Major Concept: What is Poverty?
Gospel Connection: Colossians 1:15-20
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
Optional Opening Exercise
15 Minutes Group work, 2-3 minutes each group to share.
This works best when you can divide class into two or more groups.
Supplies: Poster Paper and markers
This should be done prior to the introduction of any materials to get people thinking about their worldview regarding poverty and poverty alleviation.
Process
Divide the class into groups of 3-6
Read the following scenario and instruct them to write down their answers on the Poster Paper
Have each group briefly share their answers without comment
Keep the papers to be reviewed at a later session
Scenario:
The tsunami that hit Indonesia in December 2004 wiped out many of the small businesses. These small businesses are owned by poor people and serve as their primary source of income. Most of the shops, equipment, materials, and inventory were destroyed. Four months after the tsunami, your church has decided to send a team to assist with the restarting of these small businesses. Discuss the following questions in groups of approximately five people. If you are reading this book individually, then consider these questions on your own.
Questions:
1. What will you do to plan prepare for your trip?
2. What resources will you bring with you?
3. Whom will you choose from your church to go on this trip?
4. What will your team do once it gets there?
5. What will be the specific components of your ministry?
6. How will you implement each component?
Reflection Question
5 minutes
Supplies: Sticky notes and Markers
Instruct class to write down a word or phrase on sticky notes that reflect the definition of “Poverty”
Post their answers on the wall near the video screen to be reviewed later
Video
17 minutes - Lesson 1
Reinforcement
5 minutes
Supplies: Pre-written index cards with Sample Statements below.
Distribute Cards face down, one to each student
Lower lights and ask students to close eyes and try to picture the person who wrote each statement.
Instruct class that these statements are taken from a World Bank survey with 60,000 poor around the world.
Tap students on the shoulder to read their card while the others reflect.
Turn the lights on and ask the students to reflect on the differences between their stick note statements and the statements of the materially poor. Note that Westerners and non-materially poor typically use words related to material lack to describe poverty and the materially poor often use emotional, psychological, and social words and describe humiliation, and hopelessness, and a lack of voice.
Sample Statements:
1. For a poor person everything is terrible— illness, humiliation, shame. We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone. No one needs us. We are like garbage that everyone wants to get rid of. MOLDOVA
2. We poor people are invisible to others - just as blind people cannot see, they cannot see us. —Pakistan
3. When I don’t have any [food to bring my family], I borrow, mainly from neighbors and friends. I feel ashamed standing before my children when I have nothing to help feed the family. I’m not well when I’m unemployed. It’s terrible. GUINEA-BISSAU
4. During the past two years we have not celebrated any holidays with others. We cannot afford to invite anyone to our house and we feel uncomfortable visiting others without bringing a present. The lack of contact leaves one depressed, creates a constant feeling of unhappiness, and a sense of low self-esteem. LATVIA
5. We distrust these institutions because they always deceive us. Guatemala
6. When one is poor, she has no say in public, she feels inferior. She has no food, so there is famine in her house; no clothing, and no progress in her family. UGANDA
7. [The poor have] a feeling of powerlessness and an inability to make themselves heard. CAMEROON
8. Your hunger is never satisfied, your thirst is never quenched; you can never sleep until you are no longer tired. SENEGAL
9. If you are hungry, you will always be hungry; if you are poor, you will always be poor. VIETNAM
10. During the past two years we have not celebrated any holidays with others. We cannot afford to invite anyone to our house and we feel uncomfortable visiting others without bringing a present. The lack of contact leaves one depressed, creates a constant feeling of unhappiness, and a sense of low self-esteem Latvia
11. When the poor and rich compete for services, the rich will always get priority. Kenya
12. Poverty is humiliation, the sense of being dependent on them, and of being forced to accept rudeness, insults, and indifference when we seek help. Latvia
13. Being poor is being always tired. Kenya
14. Poverty is lack of freedom, enslaved by crushing daily burden, by depression and fear of what the future will bring. Georgia
15. You know good but you cannot do good. That is such a person knows what should be done but has not got the means. Ghana
16. I think poverty is something that begins at birth. Some people are unlucky from the day they’re born. They’ll never go anywhere in the world. Brazil
17. The poor live at the whim and mercy of nature. Kenya
18. [I have become like] a stray dog whimpering in front of the closed doors of relatives in the hope that someone might open the door. Georgia
19. For a poor person everything is terrible — illness, humiliation, shame. We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone. No one needs us. We are like garbage that everyone wants to get rid of. Moldova
20. The community has no voice; here there are no leaders. Panama
21. If you are as poor as I am and can’t contribute regularly, you can’t participate. Togo
Take away: If we misdiagnose the primary cause of poverty, we will apply incorrect solutions.
Discuss the diagnoses and solutions from the chart below.
Poverty Is Caused by: Solution:
A Lack of Knowledge Educate the Poor
Oppression by Powerful People Work for Social Justice
The Personal Sins of the Poor Evangelize and Disciple the Poor
A Lack of Material Resources Give Material Resources to the Poor
Review Questions:
1. How would you now define poverty?
2. Describe the brokenness of our four relationships that can lead to behaviors and circumstances that contribute to poverty.
God – Poverty of Spiritual Intimacy
Denying God’s existence and authority
Materialism
Worshiping false gods and spirits
Self – Poverty of Being
God-complex
Low self-esteem
Others – Poverty of Community
Self-centeredness
Exploitation and abuse of others
Rest of Creation – Poverty of Stewardship
Loss of sense of purpose
Laziness/workaholic
Materialism
Ground is cursed
3. Consider the story of someone you know who is poor. How do you see evidences of these broken relationships in their life?
4. How does thinking about poverty in terms of broken relationships change the ways we might interact with people?
Gospel Close
Reread Gospel Connection verse
Explore what God’s reconciling work looks like and the hope we find in Christ despite the broken relationships we experience due to sin and the fall of man.
Pray
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