October 29, 2017 Ruth
Second Nature — Session 3— EXTRA! Ideas for Adults Date: October 29, 2017 Ruth: All-in Commitment The Point: Christ-centered living chooses commitment, not convenience.
Get Into the Study Use the following information to supplement Question #1. Begin by sharing this news item: Russell Westbrook is the NBA’s current most valuable player and is part of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team. At the end of September, he signed a five-year contract extension to stay with the Thunder instead of becoming a free agent and perhaps signing on with a higher paying team. NBA legend Michael Jordan commended Westbrook, saying, “I can’t say enough about this gentleman. The thing about him that very few basketball players have is his passion, his sense of loyalty that this kid has shown. He’s done a lot for the game of basketball. He’s done a lot outside the game of basketball. And the effort and loyalty he has shown to the state, you don’t teach that, you’re born with that, and he shares that with everyone here in Oklahoma.” Say: To talk about Russell Westbrook’s character, Michael Jordan used the word “loyalty” twice to emphasize his commitment to Oklahoma City and the Thunder team. Then call attention to Question #1 (Where do you see examples of extreme loyalty in today’s world?) (PSG, p. 83) and invite the group to respond. Information for this post was gleaned from here: http://www.nba.com/video/2017/09/30/20170930-westbrook-signing#/ https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/29/russell-westbrook-okc-thunder-contract-extension — Donna McKinney wrote this Leader Extra. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Study the Bible Use the following information to supplement Question #3. Begin by sharing this news item: A team of scientists recently published the results of their study of teenage friendships. The study revealed that when teens have close friendships during their high school years, the benefits lead to happy, healthy lives on into their adult years. The research team began studying the teens when they were age 15 and followed them until they reached age 25. “Being well-liked by a large group of people cannot take the place of forging deep, supportive friendships. And these experiences stay with us, over and above what happens later,” Joseph Allen said. Allen is a co-author on the study and a psychology professor at the University of Virginia. The teens they studied with close friendships had less social anxiety, an increased sense of self-worth, and fewer depression symptoms by the time they reached age 25, when compared to more popular teens. Say: Maybe you were fortunate to have strong, good friendships during your teen years, like the friendships studied by these researchers. Then call attention to Question #3 (What characteristics separate “fair weather” friends from relationships that endure?) (PSG, p. 86) and invite the group to respond. © Copyright 2017 LifeWay. May be printed and duplicated only for use with Bible Studies for Life. All rights in this work are the property of LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee, 37234.
Information for this post was gleaned from here: https://wtop.com/science/2017/08/study-benefits-of-close-friendship-in-high-school-last-for-years/ http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/26/543739986/having-a-best-friend-in-your-teenage-yearscould-benefit-you-for-life — Donna McKinney wrote this Leader Extra. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Additional Questions Icebreakers What are some things you are loyal to? Who are some people? Growing up, what were some ways you sealed a commitment? Which products or companies have earned your loyalty? Ruth 1:8-10 Why is mutual loyalty so important in relationships? How does God's commitment to us influence our relationship with Him? With our relationship with other people? How would you describe God's commitment to His people? To you specifically? Ruth 1:11-15 What reminders of God's commitment do you have in your life? What do you need to lay down in order to follow Jesus more closely? How do hard times prove our commitment to someone or something? Ruth 1:16-17 Where are you being faced with the choice of convenience or commitment right now? In what specific ways can we demonstrate loyalty or devotion in our relationships? In our relationship with God? How would you summarize Ruth's words from these verses?
Get Into the Study Use the following information to supplement Question #1. Begin by sharing this news item: Russell Westbrook is the NBA’s current most valuable player and is part of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team. At the end of September, he signed a five-year contract extension to stay with the Thunder instead of becoming a free agent and perhaps signing on with a higher paying team. NBA legend Michael Jordan commended Westbrook, saying, “I can’t say enough about this gentleman. The thing about him that very few basketball players have is his passion, his sense of loyalty that this kid has shown. He’s done a lot for the game of basketball. He’s done a lot outside the game of basketball. And the effort and loyalty he has shown to the state, you don’t teach that, you’re born with that, and he shares that with everyone here in Oklahoma.” Say: To talk about Russell Westbrook’s character, Michael Jordan used the word “loyalty” twice to emphasize his commitment to Oklahoma City and the Thunder team. Then call attention to Question #1 (Where do you see examples of extreme loyalty in today’s world?) (PSG, p. 83) and invite the group to respond. Information for this post was gleaned from here: http://www.nba.com/video/2017/09/30/20170930-westbrook-signing#/ https://www.si.com/nba/2017/09/29/russell-westbrook-okc-thunder-contract-extension — Donna McKinney wrote this Leader Extra. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Study the Bible Use the following information to supplement Question #3. Begin by sharing this news item: A team of scientists recently published the results of their study of teenage friendships. The study revealed that when teens have close friendships during their high school years, the benefits lead to happy, healthy lives on into their adult years. The research team began studying the teens when they were age 15 and followed them until they reached age 25. “Being well-liked by a large group of people cannot take the place of forging deep, supportive friendships. And these experiences stay with us, over and above what happens later,” Joseph Allen said. Allen is a co-author on the study and a psychology professor at the University of Virginia. The teens they studied with close friendships had less social anxiety, an increased sense of self-worth, and fewer depression symptoms by the time they reached age 25, when compared to more popular teens. Say: Maybe you were fortunate to have strong, good friendships during your teen years, like the friendships studied by these researchers. Then call attention to Question #3 (What characteristics separate “fair weather” friends from relationships that endure?) (PSG, p. 86) and invite the group to respond. © Copyright 2017 LifeWay. May be printed and duplicated only for use with Bible Studies for Life. All rights in this work are the property of LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee, 37234.
Information for this post was gleaned from here: https://wtop.com/science/2017/08/study-benefits-of-close-friendship-in-high-school-last-for-years/ http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/26/543739986/having-a-best-friend-in-your-teenage-yearscould-benefit-you-for-life — Donna McKinney wrote this Leader Extra. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Additional Questions Icebreakers What are some things you are loyal to? Who are some people? Growing up, what were some ways you sealed a commitment? Which products or companies have earned your loyalty? Ruth 1:8-10 Why is mutual loyalty so important in relationships? How does God's commitment to us influence our relationship with Him? With our relationship with other people? How would you describe God's commitment to His people? To you specifically? Ruth 1:11-15 What reminders of God's commitment do you have in your life? What do you need to lay down in order to follow Jesus more closely? How do hard times prove our commitment to someone or something? Ruth 1:16-17 Where are you being faced with the choice of convenience or commitment right now? In what specific ways can we demonstrate loyalty or devotion in our relationships? In our relationship with God? How would you summarize Ruth's words from these verses?
