Classic Program: Starter Facilitator Handbook for Healing Groups

Learning objectives By the end of this lesson, participants will be able to:

• Understand the causes and effects of suicide on everyone affected by it • Give examples of biblical characters who considered suicide and evaluate their responses • Compare their culture’s understanding of and response to suicide with the biblical record and mental health principles • Assess how seriously someone is considering suicide • Respond compassionately and helpfully to someone considering suicide • Help the loved ones of those who have committed suicide heal from the trauma of the experience

Lesson 6B Section

Sub points

LG: Read story (5 min)

1. Story (17 min)

SG: Discussion questions (7 min) 1. Why do you think the person committed suicide? Who was responsible? 2. What effect do you think the suicide had on the family? 3. How did the church help the family?

LG: Feedback (5 min)

LG: Present content (3 min)

2. Why do people commit suicide? (8 min)

LG: Discuss and top up (5 min)

SG: Give each group a Scripture passage to look up. (5 min)

3. Desperate people in the Bible (15 min)

LG: Feedback (10 min)

4. Warning signs (15 min)

Do the skit (below) and discuss. (10 min)

LG: Discussion question: What warning signs have you noticed that a person may be considering suicide? (5 min)

The Lessons

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