Student Handouts

• Student Handout #1: "Euthanasia Definitions"
• Student Handout #2: "The Difference"

Scriptures for Session 1

Objectives

• To explore God's view on the value of life.
• To examine the pro-euthanasia perspective.
• To sensitize Christians to the negative effects of legalizing euthanasia.

Welcome/Prayer

Welcome participants and open in prayer.

Sign-in Sheet

It is a way for the leader to contact class members if for some reason a need arises to do so.

Discussion

The reasons individuals may have for taking this course will stem from a variety of motives. Depending on the motives, they will be wondering if the course will be worth their time. Give in your own words a short definition of euthanasia and an overview of the dangers of the growing right-to-die movement and how it will affect, (if it has not already affected) everyone in the class. You will also want to build a group that will share and support each other as they wade into unfamiliar waters.

After the welcome and prayer if members of the class do not know one another, take a few minutes for them to introduce themselves. A good discussion launcher (if your group is small) is to have each member complete the following sentence: "I want to take this class because . . ."

To encourage class members to be regular in their attendance and to finish the course, show the many informative handouts they will receive during the course and mention briefly the topics you plan to cover. Try to convey to them the importance of learning the difference between the Lord's view on life and world's view and how we can protect ourselves and those we love.

Pass Out Student Handout #1 entitled Euthanasia Definitions:

Briefly go through the definitions so that the participants will be better able to understand the different scenarios in the DVD.

Show Session 1 of the DVD "The Right To Kill" (length 19 minutes 4 seconds)

Explain to your class that they will view a graphic scene where an elderly woman's family has requested that a lethal injection be given her. The scene has been staged; however, all the interviews are real and were filmed in Holland and England.

Your class will also hear interviews of today's leading pro-life and pro-euthanasia leaders sharing their personal opinions on euthanasia. Be sure to encourage them to listen closely to the motives of the individual speakers and to take notes.

Invite brief responses and reactions to the DVD after Session 1 has been shown.

Pass out Student Handout #2 Entitled "The Difference."

Also hand out the Session 1 Scripture Sheet and assign members of the group to look up and be prepared to read aloud the scriptures.

Compare their answers in the right column as Christians to the pro-euthanasia comments they heard on the DVD and see in the left column. Reinforce that the correct Christian answers are often in direct opposition to pro-euthanasia views.

Closing Moment

As Christians we know that God alone has the power to create, sustain, and take life. His word is not abstract or unclear. We are given the responsibility to protect, conserve, and value the life our Lord has entrusted to us.

Share with the participants areas that will be covered in the next session. (See Session 2)

Invite all to join hands in a circle. Go around the circle and ask each participant to thank God for one thing they learned in this session. It is O.K. to mention the same thing more than once.