Week 1 Overview for Discussion Leaders

• Prepare copies of these handouts:

1. The New England Primer: one copy.
2. List of Presidents' Names and Hidden Presidents' Names: Decide if you want people to work in pairs or in groups of 3-4. You will need one copy per group. You will not need to make copies of the answer sheet.
3. Pre-video Discussion: one copy per person or pair.

• Preview this week's video segment and make changes or additions to the questions.
• Optional: Prepare name tags and/or prizes (see game below).

Procedure

As people arrive, pass around the New England Primer page.

Game (10-15 minutes)

Divide everyone into groups of 2-4. Give each group a copy of the partial list of Presidents' names. They will have about 1 minute to study the names. They can divide these names among the group to make studying easier.

Collect all the lists of Presidents' names. Give each group a copy of the Hidden Presidents' Names. Point out that one example (Washington) is done for them. Give them about 8 minutes to find 21 additional names. Remind them to whisper or point so other teams do not get clues.

When enough time has passed, have them stop. Read the answers from the Answer Sheet.

Optional: You can give small prizes to the winning team, like small bags of candy in red, silver or blue wrappers; or, if you serve dessert at this time, the winning team could go first.

Pre-Video Discussion (10 minutes)

Pass out the pre-video discussion and discuss the following:

1. Why do you think God was so important to our founding fathers?
2. Read Adams' quote from the papers passed out. What Christian principles are bonded to the American system of government? Consider earlier religious persecution in Europe, some of the wording of the Declaration of Independence (life, liberty, equality, freedom of speech) or, today, human rights issues in other countries.
3. Read Washington's quote. How important do you consider religion to be to political prosperity? How important is morality to political prosperity? Do you think ethics have become more important in higher education, business and politics in recent years?
4. Read the results of the University of Houston study and discuss.

A suggested transition to the video is, "A significant portion of our American heritage--including government and education--was based on the Bible. In the following weeks we'll see how important Christian principles were to the founding fathers and how, since the mid-1940's, some faulty notions have crept in."

Video (19 minutes)

After a discussion on the First Amendment, Barton will say, "separation of church and state." Stop the video here.

Post Video Discussion (10-15 minutes)

Begin by asking for their impressions or what they learned. (Some groups--American Indians or African-Americans--may have some legitimate concerns. Affirm them in those concerns, but also focus on what was good.)

1. How much do you think about or value your godly heritage?
2. What are some of the things that hinder us from experiencing that heritage?
3. Many of the direct quotes from the writings of the founding era were based directly or indirectly on the Bible. What would be the response today if Christians in an academic or political setting referred to the Bible or Christian principles?
4. Do you think Christians have been conditioned to feel that it is non-academic or politically incorrect to discuss their love of God and belief in His Word? What kinds of pressure make you feel intimidated about mentioning your beliefs in God?
5. Tell about a time that you felt free to express an opinion that reflected a Christian belief or principle. Was there a positive, negative or neutral reaction?

ANSWER SHEET—Hidden Presidents' Names

(NO COPIES NEEDED)

Once there was a poor widow, Eve L. Thackery, who lived in the Australian outback, sometimes known as the "bush." She had three sons, Jeff, Jack and John—and two daughters—Vel and Nell. She had an uncle, also named Jeff. She supported her family by taking in laundry. Granted, life was hard. In gone-by days, they had lived in town and enjoyed going to concerts and dancing the polka. Now they could only afford to rent a small place in the outback, but they enjoyed the animals they saw.

One day, Uncle Jeff A. Thackery (or "Thac") suggested they go and see the kangaroos. Eve L. Thackery replied, "You go on. I have to finish this washing. Tonight is when our rent is due. But wait, you have lint on your trousers, Thac. Lint on trousers will not do!" Then, the uncle, Vel and Nell went to see the kangaroos.

The next day, they heard some news that pierced their hearts. Their landlord arrived in his new Lincoln and announced that their rent was going up. Jack offered to go and work in the sugar fields to earn money. John said, "I'm not making much money selling firewood. My 'orse can't pull the cart. 'Er leg is bad. I've always wanted to sail on a boat. After today, I'll look for work on one."Vel and Nell suggested that the uncle fill more buckets and they could also do some laundry. Jeff, the son, was very angry about the unfair raise in rent, "Nix on our landlord and 'is new car!"

Eve said, "Don't be mad. I, son, will trust the good Lord. Jack, son, work hard. John, son, God go with you."

Later, Uncle Jeff loved to tell the story of Eve's family and their success:

"Madams Eve and Vel and Nell did the wash and did quite well.

John set sail on the Liberty. Lerida, Spain was 'is destiny.

Uncle Jeff and nephew John, worked the fields and sang this song.

Jeff, 'er son, 'e earned some rent, by writing games on presidents.

'Ope you've found all 22. If no, go back until you do."

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