START: Becoming A Good Samaritan - Leader's Guide

six sessions
Becoming a Good Sa marita n

leader’s guide
MICHAEL R. SE ATON with Ashley Wiersma
0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 1 6/4/09 10:42:48 AM

ZONDERVAN
Becoming a Good Samaritan Leader’s Guide

Copyright © 2009 by Michael R. Seaton
Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in
this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or
imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content
of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechan-
ical, photocopy, recording, or any other — except for brief quotations in printed
reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc.,

7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. www.alivecom-
munications.com
Interior design by Ben Fetterley
Printed in the United States of America
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 • 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents
For Starters 5
A Word to Leaders 9
Session 1 Becoming a Good Samaritan 13

Who Is My Neighbor?
Session 2 Caring for the Sick 16

How to Fight Global Epidemics and
Prevent Diseases
Session 3 Seeking Justice and Reconciliation 19

How Fairness Changes People,
Communities, and Nations
Session 4 Honoring the Poor 22

How Best to Serve Those in Need
Session 5 Tending to God’s Creation 25

Why Environmental Stewardship Is
Biblical and Beneficial
Session 6 Loving the Forsaken 29

How to Care for the Disabled, Orphaned,
and Incarcerated

For S tar ters
Thanks for choosing this Zondervan small group
DVD curriculum. Please take a few minutes to read
this helpful information before you begin.
The accompanying DVD features the following com-
ponents:
• Six video teaching sessions with John Ortberg

and contributions from more than four dozen
leaders in the Christian community worldwide
• Previews of other products for your small
group to consider
• ROM materials that your church or small
group may use to facilitate a successful expe-
rience, including marketing and promotional
resources
What Other Materials Are Needed

for a Successful Small Group?
• Television or computer monitor
• DVD player (and stand, extension cord, etc.)

• Watch or clock for monitoring time
• start> Becoming a Good Samaritan participant’s
guide (one per group member)
• leader’s guide (printed copy available in DVD
case/electronic copy on the DVD-ROM; either
can be shared in groups with rotating leader-
ship)
• Bible — Old and New Testaments (one per
group member)
• Pen or pencil for each participant
Good to Know
• This curriculum works equally well in church and
home group settings. Each of the six sessions is
formatted to be a 60-minute experience. In time-
sensitive settings, you will need to follow the
time frames provided in the session outline more
closely. When time is not an issue, you can allow
participants a chance to dig deeper into the study
material. In either case, remember these are sug-
gested time frames and are open to adjustment as
you see fit.

For Starters
• Watch the session 1 video segment in its entirety
and read session 1 of the participant’s guide prior
to starting the group experience. This will give you
a feel for the material, the timing of the sections,
and how you might want to customize the cur-
riculum to best match your group’s needs.
• Also read “A Word to Leaders” (beginning on page
9 of this leader’s guide) prior to session 1. The
author wrote this letter to help you understand
his hope and prayer for those who are about to
begin this journey. Reflect on this message and
your own hopes and desires for the group you’re
about to lead, then take two to three minutes at
the start of session 1 to inform your group about
the journey they are about to experience.
• After watching the session’s video segment, your
group will move into a discussion of the topic and
the content you’ve just viewed. Afterward, the
group will be asked to start> Becoming a Good
Samaritan by engaging in one positive activity
prior to your next group meeting. Please do not
let your discussion time run so long that there is
not adequate time left for planning the activity.
If participants are denied the opportunity to put

faith into action, then they’ve lost a key reason for
doing the curriculum.
• At the end of the “Group Interaction” portion of
each session are sections entitled “Personal Reflec-
tion” and “Ready for More?” Before closing, be sure
to encourage participants to dig deeper on the
session theme prior to the next meeting, using the
questions and resources provided here.

A Word to Leaders
“Yesterday is gone.
Tomorrow has not yet come.
We have only today. Let us begin.” — Mother Teresa
When I consider the state of my spiritual journey, too

often the phrase that comes to mind is “reluctant
Christian.” It’s not because I don’t believe the tenants
of the Christian faith, but because I’m reluctant to
embrace a “living” faith that impacts every nook and
cranny of my life.
Don’t get me wrong: I get the “Christian world-
view” part. I love the community, the worship, the
friendships, and the spiritual growth — all of which
comes with “being a Christian.” But if I’m not careful,
the being-a-Christian thing can also come to mean
things like
safety,
comfort,
withdrawal from the world around me.

True, I’m a good Christian man, a good Christian hus-
band, and a good Christian father. But can a reluctant
Christian be a Good Samaritan too?
As a leader, you know there are many ways you can

help your small group or church fully understand and
live out their lives as vibrant members of the body of
Christ.
This curriculum only deals with two parts of that
body — the hands and the feet. But by taking that
step and reaching out with those hands, your small
group or church will experience Christ in head-and-
heart ways they never thought possible.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, both the priest
and the Levite “saw” a need, but because of busy
schedules, commitments, fear, or misunderstanding,
they chose to walk on by. It was the third man — the
least expected man — who finally chose to help.
God gave all three men in this story eyes to see, but
only the Good Samaritan “saw and took pity” (Luke
10:33). Can we train our eyes to see the same way
and our hearts to prompt us to get “off our donkey”
and do something? I believe the answer is yes.
10

A Word to Leaders
When you invest not just your mind, but also your
hands and your feet in helping meet the needs that
seem to abound, the abstract becomes real. Head-
faith becomes heart-faith; and, thankfully, the reluc-
tant become fully committed followers of Christ.
My prayer for this curriculum is that eyes will be
opened to the problems facing our world, our com-
munities, and our neighborhoods and that hearts will
be inspired to respond with expediency, with com-
passion, with love. You are a leader because God has
put a desire in your heart to help your brothers and
sisters gain the full measure of understanding of what
it means to be a Christ-follower. Through this curricu-
lum, you and your church or small group will show a
waiting, watching world not reluctance, but resolve
for meeting the needs that collectively we face. Eyes
to see and a heart ready to respond — these are the
realities awaiting you, now that you’ve chosen to
start>.
— Michael R. Seaton
Creator, start> Becoming a Good Samaritan
11

SESSION 1
Becoming a Good
Samaritan
Who Is My Neighbor?
Before You Lead

For the best experience in leading your small group,
it’s important to preview session 1 on the DVD, famil-
iarize yourself with the session outline, and gather
the necessary materials.
Session Outline
I. Get Connected (1 minute)
II. Know Your Neighbor (2 minutes)
III. Give Your Heart and Mind to God (1 minute)
IV. Learn Together (30 minutes)
V. Discuss “Becoming a Good Samaritan” (20 min-
utes)
13

VI. Now Is the Time (5 minutes)
VII. Close with Prayer (1 minute)
Get Connected (1 minute)
Have someone in the group read aloud the brief

description of the session 1 theme on page 12 of the
participant’s guide.
Know Your Neighbor (2 minutes)
Using one or two words, ask all group members to

share their current beliefs or assumptions about
the session 1 theme by answering the question on
page 13.
Give Your Heart and

Mind to God (1 minute)
Open in prayer, using the idea provided on page 13.
Learn Together (30 minutes)
View the session 1 video segment on the DVD.

Remind participants there is space to take notes on
page 14.
14

Becoming a Good Samaritan
Discuss “Becoming
a Good Samaritan” (20 minutes)
Using the questions on pages 14 – 17, discuss the

DVD content and session topic more fully. You may
not have time to answer every question — but try not
to get too bogged down on any one of them.
Now Is the Time (5 minutes)
It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into

action by engaging in the activity on page 18. Be
sure not to shortchange this critical portion of the
session by leaving too little time for it.
Close with Prayer (1 minute)
Encourage participants to dig deeper into the session

1 theme by using the “Personal Reflection” and “Ready
for More?” material on pages 20 – 26. Then end with
prayer, offering up your own words of thanksgiving
or the prayer that is provided on page 19.
15

SESSION 2
Caring for the Sick

How to Fight Global Epidemics
and Prevent Diseases
Before You Lead

For the best experience in leading your small
group, it’s important to preview session 2 on the
DVD, familiarize yourself with the session outline,
and gather the necessary materials.
Session Outline
V. Discuss “Caring for the Sick” (20 minutes)
16

Caring for the Sick


share their current beliefs or assumptions about the
session 2 theme by answering the question on page
29.
Give Your Heart and


page 30.
17

Discuss “Caring
for the Sick” (20 minutes)


action by engaging in the activity on pages 32 – 33.
Be sure not to shortchange this critical portion of the

18

SESSION 3
Seeking Justice
and Reconciliation
How Fairness Changes People,
Communities, and Nations
Before You Lead

Session Outline
19

V. Discuss “Seeking Justice and Reconciliation”
(20 minutes)


page 49.
Give Your Heart and

20

Seeking Justice and Reconciliation

page 50.
Discuss “Seeking Justice

and Reconciliation” (20 minutes)



21

SESSION 4
Honoring the Poor

How Best to Serve Those in Need
Before You Lead

Session Outline
V. Discuss “Honoring the Poor” (15 minutes)
22

Honoring the Poor

description of the session 4 theme on pages 70 – 71
of the participant’s guide.

page 71.
Give Your Heart and


page 72.
23

Discuss “Honoring
the Poor” (15 minutes)

NOTE: Because of the more involved “Now Is the Time”
activity in this session, only 15 minutes are allotted
for this group discussion.

action by engaging in the activity described on page
77 (the “Privilege” exercise itself is found on pages
92 – 94 at the end of the session). Be sure not to short-
change this critical portion of the session by leaving
too little time for it.
Encourage participants to dig deeper into the ses-

sion 4 theme by using the “Personal Reflection” and
“Ready for More?” material on pages 79 –91. Then end
with prayer, offering up your own words of encourag-
ment or the prayer that is provided on page 78.
24

SESSION 5
Tending to God’s
Creation
Why Environmental Stewardship
Is Biblical and Beneficial
Before You Lead

Session Outline
25

V. Discuss “Tending to God’s Creation”
(20 minutes)


page 97.
Give Your Heart and

26

Tending to God’s Creation

page 97.
Discuss “Tending to
God’s Creation” (20 minutes)


27


sion 5 theme by using the “Personal Reflection”
and “Ready for More?” material on pages 103 – 118.
Then end with prayer, offering up your own words
of encouragement or the prayer that is provided on
page 102.
28

SESSION 6
Loving the Forsaken

How to Care for the Disabled,
Orphaned, and Incarcerated
Before You Lead

Session Outline
V. Discuss “Loving the Forsaken” (15 minutes)
29


description of the session 6 theme on page 120 of
the participant’s guide.

share their current beliefs or assumptions about the
session 6 theme by answering the question on page
121.
Give Your Heart and

Open in prayer, using the idea provided on page

121.

page 121.
30

Loving the Forsaken
Discuss “Loving the
Forsaken” (15 minutes)

NOTE: Because of the more involved “Now Is the Time”
activity in this session, only 15 minutes are allotted
for this group discussion.

action by engaging in the activity described on pages
125 – 127 (the “Cardboard Testimonies” exercise itself
is found on pages 141 – 142; the “Story Hunt” exer-
cise, suggested for individuals to do on their own,
is found on pages 143 – 146). Be sure not to short-
change this critical portion of the session by leaving
too little time for it.

sion 6 theme by using the “Personal Reflection”
and “Ready for More?” material on pages 128 – 147.
31

Then end with prayer, offering up your own words
of encouragment or the prayer that is provided on
page 127.
32

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six sessions

Becoming a Good Sa marita n

MICHAEL R. SE ATON with Ashley Wiersma

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 1 6/4/09 10:42:48 AM

Becoming a Good Samaritan Leader’s Guide

Requests for information should be addressed to:

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc.,

Interior design by Ben Fetterley

Printed in the United States of America

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 2 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

Session 1 Becoming a Good Samaritan 13

Session 2 Caring for the Sick 16

Session 3 Seeking Justice and Reconciliation 19

Session 4 Honoring the Poor 22

Session 5 Tending to God’s Creation 25

Session 6 Loving the Forsaken 29

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 3 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

• Six video teaching sessions with John Ortberg

What Other Materials Are Needed

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 5 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 6 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 7 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 8 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

When I consider the state of my spiritual journey, too

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 9 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

As a leader, you know there are many ways you can

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 10 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 11 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

Before You Lead

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 13 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

Get Connected (1 minute)

Have someone in the group read aloud the brief

Know Your Neighbor (2 minutes)

Using one or two words, ask all group members to

Give Your Heart and

Open in prayer, using the idea provided on page 13.

Learn Together (30 minutes)

View the session 1 video segment on the DVD.

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 14 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

Using the questions on pages 14 – 17, discuss the

Now Is the Time (5 minutes)

It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into

Close with Prayer (1 minute)

Encourage participants to dig deeper into the session

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 15 6/4/09 10:42:49 AM

Caring for the Sick

Before You Lead

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 16 6/4/09 10:42:50 AM

Get Connected (1 minute)

Have someone in the group read aloud the brief

Know Your Neighbor (2 minutes)

Using one or two words, ask all group members to

Give Your Heart and

Open in prayer, using the idea provided on page 29.

Learn Together (30 minutes)

View the session 2 video segment on the DVD.

0310285070_start_goodsam_lg_int.indd 17 6/4/09 10:42:50 AM

Using the questions on pages 30 – 32, discuss the

Now Is the Time (5 minutes)

It’s time for the group to begin putting faith into

Close with Prayer (1 minute)