Defying Gravity Leader Guide: Break Free from the Culture of More - Softcover

Berlin, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1501813420 ISBN 13: 9781501813429

Verlag: Abingdon Press, 2016

Inhaltsangabe

Our possessions can create unbearable weight and affect our ability to serve and thrive. How do we defy gravity and find freedom? In this 4-week small group study and stewardship campaign, pastor and author Tom Berlin explores what is required to sustain a vibrant life, what we need versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled into the orbit of materialism.This 64-page Leader Guide contains everything needed to guide a group through the 4-week group study as part of the stewardship program. Includes session plans, discussion questions, and activities based on the book and DVD, as well as multiple format options.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Tom Berlin serves as a Bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. Prior to being elected Bishop, he served as lead pastor of Floris United Methodist Church in suburban Washington, D.C. Tom is a graduate of Virginia Tech and Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is the author of numerous books, including Reckless Love, Courage, Restored, Defying Gravity, The Generous Church, and the coauthor (with Lovett Weems) of Bearing Fruit, Overflow, and High Yield.

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Defying Gravity Leader Guide

Break Free from the Culture of More

By Tom Berlin

Abingdon Press

Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5018-1342-9

Contents

To the Leader, 
1. Discovering Gravity, 
2. Breaking Free, 
3. Tethered to God, 
4. When We Get It Right, 

CHAPTER 1

Discovering Gravity

Planning the Session

Session Goals

Through conversation, activities, and reflection, participants will:

• Understand what the author means by the term financial gravity.

• Discern differences between the kingdom of self and the kingdom of God.

• Explore answers to the question, What is it about money?

• Discover reasons for the reluctance to give financially.

Biblical Foundation

Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who gain understanding.
Her profit is better than silver,
and her gain better than gold.

(Proverbs 3:13-14) "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"

(Matthew 19:16 NRSV)

The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions."

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person 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 someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

(Matthew 19:20-24 NRSV)

Before the Session

Set up a table in the room with nametags, markers, Bibles, and extra copies of Defying Gravity.

Have available a chalkboard and chalk, dry-erase board and markers, or large sheets of paper and markers to record participants' responses during the session.

Write the definition of gravity from Defying Gravity on a large sheet of paper and display it in the room for each session: "Gravity is the pull of objects on other objects."

Write the headings Kingdom of Self and Kingdom of God on a large sheet of paper or a dry-erase board or chalkboard. Leave space below each heading to record class responses.

Getting Started

Opening Activities

Greet participants as they arrive. Invite them to make a nametag and to pick up a Bible and a copy of Defying Gravity if they did not bring one.

Introductions

Introduce yourself. You may want to share why you are excited about facilitating this study of Defying Gravity. Point out that the study is meant to be part of a congregationwide stewardship program on this topic, including sermons and other worship activities during the four weeks of the study and culminating, on the final week, in filling out pledges of personal and financial commitment during the coming year.

To help your group keep the theme of stewardship in mind, the weekly videos in this study will consist of testimonials by individuals and families about various aspects of generosity.

If you sense that the participants in your group do not know each other well, allow time for them to introduce themselves and share something about their relationship with the church — for example, the name of a Sunday school class or small group to which they belong, a mission project they support, or which worship service they attend. Extend a special welcome to those who do not regularly attend your church, and invite them to worship at your church if they do not have a church home.

Leading into the Study

Invite participants to name an activity or hobby they enjoy doing that involves the use of at least one object. List the activities and hobbies on a large sheet of paper or board. Examples are playing tennis, backpacking, baking, or chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee. Do not take time for participants to elaborate about the activity or hobby. (This exercise will serve as both an "ice-breaker" and an introduction to the subject of gravity.)

When the list is completed, offer a brief statement about the challenges one would face if these activities and hobbies were attempted in an environment with zero gravity.

Housekeeping

Before continuing, take a minute to cover briefly some housekeeping issues:

• Share any necessary information about your meeting space and parking.

• Let participants know you will be faithful to time limitations, and encourage everyone to arrive on time.

• Encourage participants to read the next chapter in the book each week and do any "homework" that may be suggested.

• Suggest that participants may want to have a notebook for use during the study. Explain that the notebook may be used for recording questions and insights as they read the book and attend the sessions. It may also be used for writing reflections as they consider the topics of financial gravity and generosity.

• Stress the importance of confidentiality within the group. Ask participants to covenant together that they will respect a policy of confidentiality.

Opening Prayer

Generous God, we thank you for the abundant and amazing gifts you give to us. We have gathered here because we, too, want to be generous. Be present with us as we journey through this study together. Open our hearts that we may be more generous. Open our minds to the possibilities generosity creates. Open our eyes and ears so that we may be aware of the needs around us. Grant us wisdom as we learn how to defy the pull of financial gravity and "break free from the culture of more." Amen.

Learning Together

Video Study and Discussion Generosity Moment: Al

Tom Berlin points out that the journey from consumer to steward doesn't happen quickly. He introduces us to Al, whose journey calls us to thoughtful, emotional, and deliberate reflection on our life experiences.

Introduce the video by noting Tom Berlin's comment that "the journey from consumer to steward doesn't happen quickly." Invite participants to make notes about Al's journey as they view the video. After watching the video, ask Berlin's two closing questions:

• What do you do to make generosity happen in your life?

• What is it that has persuaded you that being generous is a worthy calling to pursue?

You may want to close the discussion by quickly reviewing these characteristics of "the journey from consumer to steward."

• It is not quick.

• It can take years of deliberate reflection on life experiences.

• This deliberation is both thoughtful and emotional.

• Generosity is not an obligation but an opportunity.

• An important question to consider is, Is God your first goal?

Bible Study and Discussion

Read, or invite someone to read, Matthew 19:16 and Matthew 19:20-22. (These Scriptures can be found in the book and in this Leader Guide.)

• Why was the man grieving when he walked away from Jesus?

• When have you felt caught between following wealth and following Jesus?

Book Study and Discussion

Gravity

Review the life of Isaac Newton or invite participants to share what they know about Isaac Newton. Note that gravity is an "invisible...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Abingdon Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2016
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1501813420
• ISBN 13: 9781501813429
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 64
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: preigu; mail@preigu.de; ; Lengericher Landstr. 19; Osnabrück; 49078; Deutschland