Classic Program: Starter Facilitator Handbook for Healing Groups

Learning objectives By the end of this lesson, participants will be able to: • Accept that conflict is a part of life, even in the church • Identify roots of conflict, especially prejudice • Live as a Christian with integrity in the midst of conflict • Serve as a bridge between sides of a conflict to bring reconciliation

Lesson 10 Section Sub points

LG: Do the skit on church conflict and read the summary of Acts 6. (10 min)

1. Stories (30 min)

LG: Debrief the skit using the discussion questions: “What were the historical causes of the conflict in Acts 6:1–7? How did the church leaders keep the ethnic tensions from ruining the Church?” (3 min)

LG: Read the story of Liwi-Oki conflict aloud. (4 min)

SG: Discussion Questions 1. Why did Bozon and Jonah find it hard to accept that the other one was a Christian? 2. What are the other Liwis and Okis going to think and do when they see Bozon and Jonah talking together? (7 min)

LG: Feedback. (6 min)

LG: What are some conflicts between groups in your communities? Make a list. Then ask: What are the causes of these conflicts? Top up with anything relevant from Section 2 that was not mentioned. (10 min) SG: Discussion Questions 1. What are the prejudices you have inherited about another group? Can you think of any examples that would show these ideas are not true? 2. How do others describe your group? What examples might have led them to this view? (10 min) LG: Feedback. (10 min)

2. Causes of conflict (30 min)

(See the Group stereotype exercise below for a more participatory approach to these questions.)

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Classic Program Facilitator Handbook