As usual, Mike Slaughter pushes us to be faithful not just in word but in action. His book shiny gods caused me to do a heart check on my priorities. Jacob Armstrong, founding pastor, Providence United Methodist Church, Mt. Juliet TN, and author of Upside Down: A Different Way to Live mike slaughter Mike s teachings have brought financial freedom to our family not just dollars and cents, but the assurance that we are part of God s redemptive purpose through our faithful stewardship. Missy and Jeremy Briggs, members of Ginghamsburg Church How much is enough? In a culture guided by shiny, life-promising distractions, enough seems elusive and keeps us chasing the next quick fix. What if the Giver of Life offered freedom from this downward spiral would you take it? In the shiny gods book and DVD, pastor and author Mike Slaughter helps participants reassess priorities to create a culture and lifestyle of giving, based on the word of God and the example of Christ. This leader guide contains everything needed to guide your group through the book and DVD. Inside you ll find session plans, discussion questions, and activities, as well as multiple format options and suggestions of ways to make the study a meaningful experience for any group. Sessions include: Naming Our Idols Money, Work, and Debt Be Faithful, Save, and Give Heart Giving Mike Slaughter, lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church, is a catalyst for change in the worldwide church. Under his leadership, Ginghamsburg Church has become known for its generosity and its annual Christmas Miracle Offering, which has raised millions for ministry in Sudan and around the world. Mike is the author of multiple books including Christmas Is Not Your Birthday, Change the World, Spiritual Entrepreneurs, Real Followers, Momentum for Life, UnLearning Church, and Upside Living in a Downside Economy. For more information visit www.mikeslaughter.com. RELIGION / Christian Life / Stewardship & Giving US $11.99 finding freedom from things that distract us ISBN-13: 978-1-4267-6196-6 51199 9 781426 761966 01 02 03 FnL1 BFVNUEgEVU1QSABRNxOiBTExLjk2Ajky ATQMSVNCTiBCYXJjb2RlDTEtNDI2Ny02 MTk2LTHR 03 0072 www.abingdonpress.com Cover design: Marc Whitaker LEADER GUIDE
shiny gods finding freedom from things that distract us Leader Guide
Program Components Book shiny gods: finding freedom from things that distract us DVD shiny gods: finding freedom from things that distract us Video programs with downloadable leader guide Program Flash Drive with Booklet first: putting GOD first in living and giving Instructions for planning and using the program Devotions first: putting GOD first in living and giving Daily meditations to use during the program Youth Study Edition first: putting GOD first in living and giving Book for youth to use during the program, with leader helps Children s Leader Guide first: putting GOD first in living and giving Lesson plans for younger and older children Program Kit first: putting GOD first in living and giving One of each component
Mike Slaughter shiny gods finding freedom from things that distract us Leader Guide by Ella Robinson Abingdon Press Nashville
Mike Slaughter shiny gods finding freedom from things that distract us Leader Guide by Ella Robinson Copyright 2013 by Abingdon Press All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to Abingdon Press, 201 Eighth Avenue South, P.O. Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202-0801 or e-mailed to permissions@abingdonpress.com. This book is printed on acid-free paper. ISBN 978-1-4267-6196-6 Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the Common English Bible, Copyright 2010 by Common English Bible, and are used by permission. Scripture quotations marked TNIV are taken from the Holy Bible, TODAY S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. TNIV. Copyright 2001, 2005 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication applied for. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents Introduction...7 How to Use This Leader Guide...11 1. Naming Our Idols...17 2. Money, Work, and Debt...27 3. Be Faithful, Save, and Give...37 4. Heart Giving....47 Notes...56
Introduction A study done in spring 2012 indicates that two-thirds of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. 1 People are consumed with debt and the fear of going deeper into debt. However, the cause may not be our lack of money, but instead our penchant for viewing luxuries as essential items. We expect to have cable television, mobile phones, and the latest computer games. As we turn these luxuries into essentials, we allow them to become what pastor and author Mike Slaughter calls shiny gods. In his book and DVD, shiny gods: finding freedom from things that distract us, Slaughter helps us identify our own shiny distractions and then encourages us to put God first in all aspects of life. We are inspired to release our resources time, money, and talents fully into God s hands. The book and DVD are suitable for individual use or, with the help of this leader guide, can be used in a small group study for adults. This book, DVD, and leader guide can be used as part of a four-week churchwide stewardship program titled first: putting GOD first in living and giving, which also includes a program guide on flash drive, a book of devotions, and parallel studies for youth and children. 7
shiny gods: finding freedom from things that distract us For the shiny gods small group study, participants will read one chapter of the book prior to the study session, then will meet together for group study each week for four weeks. During the group study, participants will view a video from the accompanying DVD that will provide additional information for the week s study. For groups that want to spend an additional week studying the book s conclusion, What s Next?, we have included a fifth week s session plan in the adult, youth, and children s studies. For the adult small group study, provide each participant with a copy of the shiny gods book enough in advance of the first study session so that they can read the introduction and first chapter and be prepared for group discussion. You may want to have extra copies of the book available at the first meeting in case people who join the group at that meeting can take a copy of the book home and use it to prepare for the next week s session. Encourage group members to underline or highlight portions of each chapter as they read. Suggest that they obtain a spiral-bound notebook or journal for this study to note questions or essential points that they would like to make during the group sessions. Assure participants who may have already read shiny gods that their participation in the study will enhance their understanding of the book. Although the material in the book will be familiar to them, watching the videos and participating in group discussions will give them a new learning experience and an opportunity for spiritual growth. Ask participants who have read the book before to read it again, one chapter per week, along with the other group members. Not only will this refresh their memory, but it will also provide them with new insight and understanding. The DVD for this study contains one video for each session. As the group leader, you should preview each segment 8
Introduction of the DVD before showing it to your group. If one or more group members miss a meeting, arrange for them to see the video outside the regular meeting time. Also, give them a copy of the week s participant handout that is included at the end of each chapter in this Leader Guide. 9
How to Use This Leader Guide As group leader, your role will be to facilitate the weekly sessions using this Leader Guide and the accompanying DVD. Because no two groups are alike, this guide has been designed to give you flexibility and choice in tailoring the sessions for your group. You may choose one of the following format options, or adapt these as you wish to meet the schedule and needs of your particular group. (Note: The times indicated within parentheses are merely estimates. You may move at a faster or slower pace, making adjustments as necessary to fit your schedule.) Basic Option: 60 minutes Opening Prayer Biblical Foundation Video Presentation Group Discussion Taking It Home Closing Prayer (2 minutes) (3 minutes) (15 minutes) (30 minutes) (5 minutes) (less than 5 minutes) 11
shiny gods: finding freedom from things that distract us Extended Option: 90 minutes Opening Prayer Biblical Foundation Opening Activity Video Presentation Group Discussion Group Activity Taking It Home Closing Prayer (2 minutes) (3 minutes) (10 15 minutes) (15 minutes) (30 minutes) (15 minutes) (5 minutes) (less than 5 minutes) Although you are encouraged to adapt the sessions to meet your needs, you also are encouraged to make prayer and Scripture reading regular components of the weekly group sessions. Feel free to use the opening and closing prayers provided here, or to create your own prayers. In either case, the intent is to cover the group session in prayer, acknowledging that only because of God s mercy and grace have our sins been forgiven. Scripture verses provided for each session are intended to serve as a biblical foundation for the group session, as well as for participants continuing reflection during the following week. In addition to the session components listed above, the following leader helps are provided to equip you for each group session: Fundamentals: materials to gather for the meeting Key Insights: summary of main points from the week s content Leader Background: additional information related to topic Notable Quote: noteworthy quote relating to the week s content 12
How to Use This Leader Guide You may use these helps for your personal preparation only, or you may choose to incorporate them into the group session in some way. For example, you might choose to review the key insights from the video either before or after group discussion, incorporate the leader extra into group discussion, or close with the Notable Quote. At the end of the materials provided for each group session, you will find a reproducible participant handout. This handout includes key insights and Taking It Home application exercises for the coming week. Each week, you will have the opportunity to remind participants that these exercises are designed to help them get the most out of this study that they possibly can. They alone are the ones who will determine whether or not this is just another group study or a transformational experience that will have a lasting, positive impact on their lives. Helpful Hints Here are a few hints for preparing and leading the weekly group sessions. Become familiar with the material before the group session. If possible, watch the DVD segment in advance. Choose the various components you will use during the group session, including the specific discussion questions you plan to cover. (Highlight these or put a checkmark beside them.) Remember, you do not have to use all the questions provided, and you can create your own. Secure a TV and DVD player in advance; oversee room setup. Begin and end on time. Be enthusiastic. Remember, you set the tone for the class. Create a climate of participation, encouraging individuals to participate as they feel comfortable. 13
shiny gods: finding freedom from things that distract us Communicate the importance of group discussions and group exercises. To stimulate group discussion, consider reviewing the key insights first and then asking participants to tell what they saw as the highlights of the video. If no one answers at first, don t be afraid of a little silence. Count to seven silently; then say something such as, Would anyone like to go first? If no one responds, venture an answer yourself. Then ask for comments and other responses. Model openness as you share with the group. Group members will follow your example. If you share at a surface level, everyone else will follow suit. Draw out participants without asking them to share what they are unwilling to share. Make eye contact with someone and say something such as, How about someone else? Encourage multiple answers or responses before moving on. Ask Why? or Why do you believe that? to help continue a discussion and give it greater depth. Affirm others responses with comments such as, Great or Thanks or Good insight especially if this is the first time someone has spoken during the group session. Give everyone a chance to talk, but keep the conversation moving. Moderate to prevent a few individuals from doing all of the talking. Monitor your own contributions. If you are doing most of the talking, back off so that you do not train the group not to respond. Remember that you do not have to have all the answers. Your job is to keep the discussion going and encourage participation. 14
How to Use This Leader Guide Honor the time schedule. If a session is running longer than expected, get consensus from the group before continuing beyond the agreed upon ending time. Consider involving group members in various aspects of the group session, such as asking for volunteers to run the DVD, to read the prayers or say their own, to read the Scripture, and so forth. Above all, remember to pray. Pray for God to prepare and guide you; pray for your group members by name and for whatever God may do in their hearts and lives, and pray for God s presence and leading before each group session. Prayer will both encourage and empower you for the weeks ahead. Finally, if you are a first-time leader, remember that many characters in the Bible were hesitant and unsure of accepting God s call to lead, but God imparted the ability in each of them to step out in faith and obedience. Rest assured that God will be with you as you follow. Claim Paul s words: I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13 TNIV). 15
1. Naming Our Idols Planning the Session Fundamentals 1. Confirm your meeting place and time. 2. Secure a TV and DVD player and ensure that they are operational. 3. Obtain extra copies of the shiny gods book to have on hand so that each participant will have a copy to use during the study session. 4. Have extra Bibles available for participants to use during the study session. 5. Secure paper and pencils for participants to use during a group activity. 6. If your meeting area has Internet access, secure one or more computers and the necessary information for connecting to the Internet. Session Goals This session is intended to help participants identify their own personal shiny gods the modernday cultural idols that distract us. 17