Week 4: It’s for Your Church
WATCH
Cold open: Marquise
Questions to ask immediately after watching. The goal is to have everyone FEEL the experience of generational poverty, not to draw conclusions, critiques, or fix people:
What was the strongest emotion you felt while watching?
What was the moment that had the greatest impact on you?
Did this short film connect to anything you have experienced or personally witnessed?
Did you have any epiphany while watching, even a small one?
OPEN IN PRAYER
REFLECT
Read aloud 1-2 times:
Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means Dorcas); this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually. But it happened at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the room upstairs; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
-Acts 9:36-39
Question: Is this story familiar to you? What jumped out as you read it?
Question: Nestled in between the story of Saul’s conversion and Peter’s calling to the gentiles, is Tabitha’s story. What does Tabitha demonstrate about what God values?
Question: What was Tabitha’s relationship with her neighbors?
DISCUSS
In the Book of Acts the church immediately changed the world all around them:
Mass conversions (e.g. Acts 2:41),
Eradicating illness (e.g. Acts 5:12-16),
Converting authorities (e.g. Acts 17:4, 12, 34),
Overturning economies/cults (e.g. Acts 19:23-27)
AND overwhelming with acts of kindness and charity (Acts 9:36-39)
Acts 9:36,39: Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means Dorcas); this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually… all the widows stood beside (Peter), weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
Consider: Joppa was a Roman garrison city, a gentile city, populated with Roman soldiers’ families and their widows and orphans.
Question: Why is this location surprising? What does this location teach us about Tabitha?
Discuss: At this time, Tabitha is the only disciple we know of that is living among gentiles.
Group thought exercise:
How did Tabitha interpret her community?
What was the demographic she determined was in profound need?
What was the need?
How did she bring her resources (time, talent and treasure) to that demographic and need?
APPLY
Later in his life, the Apostle Peter wrote:
Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
-1 Peter 2:12 (The Message)
Question: What does this passage say about the calling of the church?
Question: What lessons, life principles or convictions do you suspect God wants you to take away from today’s discussion?
Throughout history, when the church has been at its best, it has taken on an “issue of their day” and brought their resources (time, talent and treasure) to eradicate that issue: plagues, infanticide, gladiatorial games, human sacrifice, witch hunts, protecting libraries, civil rights, etc.
Experimental thought exercise: I
magine that your church has asked you to make a case for childhood literacy as an “issue of our day”: why should the church care? Why is the church positioned to address it? How will this issue help the church be the church as God intended? How can you bring your resources (time, talent, treasure) to eradicate this issue in your community?
CLOSE in prayer