Lost Generation

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Jesus For President: POVERTY / ECONOMY

Theme: Jesus For President - Poverty and the Economy

Large Group Lesson

A. Introduction: Dramatic Reading from "Jesus For President"
In The Market We Trust: Remember, Israel's desire for a king led them down a path of destruction. Becoming 'like the other nations' would make Israel a chaotic society, full of violence, cheating, and harm (1 Samuel 8). Not only would the ways of the world corrupt their society, but they would murder God's creation itself. The prophets then cried out against the abuse of creation.

When we are talking about a baptized empire,one that has dazzled the church into conformity, we are not just talking about the violent militarism of Rome or the United States or Iran or North Korea. We are also talking about a much more prevalent, subtle, and powerful empire that seeps into every home - our daily global lifestyle.

In the last few hundred years, the average person's life has become dizzyingly complicated. Even the seemingly simple act of drinking a cup of coffee involves as intricate international system of bean pickers, international shipping (fueled by oil from who knows where), packaging (in what?), roasting (by energy from who knows where), domestic shipping, driving to get it (using car parts and gas from around the world), and so on. It's like the cup of coffee has been dragged halfway across the earth, leaving trench-like trail marks along the way.

Another, possibly the greatest, unholy aspect of our economy is its exploitation of people. While our economy floats on cheap oil, it too is carried on the backs of cheap laborers. If we ask, Why do so many of our products come from China? we can certainly say this is aided by cheap oil for shipping, but it's essentially founded on easily exploited labor. The hundreds of thousands of jobs that have been lost in the United States testify to 'job creation' in foreign countries. Left in the wake are our neighborhoods, blighted with hundreds of abandoned factories and hundreds more abandoned homes. Christians have no problem helping the poor. But question whether our 'blessings' are borne on the backs of the poor and things get messy. The call to 'Make poverty history' needs a partner: 'Make affluence history.'

Years ago, some folks from our communities attended a rally against overseas sweatshops. They had not invited the typical rally speakers - lawyers, activists, and academics. Instead, they brought the kids themselves from the sweatshops to speak. We listened as a child from Indonesia pointed to the giant scar on his face. 'I got this scar when my master lashed me for not working hard enough. When it began to bleed he did not want me to stop working or to ruin the cloth in front of me, so he took a lighter and burned it shut. I got this making stuff for you.' We were suddenly consumed by the overwhelming reality of the suffering body of Christ. Jesus now bore not just the marks from the nails and scars from the thorns but a gash down his face, for when we have done it to the 'least of these,' we have done it to Christ himself. How could we possibly follow Jesus and buy anything from that master? The statistics had a face. Poverty became personal. And that messes with you." Jesus for President, pp. 188-189

B. Scripture Reading: James 5:1-6 - Warning to Rich Oppressors: Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you."

C. DVD: Introduction from Another World is Possible!: Volume 2 - Poverty

D. Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 16:49-50 " Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen."

E. DVD: Poverty Illustration from Another World is Possible!: Volume 2 - Poverty

F. Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 The Sheep and the Goats

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

G. DVD: Wall Street Jubilee from Another World is Possible! Volume 2 - Poverty

H. Dismiss to small groups

Small Group Discussion

Questions that can be used for discussion:

What things stuck with you in the videos that featured Shane Claiborne? What did you agree with? What did you disagree with?

What did you think about the Poverty Illustration?

Read the story of the beginning of the church in Acts 4:32-35

The Believers Share Their Possessions: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

How did these early Christians live out their faith?

For a brief moment in time was poverty eliminated within this community?

Who benefits in this type of community - the giver or the receiver?

How do you think God feels when he sees the church acting like this?

What creative ways can we be used as instruments of sharing to those in need? MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Read about the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19:16-30

The Rich Young Man: Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

What was it that Jesus exposed in him through his command to sell everything and give it to the poor?

Why could the man not follow Jesus?

Does our wealth help or hinder our relationship with Christ? We can be agents of giving or agents of hording. If you are honest with yourself which are you? Wrestle with that a bit.

How do we apply this to our lives? What can we do to practice being agents of giving? MAKE IT HAPPEN!

LEAST

Check this out this video as it contrasts the casualties of all American wars in rleationship to the casualties of the AIDS pandemic. And then think about the importance of what we are doing with the Children of Zion!

Shane Claiborne: Trail of Mourning and Truth

Some more thoughts on the Iraq War by Shane Claiborne

Jesus For President: WAR

Theme: Jesus For President - War

Large Group Lesson

A. Introduction: Dramatic Reading: "The Amish for Homeland Security: Do you remember how the Amish responded to the act of terror in their school, when a gunman killed five Amish children in 2006? Our friend Diana Butler Bass wrote an article pontificating what the world would look like if the Amish had led us after September 11. Consider their response to the murders, a response that fascinated the world. Within the first week after the shootings, the Amish families who had suffered such terror responded in four ways that captured the world's attention. First, some elders visited Marie Roberts, the wife of the murderer, to offer forgiveness. Then, the families of the slain girls invited the widow to their own children's funerals. Next they requested that all relief money intended for the Amish families be shared with Ms. Roberts and her children. And finally, in an astonishing act of reconciliation, dozens of Amish families attended the funeral of the killer.

Diana goes on to share that she talked with her husband about the spiritual power of these actions, commenting, 'It is an amazing witness to the peace tradition.' And her husband looked at her and said passionately, 'Witness? I don't think so. This went well past witnessing. They weren't witnessing to anything. They were actively making peace.' Her article ends with these words, as she reflected on that truth:

Their actions not only witness that the Christian God is a God of forgiveness, but they actively created the conditions in which forgiveness could happen. In the most straightforward way, they embarked on imitating Christ: 'Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.' In acting as Christ, they did not speculate on forgiveness. The forgave. And forgiveness is, as Christianity teaches, the prerequisite to peace. We forgive because God forgave us; in forgiving, we participate in God's dream of reconciliation and shalom.

Then an odd thought occurred to me: What if the Amish were in charge of the war on terror? What if, on the evening of Sept. 12,2001, we had gone to Osama bin Laden's house (metaphorically, of course, since we didn't know where he lived!) and offered him forgiveness? What if we had invited the families of the hijackers to the funerals of the victims of 9/11? What if a portion of the September 11th Fund had been dedicated to relieving poverty in a Muslim country? What if we dignified the burial of their dead by our respectful grief? What if, instead of seeking vengeance, we had stood together in human pain, looking honestly at the shared sin and sadness we suffered? What if we had tried to make peace? So, hears my modest proposal. We're five years too late for an Amish response to 9/11. But maybe we should ask them to take over the Department of Homeland Security. After all, actively practicing forgiveness and making peace are the only real alternatives to perpetual fear and a multi-generational global religious war. I can't imagine any other path to true security. And nobody else can figure out what to do to end this insane war. Why not try the Christian practice of forgiveness? If it worked in Lancaster, maybe it will work in Baghdad, too.

Well said sista', a lovely addition to the campaign.
Jesus for president and the Amish for Homeland Security.
Amen.

Jesus for President; pp. 275-276

B. Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5 -

"This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD'S temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

"Many people will come and say, 'Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD."

C. DVD: Intro with Shane Claiborne (from Another World Is Possible! Volume 1: War)

D. Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:38-42 -

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

E. DVD: "Extremists for Love" Talk by Shane Claiborne (from Another World is Possible! Volume 1: War.)

F. Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 -

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

G. Dismiss to small groups

Theme: Jesus for President - War

Small Group Discussion

Questions that can be used for discussion:

What things stuck with you in the videos that featured Shane Claiborne? What did you agree with? What did you disagree with?

Were you surprised by his stories of Christians in Iraq?

How do you think the American church should respond to the war?

Read Matthew 5:9 - who does Jesus say is blessed?

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

Read John 16:33 - What word does Jesus associate with Christians? What word does he associate with the world? Which one triumphs in the end?

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

If ever in the history of the world there was a case for justified violence it is in Luke 22:47-50. How did Jesus respond to the violence that was meant to defend and protect him? Read v. 51-53.

"While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?' When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, 'Lord, should we strike with our swords?' And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, 'No more of this!' And he touched the man's ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, 'Am i leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour - when darkness reigns."

How do you think the guard felt who had his ear healed?

How do you think the disciple with the sword felt (Peter)?

How close do you think Peter was to losing his life violently?

What did Jesus do by submitting to the cross instead of reigning with a sword against Rome? Who won, Jesus or Rome? Did love win over violence?

How do we apply this to our lives?

Jesus For President Small Group Series: Introduction

This new small group series involves a DVD series put out by Shane Claiborne who started the Simple Way in Philadelphia and is a part of the New Monastics. The DVD series is entitled "Another World Is Possible". Each DVD explores specific issues that relate to our culture and our faith. Volume 1 talks about WAR. Volume 2 explores the issues related to POVERTY. And Volume 3 looks at CREATION and environmentalism. I also used quotes from Shane's new book entitled "Jesus For President". We ran this series for our student ministry small groups during the month of October 2008. We are in the midst of a fierce political season in which many of these issues are front and center in the political debates and discussions within the community. Feel free to use these lessons as you would like. I tried to use this series to promote critical thinking in relation to how our faith ought to speak out to these issues. I specifically did not want to take a "conservative" or "liberal" approach but to use these DVD's to generate healthy discussion about what Scripture has to say to some of our hot topics and how that may be different from what we have accepted from our political leaders. It is time for Christianity to rise above politics instead of being in the pocket of a particular party. If you would like a hard copy of this series e-mail me at scott.r.eumc@fuse.net and I will e-mail you the series.

Post #3 from the Senior High Mission Trip to Hamlin, WV

Kids Club: We went to West Virginia with the Youth Works organization. The youth g group was split up into different work projects. Me, Emily, Jessica, Amanda, and Ben were put in the kids club group. Our job was to help run the day care/ fun time with the kids of Lincoln County. The day we found out, everyone but Jessica really would have rather not worked with kids. We tried to get out of it and switch but didn’t. During the first day everyone felt that their work would be better used elsewhere.

Then the kids showed up, and we realized that we were put in this group for a reason. Throughout the week we got to know the kids better and started to really grow close to them and realized that our services were truly being put to use in the best way. There were a few kids in particular that we got to know especially well:

DJ: To put it lightly DJ was the problem child. The first day he came charging out of the van started hanging from rafters and punched one of the workers in the stomach.

Clayton: He was the screamer of the group. If he had an emotion he would express it through screaming. Whether he was happy sad mad or just bored he screamed about it. And because he was so cute it helped him get his way.

Mackenzie: He was a guy despite his name. But he was the face of kids club. During skits and songs on the first day even though none of the kids like skits and songs he went up front and led three worship songs.

Logan: She was a girl despite her name and she was Mackenzie’s sister. She was the sweetest kid out of all of them. She never complained about anything and always did what we told her to.

Chris, Dustin, and Trevor: Chris was the oldest. He was eleven. The first day he came up to me and showed me that he was dipping chewing tobacco. The previous weekend he told me his dad taught him to spit tobacco. He also beat up on his little brothers. But he also had a sweet side and would help his brothers out.

Isabelle: She just started going to kids club two weeks before we got there. She was very volatile. She attached herself to one person and never left their side. She was very emotional due to her problems at home.

The first day started out with us waiting for about an hour for the kids to show up. Then the van pulled up with them. DJ charged out hung from the rafters and punched a youth worker within the first five minutes. Then he picked up a board that had nails coming out of it and hit another worker with it. Finally he settled down a bit and we thought we had him under control. Then out of nowhere he slapped his cousin in the face and Beth (A youth works leader) had to take him home. And this entire time Clayton was screaming!

Then I got to meet Logan. She was with Jessica and they were just talking. I went over and got to know her and instantly liked Logan. She then introduced me to her brother Mackenzie and I played on the play set with him. While I was doing that I noticed Chris spitting a lot but I didn’t know why. So I went over and started talking to him and he showed me a can of SKOAL in his pocket. I was shocked because he was only eleven, but doing something that would still be illegal for him to do for another seven years. This was when I started to see how little all of these kids had. None of them came from wealthy families and many of them were forced to grow up at a very early age.
No one was quite ready for that first day but in the following days we got into a rhythm and we didn’t have all that many more problems. Except throughout the week we learned more and more about all of the children and we got to realize that many of them had a terrible home life and that the only constant that they had in their entire life was kids club. We had snack/lunch every day and for many kids that was the first time that they had eaten all day. Some of them took home food so they had something to eat that night. It really helped us realize what a huge service we were providing for these children.

Although at the beginning of the week I dreaded being on the kids club team. By the end I was extremely happy that I got to work and help the kids that I interacted with. I truly felt that I was a huge blessing to these kids. But not only that but they were a huge blessing to me. I got to actually understand how lucky I was and I realized that you don’t need everything you want to be happy. Because some of these kids had barely anything but they were still happy as can be.