This week's Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Ruth 1:1—2:23
Discussion Question: How do our society's conveniences develop in us a throw-away mentality toward relationships?
Food for Thought:
Just because we can buy something to replace something we've used or broken, should we? There are several statistics on how modern conveniences have turned a portion of the population into a throw-away generation. According to one study released by marketingteacher.com, when you were born greatly determines your attitude toward modern conveniences. Those born into the GI Generation (born 1901-1926) live by the "use it up, fix it up, make it do, or do without" philosophy. They grew up without such conveniences as the refrigerator, electricity and air conditioning. Their relationships mirror their philosophy on waste; marriage is for life, and divorce or having children out-of-wedlock is considered unacceptable.
On the contrary, Generation Xers (born 1965-1980) were raised in the transitory period of written-based knowledge to digital knowledge. They can remember using typewriters before the boon of computer usage. They are late to marry and quick to divorce and many are single parents. Although their parents and grandparents paid cash for items, Xers "want what they want and want it now" and many are cash poor with high credit card debt.
Moreover, Xers' children, the Generation Z (born after 2001) are even more technologically dependent, having never known a world without computers and cell phones. Rough numbers indicate that about 60% of kids 8-17 have a TV in their rooms, 35% have video games and 14% have a DVD player. They also display apathy for conservation and are tired of hearing about saving the environment. Considering their tendency to throw away items that are broken, antiquated or out of style, it's no wonder this generation has adopted a disposable philosophy.
One study conducted by Professor Bradley Wright, a sociologist at the University of Connecticut, however, offers some hope for all generations. The divorce rate among Christians is considerably lower than that of the rest of the population. Being a believer isn't enough; it's commitment and practice of Christianity as a couple that bind a marriage for the long haul. Couples who read their Bible together, attend church weekly, pray together and live as disciples to others have significantly lower divorce rates than the general population, according to Wright's study. Read an article Baptist Press published on the study here: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=34656
Our age may determine our attitude toward modern conveniences, but our commitment to one another is determined by our deep relationship with our Savior.
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the entire Bible in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found on the Internet at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
Copyright (c) 2012 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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