Flow Questions October 13-14, 2012
Series: Love Without Walls
Message: Armed for Change
Passages: Mark 1:40-45 and John 9:1-12, 30-34
INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES
What’s a big time-waster in your schedule?
Leader note: Let your group consider those things that tend to take up parts of their day that could be better spent doing something else. Think of things like traffic, Computer time or games, errands, etc.
OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES
Leader note: Divide your group into two groups (even if you have a smaller group this will work), give one group Mark 1:40-45, and one group John 9:1-12, 30-34. Tell them both to answer the question, “What do you learn about compassion from the story?”
First group read Mark 1:40-45. Answer the question, “What do you learn about compassion from this story?”
Leader note: A good definition for compassion is: anger and frustration at injustice that causes us to act
Commentary from Mark passage:
Compassion is not status conscious Compassion demands a response
Costly — an untouchable person was healed
Compelling
Contagious — people came from all over the area
Compassion testifies to the Father
sends the leper to the temple… as a testimony.
priest declares someone clean, also declares that Jesus was Messiah (only God heals sickness)
Compassion is not for show — “don’t tell anyone”
Commentary from John passage:
It’s the work of God
It doesn’t care about status of the blind man – couldn’t have had any power, he was born blind, people had scorned him figuring he deserved his position
It’s hands on — mud in his eyes
He used what was available to him
It brings light into the world.
the work of compassion was an interruption, was just going about a normal day
responding to something that wasn’t part of his day
source of the man’s problem isn’t made an obstacle to the healing work of God
not for show, humble
hard to explain, most couldn’t understand the how
UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES
What kinds of injustices do you know about that cause people to mobilize into action?
Commentary:
Injustices-
- Human trafficking
- Clean Water
- Racial reconciliation
- Inner city
- Mentoring disadvantaged students
- Education inequities
- Orphan-care
- Abuse — sexual, physical, others.
- Homeless/Panhandlers
What are reasons for avoiding compassion (getting involved)?
Leader note: Think of barriers or excuses that keep people from “getting involved” or trying to be part of the solution.
- They think the problem is laziness
- They’ll be ungrateful if I help
- They’re just uneducated
- they didn’t manage their money well
- sexual orientation
- legal status is a put off
- they made poor choices – deserve where they are
- they’re dangerous or it’s too dangerous
- Too busy
- They already pay welfare with their taxes
- Changing one doesn’t matter – (One isn’t going to help, and more than one is overwhelming)
- They feel like they don’t have what it takes, or don’t know where to start
APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES
If you were to possibly get involved in one of those injustices, which would it be? Why?
Leader note: Have your group consider some of those injustices you listed in the previous question, or any others that come to mind. Below is a list of the contacts and next step for those injustices listed above. If the injustice you identified is not on the list, and you would like to be part of a solution, please get in touch with Alicia Crain at acrain@marinerschurch.org and she will help you connect with the people who can help move your solution forward
What would be one step you could take and what’s keep you from it?
Leader note: IMPORTANT – Leaders, this is not something you need to lead – when your group selects those injustices they would like to get involved in, ask one of them to be the leader for this part of the group.
LIVE IT OUT
What would happen to us, what would happen to those around us if we moved at those injustices?
RESOURCES AND NEXT STEPS
Human trafficking
(Divine) – Contact Jaime Hindman, divine@marinerschurch.org;
First step: Christmas Craft Night, December 5th, Rm. 206 7-8:30p, Training & Outreach Dec. 22nd 6:15pm-12am, Room 204
Clean Water
First step: Purchase Water for Water in the café to support water projects around the world. Or donate directly to the water project at marinersoutreach.org/give
Contact: Jonah Haase at jhaase@marinerschurch.org
Racial reconciliation (Sri Lanka)
First step: Is the Gospel Relevant? Sun, Oct 21, 12:30-2p, Upper Room, Irvine Campus What does it look like to be the church in the world today where 6+ million people have lost their lives over the past 25 years to the civil wars in Congo and Sri Lanka? Hear from our partners, Pastor Adrian DeVisser from Kithu Sevana Church and Congo missionaries Camille and Esther Ntoto, about the relevance of the Gospel in the midst of the atrocities today.
Inner City (Santa Ana)
First step: LCC Experience, Thur, Nov 1, 5:30-7p, Santa Ana, Come to the Lighthouse Community Center on Minnie Street and hear about the ways to engage in this ministry through tutoring, youth groups, teaching adults, etc.
Mentoring
First step: Provide hope through establishing a relationship with foster children and at-risk youth in a few hours per month. This is an opportunity to serve and empower others by giving a child hope in their future. Contact: Elizabeth Bader, elizabeth@positivecoparenting.com
Education (Santa Ana)
LCC Experience, Thur, Nov 1, 5:30-7p, Santa Ana, Come to the Lighthouse Community Center on Minnie Street and hear about the ways to engage in this ministry through tutoring, youth groups, teaching adults, etc.
Orphan Care
First step: (several options)
- The Walk (monthly youth group at mariners for foster youth),
- Foster Kids Christmas Party,
- Safe Families,
- Prayer Team,
- Adoption event on November 13th
Abuse (children)
First step: A Children and Family center facility that provides temporary shelter for at-risk children in Orange County who were victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Lend a hand with crafts, a pizza party, games and sports activities, or just spend time hanging out with the children. Volunteers much be 18 years or older. Contact: Tom Guy, tguy106@yahoo.com
Homeless
First step: (Several options)
- chili van – contact Bryan Crain at bryandcrain@gmail.com, every Thursday, 4:30-6:30p at the Santa Ana Civic Center
- skid row – contact Fred Gladney at gladneyf@me.com, Serving on a quarterly basis
- lighthouse church – contact Stephanie Chang at stephaniechang9@yahoo.com , every 3rd, 4th, and 5th Saturday of the month 2-5p at Lighthouse Church in Costa Mesa [Nov. 17th and 24th are Thanksgiving meal serves]