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Pick 6 people to participate in short ad-tib skit. Pick one reliable person to be the group’s coordinator and brief him/her on what you are doing. Make paper headbands with the following wording
- I’m incompetent .... treat me with contempt (give this one to the leader)
- I’m funny .... laugh at everything I say
- I’m popular .... try to be my friend
- I’m smart..... agree with me
- I’m stupid..... put me down
- I’m a nobody...... ignore me
Do NOT let the people see what their own headband says. Have the skit leader lead this group in a 5 minute skit in which they will plan a party for the Bible study.
The discussion leader should insure that each member is involved and the rest of the people in the skit treat them according to what their headband says. Stop the skit after about 5 minutes.
Q: Ask those in the skit, how did you feel during the discussion?
Labeled, confined, confused, trapped
Q: Have you ever been “labelled”? What is it like?
Labeled, confined, confused, trapped
Q: Was it easy to break free?
We all get “labelled” occasionally and put in a pigeon hole by others, but sometimes we get ourselves into a trap. We get trapped and can’t get out.
There are a number of traps that people get caught in
1. Habit traps
Q: What are some? smoking, swearing, drugs, alcohol, etc.
2. Character traps
Q: What are some? selfishness, pride, insensitivity, etc.
3. Sin traps
Q: What are some? fits of rage, pornography, immorality, etc.
Q: How do most people handle these traps?
- Ignore them, deny them, mask them.
- Move from trap to trap - drugs, alcohol, sex, relationships.
- Professional help (therapist) or self-help, self-improvement
- Distractions - shopping, eating, vacation, new car
- Blame shifting, bitterness, anger, frustration, range
- Depression, despair, suicide
On your own, the prospects of breaking free are pretty dim and hopeless.
On our own, mankind DOES NOT have the answers to free us from our traps.
I have GOOD NEWS! God does have the answers, God is the change business!
Let’s look at a guy who had some real problems
Mark 5:1-20
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.
2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.
4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.
7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"
8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."
10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.
12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."
13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.
15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well.
17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.
19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Q: What kind of problems did Legion have?
No friends (lived alone), violent, angry, weird, social misfit, rude, unfriendly, self-centered, self-destructive, lonely, out of control
Its easy to look down on Legion with all his problems, but people today aren’t much different. May be some of your can relate to Legion: lonely, self-centered, rude, self-destructive, weird, social outcast, etc.
Q: Did Jesus do the right thing in healing Legion? Of course!
Q: WHY? He NEEDED healing Legion? Of course!
Q: Do we need healing? OF course
Q: Why does God want us to break free?
He knows what makes us happy!
Q: What changed Legion?
An encounter with Jesus (Not a self help book or a therapist)
Q: Do you see any evidence of change?
V15 sitting there in his right mind!
Q: Was Legion excited about being set free? How do you know?
This points out the difference between religion and relationship.
- He didn’t HAVE to, but be wanted to go with Jesus
- He didn’t HAVE to, but be went to 10 cities and told the good news!
Are you religious or do you have a relationship with Jesus?
Do you grudgingly spend time with Jesus, or do you beg to be with him?
Do you give the minimum possible, or do you give freely of your time & money?
Do you just attend church, or are you sharing what God has done for you?
Conclusion
There is good news! Jesus can change you.
You can break free!
The basis is not religion, but a relationship with God!
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