hope in a world of hurt bible study- leader's notes

Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt |

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hope in a world of hurt

Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt : Leaders Notes for Lesson One | Page 1

notes to help guide your leadership of lesson one.

M at e r i a l s Pens, Bibles, white board, self-stick notes, markers, computer with Internet access, candles for each participant.

o n l i n e r e s o u r c e s from www.womenofvision.org/heart» “God’s Heart for the Poor Gallery Walk” handout» “Precious In His Sight” video» “Prayer at 14,000 Feet in the Andes” handout» “A Response to Homelessness” handout» “Five Days of Hunger” video» “History of World Vision” handout» “History of Woem of Vision” handout

p r e pa r e fo r d i s c u s s i o nConsider having a group conversation after the opening prayer. It may be helpful to establish guid-elines for your time together. Some participants may have a lot of biblical or cross-cultural know-ledge, while others have very little. Be sure to note that this is quite all right and that all are welcome.

Ask the group to discuss guidelines that will help create a supportive, learning atmosphere. Record their suggestions on the white board. After all the group’s ideas are recorded, end the discussion, noting that you will make copies of these guidelines and distribute them at the next meeting.

s c r i p t u r e r e f l e c t i o nThe following commentary will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture Reflection portion of the lesson.

John 13:34 » commentaryAs you probably already know from Scripture, this really wasn’t a new commandment. In Leviticus 19:18, the command to love one another was among those that God gave Moses to share with the people of Israel.

What is different, even radical, about this “news” is that we are to love others as Jesus does. Remember that this passage comes just as Jesus and the disciples are about to sit down to share the Passover Feast. Jesus takes off His outer garments, wraps a towel around Himself, and begins to wash the feet of His

called to iMitate Jesus

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twelve disciples—even Judas, who Jesus knows will, in a few hours, betray Him. That’s the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have.

luke 4:18 » commentaryThe context here is Jesus’ first public sermon. He has just returned from the desert where He has been tempted by Satan and is back in His hometown of Nazareth. In His very first sermon in the synagogue, He reads the text from Isaiah 61.

It focuses on the poor, the prisoner, the blind, the oppressed. In His first public announcement, where He effectively proclaims why He is here, Jesus focuses on those in society who are the most in need among us. He sets forth a sort of mission statement for His ministry, with the poor at the center. And outrageously, He proclaims, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:20). He announces that He Himself is the Messiah and that He has come to bring a new

beginning to everyone, including those considered the least.

luke 10: 30–37 » commentaryYou might want to start with Luke 10:25-29 to set up the story. It recounts a conversation between a man and Jesus about what the man must do to inherit eternal life.

Of course, the man answers with the conventional Old Testament reference: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Do this,” Jesus says, “and you will live.”

This was one of those times when, for his own sake, the man should have left well enough alone. But he was so certain he could get the best of Jesus that he persisted. “And who is my neighbor?”

Again, rather than answer the question directly, Jesus tells the familiar story of a man beaten by robbers and left bleeding on the side of the road.

Did you ever wonder about that man? The story doesn’t tell who he was, where he came from, or what had caused this terrible situation to befall him. Interestingly, when Jesus told the story, He didn’t think that information was relevant. He wasn’t interested in who was to blame for this man’s attack. Rather, He seems more interested in the response of those who passed by—the priest and the Levite.

The priest and the Levite represent the religious and legal establishment. They see the man lying in great distress, but instead of coming to his rescue, they cross over to the other side of the road. They don’t want anything to do with this stranger. It’s not until a Samaritan happens upon the injured


l e s s o n o n e

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and

with all your soul, and with all your strength,

and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”


traveler that someone finally comes to his aid, bandaging his wounds, and transporting him to the nearest inn.

Why do you think it’s significant that it was a Samaritan who had compassion on the wounded man? He was an outcast, the one hated by the others, the one least expected to help.

Finally, Jesus asks the question, “Which of these three do you think was neighbor to the man who fell among thieves?” Was it the priest, the spiritual leader of the community? Was it the Levite, the legal expert? Or was it the Samaritan, hated by Jews and reviled as unclean, who acted in compas-sion toward his fellow traveler?

The young man, not able even to bring himself to say the word “Samaritan,” answers, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Jesus then looks this man in the eye and concludes what is perhaps the most power-ful moral teaching in all of history. Just four words declare Christ’s expectations of every Christian; four words echo His command in John 13:34: “Go and do likewise.”

That’s what it means to love one another as Jesus loves. Not just loving the lovely or those who love us, but loving the stranger, the outcast, and the man left bleeding on the side of the road. It means loving our neighbor, no matter who or where they are.

And when we do, Jesus says, the amazing thing is that others will know that we are His disciples. That is to be our identifying mark—people will know that we are Christ’s disciples if we love like Jesus loves. Those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior must be compelled by His love for the world to show mercy to our neigh-bors, to love them with the love of Christ.

c o n s i d e r o u r wo r l d t o dayprepare for “God’s heart for the poor Gallery walk.” Create four viewing stations by posting the photos provided in the handout (or online at www.womenofvision.org/heart).

Divide the participants into pairs or small groups. Invite the pairs to spend a few moments viewing the photos, reading the Scripture at each station, and sharing their impressions with one another.


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Jesus then looks this man in the eye and concludes what is perhaps the most powerful moral

teaching in all of history. “Go and do

likewise.”


c h o o s i n G a p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s e Participants share responses to these questions:

» What is your reaction to the poverty facts presented earlier?» What are some alternate responses or actions to apathy or paralysis?» How might coming alongside those in poverty also be transformational for the less-poor?» What tugs at your heart? What issues do you feel passionate about?» What does it mean that you might be the answer to someone’s prayer?» What might God be calling you to do?

Provide participants with self-stick notes and markers. Ask them to write their answers on the notes and post them on a flip chart. After compiling the list, invite the group to review it and note similarities as well as unique ideas.

c l o s i n G p r ay e r

scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 and Matthew 25:34-40 Choose a reader ahead of time. Form a circle around the reader and provide each participant with a candle. Turn off the lights. The darker the room, the more effective this will be. Light the reader’s candle and ask the reader to share the Scripture texts aloud.

The reader then lights another person’s candle, and participants continue sharing the flame. When all the candles are lit, ask each participant to share where they would like to shed light and hope in the world. Once everyone has shared, end by saying, “For all of this, we pray. Amen.” Close by extin-guishing the candles.


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Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt | Page 5

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Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt | Page 7The

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Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt : Leaders Notes for Lesson Two | Page 1

notes to help guide your leadership of lesson two.

M at e r i a l sPen, Bible, candle (optional)

s c r i p t u r e r e f l e c t i o nThe following commentary will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture Reflection portion of the lesson.

Genesis 1:27 and psalm 139 » commentaryThe following Scriptures might also be useful when discussing these passages.

» We are to delight in fellowship with Him (Ps 84:2).» We are to respect human life (Gen 9:6).» We are stewards of creation (Gen 1:26. Ps 8:3-8).» We can imitate God’s love and justice (Deut 10:17-19, Micah 6:8).» We have been disfigured through the Fall (Rom 3:23).

As the fallen . . .» We are in conflict with Creation (Gen 3:17-19).

As the redeemed . . .» Jesus is the perfect image of God (Phil 2:6, Col. 1:15).» Jesus is the faultless human being (2 Cor 5:21, Heb 1:3).» God’s image is renewed in those united with Jesus by faith (Rom 8:29).» Christian life is the process of transformation into His likeness (2 Cor 3:18).

luke 12:7 and Matthew 25:34-40 » commentaryThe opening scene of this passage depicts the heavenly throne, upon which is seated the King of Kings. And all the people of the world are gathered around Him, awaiting His judgment. The time has come for the King to divide His obedient servants from the rebellious ones, like a shepherd would divide the sheep from the goats.

It’s interesting to note that each group is surprised by the King’s standard of judgment. Neither group expects judgment to be in terms of how they’ve treated others. They, perhaps like many of us, think of judgment exclusively in terms of their relationship to God through Jesus Christ. But Jesus paints a different picture. He divides these two groups based on their treatment of the “least of these,” the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison.

the curtain that veils poverty


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If the discussion requires direction, guide participants to seeing how the “least of these” are as valuable as Jesus Christ.

You might want to use the following story from Reneé Stearns, wife of World Vision U.S. President Richard Stearns, as an illustration:

This reminds me of a woman I met a couple of years ago in India. We were there to visit World Vision projects, and we spent one afternoon in a village of people from the lowest caste in Indian society, the dalits. Because of their caste, they were forced to live alone in a remote location, isolated from the rest of the world. I was sitting in the dirt, working with a group of women, when one of them asked me, “How do you feel being here? What do you see when you look at us?”

Of course to us, these people looked like any of the many others we had seen during our travels—poor but hardworking men and women, eager to provide for themselves and their families. Yet when their neighbors looked at them, they could see them only through the filtered eyes of Indian culture and custom. To those around them, they were “untouchables.”

It got me thinking about the filter God uses when He looks at us. When He looks at the world He created, what is it He sees? When the Father looks at us, He sees His children, dearly loved and valuable beyond measure, so valuable, in fact, that He sent His one and only Son. And when we, through faith, become part of God’s family, as He looks at us, He sees Jesus. No mat-ter what our circumstances here on earth, when He sees us, He sees His precious Son. The “least of these” are important enough that He sacrificed His one and only child.

c o n s i d e r o u r wo r l d t o dayAssign each group member one of the roles found in step 2:

» Thobias, the local Brahmin leader» Lu, the local money lender» Nirmala, the widowed mother of four and an Untouchable» Amita, Nirmala’s sister

Invite the group to read their assigned role and character description. Then invite the participants to imagine what each situation would be like and act it out. Another option would be to ask the


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It got me thinking about the filter God

uses when He looks at us. When He looks at the world He created,

what is it He sees?


participants to take a few minutes to reflect on the role and then to share what they think it would be like to be this person.

c l o s i n G p r ay e r If you have access to peaceful, meditative music, or someone in your group is musical, you might set the mood for prayer by playing or singing a song and sitting in silence before or after the closing prayer.

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Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt : Leaders Notes for Lesson Three | Page 1

notes to help guide your leadership of lesson three.

M at e r i a l s » Pens, Bibles

Materials for activity:» a handful of rice placed on a plate» a plate brimming with American food accompanied by a drink and dessert on separate plate » a photo of well-dressed leaders busily discussing something » a few coins» a checkbook» a bag with flour or sugar that weights 2 or 3 pounds» a bag of flour or sugar that weights about 7 pounds» two buckets of water

o n l i n e r e s o u r c e from www.womenofvision.org/heart “Through the Eyes of the Poor Gallery Walk” resource

c au s e a n d e f f e c t

information about water:Water is one of the world’s most important natural resources. However, 80 countries experience serious water shortages. Children’s tiny bodies are dependent on clean water and susceptible to waterborne disease and parasites. When clean water is scarce, all aspects of life are impacted.

Without safe water, crops, and livestock die and healthy meals cannot be prepared.Poor health from unclean water means the productivity of the community suffers and family income diminishes.

Where water is scarce, there is unlikely to be a school, and teachers are reluctant to move into the community. Because children spend so much time fetching water, they cannot attend school anyway.

the Multiple causes of poverty


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consider these statistics:» Thirteen percent of the world’s population consumes drinking water from unsafe sources. » Women shoulder the largest burden in collecting water and are more than twice as likely as

men to fetch drinking water. Women (64 percent); men (25 percent); girls (7 percent); boys (4 percent).

» Unsafe drinking water, lack of sanitation, and poor hygiene together contribute to about 88 percent of the under-5 deaths occurring each year due to diarrheal diseases. This means that more than 1.45 million children below the age of 5 are lost annually—nearly 4,000 die each day.

» Every 22 seconds, a child under the age of 5 dies from illnesses attributed to poor hygiene practices, unsafe drinking-water supplies, and inadequate access to sanitation.

(Sources: WHO/UNICEF JMP Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation, 2008; UNICEF State of the World’s Chil-dren, 2008; UNICEF State of the World’s Children, 2009)

additional causes of povertyIf the participants are struggling to come up with additional poverty causes (lesson 3, page 3), consider sharing the following:

» Physical causes: lack of food, water, money, clothing, or natural resources (like clean air).

» Social causes: pressure to marry early; expectation to work instead of attend school; female’s inability to travel without a male chaperone.

» Mental causes: lack of education; ability hindered by disease or substance abuse; poor self-image.

» Spiritual causes: fear; feeling abandoned or punished by God; allowing the powerful to dominate.

s c r i p t u r e r e f l e c t i o nThe following information will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture Reflection (John 10:10) portion of the lesson.

A Christian understanding of poverty includes:» Poverty of being—the poor are people whose identity has been marred. They don’t see

themselves as God sees them, as valuable and dearly loved by their creator.

» Poverty of relationships—the poor are those whose relationships do not work, first with God and then with others.


» Poverty of purpose—the poor are those without hope.

» Spiritual poverty includes not seeing ourselves as God sees us; finding ourselves in destructive relationships, both with our creator and with others; and lacking hope for the future.

c o n s i d e r yo u r ow n v i e w p o i n tUsing handouts and materials you gathered, create five “viewing stations” as noted below:

» station one: Place at this station two buckets of water. Also place page 1 from the handout.

» station two: Place a plate of rice (label the plate “poor”) next to a plate brimming with American food accompanied by a drink and dessert (label the plate “not-poor”). Also place page 2 from the handout.

» station three: Place a photo of well-dressed leaders busily discussing something. Also place page 3 from the handout.

» station four: Place a few coins that equal less than a dollar (label the coins “poor”) next to a to

a checkbook with a healthy balance (label the checkbook “not-poor”). Another option would be a sign marked with some amount between $1 and $2 that says, “One-third of the people on the planet live on this each day.” Next to it should be items with prices from a U.S. store, such as blue jeans, school notebook, or a fast-food bag to represent a meal. Also place page 4 from the handout.

» station five: Place two to three pounds of sugar or flour in one bag. Label it “underweight infant born in developing world.” Also place a 7-pound bag of sugar or flour at the station. Label it, “average baby born in the U.S.” Finally, place page 5 from the handout.

Divide the participants into pairs. Explain that the goal of this activity is for them to experience what it’s like to walk with someone who sees the world through different eyes because of their resources and the challenges they face. Ask each pair to choose a role—“poor” or “not poor.”

Invite the pairs to spend a few moments experiencing each station. Tell them to feel free to pick up the items. Advise them to look at the situation in each station as they think they would view it through the eyes of their assigned role, “poor” or “not poor.” Ask them to share with one another their responses to the questions posted at the station before moving on to the next station.


After completing all of the stations, ask the participants to share with their partners responses to the following questions, which are also noted in the lesson:

» Which station most surprised you?

» How did being in the company of the other person make you feel?

» Did your discussion reveal any possible ways of lessening inequality?

Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt : Lesson Three Resource | Page 1

station oneWalk around the room once carrying both buckets. If you feel daring, try carrying one of the buckets on your head.

Share your responses to the following questions:

How many buckets of water do you think you would need for your daily tasks?

How much more difficult would it be for you if no running water was available in your home?

How would this change your daily routine?

Lesson Three – Resource

throuGh the eyes of the poor Gallery walk


station twoSpend a few moments comparing and contrasting the two plates.


How does it make you feel to have this quantity of food when your neighbor has a different amount?

What might it be like if the roles were reversed?




station threeTake a moment to look at the photograph. The make a mental list of all of the governmental and influential people in your community, state, and nation.


How would you make your voice heard in this group of people?

What resources might you have to draw from that would increase your chance of succeeding?




station fourTake a moment to view the items and information at this station.


How would these resources hinder or help you in meeting your daily needs?

How do you feel about your resources compared to the person next to you?




station fivePick up each bag one at a time and cradle it for a moment or two. Think about the weight difference you are holding.

Share your responses to the following question:

What do you think each child’s prospect of a healthy future might be?



Hope in a Wor ld o f Hurt : Leaders Notes for Lesson Four | Page 1

notes to help guide your leadership of lesson four.

M at e r i a l s Pens, Bible, computer with Internet access.

o n l i n e r e s o u r c e Download the video “Hoops of Hope” from www.hoopsofhope.org.

s c r i p t u r e r e f l e c t i o nTo work through these steps in a timely manner, consider dividing the participants into pairs or small groups and assign each of the readings listed in steps 2 through 8. Then ask the pairs to read the assigned passage, discuss the question, and summarize for the entire group.

c h o o s e a p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s eAfter the discussion or journaling, suggest that the participants craft an action plan to help them take the next step toward advocacy. Have them revisit the steps outlined in during the Scripture Reflection portion of the lesson.

c l o s i n G p r ay e rInvite the participants to alternate praying aloud each portion of the Litany for the Millenium Development Goals, while everyone responds together: “Lord hear our prayer.”

GivinG voice to the voiceless


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Copyright © 2009 by World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, 253-815-3320,[email protected]. All rights reserved.

hope in a world of hurt bible study- leader's notes

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