- Who is the most "others-centered person" you know? What impresses you about him or her?
- How have you been served by a person or group in the past six months? Have you experienced a significant act of kindness and service?
- Share an experience you have had with serving someone.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Becoming Others-Centered
Use the following questions to start a faith conversation:
Thursday, October 9, 2014
The Church
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:
On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea and , with no thought for themselves, went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Some of those were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little lifesaving station grew.
Some of the members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it as a sort of club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do this work. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in this club's decoration, and there was a symbolic lifeboat in the room where the club initiations were held.
About this time, a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet, and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick and some of them had black skin and some had yellow skin. The beautiful new club was in chaos. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside.
At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities because they were becoming a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted that lifesaving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did.
As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.
On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea and , with no thought for themselves, went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Some of those were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little lifesaving station grew.
Some of the members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. They replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it as a sort of club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do this work. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in this club's decoration, and there was a symbolic lifeboat in the room where the club initiations were held.
About this time, a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet, and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick and some of them had black skin and some had yellow skin. The beautiful new club was in chaos. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside.
At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities because they were becoming a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted that lifesaving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did.
As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.
- When was the lifesaving station most effective?
- Where did the lifesaving station go wrong?
- How is the Church like a lifesaving station?
- What is the purpose of the Church?
- If you don't like the Church as it is now, what alternatives do you have?
- How can problems that the people of the lifesaving station experiences be avoided in the Church? What should the members of the lifesaving station have done?
- Is being a part of the Church necessary to being a Christian?
- What can you do to help make your church a better place?
Thursday, October 2, 2014
The Holy Spirit
Read the following story, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation.
A farmer and his wife had eked out a meager living in the dusty panhandle of Texas for 30 years when an impeccably dressed man in a three-piece suit and driving a fancy car came to their door. he told the farmer that he had good reason to believe there was a reservoir of oil underneath his property. If the farmer would allow the gentleman the right to drill, perhaps the farmer could become a wealthy man. The farmer stated emphatically that he didn't want anyone messing up his property and asked the gentleman to leave.
The next year, about the same time, the gentleman again returned with his nice clothes and another fancy car. The oilman pleaded with the farmer, and again the farmer said no. This same experience went on for the next eight years. During those eight years, the farmer and his wife struggled to make ends meet. Nine years after the oilman first visited, the farmer came down with a disease that put him in the hospital. When the gentleman arrived to plead his case for oil, he spoke to the farmer's wife. Reluctantly, she gave permission to drill.
Within a week huge oil rigs were beginning the process of drilling. The first day nothing happened. The second day was filled with only disappointment and dust. But on the third day, right about noon, black bubbly liquid began to squirt up in the air. The oilman had found black gold, and the farmer and his wife were instantly millionaires.
You have a reservoir of power in your life. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit works in your life. The Holy Spirit will empower you to live life on a greater level, but you've got to tap into His power source, just like the farmer needed to drill for oil.
1. How does the Holy Spirit of God empower believers to live the Christian life?
2. How does this story relate to your own need to tap into God's power?
A farmer and his wife had eked out a meager living in the dusty panhandle of Texas for 30 years when an impeccably dressed man in a three-piece suit and driving a fancy car came to their door. he told the farmer that he had good reason to believe there was a reservoir of oil underneath his property. If the farmer would allow the gentleman the right to drill, perhaps the farmer could become a wealthy man. The farmer stated emphatically that he didn't want anyone messing up his property and asked the gentleman to leave.
The next year, about the same time, the gentleman again returned with his nice clothes and another fancy car. The oilman pleaded with the farmer, and again the farmer said no. This same experience went on for the next eight years. During those eight years, the farmer and his wife struggled to make ends meet. Nine years after the oilman first visited, the farmer came down with a disease that put him in the hospital. When the gentleman arrived to plead his case for oil, he spoke to the farmer's wife. Reluctantly, she gave permission to drill.
Within a week huge oil rigs were beginning the process of drilling. The first day nothing happened. The second day was filled with only disappointment and dust. But on the third day, right about noon, black bubbly liquid began to squirt up in the air. The oilman had found black gold, and the farmer and his wife were instantly millionaires.
You have a reservoir of power in your life. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit works in your life. The Holy Spirit will empower you to live life on a greater level, but you've got to tap into His power source, just like the farmer needed to drill for oil.
1. How does the Holy Spirit of God empower believers to live the Christian life?
2. How does this story relate to your own need to tap into God's power?
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Jesus
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was 30, and then for three years He traveled the country preaching. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family of His own. He never went to college. He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that one solitary life.
1. How do you feel when you read about the effect of Jesus' life on our world?
2. Why do you feel this way?
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was 30, and then for three years He traveled the country preaching. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family of His own. He never went to college. He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that one solitary life.
1. How do you feel when you read about the effect of Jesus' life on our world?
2. Why do you feel this way?
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Faith
Read the following story, and then answer the questions that follow to start a faith conversation:
Things looked bleak for the children in George Muller's orphanage at Ashley Downs in England. It was time for breakfast, and there was no food. A small girl whose father was a close friend of Muller's was visiting in the orphanage. Muller took her hand and said, "Come and see what our heavenly Father will do."
In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but also there was no money in the orphanage's account. Muller prayed, "Dear Father, we thank You for what You are going to give us to eat."
Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the local baker. "Mr. Muller," he said, "I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt that you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at two o'clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is." Muller thanked him and gave praise to God.
Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart and repair it.
1.) What does this story tell you about George Muller?
2.) How is this like or unlike your experience with prayer?
3.) What steps can we take in our lives to have a stronger faith?
Things looked bleak for the children in George Muller's orphanage at Ashley Downs in England. It was time for breakfast, and there was no food. A small girl whose father was a close friend of Muller's was visiting in the orphanage. Muller took her hand and said, "Come and see what our heavenly Father will do."
In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but also there was no money in the orphanage's account. Muller prayed, "Dear Father, we thank You for what You are going to give us to eat."
Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the local baker. "Mr. Muller," he said, "I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt that you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at two o'clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is." Muller thanked him and gave praise to God.
Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart and repair it.
1.) What does this story tell you about George Muller?
2.) How is this like or unlike your experience with prayer?
3.) What steps can we take in our lives to have a stronger faith?
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Obedience
Read the following story, and then answer a few questions to start a faith conversation:
On August 17, 1859, Charles Blondin, arguably one of the best tightrope walkers of all time, stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls. People came by train from Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Canada to see him walk across the tightrope that was suspended high above the raging falls.
The story is told that as Blondin stepped onto the tightrope, a hush fell over the crowd. He carried with him a 40-foot-long balance bar that weighed 39 pounds. When he finally stepped foot on the Canadian side, a huge cheer arose from the crowd. Then they began to shout in unison, "Blondin, Blondin, Blondin..." Finally, Blondin held up his hand asking for the crowd's attention. He asked the crowd, "How many of you believe I can put someone on my shoulders and walk across?"
First one person shouted, "I believe" and then a second and a third, until finally the whole crowd was shouting, "We believe! We believe! We believe!"
Then Blondin shouted, "Who would like to be that someone?" All of a sudden, everyone became quiet. They all said they believed, but no one was willing to risk their lives.
Blondin pointed his finger at one person and then another and asked, "Would you like to get on my back as I go across?"
They all said "No!" until he came to Harry Colcord, his manager, who said, "Yes."
Colcord got on Blondin's back, and a deathly silence fell over the crowd as Blondin stepped out onto the tightrope. Carefully, step by step, Blondin made his way across. When they were about halfway across, the rope started swaying violently back and forth. Blondin broke into a desperate run to reach the first guy rope, and when he reached it and steadied himself, the rope broke.
Once more the pair swayed as Blondin again ran for the next rope guy. When they reached it, he told Colcord to get down off his back. Blondin looked at Colcord and said, "If we are going to make it safely to the other side, you can no longer be Colcord. You have to become part of me. You can do nothing to try and balance yourself; you have to let me do everything. If you do anything on your own, we will both die."
Colcord then got back on Blondin's shoulders, and Blondin began to walk and then he began to run down the rope to safety on the other side.
1.) If you were in the crowd, would you have gone with Blondin? Why or why not?
2.) What steps can Christians take to act on their belief?
3.) Why is it often difficult to trust and obey Christ?
On August 17, 1859, Charles Blondin, arguably one of the best tightrope walkers of all time, stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls. People came by train from Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Canada to see him walk across the tightrope that was suspended high above the raging falls.
The story is told that as Blondin stepped onto the tightrope, a hush fell over the crowd. He carried with him a 40-foot-long balance bar that weighed 39 pounds. When he finally stepped foot on the Canadian side, a huge cheer arose from the crowd. Then they began to shout in unison, "Blondin, Blondin, Blondin..." Finally, Blondin held up his hand asking for the crowd's attention. He asked the crowd, "How many of you believe I can put someone on my shoulders and walk across?"
First one person shouted, "I believe" and then a second and a third, until finally the whole crowd was shouting, "We believe! We believe! We believe!"
Then Blondin shouted, "Who would like to be that someone?" All of a sudden, everyone became quiet. They all said they believed, but no one was willing to risk their lives.
Blondin pointed his finger at one person and then another and asked, "Would you like to get on my back as I go across?"
They all said "No!" until he came to Harry Colcord, his manager, who said, "Yes."
Colcord got on Blondin's back, and a deathly silence fell over the crowd as Blondin stepped out onto the tightrope. Carefully, step by step, Blondin made his way across. When they were about halfway across, the rope started swaying violently back and forth. Blondin broke into a desperate run to reach the first guy rope, and when he reached it and steadied himself, the rope broke.
Once more the pair swayed as Blondin again ran for the next rope guy. When they reached it, he told Colcord to get down off his back. Blondin looked at Colcord and said, "If we are going to make it safely to the other side, you can no longer be Colcord. You have to become part of me. You can do nothing to try and balance yourself; you have to let me do everything. If you do anything on your own, we will both die."
Colcord then got back on Blondin's shoulders, and Blondin began to walk and then he began to run down the rope to safety on the other side.
1.) If you were in the crowd, would you have gone with Blondin? Why or why not?
2.) What steps can Christians take to act on their belief?
3.) Why is it often difficult to trust and obey Christ?
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Discipleship
Together, brainstorm activities or events that fit the following categories:
- Five activities for free
- Three activities for $1 to $20
- Three activities for $20 to $100
- Three activities for more than $100
Now do the same for the following:
- Five aspects of the Christian life that are free
- Three aspects of the Christian life that are costly, but not too costly
- Three costly aspects of Christian life
- Three extremely costly aspects of the Christian life
Thursday, August 21, 2014
A Lifestyle of Love
Read the story below, and then answer the following questions to start a faith conversation:
I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for.
Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you.
Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking on the alleys of our city. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "Rags!" "Now this is a wonder," I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashing intelligence. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city? I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn't disappointed. Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking. The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans, dead toys and Pampers. "Give me your rag," he said ever so gently, "and I'll give you another." He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver. Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear. "This is a wonder," I breathed to myself, and followed the sobbing Ragman like a child who cannot turn away from mystery. "Rags! Rags! New rags for old!" In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her cheek. Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart. "Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line of her cheek, "and I'll give you mine." The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it,and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brown ran a darker, more substantial blood-his own! "Rags! Rags! I take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman. The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry. "Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head. The man pressed him: "Do you have a job?" "Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket-flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm. "So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine." Such quiet authority in his voice! The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman-and I trembled at what I saw: For the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one. "Go to work," he said. After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, an old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it around himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes. And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling from drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. On spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the city, this mile and the next until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond. I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And I yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so. The little Ragman-he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket and he died. Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope-because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him;but he died. I sobbed myself to sleep. I did not know-how could I know?-that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night, too. But then, on Sunday morning, I was awakened by violence.
Light-pure, hard, demanding light-slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness. Well, then I lowered my head trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with a dea yearning in my voice: "Dress me."
He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!
1.) What do you think of this story?
2.) What makes the story of the Ragman so powerful?
3.) How does the person of Jesus relate to the Ragman story?
I saw a strange sight. I stumbled upon a story most strange, like nothing my life, my street sense, my sly tongue had ever prepared me for.
Hush, child. Hush, now, and I will tell it to you.
Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking on the alleys of our city. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice: "Rags!" "Now this is a wonder," I thought to myself, for the man stood six-feet-four, and his arms were like tree limbs, hard and muscular, and his eyes flashing intelligence. Could he find no better job than this, to be a ragman in the inner city? I followed him. My curiosity drove me. And I wasn't disappointed. Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her shoulders shook. Her heart was breaking. The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans, dead toys and Pampers. "Give me your rag," he said ever so gently, "and I'll give you another." He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver. Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear. "This is a wonder," I breathed to myself, and followed the sobbing Ragman like a child who cannot turn away from mystery. "Rags! Rags! New rags for old!" In a little while, when the sky showed grey behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, whose eyes were empty. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her cheek. Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart. "Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line of her cheek, "and I'll give you mine." The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it,and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brown ran a darker, more substantial blood-his own! "Rags! Rags! I take old rags!" cried the sobbing, bleeding, strong, intelligent Ragman. The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry. "Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head. The man pressed him: "Do you have a job?" "Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket-flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm. "So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine." Such quiet authority in his voice! The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman-and I trembled at what I saw: For the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one. "Go to work," he said. After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, an old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took that blanket and wrapped it around himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes. And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. Though he was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, stumbling from drunkenness, falling again and again, exhausted, old, old and sick, yet he went with terrible speed. On spider's legs he skittered through the alleys of the city, this mile and the next until he came to its limits, and then he rushed beyond. I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And I yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so. The little Ragman-he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. And then I wanted to help him in what he did, but I hung back, hiding. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket and he died. Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has no hope-because I had come to love the Ragman. Every other face had faded in the wonder of this man, and I cherished him;but he died. I sobbed myself to sleep. I did not know-how could I know?-that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night, too. But then, on Sunday morning, I was awakened by violence.
Light-pure, hard, demanding light-slammed against my sour face, and I blinked, and I looked, and I saw the last and the first wonder of all. There was the Ragman, folding the blanket most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness. Well, then I lowered my head trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. Then I took off all my clothes in that place, and I said to him with a dea yearning in my voice: "Dress me."
He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!
1.) What do you think of this story?
2.) What makes the story of the Ragman so powerful?
3.) How does the person of Jesus relate to the Ragman story?
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
New Life
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:
Once upon a time, there lived a group of people called Laconians. The Laconians lived in a rural setting; a forest surrounded their village. They looked and acted a lot like you and I do. They dressed like we dress and went to school and worked like we work. They even had the same family struggles and search for identity that we have. But there was one major difference. Connected to the ankle of every Laconian was a brace, and attached to the brace was a strong metal chain, and connected to the chain was a round, heavy metal ball.
Wherever the Laconians went or whatever they did, they carried the ball and chain. Yet no one seemed to mind. After all, they were used to the ball and chain, and no one in Laconia was free from the bondage of the ball and chain.
One day, the hero of the story, Tommy, was exploring in the forest after school when he went around a corner, slipped and fell...and the chain broke. Tommy had never heard of a chain breaking before in the land of Laconia, and he was terrified. But he was also curious. As he stood and stared at the broken chain, he sensed that something very significant had happened in his life. In fact, he tried to take a step without the ball and chain and almost fell down. After all, he wasn't used to the freedom of walking without this bondage.
Tommy quickly slipped the ball and chain back on his ankle. He told no one of his new discovery. The next day after school this new curiosity drove him back to the forest to experiment with his newfound freedom. This time when he unhooked the chain he walked. Yes, it was wobbly, but he quickly learned to compensate, and in a few hours he was running and jumping and even trying to climb the trees in the forest. Every day after school, he found himself out in the forest, free to experience life in a different way from anyone else in Laconia.
He decided to share his secret with his best friend. After school one day, he brought his friend to the forest and showed him his new freedom. But his friend responded by saying, "Don't be different! Once a Laconian, you'll always be a Laconian. Be happy with what you have." This response only put more fuel in Tommy's fire. He knew he needed to show all the people of his little village that they could be set free.
One spring day when the whole village was outside, Tommy took the ball and placed it under his arm, then ran and skipped through the town. He wanted to show the people of his village his joy and freedom. Their response was that of shock. They mocked him, scolded him and challenged him to not be different. Even his family told him to immediately become a normal part of the community and put his chain back on.
Tommy knew then and there that since he had experienced this freedom, he could never again settle for second best in his life. For Tommy, mediocrity was out of the question. He would choose to be different...and he was different from then on.
This story is for people who don't want to settle for second best in life. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). You don't have to live a life of boring mediocrity. God's desire for your life is to break the chain that holds you back and to give your life to His purpose. You can choose to be different.
1. Read John 10:10. How could understanding this promise be like making a new discovery?
2. What is keeping you from breaking the chain and living the life of freedom God wants for you?
Once upon a time, there lived a group of people called Laconians. The Laconians lived in a rural setting; a forest surrounded their village. They looked and acted a lot like you and I do. They dressed like we dress and went to school and worked like we work. They even had the same family struggles and search for identity that we have. But there was one major difference. Connected to the ankle of every Laconian was a brace, and attached to the brace was a strong metal chain, and connected to the chain was a round, heavy metal ball.
Wherever the Laconians went or whatever they did, they carried the ball and chain. Yet no one seemed to mind. After all, they were used to the ball and chain, and no one in Laconia was free from the bondage of the ball and chain.
One day, the hero of the story, Tommy, was exploring in the forest after school when he went around a corner, slipped and fell...and the chain broke. Tommy had never heard of a chain breaking before in the land of Laconia, and he was terrified. But he was also curious. As he stood and stared at the broken chain, he sensed that something very significant had happened in his life. In fact, he tried to take a step without the ball and chain and almost fell down. After all, he wasn't used to the freedom of walking without this bondage.
Tommy quickly slipped the ball and chain back on his ankle. He told no one of his new discovery. The next day after school this new curiosity drove him back to the forest to experiment with his newfound freedom. This time when he unhooked the chain he walked. Yes, it was wobbly, but he quickly learned to compensate, and in a few hours he was running and jumping and even trying to climb the trees in the forest. Every day after school, he found himself out in the forest, free to experience life in a different way from anyone else in Laconia.
He decided to share his secret with his best friend. After school one day, he brought his friend to the forest and showed him his new freedom. But his friend responded by saying, "Don't be different! Once a Laconian, you'll always be a Laconian. Be happy with what you have." This response only put more fuel in Tommy's fire. He knew he needed to show all the people of his little village that they could be set free.
One spring day when the whole village was outside, Tommy took the ball and placed it under his arm, then ran and skipped through the town. He wanted to show the people of his village his joy and freedom. Their response was that of shock. They mocked him, scolded him and challenged him to not be different. Even his family told him to immediately become a normal part of the community and put his chain back on.
Tommy knew then and there that since he had experienced this freedom, he could never again settle for second best in his life. For Tommy, mediocrity was out of the question. He would choose to be different...and he was different from then on.
This story is for people who don't want to settle for second best in life. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). You don't have to live a life of boring mediocrity. God's desire for your life is to break the chain that holds you back and to give your life to His purpose. You can choose to be different.
1. Read John 10:10. How could understanding this promise be like making a new discovery?
2. What is keeping you from breaking the chain and living the life of freedom God wants for you?
Thursday, June 19, 2014
God's Unconditional Love
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:
Once upon a time there was a young girl named Susie. She was a beautiful little girl with the most wonderful doll collection in the world. Her father traveled all over the world on business, and for nearly 12 years he had brought dolls home to Susie. In her bedroom, she had shelves of dolls form all over the United States and from every continent on Earth. She had dolls that could sing and dance and do just about anything a doll could possibly do.
One day, one of her father's business acquaintances came to visit. At dinner he asked Susie about her wonderful doll collection. After dinner Susie took him by the hand and showed him these marvelous dolls from all over the world. He was very impressed. After he took the grand tour and was introduced to many of the beautiful dolls, he asked Susie, "With all these precious dolls, you must have one that is your favorite. Which one is it?" Without a moment's hesitation Susie went to her old beat-up toy box and started pulling out toys. From the bottom of the box she pulled out one of the most ragged dolls you have ever seen. There were only a few strands of hair left on the head. The clothing had long since disappeared. The doll was filthy from many years of play outside. One of the buttons for the eyes was hanging down with only one strand of string to keep it connected. Stuffing was coming out at the elbow and knee. Susie handed the doll to the gentlemen and said, "This doll is my favorite."
The man was shocked and asked, "Why this doll with all these beautiful dolls in your room?"
She replied, "If I didn't love this doll nobody would!"
That single statement moved the businessman to tears. It was such a simple statement, yet so profound. The little girl loved her doll unconditionally. She loved the doll not for its beauty or abilities but simply because it was her very own.
- How does this story relate to the love God has for us?
- Are there any stories in the Bible that remind you of this story?
- Why do many people have a hard time accepting God's unconditional love?
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Asking
Use the following questions to start a faith conversation:
- What comes to mind when you think about prayer?
- What is the absolutely best place for you to pray? Why?
- What is the worst place for you to pray? Why?
- What is the hardest thing about prayer? Why?
- What is the greatest thing about prayer? Why?
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Thanksgiving
The following is known as "The Serenity Prayer," written by Friedrich Christoph Oetinger. Read this prayer aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation.
Lord, give me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Give me the courage
To change the things I can, and
The wisdom to distinguish
The one from the other.
- What truths do you find in this prayer?
- How can we, as a family, use this prayer to make our family stronger?
- For what do we need serenity? For what do you need courage?
- How can prayer keep you focused on giving thanks to God?
Pray for the situations just discussed. Then list how as family members you can help and encourage each other in the situations.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Praise
Use the following questions to start a faith conversation:
- What is praise?
- How do we use it in our everyday lives? (For example, praising a dog for something well done.)
- How do we use it with God?
- Why do you think God deserves our praise?
Praise is the purest form of worship. When we begin to have an attitude of praise, we free our spirits to live for God. There is nothing more exciting than the experience of lifting up our hearts to God in praise. As a family, brainstorm some reasons to offer God your praise.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Getting Your Spiritual Life in Shape
Goals are important. After all, if we don't have goals, how will we ever know if we've accomplished what we want to be and do in life?
- Begin today's challenge by reading aloud each of the following statements. After each statement, have family members answer whether it is true or not true in their lives.
- I set goals for myself, but I seldom ever reach them.
- I set goals for myself, and I almost always reach them.
- My goals in life are unclear. I am not really sure what I want to do.
- My goals in life are well defined. They are a priority for me and I work hard to achieve them.
- I know that goals are important, but I have a hard time figuring out what they should be or what steps I need to take to reach them.
- I've never set a goal in my life.
- Here is an important exercise in goal setting. Have each person get a piece of paper and write out a short-term goal and a long-term goal for each area listed below. Note that short-term goals should be something that can be accomplished in one year, while long-term goals should take five to seven years to complete. Then, most importantly, have members describe what they will do to act on those goals.
- spiritual goals
- relationship goals (family and friends)
- school or career goals
- Have the family members share their goals. Which goals in each section can they begin working on today?
Thursday, May 15, 2014
The Bible
You may have to go online to find the answers to the questions below. Have a race to see who can Google faster!
- How many books are in the Bible?
- How many books are in the Old Testament?
- How many books are in the New Testament?
- What language was the New Testament written in?
- What language was the Old Testament mostly written in?
- The New Testament is divided into four parts. Name the four parts.
- The Old Testament is divided into four parts. Name the four parts.
- Although most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, what was the language Jesus most often spoke?
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Worship
For each of the following words or phrases, have family members shout out the first thing that comes to mind. They shouldn't think too hard about the answer-just say whatever pops into their heads. When you've done that for each word, go back and discuss each family member's answer.
*Worship music
*Sermon
*Communion
*Offering
*Praying together
*Time with God
*Worship music
*Sermon
*Communion
*Offering
*Praying together
*Time with God
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Developing a Disciplined Devotional Life
Imagine walking up to your mailbox and finding an envelope addressed to you. In the upper left-hand corner, where the return address is supposed to go, appears the word "God." Read the following letter aloud and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:
My Dear Child,
I love you. I desire to spend as much time with you as possible. I took great joy in being part of your creation and your salvation. I consider My sacrifice for you as a sign of My immeasurable love for you. My child, I want the best for you. I believe in you. I look forward to our daily times together. It gives Me great pleasure to spend time with you. Don't forget, I'm always with you.
Love, God
1.) How would you feel?
2.) What kind of decisions would you want to make about spending time with God?
3.) The average person probably spends more than two hours a day watching television or surfing online, two hours a day listening to music, one hour a day dressing and grooming, and one hour a day eating. And yet the majority of people spend little or no time each day with God. A wise pastor once asked, "What is so important that you can't spend 15 minutes a day with God?" What's your answer?
4.) What makes it so difficult to set up a regular daily time with God?
My Dear Child,
I love you. I desire to spend as much time with you as possible. I took great joy in being part of your creation and your salvation. I consider My sacrifice for you as a sign of My immeasurable love for you. My child, I want the best for you. I believe in you. I look forward to our daily times together. It gives Me great pleasure to spend time with you. Don't forget, I'm always with you.
Love, God
1.) How would you feel?
2.) What kind of decisions would you want to make about spending time with God?
3.) The average person probably spends more than two hours a day watching television or surfing online, two hours a day listening to music, one hour a day dressing and grooming, and one hour a day eating. And yet the majority of people spend little or no time each day with God. A wise pastor once asked, "What is so important that you can't spend 15 minutes a day with God?" What's your answer?
4.) What makes it so difficult to set up a regular daily time with God?
Thursday, April 24, 2014
The Lord's Prayer
Invite each family member to complete this sentence: "Prayer to me is more like ________________ than _____________." Below are some pairs of words or phrases-have each person choose between them to describe what prayer is like.
Prayer to me is more like _____________ than _____________.
a window OR a closet
listening OR talking
making a friend OR seeing an old friend
hard work OR a time of rest
a journey inward OR a journey outward
discipline OR fun
Prayer to me is more like _____________ than _____________.
a window OR a closet
listening OR talking
making a friend OR seeing an old friend
hard work OR a time of rest
a journey inward OR a journey outward
discipline OR fun
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Does God Answer Prayer?
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation.
A 17-year-old girl died after a "faith healer" prayed for her healing and her parents pulled the plug on her life support machines. Against the wishes of the medical staff in the hospital, the parents of 17-year-old Debra Barker stopped her hospital respirator because they believed she was healed. Debra had been in a coma for three days after a tragic accident in which she was thrown from her car. Evidence showed the passengers of the car had been drinking.
Debra's pastor, Stephen Johnson, said that her parents asked Reverend Jesse Thomas, a faith healer who had just preached at their church, to come to the hospital to pray for their daughter. Reverend Thomas, Pastor Johnson and Debra's parents entered the hospital room at approximately 1:00 in the afternoon. After Reverend Thomas prayed for Debra, he said she was healed-he felt warmth flow through his hands onto her forehead. Debra's parents, "in faith," pulled the plug to the respirator without the permission of the hospital staff. Debra died 12 minutes later.
1.) Was Reverend Thomas an evil man? Why or why not?
2.) Did Debra's parents make a mistake?
3.) Where does faith come into the healing process? Since the prayers were sincere, why didn't God heal Debra?
4.) What lessons can we learn from this "news story"?
Thursday, April 10, 2014
The Prayer of Relinquishment
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation.
Far to often Christians act like the person in this story; "I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine...I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."
1.) What do you think of this story?
2.) What do you think is the difference between wanting only a little bit of God and wanting to live completely for God?
3.) List three areas of your life in which you need to be more surrendered to God.
Far to often Christians act like the person in this story; "I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine...I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."
1.) What do you think of this story?
2.) What do you think is the difference between wanting only a little bit of God and wanting to live completely for God?
3.) List three areas of your life in which you need to be more surrendered to God.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Prayer: Communication with God
Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation.
As far as Regina Hammond is concerned, luck has little to do with it. The 37-year-old flight attendant won $100,000 in a Colorado lottery game on top of the $50,000 she won the previous year the same way. And she's not finished yet. Her goal is the $1 million grand prize. Hammond believes that prayer has paved her way to riches. "I pray to God to help me and he answers," she says.
- How does Regina Hammond's claim make you feel?
- If prayer works, why don't all lottery players pray and win?
- Do you think Hammond will win the million dollars? Why or why not?
- Should people pray to get rich? To win sports events? To be successful? Why or why not?
- Some people believe that lotteries are sinful. If that's true, why would God answer Hammond's prayers to win?
- Would you pray to win the lottery? Why or why not?
- Read each of the following items aloud. Which of these is okay to pray for? Why?
- An A on a test
- Lots of money
- Getting a job
- A better complexion
- Winning a game
- New clothes
- Not getting caught disobeying Mom or Dad
- Getting a date
- Losing or gaining weight
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Don't Stop on 6!
Have you been marching this week? This past week we all learned about the Battle of Jericho and how we can use this story to remind us to faithfully walk with God while waiting for Him to fulfill His promise to us. Hebrews 10:35-36 tells us "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." God tells us right in His Word we will receive what He has promised! He won't forget about us.
Take sometime to build some walls with your kids this week and review the story and their memory verse. You can use legos, tupperware, cards, boxes, etc. If you can't think of an item, ask your kids. After the walls are built, give a shout to the Lord and knock over your walls.
Take sometime to build some walls with your kids this week and review the story and their memory verse. You can use legos, tupperware, cards, boxes, etc. If you can't think of an item, ask your kids. After the walls are built, give a shout to the Lord and knock over your walls.
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