By Benjamin Kendrick

This season iLeadYouth.com will provide a free Bible study for each episode of the popular TV drama Lost. This week we look at the episode "The Economist," which aired on February 14.

Episode Information
Locke's hostage may be the key to getting off the island, so Sayid and Kate go in search of their fellow castaway in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful deal.

Overall Episode Discussion Theme
“The Economist” deals primarily with Sayid’s willingness to exploit others to satisfy his own agenda. In this lesson we will be look at Sayid as we explore exploitation and how we talk to God.

New Characters

• Elsa: hired gun, off-island flash-forward

Key Show Facts

• After looking over an inscription on Naomi’s bracelet, “N, I'll always be with you. R.G.,” Sayid makes an agreement with Frank: If Sayid returns with Charlotte, and she is safe and sound, Frank will give him a spot on the first helicopter ride off the island.


• Daniel initiates an experiment resulting in the delayed arrival of a test rocket. When he compares his clock to the one carried by the rocket there is a 31-minute time difference.


• Sayid, Kate, and Miles arrive at the barracks. After discovering Hurley bound in a closet, they head to Ben’s house where Locke’s group promptly ambushes them.


• Desmond arrives and confronts Frank about the picture Naomi was carrying. Frank denies knowledge of the picture’s importance but agrees to give Desmond one of the other seats on the helicopter.


• After meeting with Locke to discuss his deal with Frank, Sayid arrives back at the helicopter with Charlotte safely at his side. When Frank asks where Miles is, Sayid indicates that he traded Miles for Charlotte.


• Desmond and Sayid load Naomi’s body into the helicopter. Before Frank takes off, Daniel warns him to stay on the exact same heading as they entered on. Frank agrees and the helicopter lifts off.


• Flash-forwards reveal insight into Sayid’s life after the island.

The Lesson

Opening Debrief
To begin, use the bullet points above to give an overview of the episode. Ask youth who saw the episode to fill in the gaps for youth who may have missed all or part of last week’s show. Invite the youth to discuss their favorite moments and anything that let them down. Then use these questions to prompt discussion:

• Why was there a 31-minute time difference in the previously synchronized clocks?


• Who are the friends that Sayid is protecting in the flash-forward?


• If you were to plan a lesson based on last week’s show, what would you focus on?

Read Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50
Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

Ask:

• What does this Scripture say to you? What is the main theme or point of this passage?


• How does this Scripture relate to what happened in this week’s episode of Lost?

Clip 1: “I can bring her back safely. And if I do, will you take me to the ship?”
1:02–3:10 (See note.)

Section Topic: defining exploitation and recognizing exploitation in our culture

Ask:

• What words come to mind when you hear the word exploitation?

From The American Heritage Dictionary via Dictionary.com:
ex·ploi·ta·tion—noun
1. The act of employing to the greatest possible advantage.
2. Utilization of another person or group for selfish purposes.
3. An advertising or a publicity program.

Say: "When discussing exploitation, it is important to ask the following questions:"

• Who is taking advantage? What is this person's purpose? What does this person stand to gain?


• Who is being taken advantage of? What does this person stand to lose?

Say: "In this clip Sayid makes a deal to get off the island." Ask:

• How is the deal that Sayid makes an example of exploitation?


• What examples of exploitation have you seen in the media (news, television, music, and so forth) recently?


• Where do you see exploitation at work in our culture? in advertising? in politics? in relationships?

Clip 2: “I think you misunderstood me. I didn’t think you would give her to me for nothing.”
29:04–30:47

Section Topic: the exploitation of God's grace

Ask:

• What other examples of exploitation have occurred in Lost?

Say: "Think of a character on Lost who has exploited someone else."

Ask:

• Who did you think of?


• Whom did this person exploit?


• What was her or his motive?


• What did the person being exploited stand to lose?

Have each youth select a character on Lost who has misrepresented himself or herself. Then have the youth answer from their character’s point of view:

• When and how did you misrepresent yourself?


• What were your motives?


• Were your motives justifiable? Explain.

Say: "Exploitative situations usually begin when one person says to another, 'I’ll give you this if you give me that.' Think about your prayer lives. Do you ever say to God, 'I'll give you this if you give me that'?" Ask:

• Is it wrong to negotiate with God? Why, or why not?

Here, you might bring up specific situations where negotiation may seem justified, such as "I'll be patient with my parents if you heal my sick friend."

Clip 3: “I traded Miles. I promised you Charlotte. Here she is.”
36:34–40:08

Section Topic: putting God's will before our desires

Say: "Bargaining with God is unreasonable, not because God doesn't want to deal with us, but because God always looks out for our best interests no matter what."

Read Matthew 6:5-8
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Ask:

• How does Jesus' teaching about prayer relate to our discussion?


• What is the purpose of prayer? (Is it to tell God what we want? Is it to listen to God's purposes for us?)


• If God knows exactly what we need, why do we still have needs? (Is there a difference between what we think we need and what God knows we need?)


• How do we know God's purpose for us?


• How can our desires get in the way of God's will for us?


• What can we learn about prayer from this episode of Lost?

Devotional Activity
Materials needed: a markerboard or large sheet of paper and markers

Beforehand, write the Lord's Prayer on a markerboard or large sheet of paper. Leave room after each line for the youth to write.

In this episode we watched as Sayid exploited various people to satisfy his own ambitions. As Christians, we need to remember to pursue God’s will instead of satisfying our own desires. In this activity we will perform a close reading of the Lord’s Prayer and consider what it teaches us about focusing on God’s purposes.

Point the youth to the markerboard or large sheet of paper. Ask a volunteer to read aloud the first line (“Our Father, who art in heaven”) then ask the parenthetical question associated with that line (“What does it mean to you that God is your “Father”?). Write some of the youths’ answers to this question on the markerboard or large sheet of paper. Continue this pattern for the rest of the lines, each time inviting a different youth to read.

• Our Father, who art in heaven, (What does it mean to you that God is your "Father"?)


• Hallowed be thy Name. (How do we honor or dishonor God’s name?)


• Thy kingdom come. (How can we actively prepare for the coming of Christ's kingdom?)


• Thy will be done, (How can we be true to God’s will?)


• On earth as it is in heaven. (What can we do to make this world more like God's eternal kingdom?)


• Give us this day our daily bread. (How does God satisfy our needs? How do we know the difference between our wants and our needs?)


• And forgive us our trespasses, (What sins do we commit without even noticing?)


• As we forgive those who trespass against us. (Whom do you need to forgive?)


• And lead us not into temptation, (What temptations do you fight?)


• But deliver us from evil. (How does God protect us from evil?)


• For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. (How can you glorify God?)


• Amen.

Allow for a moment of silent reflection on what you've just talked about. Then close by saying the Lord's Prayer aloud and in unison.

Further Speculation:

• Who are the people on Ben’s list? Who is Elsa’s boss?


• Why did Kate choose to stay with Locke’s group?

Lost Season Four Bible Studies: Introduction
Lost Season 4 Study: Episode 1, "The Beginning of the End"
Lost Season 4 Study: Episode 2, "Confirmed Dead"

Curriculum written and prepared by Benjamin Kendrick and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

Note: Clip times refer to episodes presented without commercials, such as those purchase on iTunes or on DVD.