INDIA -REFLECTIONS 

 

I. Icebreaker:

What countries other than the United States have you been to and why were you there? 

II.  Introduction:   

Review and introduction from Pastor Dave’s sermon  

The culture of India is one of poverty, spiritual depravity and lack of love.  The caste system of India de-values life and justifies the mistreatment of others, as a punishment from God.  The Indian belief in re-incarnation allows the higher castes to abuse the lower castes with the justification that God put them into the lower caste as a punishment for how they lived in prior lives.  (Who are they to argue with God?) Fear of AIDS causes people to think that children are safer, less likely to spread AIDS.  Severe poverty means that many mothers have no other way to provide for their families than Child Sex Trafficking.  Child Sex Trafficking is done under the title of dancing.  Parents can buy babies from the hospital for $50, raising them so as to not traffic their biological children. 

  1. How has the Indian religious beliefs influenced their culture?  
  2. How has the American religious beliefs influenced our culture? How has our culture influenced our religious beliefs (both positive/negative)? 
  3. Pastor Dave talked about his needing to get out of America to get America out of him.  What parts of American culture do you need to get out of you?  
  4. How do you think a change of scenery can be a way of opening our souls to reflection, clarity and new thinking.? 

III. We are to Rescue- Through the Gospel and Practical Assistance 

Proverbs 24:11-12 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.  If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it?  Will He not repay everyone according to what they have done? 

  1. In what ways, has God/Christianity blessed America so that we may be able to share the blessings with India? 

      2. How have we as Christians been rescued from being led away to death, or staggering toward slaughter?  

      3. How have you ever rescued someone being led away to death, or staggering toward slaughter? (I.e. drug abuse, alcoholism, homelessness, and bad decision-making) 

Ephesians 2:10   For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  

      4. What ministry opportunities do we have to rescue people from staggering toward slaughter? 

      5. What could you do to support the ministries of our Church as it regards India missions? 

 

IV. Become Transformational Agents 

John 17:14-18. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 

      1. Jesus sends us into the world. Have you ever asked yourself what God wants to accomplish through you? Or asked God what He wants to accomplish through you? 

      2. Have you considered supporting an Indian child through our Church’s ministries? 

      3. Would you consider being a part of a short– term mission trip to India? 

      4. What ways can we be transformational agents at home? 

V. Prayer 

  1. Pray for our Nation and the Church in America. 

  2. Pray for the Nation of India and the Church in India. 

  3. Pray for the children of India. 

  4. Pray about supporting a child in India.