GIFT OF LIFE SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES
These notes contain all you need to run a small group session and get people inspired about Gift
of life. It’s designed to complement the Gift of life Sunday service and can be done either before or
after the Sunday presentation.
ICE-BREAKER: BEST AND WORST PRESENTS
Get your group to think about what was the best present they have ever received – and their worst ever gift, and then
share it with the group. (It would be good to keep it about actual Christmas or birthday presents, so encourage them not
to say ‘Jesus is the best gift’ – as we’ll get on to that!)
Hopefully the themes you’ll pick up and encourage from the discussions will be:
• The best gifts aren’t always the most expensive (although they can be!), but they are usually the most thoughtful:
something made by a loved one, or something that reminds you of a special friend or occasion.
• The worst gifts are strange or inappropriate. They’re usually things from people who don’t know you very well, or things
that haven’t had much thought put into them (or, at least, very odd thoughts).
READ THEM THESE THREE VERSES:
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.
Romans 6:23
The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.
Have a short discussion about what the Bible has to say through these verses about ‘gifts’.
REFLECTION
In this worship section, we’re going to explore Mary’s song from Luke 1. In this song/poem Mary explores the gift to the
world that the soon-to-be-born Jesus will be.
Depending on how many people there are in your group, give each of them a section of the verses (below).
Read it out as a group together, and then pick out some of the themes to discuss, such as: ‘his mercy extends to those who
fear him’, ‘he has scattered those who are proud’, he has ‘lifted up the humble’, he has ‘filled the hungry with good things’
and ‘sent the rich away empty’.
Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-56)
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
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He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised
our ancestors.
BIBLE EXPLORATION
‘I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it.’
Read: James 2:14-18
Ask a few questions:
• What happens when faith and deeds don’t go together? What’s ‘faith’ like on its own? And what are ‘deeds’
without faith?
• Why do you think that James chose to emphasise to the people he is writing to the need to be active?
• How do James’ ideas about faith and action relate to grace?
• What would happen if the church wasn’t active?
• What would happen if your church disappeared – would people in your community notice?
• What kinds of things happen when the church is active?
NOW TELL THIS STORY
Harry: pastor and brick maker
Harry is the pastor at Fombe Church in Malawi, a village supported by churches and Christians in the UK and Ireland
through Tearfund’s local church partner, Eagles. Like all church leaders, Pastor Harry carries out certain activities to look
after his congregation and community.
Pastor Harry gives a sermon every Sunday, he visits sick and lonely people in the community to pray with and encourage
them, he coordinates a network of churches in the locality and trains young pastors. He also makes bricks.
Brick-making in Malawi is a dirty process – so Harry doesn’t wear his Sunday best. He goes barefoot and wears clothes that
won’t be ruined if they get wet and muddy. The main ingredient is soil, the other is water – and a lot of hard graft. Here’s
how it’s done…
Basic brick-making Fombe style
The only equipment you’ll need is a basic wooden brick mould and a vessel filled with water to wash the mould after each
brick. First pick a spot – a few square metres with good clay soil. Then dig out an area to loosen the soil – now add some
water. Not too much, just enough to make a good solid consistency in the mud.
With your hands, load the brick mould until it’s full of mud. Scrape away the excess with your palms. Turn out the now
brick-shaped mud onto the ground to dry. Repeat.
To make a simple house you will need several thousand bricks. All the houses in Fombe village are constructed from bricks
made out of the soil in and around the village.
Why bricks?
So why does Pastor Harry make bricks? Is he building a new home for himself and his family? Is he extending his church
building?
Harry explains: ‘As a pastor, if you are able to do what needs to be done, it helps the community to learn from you. When
people in the village see that I am active it inspires them to do the same. They become self-reliant. They learn skills to
support their families.
‘I am showing them that if they want people to help them they must start by helping themselves. Then people will come
to help with the things you cannot do on your own.
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‘If people are looking for me to support them and they come and find me active, then they come and join me.
It encourages people not to just sit and wait for help but to stand up and start doing things for themselves.’
Faith indeed
Otirayi, a young mum in Fombe, recently lost her husband and her home in quick succession. A huge termite mound began
to grow in her house. Termites are so persistent and active that it’s almost impossible to get rid of a termite mound without
expensive chemicals. This left Otirayi, her 12-year-old son Charles and her two-year-old daughter Deliya without a home.
That’s when the local church stepped in. Using bricks made by Pastor Harry and the congregation, they built Otirayi a new
home, and brought food, education and Jesus’ saving love to her and her children.
‘It would have been very hard without the help of the church,’ said Otirayi. ‘It gives me hope. Because of their support we
can eat three meals a day. If it were not there, Deliya would eat only lunch. The church has come to fill the gap – they are
living alongside us in the village.’
‘Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.’ (James 2:18)
At Tearfund we’re putting faith into action through our vision, which is to see 50 million people released from material and
spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.
EXPLORE FURTHER
If your group is inspired by the faith and works of Pastor Harry and Fombe Church, why not organise a fundraising activity?
Encourage your group to learn more about Tearfund’s Gift of life resources by visiting www.tearfund.org/giftoflife
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