Rev. Adam Hamilton - Half Truths Leader Guide: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesnt Say

Half Truths

Leader Guide

Half Truths:

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
and Other Things the Bible Doesnt Say

Half Truths

978-1-5018-1387-0

978-1-5018-1388-7 eBook

978-1-5018-1389-4 Large Print

Half Truths: DVD

978-1-5018-1392-4

Half Truths: Leader Guide

978-1-5018-1390-0

978-1-5018-1391-7 eBook

Half Truths: Youth Study Book

978-1-5018-1398-6

978-1-5018-1399-3 eBook

Half Truths: Youth Leader Guide

978-1-5018-1400-6

978-1-5018-1401-3 eBook

For more information, visit www.AdamHamilton.org .

Also by Adam Hamilton

24 Hours That Changed the World

Christianity and World Religions

Christianitys Family Tree

Confronting the Controversies

Enough

Final Words from the Cross

Forgiveness

John

Leading Beyond the Walls

Love to Stay

Making Sense of the Bible

Not a Silent Night

Revival

Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White

Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic

Speaking Well

The Call

The Journey

The Way

Unleashing the Word

When Christians Get It Wrong

Why?

ADAM HAMILTON

Author of 24 Hours That Changed the World, The Journey, and The Way

Leader Guide
by Martha Bettis Gee

Half Truths

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
and Other Things the Bible Doesnt Say
Leader Guide

Copyright 2016 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, PO Box 280988, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37228-0988 or e-mailed to .

This book is printed on elemental chlorine-free paper.
ISBN 978-1-5018-1390-0

Scripture quotations unless noted otherwise are from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com .

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crowns patentee, Cambridge University Press.

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MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Welcome! In this study, you have the opportunity to help a group of learners as they explore some familiar and popular ideas that many Christians proclaim and believe to be true.

Jesus Christ said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. He also proclaimed that the truth will set us free. As Christians, we believe that our faith is about truth. Yet Adam Hamilton, the author of this study, contends that there are some ideas Christians embrace that may not be entirely true. Some of these ideas that we may claim and proclaim have the ring of truth. They may even be partially supported by Scripture (although some are not even in the Bible). But when examined closely, we come to discover that these are half truths at best. At worst, despite our best intentions, they can be stumbling blocks, both for those of us who use them and for those to whom we address these ideas. When we speak half truths, we may not only effectively deny the authenticity of others experiences, we may also avoid the hard work of grappling with complex issues and painful realities, to the detriment of our faith life.

Scripture tells us that where two or three are gathered together, we can be assured of the Holy Spirits presence, working in and through all those gathered. As you prepare to lead, pray for that presence and expect that you will experience it.

The study includes five sessions. It makes use of the following components:

Adam Hamiltons book Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesnt Say;

the DVD that accompanies the study;

this Leader Guide.

Participants in the study will also need Bibles, as well as a way to journal, perhaps with a spiral-bound notebook or an electronic tablet. If possible, notify those interested in the study before the first session. Make arrangements for them to get copies of the book so that they can read the Introduction and .

Because no two groups are alike, this guide has been designed to give you flexibility and choice in tailoring the sessions for your group. The session format is listed below. You may choose any or all of the activities, adapting them as you wish to meet the schedule and needs of your particular group.

The leader guide offers a basic session plan designed to be completed in about forty-five minutes. In addition, you will find two or more extra activities that are optional. You may decide to add these activities or substitute them for those suggested in the basic plan. Select ahead of time which activities your group will do, for how long, and in what order. Depending on which activities you select, there may be special preparation needed. The leader is alerted in the session plan when advance preparation is needed.

Session Goals

Biblical Foundation

Special Preparation

Opening Activity

Opening Prayer

Video and Discussion

Bible Study and Discussion

Book Study and Discussion

More Activities (optional)

Closing Activity

Closing Prayer

Pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit as you prepare for the study. Pray for discernment for yourself and for each member of the study group.

Before each session, familiarize yourself with the content. Read the book chapter again.

Choose the session elements you will use during the group session, including the specific discussion questions you plan to cover. Be prepared, however, to adjust the session as group members interact and as questions arise. Prepare carefully, but allow space for the Holy Spirit to move in and through the group members and through you as facilitator.

Prepare the room where the group will meet so that the space will enhance the learning process. Ideally, group members should be seated around a table or in a circle so that all can see one another. Movable chairs are best, because the group will often be forming pairs or small groups for discussion.