereo, saying, ‘Kassed mbete Zah munu!’

(This is a recording of a Bible story.)

The old man perked up. There has never been a more animated listener in my car since! After the initial amazement of hearing his mother tongue, he stared, grunting, ‘Mmmm’, at the amazing teaching of Zezu. He had heard the story in the unfamiliar trade language. Now he clapped his hands and exclaimed in amazement, ‘Kay, kay, kay!’ Zezu had just fed 5,000 people with only five pengs and two nzuys. Incredible!

At each grunt, I glanced at the old man, absorbed in a different world. He was all ears, an intense look on his face.

Then came the sound of waves and wind, ‘Bivbidbivbid’, the kumbon almost tipping over, ‘Banglangbanglang’.

Zezu’s gunboks were terrified at the sight of a man walking on the water. ‘Don’t be afraid! It’s me, Zezu.’

The chief forgot about me. He was in the kumbon with Zezu’s gunboks. The sound effects helped. He saw Zezu coming on the waves and in the wind.

When the chief got out, we gave him the cassettes. He was thrilled!

A few weeks later, we passed Ngai village. A crowd of excited people gathered around. ‘Do you have any more cassettes? We want the book too!’

The chief had made everyone listen to the recording over and over. His enthusiasm was contagious. When we pass Ngai village, they still ask about the translation and buy the latest publication.

A year later, the chief passed away.

I think a lot about the way Zezu came alive to him. I know the story in his language entered his heart. I am looking forward to saying to him, ‘Hey, it’s me! Do you remember the lift I gave you?’

Each language is unique and perfectly suited for the people who think in it, dream in it and consider it their own language. Many people learn a national language for trade or educational purposes, but for understanding deep and meaningful concepts they use the language they learned first – their ‘heart’ language.

In over 2,000 languages, the pages of the Bible are blank, so there is no way to find out God’s message. Will this group help more people have access to the Bible in a language they really understand?

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Step IV• Use God’s word Activity 2 • My favourite verse* Description: God’s word needs to be used Estimated time: 15 minutes Category: Discussion, Look at this It’s no good just translating God’s word; it has to be used!

Sursurunga people of Papua New Guinea grow up with the belief that if they allow their young children to cry, evil spirits will come to take the child’s spirit, and the child will become sick and die. In order to keep their children from crying, parents start lying to their children from the day they are born. One example of this can be seen in an interaction between Tala and his mother. ‘Tala, we need to go.’ Little Tala refuses and cries so his mother says, ‘There’s a truck waiting on the road. Do you want to go for a ride?’ There is no truck, but Tala stops crying and goes with his mother. Both missions are accomplished – Tala obeys his mother and stops crying. The evil spirits have been thwarted and Tala will not get sick and die.

Because of this belief, lying has become an integral part of their culture. However, when Sursurunga parents learned in a Scripture application course that lying is a sin against God, they were convicted to change the way they relate to their children.

After the first lesson, one grandfather went home, called his family together, and confessed to them his sin of lying to his kids when they were small, saying that the moon would eat them if they cried. One of his daughters had started telling her kids the same lie. He picked up his nine-month-old grandchild, told her he was sorry, and asked her forgiveness. He asked his whole family to do the same thing, and he prayed, asking God to cut this sin from his family.

God uses different verses to speak to us at different times – verses of comfort, verses of hope, verses of encouragement, verses of instruction, verses of revelation.

Ask the group, ‘What is your favourite verse of the Bible, and why?’ Some may answer at once, while others may need time to think – they may be spoiled for choice, or they may not know enough of the Bible.

You could add, ‘Many people groups around the world only have one book of the Bible. If you could only have one book, which would you choose? And if you could only have one verse?’ Or, ‘Was there a special time when a verse became very meaningful to you?’

Ask each of them to share their favourite verses.

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Step IV• Use God’s word Activity 3 • Multiple choices Description: Scenarios to show the difficulties of relating cross-cultural Estimated time: 20 – 25 minutes Category: Discussion Set the scene: you are a team of Christian workers living in a small, remote village amongst the Kasena people of northern Ghana. You haven’t been there very long, and much of your time is taken up learning the Kasem language and building relationships with your Kasena neighbours. Kasem culture is very different from your own and you find yourself faced with new and difficult choices every day.

For each of the following scenarios, discuss which choice you would make, then take time to discuss the exercise using the questions that follow.

1. Dirty water You visit a village house after a long walk through the forest. Your host sees that you are thirsty and offers you a drink.

The water is warm, very dirty and has insects floating in it. You remember that disease is caused by drinking bad water.

What do you do?

• • • • •

Drink it eagerly and ask for more.

Refuse to touch a drop.

Drink a little and pray.

Take out your own flask of purified water.

Drop a water-purifying tablet into the drink you’ve been offered.

Ghanaians are very hospitable. In the north of the country visitors are always offered a drink of water. If you reject the drink you would be rejecting hospitality and would be considered very rude. On the other hand, dirty water is a serious health risk.

So it’s best to accept the drink but just take a sip, or even just pretend to drink. We usually prayed that the Lord would protect our health!

2. Borrowed bicycle Your neighbour borrows your bicycle without permission. What do you do?

• • • •

Call the police.

Tell the village chief.

Wait until he returns then get angry with him.

Lock it in future.

None of the suggestions here are really appropriate. If you ask your neighbour why he took the bicycle he would probably tell you he needed it: you were not using it and you are his friend! In a poorer society there are fewer personal possessions so it makes sense for them to be shared. If one person is not using their spade, bucket or bicycle then someone else might as well make use of it. Borrowing without asking showed we were being accepted into the local community.

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Step IV• Use God’s word 3. Plate of biscuits You offer round a plate of biscuits to some visitors who drop by to see you. The first visitor politely takes all of them. What do you do?

• • • • •

Ask for them back.

Get out a new packet.

Give visitors only water in future.

Drop a few hints about how expensive biscuits are.

Give them out one by one in future.

Western manners are not always logical. To a Kasena, what you offer is what you intend them to take. So if you intend your visitor to have one biscuit, just give him one. This situation only happened once. One of the chief’s elders was actually teasing us by taking the whole plate, so we asked for it back with a joke too.

4. Two brothers You see children fighting. A boy is beating up his brother with a stick. The little boy runs away bleeding and crying.

What do you do?

• • • •

Rebuke the big brother.

Chase them both away.

Comfort the little boy.

Do nothing.

Since you do not know the whole situation it would be best to do nothing except to ask someone else what is going on. In Ghana authority goes with age, so an older brother has authority over a younger brother and that authority may often be enforced physically. Many situations seemed wrong to us and we were often critical but when we asked for an explanation of what was happening we often learnt an important aspect of Kasem culture.

5. Washing line Your neighbour hangs washing on your line. What do you do?

• • • • •

Take the washing down.

Take the clothes line down.

Pin up a notice saying ‘50p to hang washing here’.

Buy your neighbour a clothes line.

Make no complaint. In future get your washing out first.

As with the borrowed bicycle, our washing line was empty and so available for others to use. When this first happened to us, the large cloth hanging just outside our door cut off the light so we could not continue our language study. After consulting with our Kasena language assistant, we moved the clothes around to restore our light and, in future, made sure we hung our washing out early if we wanted to use the line.

Then discuss the following: • • • •

What is culture?

How do you learn to act appropriately when living among people of another culture?

What factors did you take into account when you made your decisions?

Was there any disagreement in your group? Imagine what this is like for Christians working together overseas.

How would you handle such disagreements when you’re face to face with a choice that needs to be made?

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Step IV• Use God’s word Activity 4 • Babel Description: Practice learning a never-before-studied language Estimated time: 20 – 25 minutes Category: Discussion Distribute pens and paper. Form pairs or small groups and make up the first words in a language completely different from English.

They need: • • • •

a greeting a question (about anything) an answer goodbye

Spend 10 minutes learning and practising words and gestures. Then pair up with people from another group and teach/ learn each other’s language without using any other language you know. After 10 minutes you should each be able to speak two languages!

Feedback: • • • • •

How did you make yourself understood in your language?

How did you teach someone else your language?

How did you get on learning a language completely different from English?

Did you understand the words?

Does this activity show you anything about communicating the gospel across the language barrier?

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Step IV• Use God’s word Activity 5 • 2025p for Vision 2025 Description: Think about the money needed for Bible translation Estimated time: 10 minutes Category: Discussion, Giving Discuss: Wycliffe’s vision is that, by 2025, Bible translation will start in every language that needs it – Vision 2025.

• What will it take for this to become a reality? More prayer, people, partnership and pounds!

• What for? Training trainers from this country and translators overseas; living expenses for both; equipment for both (computers etc); buildings to work in; printing Scripture; transport, etc.

Read together: ‘So two good things will happen: the needs of Christians will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God.’ 2 Corinthians 9:12

Challenge: Could we raise 2025p for Vision 2025? Or £202.50 in a few months?

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Step V • Pray for God’s world Activity 1 • Praying for God’s world Description: In response, pray for the work to reach every language group with God’s Story.

Download the prayer cards from our website and distribute them (wycliffe.org.uk/getthewordout). They carry information about Bible translation and prayer requests for people groups who do not have any of the Bible in their language. Some don’t yet have a written language; some are in desperate need of not only translators, but also literacy classes and financial resources.

Discuss: Wycliffe’s vision is that Bible translation will start in every language that needs it by 2025 (Vision 2025).

• What will it take for this to happen?

• How can we pray for this impossible challenge?

Read together: ‘If you have faith and don’t doubt, you can even say to this mountain, “May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,” and it will happen.’ Matthew 21:21 Let’s move these mountains!

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Activity resources Resource for Step 1: Activity 1 Place this message in an envelope marked ‘An important message from God’:

Yiang Sursi, an bun ong muoi lam Con sang. Co an ayooq luq nheq tuh cuai, ngkiq Yiang Sursi yon Con an seng ot tang cuteq nai. Cuai aleq ca sa-am Con nai, raviei cuai ki to nai cuchit put, ma luq samoat an tamoong mantai.

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Activity resources Resource for Step 1: Activity 4

Kita mendengar mereka berkata-kata dalam bahasa hita sendiri tentang perbuatan-perbuatan besar yang dilakukan Allah.

Acts 2:11 (Indonesian)

Acts 2:11 (Hindi)

Acts 2:11 In 2,000+ languages

We all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!

Acts 2:11

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Activity resources Resource for Step 3: Activity 3 Amazing Grace verse 1 (English)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.

Amazing Grace verse 2 (Spanish)

En los peligros o aflicción Que yo he tenido aquí, Su gracia siempre me libró, Y me guiará feliz.

Back translation:

Through many dangers or distress That I have had here, His grace always saved me, And lead me home.

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Activity resources Amazing Grace verse 3 (Hebrew)

Back translation:

When we were (have been) there ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun There won’t remain for us less days to sing in praise of God Than when we began.

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About Wycliffe Bible Translators Worldwide there are more than 200 million people in around 2,000 languages who do not have access to the story of God’s love for his people – the story of the Bible – in the language they understand best, their ‘heart’ language.

Wycliffe Bible Translators believe that the Bible is the best way for people to come to know and understand who God is. Our vision is that by working with churches, organisations and individuals from around the world, all people will have access to God’s word in a language they truly understand.

Wycliffe UK Ltd. is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 251233, and a charity registered in Scotland, number SC039140.

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Wycliffe Bible Translators The Clare Charity Centre Wycombe Road, Saunderton Buckinghamshire HP14 4BF T: 0300 303 1111 E: askus@wycliffe.org