NEW: Best Practices for Leading an Online Bible Study
NEW: Online Group Plan for Session 5
Date: May 24, 2020
Yield
The Point: Humbly place the needs of others before your own.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce The Bible Meets Question #1.
State leaders and citizens have been squabbling about how to re-open businesses and services following COVID-19 quarantines. Some insist we threaten the very normal we yearn to get back to if we hurry too quickly to get back to that normal. Others worry that waiting too long will further damage the economy and cost people their livelihoods. Some want masks; some insist masks give a false sense of security which may lead people to continue to spread COVID 19 in ways they wouldn’t do without masks.
Bill de Blasio, mayor of hard-hit New York, said a full rebuild will take about 20 months. He emphasized the city’s approach to recovery must address “structural racism,” “painful inequalities,” and disparities that have surfaced during the COVID-19 crisis. He continued, “We restart when we have evidence … Anybody, any state, any city that doesn’t pay attention to … factual health care indicators is … endangering themselves and their people… it could all backfire.”
The point the mayor is making? Sometimes, being first in line can have greater consequences than others.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://abc7ny.com/nyc-recovery-plan-coronavirus-update-corona-virus/6130738/
Get Into the Study [Additional Option for Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, play a worship song about yielding or with a theme of humility. Then lead the group in prayer.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to supplement Question #3.
Page 116 of the Personal Study Guide includes, “When a person is full of himself … his opinions are the cleverest and his experiences are the richest.”
For generations scientists have worked to discover what is true and what to do about those discoveries. Some scientists —and followers of those scientists— might conclude their opinions are the cleverest and their experiences the richest. But then evidence arises that challenges what they had previously concluded. Scientists must then examine the larger body of evidence to understand the facts. Reported on April 16, Newton’s theory of gravity was challenged when astronomers spotted a star dancing around a massive black hole in the middle of our Milky Way galaxy. These astronomers say the star’s rosette orbit proves Einstein was right. Newton’s theory would suggest an ellipse. But this star’s orbit took the path of a rosette, supporting the theory of relativity. This star is the first ever caught circling an enormous black hole in the middle of our galaxy. It’s easy to jump the gun and draw broad conclusions based on partial truths or evidence, but that’s why community can be so important in helping us draw conclusions—even about ourselves.
Ask Question #3. Follow by asking: What partial truths or full falsehoods have you believed about the balance between your responsibility to self and your responsibility to others?
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://nypost.com/2020/04/16/star-spotted-orbiting-black-hole-backs-up-einstein-theory/
— Karen Dockrey wrote these Leader Extras. Karen is a managing editor, teacher, and author of 30 books. Karen is an active member of a local church near Huntsville, Alabama.
Additional Questions
Ice Breakers
- When have you seen a demonstration of humility lately? Explain.
- Who do you know that exemplifies humility on a regular basis?
- How have you seen humility transform an encounter or relationship?
Philippians 2:1-4
- What circumstances in life tempt you to ignore the instructions in these verses?
- According to these verses, what four qualities mark unity with Christ?
- What does it mean to consider someone more important than yourself?
Philippians 2:5-8
- How would you describe “the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (v. 5)?
- How can we best learn about Jesus’ attitudes and relationships?
- What tools are Christians given to assist them in living out this verse?
Philippians 2:12-15
- What kind of natural outcomes would you expect to see when obeying these verses?
- What does it look like to practice these verses on a daily basis?
- What strategies have helped you fight the urge to grumble, complain, or argue?
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Member Extra
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Practicing Humility in a COVID-19 World
Tips for Leading Bible Study Groups
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Using Bill DeBlasio as a source for anything Christian is a BAD idea.