Lesson Plan -- Activated and The Family

This stuff was sent to me and I'm passing it on. This is a Lesson Plan that the Activated people use for presenting the Family to potential Activated Members. I love the part where it says
"You can help set the students’ minds at rest that you’re not part of a dangerous or wacky cult, but rather a worldwide missionary organization." Gee, why would anyone think that the Family is a dangerous and wacky cult?"


Optional Preparatory meeting #4a
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
(Alternative 1: Video version)
THEME
Introducing The Family. We are a worldwide Christian fellowship dedicated to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all throughout the world. All Family members have received Jesus as their personal Savior and have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Each member believes that they are called by the Lord to serve Him as disciples. The course they will be offered is based on the Bible and on Family publications.

AIM
To let them know who The Family is in a positive, factual way. We have so much to be proud of! We’re part of a dedicated, innovative, Bible-based movement that is improving the lives of mil-lions of people as we help them get to know Jesus as their Savior and as we help them materially through humanitarian and social welfare projects.

ROUNDUP (OUTLINE OF CLASS AND FOCUS POINTS)
n OPENING ACTIVITY (20 minutes)
Prayer
Ice-breaker (Discussion)
{Optional} Songs

n Main activity: VIDEO PRESENTATION (30 minutes)
n Second Activity: WORD READING AND DISCUSSION (30 minutes)

n CLOSING ACTIVITY (10 minutes)
Prayer

GET PREPARED (TEACHER’S TIPS)
n This meeting is based on showing the Family Presentation Video (#1 or #2). If those videos are not available, and/or if you prefer, any local videos showing the Family’s work may also be shown.
n If you haven’t watched the video in awhile, it would be a good idea to preview it so you’ll have an idea of what it contains.
n The focus of this class is introducing The Family as it is today, without delving into the Fam-ily’s history and the controversies. Concentrate on the present, letting the Family Activity Reports and pictures of your own local work speak for themselves. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
n Try to have a Presentation Album with pictures of your local work to show. This should in-clude photographs of your local work, copies of newspaper articles, letters of recommendation, and so on.
n It’s nice if you also have pictures to show of your personal family and those living in your Home.
n If you put together a loose-leaf album with copies of Family Activity Reports from the past year you’ll find it is a tremendous sample. Seeing all our consistent good works through the year in such a variety of countries is a wonderful testimony.
n It would also be good to have available a few copies of the Statement of Faith if someone has a query about our basic beliefs.
n The color brochure entitled The Family also gives a very good explanation of our life, work and some of our history.
n You should also have on hand some copies of the Introducing the Family Fact Sheet. This in-cludes reference information on where they can find out more. The Fact Sheet includes statistics that you may want to tell them about, to give them an idea of where members of the Family live and how large we are. You can share information from the Fact Sheet whether or not you give them a copy.
n In the notes for this meeting, we do not cover any of the more detailed questions you may be asked about the Family nor the controversies that could arise. Further publications will deal with these subjects.
n Encourage the students to check out the Family on-line at our Web Site: http://www.thefamily.org
n For more, see the “Teacher’s Tips” in the following class.

EXTRA PUBS TO OFFER
r FAR: This month’s Family Activity Reports.
r Videos: Family Presentation Video 1 and 2
r {Optional} “Our Statement of Faith”
r {Optional} “Introducing the Family” Fact Sheet

TEXT OF MEETING
OPENING ACTIVITY (20 MINUTES)
8 Prayer
i Short prayer to start your time together.

8 Ice-breaker (Discussion)
_ What were the high points and the low points of your week?

8 {Optional} Songs
¯ Select and sing a few songs from the “Love One Another” Song sheet.

MAIN ACTIVITY: VIDEO PRESENTATION (30 MINUTES)
i Show the Family Presentation video (Number 1 or 2)

SECOND ACTIVITY: WORD READING AND DISCUSSION (30 MINUTES)
i Read the following verses from the book of Acts and explain a little about how our communal lifestyle is based on the sample of the Early Church, though of course our life is adapted to the 21st century. The lifestyle of the Early Church included sharing the Word, fellowship, prayer, leading a simple life, and testifying of your faith to others (witnessing).
Acts 2:42-47 — And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

i You may like to tell a little about your Home and who lives there. You can explain how the Lord has called you to perform whatever ministries you are involved in.
i You can help set the students’ minds at rest that you’re not part of a dangerous or wacky cult, but rather a worldwide missionary organization, by telling how the Lord has called you personally to serve Him. You can also explain a little how your Home runs and how you make your decisions through prayer and discussion. If you are asked, “but how do you manage to live and work together harmoniously?”, you can explain that we have a written “constitution” or rulebook called the Char-ter.
i If you have photos available or Presentation Albums, show these around. “A picture is worth a thousand words!”

CLOSING ACTIVITY (10 MINUTES)
8 Prayer
i A general closing prayer. Ask for their prayer requests and show a concern for their needs by praying for them.

(End of File)