relApse - Amazon Simple Storage Service · relApse study guide. Relapse study Guide ... as your last session together. relApse study guide ConneCt: WatCh the movie Unite your group

A smAll groupdvd curriculum series

presented bymichael w. smith

volume two

relApses t u d y g u i d e

Relapse study Guide

© 2008 by Randall House

Published by Randall House114 Bush RoadNashville, TN 37217

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other means—except for brief quotation in critical reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

All Scripture quotations are taken from The New International Version of the Bible (NIV) © 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

13-ISBN 9780892656653

relApse s t u d y g u i d e

session 1ConneCt: WatCh the movie toGetheRUnite your group by welcoming them. Begin your small group with an icebreaker. Then, simply insert DVD and watch complete movie.

Icebreaker Ideas (5-10 minutes)– Ask one or more of the following:

What movie have you watched the most? How many times?

Name a movie that had an ending that caught you by surprise.

Fill in the blank: Every time I watch ___________________ I cry. (movie title)

Watch movie – running time 19 minutes

CRitique: GRoup disCussion30-40 minutes

leading the group discussion:Be sensitive to the fact that some in the group may relate to the movie in a more personal way than others. As discussion begins among the group, make sure opinions are respected and no one person dominates the discussion. Consider sharing those ground rules with the entire group.

After the first viewing, it is important to focus on one major topic of discussion. Let the group discuss some general items and basic themes in the beginning, but at some point you must narrow the discussion to the theme of the week. After the first viewing, the main discussion should be on the subject of grief.

If discussion doesn’t naturally begin among the group, then move to the movie critique area to get things started.

movie Critique: 1. Ask if someone would summarize the plot of the movie in one

sentence. 2. Be prepared for others to have differing views on the plot and

allow brief discussion on those views. 3. Make sure the audience understands what kind of business

approaches the mother in the cemetery. 4. Allow the group to share a critical review of the movie.

Grief—questions to spark discussion: 1. After you realized the mother was in a time of mourning, were

you more or less inclined to sympathize with her? Why do people relate to that?

2 .As Katherine is grieving the loss of her son, how is she attempting to escape dealing with the grief?

3. Do you think Katherine wanted help from her husband? Why or why not?

4. What is your assessment of the condition of the marriage? 5. Analyze the mother’s attempt to escape through an addiction.

Concepts to review for discussion: 1. Everyone deals with grief differently. What are ways to allow

those differences? 2. How can one strengthen a relationship during loss? 3. Guilt can be a tremendous obstacle in properly working through

grief. Discuss ways to remove that obstacle 4. Many marriages suffer during a time of crisis or loss. Why is

this? Discuss ways to avoid that break down in the relationship.

movie feedback leading to critical thinking: 1. Describe the message of the movie in one sentence as it relates

to grief. 2. Discuss other movies where the same theme is addressed. 3. What other movies show dysfunctional relationships in the midst

of grief? 4. Name a movie that shows a relationship made stronger after a

loss.

ConClude: that’s a WRap10-15 Minutes

This is a key portion of the small group study. It is through the examination of Scripture that a solid biblical worldview is built. The goal


as a leader is to give your students a filter through which concepts and ideas pass, giving them the necessary skills to achieve critical thinking.

Share the concepts listed below to build a foundation so the group discussion can interface with faith. Share the passages listed below to encourage everyone to make a personal application of God’s Word to each part of life, including entertainment.

share Concepts to strengthen Faith:

Understand grief is a natural emotion involving stages. Allow others to grieve in their own way and at their own pace.

share God’s Word - our source of truth:

“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled . . . I was pouring out my soul to the LORD . . . I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”1 Samuel 1:15, 16

(more Scriptures to share: Psalm 10:14, Psalm 119:50, Psalm 77:1-3, John 11:35, 1 John 4:10-11)

Tell someone who is grieving about God’s love.


Suffering and loss are universal, but that does not lessen the pain each individual feels during a time of grief. It does create a common place where we can reach out and help one another find healing.


Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Psalm 23:4

(more Scripture to share: 1 Peter 1:5-7, Psalm 147: 3-5)

Relationships are an important part of the recovery process. A relationship with God is the most important.


No matter how difficult the circumstances, God will always provide a peace that passes understanding giving us hope. Be reminded of God’s unfailing love.


Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort

we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.2 Corinthians 1:3-5

(more Scripture to share: 1 Chronicles 16:34-35, Psalm 77:7-15, Psalm 31:7, Psalm 100:5 Psalm 59:16, Colossians 4:7)

God wants us to embrace life again moving beyond the pain.


Be prepared to defend truth to those around you in a world full of deceit. Be on guard against those who seek to take advantage of the hurting in the world.


Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:12-13

(more Scripture to share: Hebrews 10:23-25 ,1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Psalm 25:4-6)

Stand up for those who are weak and demonstrate the love of God as a source of strength.

session 2OPTION TO CONSIDER:If there are no new members to the group, skip to Session 3 and watch the bonus features provided on the DVD. Then discuss the questions listed in Session 3 of the study. Session 2 will then become Session 3 allowing your group to view the entire movie through a new set of eyes as your last session together.


ConneCt: WatCh the movie Unite your group by welcoming them. Begin your small group with an icebreaker. Then, simply insert DVD and watch complete movie.

Icebreaker Ideas (5-10 minutes) - Ask one or more of the following:

What movie caused you to show emotion that you were not expecting?

Name a movie character that you sympathized with in a movie.

What is your favorite song from a movie soundtrack?

Watch movie – running time 19 minutes


Allow time for explanation to any new group members on the basic storyline of the movie. Allow any new group members to share a critical review of the movie. Then move right into the questions below for group discussion.

addiction and Guilt—questions to spark discussion: 1. What cycle of addiction do you recognize in the movie? (Point out

that the mother does not smoke when the child is with her.) 2. How are addiction and guilt connected in the life of Katherine? 3. What steps should have been taken to resolve the guilt issue for

the mother? 4. Why does Katherine allow herself to discuss the birthday party if

her son will only be there for one day?

Concepts to review for discussion: 1. It is important to get to the root of the issue when dealing with

addictions. How do you begin to peel away the layers? 2. Allowing guilt to remain brings about more problems than

solutions. What damage can unresolved guilt do? 3. Someone may be hiding from the truth and using addiction as a

survival mechanism. Where does that lead? How does it affect others around them?

4. Often people pull away from those they are closest to when dealing with guilt. Discuss some possible ways the husband can help Katherine with her guilt.

movie feedback leading to critical thinking: 1. How do movies deal with the issue of addiction? 2. Do we see characters with addictions so often in movies that we

become numb to it? 3. What other movies have addiction and guilt as key elements of

the story? 4. Do the other movies show a resolution to the guilt? If so, what is

the resolution? 5. Is there a movie that demonstrates the appropriate response to

addiction?

ConClude: that’s a WRap10-15 minutes

This is a key portion of the small group study. It is through the examination of Scripture that a solid biblical worldview is built. The goal as a leader is to give your students a filter through which concepts and ideas pass, giving them the necessary skills to achieve critical thinking.



Reach out in love and find help for those who have addictions. We should be there for one another and do our part to show the need to overcome an addiction.


A heart at peace gives life to the body.Proverbs 14:30a

(more Scripture to share: Psalm 86:5, Romans 12:9-10, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 1 Timothy 1:5, Romans 6:12)

God’s love should be evident in our interactions with those who are struggling.


God offers forgiveness even when we struggle to forgive ourselves. He has the answers to our problems. It is futile to attempt to solve them in our own strength.



The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.Psalm 103: 8, 10-12

(more Scripture to share: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 130:4, Jeremiah 31:34,35, Hebrews 8:12)

In our weakness God reaches out to give us comfort and strength.


Accepting God’s love and forgiveness provides a solution to guilt and pain. We will all face situations where we need assurance of God’s love. He is perfect and forgives our imperfections.


Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

(more Scripture to share: Psalm 52:8, 1 John 2:5, Psalm 51:1-4, 10)

God brings a peace to our hearts that can melt away the guilt and pain as we let it.

session 3ConneCt: WatCh the Bonus FeatuResUnite your group by welcoming them. Begin your small group with an icebreaker. Then, simply insert DVD and watch the bonus features.

Icebreaker Ideas (5-10 minutes) - Ask one or more of the following:

What movie character from any movie would you like to sit and talk with? What would you want to discuss?

Who is your favorite director of all time?

Name a movie that took medicine beyond the realm of your imagination.

What is a movie that has a lot of symbolism?

Watch Bonus Features— Behind the scenes 18 minutes director’s Commentary 19 minutes


Bonus Features – questions to spark discussion: 1. As you hear the director’s viewpoint, does it change your critique

of the film? 2. What elements of symbolism did you catch in the movie before

watching the director’s comments? 3. How does it affect the story to know the intention of the director

to affect mood and tone of the film with so much symbolism? 4. What are some of the images and sounds that drew you into the

movie? 5. What intrigues you about the film making process?

Cloning - questions to spark discussion: 1. What twists and turns in the story surprised you? 2. Initially, who did you think was approaching the mother in the

cemetery? 3. What might someone’s motive be for cloning another person?

What does this reveal about that person?

Concepts to review for discussion: 1. Medical advances bring about ethical issues on many levels.

Discuss current situations where this relates. 2. Allow the group to discuss the “what if” factor of bringing

someone back to life for one day. 3. How do we guard against being taken advantage of during a

crisis?

movie feedback leading to critical thinking: 1. Have we allowed our minds to become desensitized to the

creation and destruction of life? 2. Though it may be easier to deny the possibility, should a

Christian debate such issues faced in the advances of medicine? 3. Katherine comes to realize the destructive pattern of cloning her

son. What may trigger others to reach that point of letting go of addiction?


4. How should we approach other films after realizing directors and writers make choices with specific reasons in mind?

5. Discuss other movies where medical advances play an important role in the story. Is there a movie that demonstrates the proper reaction from a Christian worldview to a “playing God” attitude?

ConClude: that’s a WRap10-15 minutes

This is a key portion of the small group study. It is through the examination of Scripture that a solid biblical worldview is built. The goal as a leader is to give your students a filter through which concepts and ideas pass, giving them the necessary skills to achieve critical thinking.



God is the creator of all life. We must be on guard to keep this fundamental truth in the forefront of our minds as we face the ever-changing world of medicine.


So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:27,28

(more Scripture to share: Psalm 119:73, Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 139:13-14, Isaiah 45:18)

Be thankful for all of God’s creation and treat it with respect.


We are to value life and all God created. It is dangerous to attempt to take control of God’s creation for our own benefit. Future advances in medicine may attempt to interfere with this reality.


For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: I am the Lord, and there is no other.Isaiah 45:18

(more Scripture to share: 1 Timothy 4:4, Jeremiah 1:4,5, Colossians 1:15-17)

We must strive to hold to the foundational truth that God is the creator of life.


God places a high value on the life He gives us. This is evident by the price He was willing to pay for each and every person. We can receive eternal life because Jesus gave His life as payment to redeem us from sin.


For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.John 3:16,17

(more Scripture to share: 1 Peter 2:21-24, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Isaiah 53:3-5, 2 Peter 3:9)

The ultimate price was paid by His death on the cross giving you the opportunity to have eternal life with Him.

visit C2dvd.com/leaders for a bonus study guide—a free take-away for the movie viewer.

http://www.c2dvd.com/leaders

relApse - Amazon Simple Storage Service · relApse study guide. Relapse study Guide ... as your last session together. relApse study guide ConneCt: WatCh the movie Unite your group

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