Film Discussion Guide

film discussion

guide

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filmdiscussion guide

0.1 what do you think? ............................................................................................. 2

0.2 problems and God’s plan .................................................................................... 4

0.3 first doesn’t work ............................................................................................... 6

0.4 the First became last .......................................................................................... 8

0.5 the One and only .............................................................................................. 10

0.6 believing and doing .......................................................................................... 12

0.7 the story of God ............................................................................................... 14

Leader’s Guide

let’s get started ........................................................................................................ 16

helps ......................................................................................................................... 18

Be sure to register your group at iamsecond.com/join.

© 2010 e3 Partners Ministry. All rights reserved.

video discussion guide 0.1

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Opener Question: Introduce yourself to the group. Who are you and

what brought you to this group?

Watch: a film your friends will like.

Talk about the film1. What do you like about the film?

2. What do you not like or find confusing about the film?

3. If you were sitting in the white chair, what would you say?

what do you think?

film discussion guide 0.1

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What it says

1. What did you like about this story?

2. What did you not like or find confusing about this story?

A man was there by the name of Zac-chaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot [near the sycamore tree,] he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately, I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone

to be the guest of such a ‘sinner’ [a terrible person].”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today sal-vation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Luke 19:1-9 (NIV)

Opener Watch: the Karen film (may not be appropriate for younger viewers).

Question: What really stuck out to you in Karen’s story?

Hear the Bible Read this as a Group

Background: Zacchaeus was a tax collector. This ancient version of an IRS agent was hated by his fellow Jews as a cheat, a traitor to the Roman occupiers, and one who had betrayed God himself. As a Jewish religious leader, it would be unheard of that someone like Jesus would associate with such a low-life.

problems and God’s plan

What it means

3. What does this story teach about people?

4. What does this story teach about God?

Live and Tell

5. What will you do now? Based on today’s story, how will your life change? How specifically are you going to live out today’s discussion?

6. Who will you tell? With whom will you have a spiritual conversation about today’s story?

Talk about the Bible


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What it says



As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with Him and His followers. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked Jesus’ followers,

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this Scripture means, ‘I desire mercy, not [animal] sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners…

“…Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew, the tax collector, 9:9-13, 11:28 (NIV)

Opener Watch: the Brian Welch film.

Question: What in your life makes you weary and burdened?

Check-upLive and tell. The last time you were together you talked about ‘Problems and God’s Plan.’ Share with the group how you lived out the things you learned and with whom you shared some of your insights from that discussion.


first doesn’t work

What it means



Live and Tell

5. What will you do now? Based on today’s story how will your life change? How specifically are you going to live out today’s discussion?




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What it says

1. What did you like about these readings?


The soldiers stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked Him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again. After they had mocked Him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

Matthew, the tax collector, 27:27-31 (NIV)

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good message I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this message you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

Paul - 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (NIV)

community dialogue 0.4

Opener Watch: the Tony Evans film. At the bottom of the I am Second home page, click

‘Know’ then click ‘How can I become second?’ find the Tony Evans film.

Question: What did you know about Jesus before coming to this group?

Check-upLive and tell. Last time you met you talked about how first does not work. What in

your life or mind was changed as a result of your discussion?


the First became last

What it means



Live and Tell

5. What will you do now? Based on today’s reading how will your life change? How specifically are you going to live out today’s discussion?

6. Who will you tell? With whom will you have a spiritual conversation about what you learned today?



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What it says

1. What did you like about these readings?


I am the Lord your God... You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I , the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.

God, Exodus 20:2-5 (NLT)

The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Moses, Deuteronomy 6:4 (NLT)

Jesus said to one of His closest follow-ers, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one can come to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus, John 14:6 (NLT)

Opener Watch: the John Meador film.

Questions: Do you agree with Jesus being the only way? Why or why not?

Check-upLive and tell. Last time you talked about the life and story of Jesus. With whom out-side of this group did you talk to about the story of Jesus? If you did not share with anyone, discuss with the group what held you back.


the One and only

Live and Tell

5. What will you do now? Based on today’s readings how will your life change? How specifically are you going to live out today’s discussion?

6. Who will you tell? With whom will you have a spiritual conversation about what you learned today?

What it means





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The ones with the real mark of God are those who worship by the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials- though my creden-tials are significant.

If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more; I was circumcised a Jew on the eight day of my birth. I was born of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of all Hebrews. I lived according to the Jewish law as a strict Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law, I was blameless.

But these things I considered a profit, I now consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I now regard all things as a loss compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…indeed, I view them all as dung!- that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not because I have my own righteous-ness earned from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness, a righteous-ness from God…

Paul of Tarsus Philippians 3:3-9

Opener Watch: the Pete Briscoe film.

Question: Do you ever struggle with trying to be perfect? If so, how?

Check-upLive and tell. The topic last time was Jesus as the only way and you were challenged

to have a spiritual conversation with someone. How did that go?


Background: The Pharisees were a powerful and influential religious party in Israel during the time of Jesus. They were strict, devout, and vocal followers of the Old Testament law and of numerous additional traditions. Pharisees were considered to be prestigious and elite followers of God among the Jews. Paul had all the right credentials to be an important leader in that important group.

believing and doing

Talk about the BibleWhat it says



What it means



Live and Tell

5. What will you do now? Based on to-day’s story how will your life change? How specifically are you going to live out today’s discussion?



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What it means



At the beginning, God was there and nothing else. Then God spoke, and when He did, He created the universe and everything in it. Then He decided to make a special creation—people. So God created man and woman. He had a perfect relationship with them. He walked with them, talked with them, and took care of them. Until one day, the man and woman disobeyed God, and they broke their relationship with God.

Soon the descendants of the man and the woman filled the earth. But, just like the first man and woman, people were separated from God. But God never for-got his special creation. So, one day, He spoke to a man named Abraham, and He told him, “Abraham, I am going to bless you. I will give you many descen-dants. One day the whole world will be blessed through you and your descen-

dants.” Well, even though Abraham was too old to have children, he believed God. And because he believed, God considered Abraham to have a good relationship with Him.

God kept His promise to Abraham and his descendants became a great nation. But they, too, often did not follow God and so did not have a good relation-ship with Him. So God began sending messengers to these people to teach them how to have a good relationship with God. And one of those messen-gers, named Isaiah, said, “We have all gone away from God and His ways. We sin. But God says, ‘I am sending you a Savior who will take all of your sins on Himself. He will die because of your sins. But I will give Him life again. And, because of Him, you can have a good relationship with Me.’”

the story of GodOpener Intro: You have heard each other’s stories and have heard many of the stories

from people on the website. Today you are going to hear the story of God. This is the story of the Bible summarized.

Questions: What has been the most helpful story or discussion with this group so far? Why?

Check-upLive and Tell. How have you lived out the discussion on believing and doing.

With whom have you discussed it?

Hear

From that time on the people waited for this Savior. And God kept this promise and He sent the promised Savior, Jesus, God’s very own Son. Jesus proved he was indeed the Savior by performing miracles, healing people, and teaching the people how to have a good relation-ship with God. Not everyone recognized Jesus as Savior, but to those that did, He said, “If you follow Me, I will give you eternal life. No one can take you away from Me. God and I are one.”

When those who did not believe in Jesus heard Him say that He and God were one, they became angry…so angry, in fact, that they convinced the govern-ment to have Him killed. And so just like God had promised through Isaiah, the Savior was killed. But after He was dead for three days, God raised Him from

the dead. Jesus then showed Himself to many of His followers and instructed them to share with the world all that He had taught them, and He told them that one-day He would return and bring to heaven all who believed in Him and had a good relationship with God.

We all do and say and think bad things, which the Bible calls sins. Our sins sepa-rate us from God. But Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He did this so we could have a gift of eter-nal life in heaven. But we must believe He did this for us. We must put our trust only in what Jesus did and not trust in anything good that we can do. When we put our trust in Jesus for the payment of the penalty for our sins, God gives us a gift of eternal life with Him.

Live and Tell

5. What will you do now? Based on today’s story how will your life change? How specifically are you going to live out today’s discussion?


What it says





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How to Start Your Own Group:Getting a group started may be the most frightening, yet exciting, idea you have had in a long time. But you are not alone. Groups like this have been started all over the world. You can start one, too. Below are simple steps to help get your group started.

1. Talk to God. God cares about what you are about to begin. He wants to work through you. He wants to change lives. Through this whole process, continue to ask God to help you and your group.

2. Find a Time and Place. Open up your calendar and see when you typically have time. Are you usually open during lunch, in the evenings, or on weekends? Find a time that you can commit to on a regular basis. Meetings should be held where the people are. If you are inviting your work friends, find a place at or near work. If you are inviting neighbors, then meet at your home or one of theirs.

3. Talk to Friends. Begin introducing your friends, co-workers, family, and/or neighbors to iamsecond.com. Talk to at least 10 or 15 people. Ask them what they think of the videos, and tell them what they mean to you. Be sure to keep it natural – the goal is simply to get the conversation started. Share with them the time and place of your meeting and extend a personal invitation.

4. Remind your Friends. A week or so before your group begins, remind ev-eryone about the meeting time and place. Talk to them personally, call them, send out letters, or do an e-vite. Think about providing some food or snacks and decide whether people need babysitting.

5. Meet. That’s it. Simple as that. Not everyone will come, but you may be surprised by how many people are interested in discussing spiritual things. They probably are not interested in hearing you preach, but many are interested in discussing things.

6. Meet Often. If you can meet more than once a week, do it! That will accelerate everyone’s learning. Just leave enough time to do your “live and tell” commitments.

How to Lead Your Group:God is against hatred, materialism, oppression, addiction, and meaninglessness. As you start your group, keep in mind that I am Second is about much more than knowledge. It is about changed lives. It is about finding the truth. It is about people becoming free. It is about being Second. Keep in mind the following tips:

1. Keep Talking to God. You have a big job in front of you, so continue to ask God to help you. It is a simple step that is often overlooked, but you will be glad you did it. You are on your own only if you forget to ask for God’s help.

2. Be Authentic. Do not be fake or shallow or use churchy words. Be your real self as you lead. Model to your group that this is a place where honesty and accep-tance are normal and expected. As a leader you will need to open up about your own pains and be vulnerable. Ask tough questions that will help the group to do the same.

3. Keep it a Discussion. This is a discussion group – not a time to practice your public speaking skills. Make sure discussion happens by asking good questions, bringing short, challenging thoughts, and keeping the discussion on point. Allow people time to truly wrestle with what the Bible says without forcing an answer. Each lesson has a core idea and following the lesson helps bring out that idea. Before you start, make sure you as the leader are familiar with this material. And as the group discusses, ask yourself, “Have we talked about the main things?”

4. Don’t Skip Parts. Each part of each unit is important. It is especially important to do the “live and tell” and “check-up” discussions. Learning how to be Second is good. Doing it in real life is even better.

5. OK Not to Know Answers. Sometimes the discussion will raise questions to which you do not know the answer. When this happens, remember that you, as the facilitator, are not expected to know all the answers. It is perfectly acceptable to tell your group that you just do not know the answer. Volunteer to research the ques-tion further, or ask someone in the group to find the answer. Sometimes postponing certain questions like this until a later time is the best way to go.

6. Register. Connect with I am Second by registering your group at iamsecond.com/join.

let’s get started!

leader’s guide

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what do you think? 0.1Summary: The main goal of this lesson is for everyone to openly share with the group where they are in life and in their spiritual walk with God. At this point, there are no right or wrong answers. There are no good stories or bad stories. And there is no room for judgment and criticism. Each person should be accepted and welcomed into the group from wherever they are in life.

As leader, you must model the kind of openness and acceptance that this group needs. When you share your story, make sure you do not appear to be the perfect saint. Be honest, raw, and a bit vulnerable so that the group sees that you too have not arrived at perfection and need to continue to grow spiritually. This also means that when you hear the stories of others you do not judge or criticize. In fact, thank each person as they share their story.

The time to provide answers, spiritual guidance, and the truth of the gospel will come. But this meeting is not it. This meeting is a time to get

to know each other and to see where everyone is spiritually.

problems and God’s plan 0.2Summary: Life is not always easy and everyone faces hard times. And some like Karen and Zacchaeus face problems and hardships that are hard to even imagine. But through it all, God cares, and He loves even those that the world hates. God loves each person in your group, no matter what they have or have not done. No one is too bad for God to love and change.

Some Help with the DiscussionHave you talked about the main things?

1. What did you like? Jesus went against the cultural norms of His day and associated with those considered to be terrible people. He even made this kind of association very public by announcing his intentions to spend time at Zacchaeus’ house. Zacchaeus was truly changed by Jesus. This wealthy cheat gave half of his possessions to the poor and swore to right all his wrongs.

2. What did you not like? The hatred of the people showed through. All the people disapproved of Jesus’ love for this outcast and the people spoke cru-elly about Zacchaeus.

3. What does this teach about people? Even the worst people can change and be saved by God. Unlike God, people can be cruel and hateful to those consid-ered to be “terrible people.”

4. What does this teach about God? God loves and cares for even the worst people. God can change and save even the worst sinners.

first doesn’t work 0.3Summary: Everyone fails. No matter how hard you try, like Brian Welch and Matthew the tax collector, sin and moral failure make people weary and bur-dened. But Jesus came to the world to give rest and salvation to the weary and burdened.


1. What did you like? This is another story about Jesus loving an outcast and a sinner when no one else would. Again Jesus spent time with disreputable characters like Matthew and his friends though this went against the norms of his culture. Jesus did not come to ignore the sins and problems of people, but like a doctor came to heal these things and to give rest to the weary.

2. What did you not like? The religious leaders questioned Jesus’ involvement with ‘tax collectors and sinners’ when they should have applauded him.

3. What does it teach about people? People who are sick with sin or weary and burdened with life need to find rest and healing in Jesus. Like Matthew and Brian Welch, life without God leaves a person weary and burdened with prob-lems and sin.

4. What does it teach about God? Jesus cares for everyone – even the ‘terrible’ people – and is willing to heal and give rest to all who come to him.

helpsUse these helps not as a checklist to which your group is tied, but rather as a guide that sheds some light on where your discussion should lead. The answers are not meant to be read to your group. But rather these answers provide focus for your discussion and insights for you as the leader.

leader’s guide

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the First became last 0.4Summary: Jesus died for your sins and rose again. Knowing that everyone sins and needs saving, Jesus came to this earth and died for the sins of the world. By this message you are saved, if you hold firmly to it.


1. What did you like? Last time we talked about sin and the healing we need. This time we are talking about how to get that healing. Jesus was willing to go through torture and death so that we can be healed and saved. Paul clarified that it is by standing firm on this message about Jesus that we are saved.

2. What did you not like? Jesus had to go through humiliation and death because of our problems and sins. Most people like to be able to heal themselves, but unfortunately that just is not possible when it concerns sin.

3. What does it teach about people? People must be in a truly desperate situ-ation that Jesus would die such a terrible death to save them. We cannot be saved and have a right relationship with God unless we hold firm to the basic story

of Christ – that he died for our sins, was buried and rose again.

4. What does it teach about God? God loves people like Zacchaeus and Mat-thew and even each of us so much that he would die to save us.

the One and only 0.5Summary: There is only one way. The Bible is very clear that there are not many paths to God. Jesus alone is the only way to the one true God.


1. What did you like? God is clear in His expectations regarding not worshipping or following any other god. Jesus is very clear in who He claims to be as the only way to the Father.

2. What did you not like? These claims about there being only one God and that the only way to Him is through Jesus, conflict with what so many other people believe and teach.

3. What does it teach about people? People are to worship and serve only one God. Jesus taught that there are not many paths for people to reach God but only one, which is Jesus.

4. What does it teach about God? God does not tolerate people worshipping gods other than Him. There is only one God, and Jesus claims the only way to that one God is through Him, so that if anyone wants to know God he must go through Jesus.

believing and doing 0.6 Summary: Good is not good enough. Pete Briscoe and Paul of Tarsus both tried to earn their way to God, but in the end realized that they could not save themselves. Instead they needed Jesus to save them, just as we all do. A right relationship with God comes through faith in Jesus, not in just being good.


1. What did you like? Paul shared openly about his past struggles with trying to be perfect. Paul teaches that those with the real mark of God are not those that appear to be perfect or who come from perfect backgrounds, but rather are those that have simply trusted in Christ and what He has done to heal their sins. Paul teaches such freedom in that you do not have to try to be perfect in order to have a right relationship with God.

2. What did you not like? Most people are usually glad that Jesus has provided all they need to be right with God, but there is often something in people that wants to earn a relationship with God.

3. What does it teach about people? People often try to earn their way to God by trying to be perfect, but really Jesus is the only way to God.

4. What does it teach about God? Know-ing Jesus Christ is more valuable than anything else you can do. Your right standing with God comes only through putting your trust in Jesus.

the story of God 0.7Summary: God has always cared, but people have always sinned. Our sin separates us from God. So God sent his Son Jesus into the world to die for our sin and provide the only way to have a right relationship with God. All those who put their trust only in Jesus for salvation can have this right relationship with God.


1. What did you like? God never forgot about people even though they had rebelled against Him. Abraham was

helps

leader’s guide

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considered to have a good relationship with God solely on the basis of his faith. God provided a way for people to have a good relationship with Him through his Son, Jesus.

2. What did you not like? In the story, people are consistently disobeying and walking away from God.

3. What does it teach about people? It was people who walked away from God, but it was God who provided a way for people to come back to Him.

4. What does it teach about God? God provided a way for us to have a right relationship with Him by sending his Son Jesus to die for our sins and provide a way to restore our relationship with God.

helps1. Follow and trust Jesus. You want to follow Jesus. Tell him you know you do wrong. Tell Jesus you believe that He died to pay the penalty for your sins, and then rose from the dead. Ask Him to forgive you. Tell him you trust only in Him for eternal life. Commit to follow Him today.

2. Keep meeting. Download the next discussion guide and keep meeting.

3. Talk with God. God cares about what you are doing. He wants to work through you. He wants to change lives. Through this whole process, continue to ask God to give you His plan. Listen for His voice. You are only on your own if you forget to ask for God’s help.

Need help about how to talk with God? Download the free I am Second Prayer Journal at iamsecond.com/getinvolved or purchase a printed copy through the I am Second store.

4. Keep it simple. In your I am Second group, forget big church models where a skilled musician leads worship and a highly trained teacher preaches a sermon. Teach new believers how to hear and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit through His Word and in their hearts. Encourage everyone to take part.

5. Keep it biblical. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ” (Acts 2:42) “When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:26)

Perhaps share a meal when you meet. Ask what the Lord has done in each person’s life during the week. Make time to study God’s Word. Discuss its meaning and spe-cific applications. Don’t answer questions yourself; point people back to Scripture. This helps to establish that the authority is God’s Word, not a person. Take time to pray for one another and for those who have not put Jesus First.

where next?

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where next?I am Second®

[email protected]

All scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture references marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Use by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material provided that you include the following copyright notice:

© 2010 e3 Partners Ministry. All rights reserved.www.iamsecond.com. Used with permission.

Rev. 082010

6. Chose a Discussion Guide. Below is the I am Second core curriculum. We recommend going in sequence, for each guide builds on the ones before it. Download at iamsecond.com/getinvolved. Or order printed copies from the I am Second store. A good next step is highlighted below.

Prayer JournalHow to Start Second GroupFilm Discussion Guide (stories of Jesus relating to people) 1.0 What’s First (how to tell others about Jesus)2.0 Second Start (four steps to feed yourself spiritually)3.0 Jesus Says (Part 1: how to live the seven basic commands of Jesus)4.0 Jesus Also Says (Part 2: how to live the seven basic commands of Jesus)5.0 Follow as I Follow (how to make disciples)6.0 Multiply your Group (how your group can start new groups)7.0 Lead (help others start to lead)8.0 Go: Local (develop an Acts 1:8 strategy locally) 9.0 Go: Global (develop an Acts 1:8 strategy internationally)10.0 Where to Go from Here (continue strong as a group)11.0 Commit (commit to continue to obey Jesus)

7. Multiply. Don’t let your group grow too big. As additional people become follow-ers of Jesus, start new groups in their homes or work places. Teach those who lead people to Christ how to lead their own groups. Show them how to identify persons of peace through whom they can make more followers of Jesus and start more groups.

8. More I Am Second tools. Check out iamsecond.com/getinvolved for other leadership kits, small group material, t-shirts and everything else you need to start your Second group. Lots of good stuff to help start spiritual conversations.

9. Register. Connect with I am Second by registering your group at iamsecond.com/join.

10. Questions? Do you need help or have questions? Email us at [email protected].

iamsecond.com

Film Discussion Guide

Documents

Transcript of Film Discussion Guide