Finding the Way Back to Mayberry

Episode # 87, "Aunt Bee's Medicine Man"

Introduction:
Aunt Bee is depressed when a lady her age passes away.  She buys an elixir, or tonic, from a traveling salesman, but unfortunately, she and the Ladies Aid Church Committee become “tiddly.”  Andy must help Aunt Bee see the truth about this handsome, charming stranger.

Lesson Points:
Deceit/Deception – Matthew 10:32-33, Proverbs 10:9, Proverbs 10:23
        Can trick us – 1 Corinthians 15:33, Romans 7:18-20, Proverbs 1:10 and 19:20, Job 34:3-4
        Can defeat us – 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ecclesiastes 9:17-18
        Could possibly teach us a valuable lesson – Proverbs 14:15 and 25:28, Galatians 5:21-23

Self-Control and Inner Strength – Ephesians 5:15-20, Proverbs 4:23, 1 John 2:24-27
        Wisdom and Discernment – Philippians 1:9, Proverbs 14:8 and 18:15
        Perseverance and Attitude – 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Romans 12:21, Proverbs 17:22
        Caution and Precautions – Luke 21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 1 John 4:1, Proverbs 27:12

I Can’t Do It Alone / I Still Need More Help – Isaiah 40:30-31, Proverbs 13:20 and 22:1-5, 1 Peter 2:19-21
        God’s Wisdom – Isaiah 55:8-9, Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Timothy 2:15
        God’s Grace and Peace – Matthew 11:28-29, James 4:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Co. 12:9 and 1:5-7
        God’s Love – Jude 21, 1 John 4:16, John 15:9-10 and 17:26, Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 2:4-5

A Matter of Life and Death – Romans 10:9 and 12:15, Philippians 1:21, Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 2:15
        Strengthen earthly relationships with love – 1 Co. 13:4-7, 1 John 2:9-11, John 13:34, Heb. 13:1
        Grief and bereavement – Psalm 23, 46:1-6, 84:10-11, and 139:16, John 14:27
        Heaven’s glory and eternal life – Is. 57:1-2, Mt. 18:20, 1 Th. 4:13-18, John 3:16, Ps. 17:15, 103:19
        Do you know Jesus? –John 11:25-27, 6:29, and 14:1-6, Eph. 2:8-10, Psalm 116:1-2, Mark 7:37

Discussion:
1) What was your initial opinion of Colonel Harvey?  What did you think as you listened to him more?  What did Aunt Bee think of him?  Opie?  Andy?  Did Colonel Harvey use the same deceptive techniques with Aunt Bee and Opie?  Why?  Why didn’t those tactics work with Andy?  Harvey said about Andy, “None so blind as those who will not see,” but wasn’t Andy the only one who really saw what was happening?  Can you explain what “spiritual blindness” means to you?

 2) How did Aunt Bee and the other ladies feel when they realized what had happened?  Should we be wary of all flattery and all charming people?  What areas in your own life are susceptible to deception?  What can you do to guard against it?  Is there anything in your life that resembles Colonel Harvey’s ways?  Did you think Andy was overly cruel or rude to Colonel Harvey?  Why didn’t he immediately run him out of town?  Did Colonel Harvey think he was doing anything wrong, and why?  Do you believe he was wrong?  

 3) Would Aunt Bee have been quite as vulnerable if Augusta Finch had not recently passed away?  Why was Aunt Bee so troubled, since they weren’t that close?  Why did Aunt Bee resist going to Doc Andrews?  Was she afraid of aging?  In your opinion, was she afraid to die?  Why did meeting Colonel Harvey rank right up there with her baptism?  As a Christian, does all this make sense to you?  Isn’t Jesus the real “miracle cure”?  Do you sometimes face problems like Aunt Bee and go for the “quick solution”?  Why don’t we take a good long, hard look at ourselves and search for the areas of our life that need more attention?  Read 2 Timothy, Chapter 2 and decide, as a close friend, what you would say to Aunt Bee.

Final Thought:
Colonel Harvey:  My mission in life is health, is zest, is vigor, is the joy of living.  Now, what I offer you, my friends, is no medicine.  It is far more than that!  It is a tonic, an elixir -- to purge the body and lift the spirits, to put a light in the eye and a spring in the step, a lilt in the voice and hope in the human heart!
(For musical insight, go to www.oldlandmarks.com/hystrang.htm for “Poor Wayfaring Stranger”.)