Jesus 4th Way (J4W) Facilitator’s guide

Time:

1 hour and 30 minutes

Materials:

Art materials for drawing (paper, pens, pencils, crayons etc)

Preparation:

1. Familiarise yourself with the topic. Ensure you understand the key messages and points to be conveyed.
2. Be familiar with the biblical passages that underscore Jesus' teachings on love for our
   enemies (eg Matthew 5:38–48), non-violence (eg Matthew 26:52), peacemaking (eg
   Matthew 5:9), the conquest of Canaan (eg Joshua 23:11–13 and Joshua 21:43).
3. Find some stories or examples: examples from the lives of individuals who followed the
   path of Jesus in challenging circumstances, demonstrating the power of non-violent
   resistance.
4. Prepare the visual aids: images or diagrams that illustrate the concepts of peace,
   violence and reconciliation, helping to make the presentation more engaging and
   memorable.
5. Prepare the art materials and ensure there is enough for each participant.
6. Set up the room in a way that encourages open discussion and sharing. Consider a circle formation to promote a sense of equality and inclusion.

Suggested steps:

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Briefly welcome participants and introduce yourself.
• State the session title and objective.
• Emphasise that the session aims to explore the path of Jesus in a way that is relevant to
  their lives, rather than focusing on theological arguments.

2. Activity: Drawing a significant experience (20 minutes)

Explain the activity: Participants will draw the most significant experience or happening in

• their lives and associate themselves with different things in the drawing.
• Provide examples: If they feel lost, they could represent themselves as a small boat in a vast ocean.
• If they feel strong, they could depict themselves as a mountain.
• Allow participants time to draw and be creative.

3. Bible study, processing and discussion (60 minutes)

• Do a Bible study on Romans 12.
• Present the lessons we can learn from Romans 12: 
• Maintain humility. Do not think too highly of yourself. Recognise that everyone possesses different gifts and strengths.
• Love genuinely. Love should be real and guide your interactions with others.
• Actively show honour. Intentionally and frequently show honour through actions motivated by love, such as service, hope, patience and empathy.
• Prioritise harmony. In humility, focus on noticing and honouring others, which fosters harmony.
• Live honourably and peaceably. Let your actions be characterised by honour in a way that displays the gospel. As far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
• Present the practical and ethical implications of Romans 12:
• Peacemaking: Romans 12 emphasises peacemaking. Verse 18 says, ‘If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.' This aligns with the study's exploration of biblical concepts of peace and how Christians should strive for it.
• Overcoming evil with good: Verse 21 states, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' This principle is crucial when considering responses to conflict and violence. The study examines how this might be applied in various situations, drawing parallels with Jesus' teachings on loving our enemies.
• Personal conduct: Romans 12 focuses on personal conduct within the Christian community and toward outsiders. This connects to the study's emphasis on how individual Christians should engage with issues of war, peace and justice.
• Non-retaliation: The instruction in Romans 12:19 to ‘never avenge yourselves' resonates with discussions in the guide about non-retaliation and turning the other cheek, particularly in the context of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
• After the activity, guide participants through a discussion using the following questions.
• Encourage participants to share their drawings and connect them to the questions.