STANDING IN THE GAP

(Champion of the Poor)

OBJECTIVES:
1. To realize that it is our duty to love and serve the poor.
2. To further appreciate our communitys work with the poor.
3. To volunteer and influence others to be a part our work with the poor.

DYNAMICS:
1. Opening Worship
2. Talk Proper
3. Group Sharing
4. Closing Prayer / Worship

ANCHOR VERSE
The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has chosen me to bring good news
to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recover of sight to the
blind, to set free the oppressed. Luke 4:18

EXPANDED TALK OUTLINE

I. Introduction
(Read the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31. The speaker can
either tell the story or ask one of the participants to tell the story.)

The story focuses on the importance of loving the poor. Like the rich man, it
can cause us eternity. Either we go to heaven or hell because we have or have not
answered the call of God of loving them. It is a sad reality that more of us decide not
to answer the call when there are more people who struggle to survive everyday
there is so much poverty around us. Poverty that is due to the breakdown of
relationships.

II. The Gap Between the Rich and the Poor

This relationship happens between the rich and the poor. The rich can afford to
live luxuriously, while right in their very own neighborhood is a swarm of poor
people, only wishing to be able to eat a meal. The rich has accepted that poverty is
part of the global order.
 The poor has been considered an eyesore, a big problem to the country and
other nations as well. They are seen as dirt and as unclean. They are also perceived
as menace to the society doing crimes and drugs.

III. Standing in the Gap

What our world needs is love. LOVE can BRIDGE this gap. We have to be that
person with love that stands in the gap.

Note: Demonstrate visually by asking two volunteers to stand beside you, you
being at the center. The other two being the rich and the poor and you, standing in
the gap.

Standing in the gap isnt at all easy:

A. It can be frustrating.
*. The rich thinks that the poor will be poor forever, simply because they
do not strive hard to have a better life.
*. The poor thinks that it is hopeless; that nobody is willing enough to
help them in their situation. They think being poor is their destiny.

B. It will require a great sacrifice.

We cant paint a picture of hope overnight. It takes time.
*. It is not easy to tell the poor that there is hope and life can be
better.
*. It is not that easy to tell the rich to share and to give.

C. We will be stretched to the limit with our abilities because it requires

our time, talent and treasure.

IV. Closing the Gap

We are all called to stand in the gap in order it. Our work with the poor
closes the gap between the rich and the poor. We call each other brothers and
sisters. In camaraderie, no one is poor, no one is rich, no one is a Christian, or no one
is Muslim. All are equal in worth and dignity.

V. Conclusion
Our love for the poor will create a generation of people who treat each other
as brothers and sisters. The spirit of the Lord is love. Thus, it is through love that we
can bring the good news to the poor proclaim liberty to the captives recovery
of sight to the blind free the oppressed.
 Let us bring more people to share in our work with the poor, more heroes,
who can stand in the gap and close that the gap through the Lord that made both
the rich and the poor.

GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. How do you I see the poor right now?
2. How can I become a bridge between the gap of the rich and the poor?
3. In what ways can I join the work with the poor efforts of the community?