Study Notes for Week of October 11, 2020

Series: Justice

Title: Racial Justice

1. What was your experience growing up around people who are different from you? Different skin colors, social economic status, different languages, etc.… Did you make fun of them, make jokes about them or do any other such activities?   How did you stand up for or help those who fell into those categories? What were the influences you had on racial issues growing up? If our background influences our ideas around race how do we overcome those influences we have had?

2. Read Micah 6:6-8. Why doesn’t God want our physical offerings? What Does God really want from us? What does it look like for us to do justice biblically – (restorative) to love kindness (God’s love of choosing the other over self) and walk humbly with God(acknowledging that we don’t have it all together, that we are called to listen and to follow God.)

3. Why do you think we still separate people by race? Why do we still make jokes about race? Why do we still think in our heads “those people” “all of them”? Why do you think there is still racial injustice? When we judge someone based on race, what is that doing to God’s creation? What does that say about our relationship with God?

4. Read Philippians 2:1-4. We are called to have the mind of Christ, to be one with each other, count others more significant then ourselves, to look after others’ interests over our own. How does this reflect on Racial Justice? What does this say about our rights verses the rights of others? Especially those who are hurting. Those that are denied full equality or who have been denied their rights as children of God based on their skin color?

5. Read Acts 2:1-13 and Revelation 7:9-12. What is God’s picture of race relations in these passages? This is a view of God’s Kingdom here and now. How do we participate with God in bringing this about and make this a reality?

6. Both Daniel 9:8-10, Ezra 9:6-7 and several other profits repent for past wrongs that they had no hand in. Why did they do this? How can these acts of repentance and seeking forgiveness advance racial justice? Why is this hard for us as a people? 

7. Truth, Lament, Confession, Forgiveness, Restoration, Reproduction are steps that God calls us to do in Racial Justice. Which one is the hardest for you to do or accept? Why? How do each of these reflect part of God’s character? 

8. What can you, your family or group do to advance Racial Justice as God’s justice?

 Message Notes for Oct 11, 2020

Series: Justice Title: Racial Justice

Micah 6:6-8

What does the LORD want? Not empty things, He wants ALL of US – our lives are to be lived out for Him as we walk with Mishpat

Ethnicity – is what you get from 23 and me 

Race – Race – is a human construct there is no such thing as race – this is based solely on our color of our skin. While different people groups have some different mutations in our genes (ethnic) there is no such thing as different races – we have as humans sinned by using this term, we have rebelled against God’s created order. 

Humans are created in the very image of God

Philippians 2:1-4

We as a people of God are called to be better,  to do more, to repent and to turn…If we are going to have Racial Justice as God’s Justice we have to follow a Godly way – not a worldly way

Acts 2:1-13

Mishpat – restorative justice

Steps to Racial Justice being God’s Justice

Truth – Ezra 9:6-7, Daniel 9:8-10

Lament – Lamentations 3:22-23

Confession – James 5:15

Forgiveness – seeking and extending forgiveness 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Restoration – Luke 12:48b

Reproduction – John 15:14-16