C3 NEWSONG

LA

Third Culture - the art of adaptability

Small Group Guide w/ Facilitator’s Notes

week 1-4

Newsong Los Angeles

1155 Arbor Vitae St
Inglewood , CA 90301
310.807.5795
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 FACILITATOR’S GUIDE THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3
NEWSONG LA

Introduction
Thank you for your willingness to lead a Newsong LA Small Group. Your ministry is a
vital part of the spiritual development of the members of your Church. The role of a
small group leader is both pastoral and administrative. You serve your group by keeping
track of assignments, scheduling meetings, and facilitating healthy and supportive group
conversations. The desire of the pastoral staff and writing team is to provide you with
additional support to make your role more enjoyable and rewarding.

The Big Idea:

For each session, the “Big Idea” is a short summary of what the study is all about. Use it
as a guide to keep the group discussion moving in the right direction. Each study also
corresponds to the sermon from the previous Sunday. The Scripture references are
often different from those used in the sermon, yet the themes are the same. Here is a
list of the themes for each session:

Session 1 – Third Culture Calling

Big Idea: Just as Abraham was called and blessed by God to be a blessing to the nations, every
believer is called to adapt in order to pass on the blessings of God to those who are not like them.

Session 2 – Third Culture Kingdom

Big Idea: The Kingdom of God is bringing all nations together in Christ, reversing what God
did at the tower of Babel, by giving the Church the ability and responsibility to adapt and reach
the nations.

Session 3 – Third Culture Relationships

Big Idea: God has a purpose in all of our relationships and a special purpose in uniting people of
di!erent cultures. We should expect our cross-cultural relationships to broaden our experience of
god and e!ectiveness for God.

Session 4 – Third Culture Community

Big Idea: As God brings us together across cultures, as one body, it can be awkward and even
painful, as our hidden prejudices are exposed. Still it is more than worth it as God changes us for
His glory and our good.

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 FACILITATOR’S GUIDE THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3
NEWSONG LA
Session 5 – Third Culture Mindset
Big Idea: While love for one’s own culture is healthy and good, we should also strive to
understand and accommodate the cultural di!erences of others out of love for Christ.

Session 6 – Third Culture Skill

Big Idea: Adapting to other cultures is a learned skill that involves a deep knowledge of cultural
rules, and the ability to shift our behavior appropriately. This skill is necessary for the
advancement of the Kingdom of God and the rich fellowship of the Church.

Session 7 – Third Culture Leadership

Big Idea: Leaders within the Church are especially responsible for crating an inclusive and
supportive environment for people of diverse backgrounds to participate and thrive. This
involves yielding to the needs of others, and confronting injustice wherever it appears.

Session 8 – Third Culture Worship

Big Idea: God has ordained worship from all nations, tribes and languages for His glory; we
might as well get the party started now!

The Questions:
The Third Culture Series Study Guides have been designed so that the facilitator of the
group does not have to teach. As a facilitator, your goal will be to maintain a safe
environment for honest sharing as you keep the conversation flowing. There are three
categories of questions:

Open Questions – The goal of these questions is to get people to talk and feel more
comfortable sharing with one another. At the end, of the open questions. Try to make
the connection to the theme of the session.

Scripture Study – There are many great insights related to these questions. Encourage
discussion and try to return to them main point of the question if the conversation gets
too far off track.

Application – These questions are designed to apply the big idea to our daily lives. Do
your best to create a safe environment for people to be honest. This will require great
sensitivity if you have a multicultural group. Remember that people have reasons for
their feelings and opinions that may be rooted in deep life experiences.

CONNECT! ! © NEWSONG LOS ANGELES 2011

 FACILITATOR’S GUIDE THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3
NEWSONG LA

The Transformation Process:

The questions for each session are designed to produce transformation in the lives of
the participants. Where there are beliefs, or behaviors that are out of harmony with the
truth of Scripture, the inconsistency is brought to the foreground and the person is
challenged to change. While the questions for each session may vary in their wording,
each lesson follows the same basic pattern:

Open Questions
Stage one – Opinion and Experience
What do you think about _____________
How do you feel about _____________
How have you behaved in relation to ______________

Scripture Study
Stage Two – Biblical Truth
What does the Bible teach about _____________

Stage Three – Response to Truth

What do you think about ______________ now?

Application
Stage Four – Commitment to Change
How will you change in response to this truth?

Stage Five – Empowerment and Accountability for Change

How will the group help you to keep your commitment?

We are all in process, and change happens best when people feel safe enough to
express themselves honestly.

These questions also push for a commitment to change. Challenge your group
members to choose an action step that is appropriate for them. The final question
encourages each member to request specific help from the group. This is based on the
conviction that God intends for us to grow through mutual submission and
interdependence.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be
healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” - James 5:16
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”. - Ephesians 5:21
(See also Galatians 6:1-5)

We hope you will enjoy participating in the Third Culture Series Small Group Study. If
you have any questions regarding the materials for the series, please email
Adam.Edgerly@newsongLA.net

CONNECT! ! © NEWSONG LOS ANGELES 2011

 WEEK 1 THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3 NEWSONG LA

Third Culture Calling

Genesis 11, 12, 14; Luke 4:14-30

Opening Question
1. Did you grow up in a mono-cultural or multicultural environment? What culture do you
most identify with? Describe your first significant cross-cultural experience?

Scriptural Study
Read Genesis 12 & 14 together and discuss the following.
1. What were the promises that God made to Abraham? How do you think Abraham’s mission
required him to become culturally adaptable?

2. How does Abraham demonstrate the ability to adapt to other cultures?

3. Read Luke 4:14-30 together and discuss the following.

What customs or values made the Jewish people unique? How well did Jesus fit into these
customs when he first arrived in his hometown? (vv. 14-16) What does this tell us about the
customs and values of our own culture?

4. When Jesus first arrived in his hometown, everyone "spoke well of Him." What do you think
they expected (v. 22)? What do you suppose was going through their minds as they were
amazed by Jesus’ words yet perplexed by his origin?

5. What did Jesus say that made the hometown crowd so angry? Why was this so upsetting to
them? (vv. 25-28)

6. Jesus refers to events recorded in the Old Testament. (1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 5) What do
these events reveal about God that was di!cult for the Jews to accept? (See also John 10:16,
17:20-23; Ephesians 2:15-20; and Revelations 7:9)

7. What do you think were the insecurities of Jesus’ hometown people? What connection do
you see between cultural bigotry and personal insecurity?

Application
1. Even after we are intellectually convinced of the fact that Jesus came to save the whole world
and to unite us with people of all cultures through the Church, emotionally sometimes the
fear of the unknown or unfamiliar can create in us a mental barrier in relating to others. Is
there a group of people that you find di!cult to associate with? Why or why not?
2. How do you think God has blessed you to be a blessing to people of other cultures? How
can our small group help you to take action on what you've learned?

CONNECT! ! © NEWSONG LOS ANGELES 2011

 WEEK 2 THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3 NEWSONG LA

Third Culture Kingdom

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1,2 and Luke 13:18-21

Opening Question
1. Have you every felt that the values of your family or culture were in conflict with your
relationship with God or the Church? Explain your answer. Describe what you hope your
life will be like in ten years. What is the main thing you hope to accomplish?

Scriptural Study
Read Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1-2 and Luke1318-21 together and discuss the following.

1. In Matthew 28:18-20, why does Jesus preface His command with a statement about
authority? Based on the question that the disciples asked Jesus in Acts 1:6, what kind of
kingdom were they anticipating? What do you make of Jesus’ reply in Acts 1:8? (see also
Daniel 2:44,45; Luke 13:18-21 )

2. What did the disciples do to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit? How do you think
the disciples felt when the Holy Spirit filled them, and both men and woman began to
prophesy? If you have had a similar experience with God, describe it for the group.

3. God initially gave the disciples the ability to speak the many languages of the people in the
crowd at Pentecost. How do you think the Church of 120 adjusted to having three thousand
people from many nations join them in one day?

Application
1. How do you think God wants to use you to reach the nations for Christ? Describe some of
the ways you are cooperating with God to accomplish His mission. Are there any competing
needs or goals that are hindering you from seeking God’s Kingdom?

2. How can the group work together to advance God’s Third Culture Kingdom?

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 WEEK 3 THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3 NEWSONG LA

Third Culture Relationships

Joshua 2:1-21, 6:17-24; Ruth 1:15-18; Numbers 12

Opening Question
1. Among your current circle of friends, who is most di!erent from you culturally? Describe
how you became friends. Are there ongoing challenges in the friendship?

2. If you have been in a cross-cultural dating relationship in the past, what were some of the
challenges you faced?" Are you in a cross-cultural marriage or dating relationship now, how
have you grown from the relationship?"

Scriptural Study
Read Joshua 2:1-21 & 6:17-24; and Ruth 1:15-18 together and discuss the following."
1. What did Rahab and Ruth have in common? "

2. Rahab was a Canaanite who became part of the nation of Israel, just as Ruth, the Moabite
did. Why was it unusual for these women to marry Jewish men? Read Deuteronomy 7:3-4;
Josh 23:12-13, and 1 Kings 11:1-2. What do these passages teach about intercultural marriage,
and why? Does the same principle still apply today? (See 1 Corinthians 7:39 and 2
Corinthians 6:14)"
"

3. Take look at Matthew 1:5. Notice that Both Rahab and Ruth are ancestors of Jesus,
meaning Jesus was from a multi-ethnic lineage. Also, notice that Boaz, the husband of Ruth,
was Rahab’s son! Some have argued the possibility that the genealogy skips a generation.
However, it is clear that Boaz was at least closely descended from Rahab. How do you think
this impacted his attitude and interaction with Ruth? How has your background made you
more or less open to intercultural marriage?"

4. Read Numbers 12. Why do you suppose Miriam did not approve of Moses’"wife? What does
God’s response indicate? "
"

5. In Exodus 18, Moses’"father in law, the priest of Midian, coaches Moses on how to set up the
governing structure of Israel. Moses follows his advice and it blesses the whole nation. God
clearly had a purpose in many of the intercultural marriages mentioned in Scripture. How do
you see God using intercultural relationships for His Glory today? "

Application
1. How has today’s study challenged you to grow? How can the group support you?

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 WEEK 4 THIRD CULTURE - THE ART OF ADAPTABILITY C3 NEWSONG LA

Third Culture Community

Acts 10:1-48; Acts 11:1-18 & Galatians 2:11-14

Opening Question
1. Growing up, was there an ethnic group that you were told not to associate with? Or was
there an ethnic group often put down by your own group? How did that a!ect you?

Scriptural Study
Read Acts 10:1-48 together and discuss the following.
1. Until this point, the first-century Jewish believers believed that the gospel was exclusively for
Jews. Jews didn’t even associate with Gentiles (v. 28). Knowing this, why do you think God
orchestrated the visions for Cornelius and Peter?

2. Why does God give Peter the same vision three times, and then specifically tell Peter to go
with the men whom Cornelius sent (vv. 16, 20)? How does this repetition help Peter
overcome his initial resistance to violating Jewish cultural norm (v. 23)?

3. How does Cornelius’ sharing help further Peter’s understanding of the vision (vv. 30-33)? If
Cornelius is devout and God-fearing, why is it necessary for him to get Peter’s help (Acts
10:42-43; 11:14)?

4. The primary focus of the story in Acts 10 is not so much on Cornelius’ conversion but more
on Peter’s conversion. What did Peter need to convert from (vv. 28, 34, 35)? Why was his
conversion critical to the first-century Church (Acts 11:18)?

5. In spite of this life-changing experience with Cornelius, Peter relapses to his old way due to
his fear of the Jewish traditionalists (Gal 2:11-14). What does Peter’s relapse warn us about?

Application
1. Like Peter, we all need “conversion” from our own limited view of God’s heart for all nations.
What “hang-ups” do you need to surrender to God so you can also experience transformation
like Peter? What do you need to admit and confess as a first step?

2. What peer or cultural pressure do you need to overcome in order to prevent any future
relapse to racism or hypocrisy? What will you do about it?
3. How can past experiences from your journey help others to learn similar lessons? Are there
experiences from your past that you still need to own or share? How can the group work
together to foster more cross-cultural inclusion?

CONNECT! ! © NEWSONG LOS ANGELES 2011