I am quickly learning that Threads by LifeWay is dedicated to the production of high quality, DVD based, small group curriculum. Their newest offering, The Tough Sayings of Jesus, by Michael Kelley is no exception. It is another quality Christian resource in an admittedly small but steadily growing catalog of small group teaching materials and leader kits. Yeah, I really dig it. I was sold when I came across the following introductory statement by the author, Michael Kelley:
As wonderful as a growing relationship with a living God may sound and seem, there is an uncomfortable element to the continual reformation it requires. As we allow Jesus to burst through the macaroni frame and leap off the felt board, we may not always be comfortable. We may not be so sure we knew Jesus at all back then. Some parts of his ministry may not only be difficult to understand, but downright troubling.
This curriculum is actually a good entry point into the sort of faith pointed to by Kelley in the above quote. A seasoned small group leader will appreciate all the teaching tools available in this leader kit. Tools included range from session video features, emailable music and audio files (including a great audio file titled “Conflict Insulation.”), and workbook materials complete with scripture references and probing questions. All tools are contemporary, up to date, flexible, and easy to listen to and absorb. Good stuff, to be sure.
The Tough Sayings of Jesus is not a new topic. Christians have struggled with some of Jesus’ words for 2000 plus years. No, everything Jesus says is not easy. Much of the time, his call to each of us is laden with challenges. This fact does not, however, mean that we should ignore or flippantly pass on those difficult things Jesus says to us. God forbid! We each should listen closely to the words of Jesus, and act upon them. This may in fact include some struggle, contemplation, trial and error, and even more struggle. The point is to act upon the words of Jesus, but first we actually must hear them and pay close attention to them. This DVD curriculum helps us achieve these goals, individually and as a group.
The Tough Sayings of Jesus is a group exercise covering four sessions. These sessions are built upon a few of the toughest sayings of Jesus. Session One: “You Have to Give Up Everything: Becoming a Nobody.” Session Two: “You People are Dogs: Discovering a Faith that Melts Borders.” Session Three: “No Forgiveness for You: Finding the Answer to the Question.” Session Four: “I Didn’t Come to Bring Peace: A War that Binds.”
If those session titles and sub titles are not intriguing enough, a main question is attached to each session as well. These really get the thoughts churning. Session One: “Can we discover beauty in doubt?” Session Two: “Why did the rich, young ruler have to give up his stuff?” Session Three: “Why did Jesus call the Canaanite woman a dog?” Session Four: Is Jesus a peacemaker or a warrior? Or Both?”
Each session is also accompanied by thorough workbook materials. These materials are built around dynamic and thought probing questions to get your group discussing the issues. The effect of these workbook materials is not, however, limited to the group dynamic; the materials also work well on an individual level too. So, this curriculum makes possible group and individual spiritual transformation and growth.
A great example of this direction can be found immediately, on the very first page of the very first session! The first session’s workbook material begins with the heading “Is Faith about Works?” It follows with some pretty deep thoughts and questions:
Traditional methods offer an easy-to-understand process. Sometimes, however, they may be too easy. At times, it seems all anyone has to do to step into faith is memorize a few verses and pray a scripted prayer. What was Jesus’ method? We would expect our methods would be built on his life. If so, Mark 10 gives us something to think about.
Session one’s workbook material proceeds by urging the group to unpack Mark 10, build a mental scene of what was actually occurring, and then applying findings to real life. Just in case that process is not thorough enough, each session ends with a few “Processing Questions” too. Application always follows exegesis, and that is exactly what is occurring in this session. The remaining sessions follows suit.
I do have one word of warning regarding this curriculum. A few of the DVD features for each session are really, really difficult to watch. It’s not that the DVD Features are wrong, or incorrect in some way; they are, in fact, very, very direct and to the point (then again, one could argue “the point”). This directness is probably the source of the tension I cite. Again, I had difficulty watching a few of them. For example, Session Two is built around Jesus’ tough saying to the Canaanite woman, which digs deep into socio-cultural issues. So, the DVD Feature for Session Two digs pretty deep into contemporary socio-cultural issues and introduces us to real tensions in a living room between people of different culture and ethnicity. Yes, you may - and probably will - react viscerally to the the DVD Features in a negative way, but remember, these scenes are built around the tough sayings of Jesus. So, try to dig into the deeper messages contained in these hard-to-watch video clips.
I’ll say this: your group will not lack for something to talk about! I promise.
