When I was only nine years old, my grandpa decided to offer me advice about cigarettes and alcohol. One day, he asked, "What do you say if someone offers you a cigarette?"
"No," I said, wondering why we were having this conversation.
"Wrong!" he barked.
"Yes?" I countered.
"Wrong, again!" He continued, "What do you say if someone offers you a beer?"
"Maybe?" I answered weakly.
"Wrong!"
He told me to sit down then asked, "What will someone say to you if you refuse to try the cigarettes or alcohol?"
By now I was convinced I did not know the right answer to any of his questions and decided to remain silent. He noticed my hesitancy and tried a different tactic. He said we were going to act it out. He was to be my friend and I, of course, was to be myself. We took our places. He walked up to me and greeted me warmly then pulled an imaginary cigarette out of his pocket and asked, "Would you like to try one?"
Again, I said "No."
Quickly, he answered, "Chicken! What a wimp. What's wrong, can't you handle it?"
I was dumbfounded. He suggested that we switch places. He would be me, and I would be my friend.
I asked my grandpa, "Would you like a cigarette?"
He looked at the imaginary cigarette and said, "A cigarette? No way. I tried smoking and it is definitely not for me?"
Again, I was dumbfounded, but, I liked his answer.
He told me that if I say I have tried cigarettes or alcohol, the person would more than likely leave me alone. As I look back at this experience today, I cannot say I would use the same advice with my own children, but his heart was in the right place. On the other hand, as a teenager, I took his advice and it worked.
I have thought about this interaction many times in the last several decades. It had a significant impact on me for a couple of reasons: First, he loved me and I loved him. We had a great relationship. Secondly, he took the time to show me what he meant and allow me to try it.
During the Bible study portion of your small group meeting, stop and act out a present day real-life situation that pertains to the truth or promise of the scripture you are discussing. This can be done in a variety of ways. For example:
- Send one or two people out of the room while the rest of the group creates a situation based on the scripture (i.e.: the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37, could be a homeless person who has collapsed on the sidewalk). Once the scene is set, those who left the room are brought back and asked to handle the situation.
- Form two groups. One group sets up the scenario, and the other group responds (i.e.: The feeding of the five thousand, Mark 6:30-44 - The scene could be set in a modern day soup kitchen that is running out of food and still has hundreds of people left to feed. The other group could enter the kitchen, sense the distress, and role-play how the crisis could be handled.)
- If the lesson includes several truths (i.e.: the Beatitudes, Mark 5), the group could separate into pairs or threes, each group taking one truth to role-play.
Role-playing allows for on-the-spot application of the Word. It brings to life the question, what would Jesus do? After role playing, take some time to discuss the difficulty of the situation, the differences and/or similarities of the responses and reactions, and how the situation applies to your life today.
