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

Berlin, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1501813420 ISBN 13: 9781501813429

Publisher: Abingdon Press, 2016

Synopsis

When beliefs, attitudes, and values line up with actions there is character. Helping teenagers grow in Christ-like character is no easy task. How do we help teenagers follow Jesus and take on his character? It takes practice and the commitment of their church family to support, encourage, and celebrate the “wins” with them along this exciting journey of growth. Character is a four-week Bible study designed to help teens develop Christ-like behavior in their daily lives. Teenagers will consider the ideas of truth, how they use their words, how they view their possessions, and what it is to be a person of integrity. The study is reinforced with daily devotions and exercises found in the Groove: Character Student Journal. Helping youth embrace character and the practice of growing their spiritual lives independent from group study can be a powerful combination. The Groove Bible study series invites teens to learn the essentials of their faith, own their story, and engage the world in serving Jesus. Each topical study consists of four weekly sessions that are easy to lead and relate to life issues teens face. With up to 48 weeks available, Groove is great for Sunday and mid-week gatherings for both large and small groups as well as retreats. The leader guide contains everything needed to lead teens through a Groove study, including teaching outlines, leader notes, Bible background, reflections, and parent communication.

About this title

About the Author

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.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

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 force" and call attention to the definition of gravity from the book that is displayed in the room: "Gravity is the pull of objects on other objects."

Read the first paragraph in the section titled "Financial Gravity." Ask:

• What is financial gravity?

• What are some benefits of financial gravity?

• How can financial gravity benefit generosity and stewardship?

Read, or invite someone to read, 1 Timothy 6:10.

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.

Ask:

• What is a common misinterpretation of this Scripture? (The important point here is that it is the love of money and not money itself that is the problem.)

• What are examples of ways the love of money can lead to evil?

• How can the love of money pull us away from God?

Note Tom Berlin's comment that "The problem with financial gravity occurs when you feel it with such intensity that it changes the way you live your life." Ask:

• How does the secular world tempt you to follow the pull of financial gravity? (Cite examples of Internet advertisements, bank account and credit card balances, and the atmosphere in shopping areas.)

• What financial temptations do you find hard to resist? (For example, one favorite store sends coupons in the mail to encourage shoppers to visit the store. When shoppers check out, the clerk puts new coupons in the shoppers' bags, offering products they may not need.)

• In what ways have you experienced financial gravity with an intensity that threatened to change your life negatively?

• What helps you resist the pull of financial gravity when it is pulling you away from God?

The author suggests that the pull of the material world can be so strong that it can lead to a loss of freedom. Ask:

• How can financial gravity and the pull of the material world cause us to lose our freedom? (You may want to offer the following two examples to help start the discussion.)

* If we accumulate debt by purchasing items we cannot afford, we risk becoming a slave to paying off the debt.

* If we answer the call of the secular world to "keep up with the neighbors," we may not be free to give generously and follow Christ.

If you sense that individuals in your group are struggling with debt and a loss of financial freedom, encourage participants to seek the advice and counsel of someone who is trained in helping resolve these issues. Sometimes local churches offer classes on financial management. Make this a general suggestion to the group. Do not call attention to any one person.

Two Kingdoms: Self and God

Note the author's point that we live in two kingdoms: the kingdom of self and the kingdom of God. Ask:

• What characterizes the kingdom of self?

• What characterizes the kingdom of God?

Write the responses under the appropriate headings you prepared: Kingdom of Self or Kingdom of God.

The discussion may lead to the question of whether the kingdom of self is always in opposition to the kingdom of God. For example, it may be considered self-centered to eat a healthy diet and exercise, develop supportive friendships, participate in relaxing hobbies, or engage in academic pursuits. Yet these same activities might be characterized as God-centered. You may want to allow time for participants to explore this issue. Ask:

• Is it possible for the kingdom of self to work in cooperation with the kingdom of God?

• What forces in the kingdom of self hold us down and prevent us from knowing a better way of life?

• How can we live in the kingdom of God on earth?

• In what ways can the gravitational force of wealth pull us away from the kingdom of God?

Invite participants to think about their own individual kingdoms of self. Offer the following three questions for group discussion or for individual reflection during the week. Allow time for participants to record the questions on paper to keep with them. Ask:

• What aspects of your life are self-centered?

• What aspects of your life are God-centered?

• What do you need to work on in order to move from a self-centered life to a more God-centered life?

What Is It About Money?

Read or invite someone to read Matthew 19:23. (This verse is included in the book and in this Leader Guide.)

Note that wealth has been a stumbling block for believers since biblical times. The gravitational pull of wealth has the power to draw us away from the kingdom of God. The fact that Jesus addressed this issue affirms this reality. Ask:

• What is it about money that creates difficulties for Christians?

• What principles or techniques help you manage your financial resources in a way that is pleasing to God?

• What challenges and struggles do you face in managing your finances while at the same time living a godly life?

• How can wealth make us more mindful of God's call upon our lives?

If time permits, you may want to invite participants to share examples of ways people have used their wealth to further the kingdom of God. Remember that a person does not need to have great wealth in order to serve Christ.

More Activities (Optional)

Reluctance about Giving

Invite volunteers to read aloud the descriptions of the five financial profiles described in Defying Gravity:

• Batten Down the Hatches

• Every Rung Goes Higher and Higher

• The Call of the Wild

• I Am the Gift

• Bucket List Bingo

Ask:

• What is the positive side to each of these profiles?

• What is the negative side to each of these profiles?

You may want to find out, with a quick show of hands, which profiles describe the participants in your group. Some participants may identify with more than one profile. Ask:

• Which profile or profiles best describe you?

• What struggles do you experience relating to generosity?

Values and Practices

Note Tom Berlin's point that "the values and practices of the kingdom of God are not intuitive to most people." He offers four examples of those values and practices: humility, trust, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Read or invite volunteers to read the Scripture texts that accompany each of these values and practices in the book. Ask:

• What are other examples of values and practices of the kingdom of God that are not intuitive? (Record responses on a large sheet of paper or on the board.)

After all responses have been recorded, ask:

• How does each of these values and practices influence our attitude toward money and the way we manage our finances?

• How are these values and practices part of your everyday life? Which is the most difficult for you?

• Which values and practices would you like to add or cultivate further in your life?

Collectors and Stewards

The author states that we are not called to be "collectors of goods" but rather stewards of the resources God has given us.

Remind participants of the creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2. In these stories we learn that God created the world, and then gave humankind the responsibility to care for the world.

Consider these various meanings of the word collector:

• A person who collects certain items as a hobby

• A person who collects items to the extreme of becoming a hoarder

• A person who collects material wealth for the sake of having material wealth

• A person who collects taxes or debts from other people, as in a collection agency

Note that a steward is a person who is given responsibility for the care of possessions or affairs that belong to someone else. Ask:

• In what ways are you as an individual called to be a steward in your own life?

• In what ways is the church called to the role of stewardship?

Wrapping Up

Closing Activity

Briefly review the ideas discussed today, then invite participants to reflect on the following two questions during the coming week. Allow time for them to write the questions on a piece of paper. Ask:

• What is one thing you have learned about yourself and your relationship with your financial resources?

• What is one question or idea that you would like to explore further?

Closing Prayer

Gracious and generous God, thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to live a life of generosity and service. Grant us courage to accept Jesus' invitation to follow him. Guide us as we seek to leave behind the self-centered aspects of our lives. Open our hearts and our hands so that we might give generously as we serve in Jesus' name. Amen.

CHAPTER 2

Breaking Free

PLANNING THE SESSION

Session Goals

Through conversation, activities, and reflection, participants will:

• Recognize that the self-serving pull of financial gravity is powerful enough to take over our lives and leave us lost in a "black hole."

• Discover how we may adopt Christ's attitude toward generosity.

• Explore what it means to be both a beneficiary and a participant in the kingdom of God.

• Affirm the connection between a joyful, purposeful life and generosity.

Biblical Foundation

Jesus said, "A certain man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the inheritance.' Then the father divided his estate between them. Soon afterward, the younger son gathered everything together and took a trip to a land far away. There, he wasted his wealth through extravagant living." (Luke 15:11-13)

"When he came to his senses ... he got up and went to his father." (Luke 15:17, 20)

Before the Session

Set up a table in the room with nametags, markers, Bibles, and extra copies of Defying Gravity if you think these items will be necessary.

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

Display the paper with the definition of gravity from Session 1.

Draw a line down the middle of a chalkboard or dry-erase board. On the left side of the board write the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 in a column. On the right side write the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Leave space to the right of each number to record responses to the question in the Opening Activities. If you prefer, you may use two large sheets of paper instead of a chalkboard or dry-erase board. Hang the papers where they may be written on and seen during the activity.

Write this definition of generosity from Defying Gravity on a large sheet of paper and display it in the room: Generosity is "the virtue of giving good things to others freely and abundantly."

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Defying Gravity Leader Guide by Tom Berlin. Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1501813420
• ISBN 13: 9781501813429
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64