“Quiet Sam”

Introduction

Barney becomes suspicious of the strange behavior of Sam Becker, a shy secretive farmer living on the outskirts of Mayberry, even to the point of putting him under surveillance.

Lesson Points

Suspicion and Slander  (Psalm 101:5, NIV)

Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence;

Falsehood or Faith? (Luke 17:6, NIV)

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Discussion

1. Barney often overreacts in situations, but let’s put ourselves in his position. Do you know people who rarely make eye contact or who answer questions with only a word or two? How does that make you feel?

2. Tell us about a time you made a decision about someone because all the “facts” pointed to the “only possible answer” to find that you were completely off base?

3. Andy told Sam he had delivered hundreds of babies and Sam didn’t have anything to worry about. We tell children there is a Santa or an Easter Bunny or a tooth fairy; it is part of the innocence of being a child. Is it lying and is it wrong? The New International Bible translates the Commandment that we memorized as a child (Thou shalt not lie) as “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Does this influence your opinion?