Leaders

notes hope in a world of hurt

sio n 20 08
w or ld vi re n/
jo n war

Hope in a World of Hurt | Page 1

 l e a d e rs

00 8
note s fo r

si o n 82
l e s s on

o rl d vi
one

la g o /w ue l
ju an m ig
called to imitate Jesus
Notes to help guide your leadership of lesson one.

M at e r i a l s
Pens, Bibles, white board, self-stick notes, markers, computer with Internet access, candles for each
participant.

o n l i n e R e s ou rces from www.womenofvision.org/heart

» “God’s Heart for the Poor Gallery Walk” handout
» “Precious In His Sight” video
» “Prayer at 14,000 Feet in the Andes” handout
» “A Response to Homelessness” handout
» “Five Days of Hunger” video
» “History of World Vision” handout
» “History of Woem of Vision” handout

P r e par e fo r Dis cus s io n

Consider having a group conversation after the opening prayer. It may be helpful to establish guid-
elines for your time together. Some participants may have a lot of biblical or cross-cultural know-
ledge, while others have very little. Be sure to note that this is quite all right and that all are welcome.

Ask the group to discuss guidelines that will help create a supportive, learning atmosphere. Record
their suggestions on the white board. After all the group’s ideas are recorded, end the discussion,
noting that you will make copies of these guidelines and distribute them at the next meeting.

S c ri p t u r e R e flect io n
The following commentary will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture
Reflection portion of the lesson.

John 13:34 » Commentary

As you probably already know from Scripture, this really wasn’t a new commandment. In Leviticus
19:18, the command to love one another was among those that God gave Moses to share with the
people of Israel.

What is different, even radical, about this “news” is that we are to love others as Jesus does. Remember
that this passage comes just as Jesus and the disciples are about to sit down to share the Passover Feast.
Jesus takes off His outer garments, wraps a towel around Himself, and begins to wash the feet of His

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One | Page 1

 l e a d e rs
note s fo r
l e s s on
one

“You shall love the
Lord your God with
all your heart, and
with all your soul, and
with all your strength,
and with all your
mind. And love your
neighbor as yourself.”
beginning to everyone, including those considered the least.
twelve disciples—even Judas, who Jesus knows will, in a few hours, betray Him. That’s
the kind of love that Jesus wants us to have.
Luke 4:18 » Commentary
The context here is Jesus’ first public sermon. He has just returned from the desert
where He has been tempted by Satan and is back in His hometown of Nazareth. In
His very first sermon in the synagogue, He reads the text from Isaiah 61.
It focuses on the poor, the prisoner, the blind, the oppressed. In His first public
announcement, where He effectively proclaims why He is here, Jesus focuses
on those in society who are the most in need among us. He sets forth a sort of
mission statement for His ministry, with the poor at the center. And outrageously,
He proclaims, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:20). He
announces that He Himself is the Messiah and that He has come to bring a new

Luke 10: 30–37 » Commentary

You might want to start with Luke 10:25-29 to set up the story. It recounts a conversation between a
man and Jesus about what the man must do to inherit eternal life.

Of course, the man answers with the conventional Old Testament reference: “You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all
your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Do this,” Jesus says, “and you will live.”

This was one of those times when, for his own sake, the man should have left well enough alone. But
he was so certain he could get the best of Jesus that he persisted. “And who is my neighbor?”

Again, rather than answer the question directly, Jesus tells the familiar story of a man beaten by
robbers and left bleeding on the side of the road.

Did you ever wonder about that man? The story doesn’t tell who he was, where he came from, or what
had caused this terrible situation to befall him. Interestingly, when Jesus told the story, He didn’t
think that information was relevant. He wasn’t interested in who was to blame for this man’s attack.
Rather, He seems more interested in the response of those who passed by—the priest and the Levite.

The priest and the Levite represent the religious and legal establishment. They see the man lying in
great distress, but instead of coming to his rescue, they cross over to the other side of the road. They
don’t want anything to do with this stranger. It’s not until a Samaritan happens upon the injured

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One | Page 2

 l e a d e rs
note s fo r
l e s s on
one

traveler that someone finally comes to his aid, bandaging his wounds, and transporting him to the
nearest inn.

Why do you think it’s significant that it was a Samaritan who had compassion on the wounded man?
He was an outcast, the one hated by the others, the one least expected to help.

Finally, Jesus asks the question, “Which of these three do you think was neighbor to the man who
fell among thieves?” Was it the priest, the spiritual leader of the community? Was it the Levite, the
legal expert? Or was it the Samaritan, hated by Jews and reviled as unclean, who acted in compas-
sion toward his fellow traveler?

The young man, not able even to bring himself to say the word “Samaritan,” answers, “He who
showed mercy on him.”

Jesus then looks this man in the eye and concludes what is perhaps the most power-
ful moral teaching in all of history. Just four words declare Christ’s expectations of
Jesus then looks this every Christian; four words echo His command in John 13:34: “Go and do likewise.”
man in the eye and
concludes what is That’s what it means to love one another as Jesus loves. Not just loving the lovely or
those who love us, but loving the stranger, the outcast, and the man left bleeding on
perhaps the most
the side of the road. It means loving our neighbor, no matter who or where they are.
powerful moral
teaching in all of And when we do, Jesus says, the amazing thing is that others will know that we
history. “Go and do are His disciples. That is to be our identifying mark—people will know that we are
likewise.” Christ’s disciples if we love like Jesus loves. Those who know Jesus Christ as Lord
and Savior must be compelled by His love for the world to show mercy to our neigh-
bors, to love them with the love of Christ.

C o n s i de r O u r Wo rld To day
Prepare for “God’s Heart for the Poor Gallery Walk.” Create four viewing stations by posting
the photos provided in the handout (or online at www.womenofvision.org/heart).

Divide the participants into pairs or small groups. Invite the pairs to spend a few moments viewing
the photos, reading the Scripture at each station, and sharing their impressions with one another.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One | Page 3

 l e a d e rs
note s fo r
l e s s on
one

C h o o s i ng a P ers o nal Res p o ns e

Participants share responses to these questions:
» What is your reaction to the poverty facts presented earlier?
» What are some alternate responses or actions to apathy or paralysis?
» How might coming alongside those in poverty also be transformational for the less-poor?
» What tugs at your heart? What issues do you feel passionate about?
» What does it mean that you might be the answer to someone’s prayer?
» What might God be calling you to do?

Provide participants with self-stick notes and markers. Ask them to write their answers on the
notes and post them on a flip chart. After compiling the list, invite the group to review it and note
similarities as well as unique ideas.

C lo s i ng P ray er

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 and Matthew 25:34-40

Choose a reader ahead of time. Form a circle around the reader and provide each participant with
a candle. Turn off the lights. The darker the room, the more effective this will be. Light the reader’s
candle and ask the reader to share the Scripture texts aloud.

The reader then lights another person’s candle, and participants continue sharing the flame. When
all the candles are lit, ask each participant to share where they would like to shed light and hope in
the world. Once everyone has shared, end by saying, “For all of this, we pray. Amen.” Close by extin-
guishing the candles.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson One | Page 4

 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those
who fear him,
and he delivers them.
—Psalm 34:4-7

Hope in a World of Hurt | Page 5

jo n wa rren/wo rl d visio n 2008
 He has showed you,
O man, what is good.
And what does the
LORD require of you?
To act justly and to
love mercy
and to walk humbly
with your God.
—Micah 6:8

Hope in a World of Hurt | Page 6

jo n wa rren/wo rl d visio n 2008
 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon
or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or re-
latives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite
you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a
banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you,
you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

—Luke 14:12-14

Hope in a World of Hurt | Page 7

ma ria isa b el va l a rez o /wo rl d visio n 2008
 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry
and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we
see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Hope in a World of Hurt | Page 8

— M at t h ew 2 5 : 3 5 - 4 0
ra pha el pa l ma /wo rl d visio n 2009
 l e a d e rs
note s fo r

visi on 2008
l e s s on
two

jon war ren /wo rld

the curtain that veils poverty
Notes to help guide your leadership of lesson two.

M at e r i al s
Pen, Bible, candle (optional)

S c ri p t u r e R e flect io n
The following commentary will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture
Reflection portion of the lesson.

Genesis 1:27 and Psalm 139 » Commentary

The following Scriptures might also be useful when discussing these passages.
» We are to delight in fellowship with Him (Ps 84:2).
» We are to respect human life (Gen 9:6).
» We are stewards of creation (Gen 1:26. Ps 8:3-8).
» We can imitate God’s love and justice (Deut 10:17-19, Micah 6:8).
» We have been disfigured through the Fall (Rom 3:23).

As the fallen . . .
» We are in conflict with Creation (Gen 3:17-19).

As the redeemed . . .
» Jesus is the perfect image of God (Phil 2:6, Col. 1:15).
» Jesus is the faultless human being (2 Cor 5:21, Heb 1:3).
» God’s image is renewed in those united with Jesus by faith (Rom 8:29).
» Christian life is the process of transformation into His likeness (2 Cor 3:18).

Luke 12:7 and Matthew 25:34-40 » Commentary

The opening scene of this passage depicts the heavenly throne, upon which is seated the King of
Kings. And all the people of the world are gathered around Him, awaiting His judgment. The time
has come for the King to divide His obedient servants from the rebellious ones, like a shepherd
would divide the sheep from the goats.

It’s interesting to note that each group is surprised by the King’s standard of judgment. Neither
group expects judgment to be in terms of how they’ve treated others. They, perhaps like many of us,
think of judgment exclusively in terms of their relationship to God through Jesus Christ.  But Jesus
paints a different picture.  He divides these two groups based on their treatment of the “least of
these,” the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those in prison.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Two | Page 1

 l e a d e rs
note s fo r
l e s s on
two

If the discussion requires direction, guide participants to seeing how the “least of these” are as
valuable as Jesus Christ.

You might want to use the following story from Reneé Stearns, wife of World Vision U.S. President
Richard Stearns, as an illustration:

This reminds me of a woman I met a couple of years ago in India. We were

It got me thinking
about the filter God
uses when He looks at
us. When He looks at
the world He created,
what is it He sees?
there to visit World Vision projects, and we spent one afternoon in a village
of people from the lowest caste in Indian society, the dalits. Because of their
caste, they were forced to live alone in a remote location, isolated from the
rest of the world. I was sitting in the dirt, working with a group of women,
when one of them asked me, “How do you feel being here? What do you see
when you look at us?”
Of course to us, these people looked like any of the many others we had
seen during our travels—poor but hardworking men and women, eager to
provide for themselves and their families. Yet when their neighbors looked
at them, they could see them only through the filtered eyes of Indian culture
and custom. To those around them, they were “untouchables.”
It got me thinking about the filter God uses when He looks at us. When He
looks at the world He created, what is it He sees? When the Father looks
at us, He sees His children, dearly loved and valuable beyond measure, so
valuable, in fact, that He sent His one and only Son. And when we, through
faith, become part of God’s family, as He looks at us, He sees Jesus. No mat-
ter what our circumstances here on earth, when He sees us, He sees His
precious Son. The “least of these” are important enough that He sacrificed
His one and only child.

C o n s i de r O u r Wo rld To day
Assign each group member one of the roles found in step 2:

» Thobias, the local Brahmin leader

» Lu, the local money lender
» Nirmala, the widowed mother of four and an Untouchable
» Amita, Nirmala’s sister

Invite the group to read their assigned role and character description. Then invite the participants
to imagine what each situation would be like and act it out. Another option would be to ask the

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Two | Page 2

participants to take a few minutes to reflect on the role and then to share what they think it would
be like to be this person.

C lo s i ng P ray er
If you have access to peaceful, meditative music, or someone in your group is musical, you might set
the mood for prayer by playing or singing a song and sitting in silence before or after the closing prayer.

rld Visi on 2008

Bria n Jon son /Wo

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Two | Page 3

 l e a d e rs
note s fo r

20 09
l e s s on

si o n
t h re e

o rl d Vi
ve ra /W
an d re s
the multiple causes of poverty
Notes to help guide your leadership of lesson three.

M at e r i a l s
» Pens, Bibles

Materials for activity:

» a handful of rice placed on a plate
» a plate brimming with American food accompanied by a drink and dessert on separate plate
» a photo of well-dressed leaders busily discussing something
» a few coins
» a checkbook
» a bag with flour or sugar that weights 2 or 3 pounds
» a bag of flour or sugar that weights about 7 pounds
» two buckets of water

o n l i n e R e s ou rce from www.womenofvision.org/heart

“Through the Eyes of the Poor Gallery Walk” resource

Cau s e an d E f fect

Information about water:

Water is one of the world’s most important natural resources. However, 80 countries experience
serious water shortages. Children’s tiny bodies are dependent on clean water and susceptible to
waterborne disease and parasites. When clean water is scarce, all aspects of life are impacted.

Without safe water, crops, and livestock die and healthy meals cannot be prepared.
Poor health from unclean water means the productivity of the community suffers and family
income diminishes.

Where water is scarce, there is unlikely to be a school, and teachers are reluctant to move into
the community. Because children spend so much time fetching water, they cannot attend school
anyway.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Three | Page 1

Consider these statistics:
» Thirteen percent of the world’s population consumes drinking water from unsafe sources.

» Women shoulder the largest burden in collecting water and are more than twice as likely as
men to fetch drinking water. Women (64 percent); men (25 percent); girls (7 percent); boys (4
percent).

» Unsafe drinking water, lack of sanitation, and poor hygiene together contribute to about 88
percent of the under-5 deaths occurring each year due to diarrheal diseases. This means that
more than 1.45 million children below the age of 5 are lost annually—nearly 4,000 die each day.

» Every 22 seconds, a child under the age of 5 dies from illnesses attributed to poor hygiene
practices, unsafe drinking-water supplies, and inadequate access to sanitation.

(Sources: WHO/UNICEF JMP Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation, 2008; UNICEF State of the World’s Chil-
dren, 2008; UNICEF State of the World’s Children, 2009)

Additional Causes of Poverty

If the participants are struggling to come up with additional poverty causes (lesson 3, page 3),
consider sharing the following:
» Physical causes: lack of food, water, money, clothing, or natural resources (like clean air).

» Social causes: pressure to marry early; expectation to work instead of attend school; female’s
inability to travel without a male chaperone.

» Mental causes: lack of education; ability hindered by disease or substance abuse; poor self-image.

» Spiritual causes: fear; feeling abandoned or punished by God; allowing the powerful to dominate.

S c ri p t u r e R e flect io n
The following information will help you prepare to lead the discussion during the Scripture
Reflection (John 10:10) portion of the lesson.

A Christian understanding of poverty includes:

» Poverty of being—the poor are people whose identity has been marred. They don’t see
themselves as God sees them, as valuable and dearly loved by their creator.

» Poverty of relationships—the poor are those whose relationships do not work, first with God
and then with others.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Three | Page 2

 »P
 overty of purpose—the poor are those without hope.

»S
 piritual poverty includes not seeing ourselves as God sees us; finding ourselves in destructive
relationships, both with our creator and with others; and lacking hope for the future.

C o n s i de r Yo u r Ow n View p o int
Using handouts and materials you gathered, create five “viewing stations” as noted below:

» Station One: Place at this station two buckets of water. Also place page 1 from the handout.

» Station Two: Place a plate of rice (label the plate “poor”) next to a plate brimming with
American food accompanied by a drink and dessert (label the plate “not-poor”). Also place
page 2 from the handout.

» Station Three: Place a photo of well-dressed leaders busily discussing something. Also place
page 3 from the handout.

» Station Four: Place a few coins that equal less than a dollar (label the coins “poor”) next to a to
a checkbook with a healthy balance (label the checkbook “not-poor”). Another option would be
a sign marked with some amount between $1 and $2 that says, “One-third of the people on the
planet live on this each day.” Next to it should be items with prices from a U.S. store, such as blue
jeans, school notebook, or a fast-food bag to represent a meal. Also place page 4 from the handout.

» Station Five: Place two to three pounds of sugar or flour in one bag. Label it “underweight
infant born in developing world.” Also place a 7-pound bag of sugar or flour at the station.
Label it, “average baby born in the U.S.” Finally, place page 5 from the handout.

Divide the participants into pairs. Explain that the goal of this activity is for them to experience
what it’s like to walk with someone who sees the world through different eyes because of their
resources and the challenges they face. Ask each pair to choose a role—“poor” or “not poor.”

Invite the pairs to spend a few moments experiencing each station. Tell them to feel free to pick
up the items. Advise them to look at the situation in each station as they think they would view it
through the eyes of their assigned role, “poor” or “not poor.” Ask them to share with one another
their responses to the questions posted at the station before moving on to the next station.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Three | Page 3

After completing all of the stations, ask the participants to share with their partners responses to
the following questions, which are also noted in the lesson:

» Which station most surprised you?

» How did being in the company of the other person make you feel?

» Did your discussion reveal any possible ways of lessening inequality?

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Three | Page 4

Lesson Three – Resource

Through the eyes of the poor gallery walk

Station One
Walk around the room once carrying both
buckets. If you feel daring, try carrying one of
the buckets on your head.

Share your responses to the following questions:

How many buckets of water do you think you would need

for your daily tasks?

How much more difficult would it be for you if no running

water was available in your home?

How would this change your daily routine?

Hope in a World of Hurt: Lesson Three Resource | Page 1

Lesson Three – Resource

Through the eyes of the poor gallery walk

Station Two
Spend a few moments comparing and
contrasting the two plates.

Share your responses to the following questions:

How does it make you feel to have this quantity of food

when your neighbor has a different amount?

What might it be like if the roles were reversed?

Hope in a World of Hurt: Lesson Three Resource | Page 2

Lesson Three – Resource

Through the eyes of the poor gallery walk

Station Three
Take a moment to look at the photograph.
The make a mental list of all of the governmental
and influential people in your community, state,
and nation.

Share your responses to the following questions:

How would you make your voice heard in this group of

people?

What resources might you have to draw from that would

increase your chance of succeeding?

Hope in a World of Hurt: Lesson Three Resource | Page 3

Lesson Three – Resource

Through the eyes of the poor gallery walk

Station Four
Take a moment to view the items and
information at this station.

Share your responses to the following questions:

How would these resources hinder or help you in meeting

your daily needs?

How do you feel about your resources compared to the

person next to you?

Hope in a World of Hurt: Lesson Three Resource | Page 4

Lesson Three – Resource

Through the eyes of the poor gallery walk

Station Five
Pick up each bag one at a time and cradle it for a
moment or two. Think about the weight
difference you are holding.

Share your responses to the following question:

What do you think each child’s prospect of a healthy

future might be?

Hope in a World of Hurt: Lesson Three Resource | Page 5

 l e a d e rs

200 8
note s fo r

or ld Vis ion
l e s s on
fou r

ma r/W
pat ric ia mo ua
Giving voice to the voiceless
Notes to help guide your leadership of lesson four.

M at e r i al s
Pens, Bible, computer with Internet access.

O n l i n e r e s o u rce
Download the video “Hoops of Hope” from www.hoopsofhope.org.

S c ri p t u r e R e flect io n
To work through these steps in a timely manner, consider dividing the participants into pairs or
small groups and assign each of the readings listed in steps 2 through 8. Then ask the pairs to read
the assigned passage, discuss the question, and summarize for the entire group.

C h o o s e a P e rs o nal Res p o ns e
After the discussion or journaling, suggest that the participants craft an action plan to help them
take the next step toward advocacy. Have them revisit the steps outlined in during the Scripture
Reflection portion of the lesson.

C lo s i ng P ray er
Invite the participants to alternate praying aloud each portion of the Litany for the Millenium
Development Goals, while everyone responds together: “Lord hear our prayer.”

Copyright © 2009 by World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, 253-815-3320,
wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.

Hope in a World of Hurt: Leaders Notes for Lesson Four | Page 1