God Loves Justice Week 5

Today we dicuss chapters 13, 14 and 15 of God Loves Justice.  Thank you for sticking to the work and I look forward to your comments.  Here's the video.

Points to Ponder

1. I like Nicholas' explanation of Meekness, “being Meek doesn't mean that you become weak or a doormat..It means strength under control.  It describes those who don’t trust their own power. “

Who is an example of true meekness in your life?

What other explanations of the beatitudes stand out to you?

  

2. Nicholas says;

“I think many of us Christians have been trained to be passive toward injustice, because we have been trained to respond to suffering with intellectual reasoning. And when we find that reason, that is enough for us to explain away our own role in bringing change.”

What are some examples of how we respond to suffering with intellectual reasoning and fail to help?  What are some steps to change our response and move to help those in need? 

3. What areas of your everyday life need your attention in living a just and righteous way?

God Love Justice Week 4

Here we are again! Thank you for reading and staying with the work of justice.

Please view the video below for our discussion and join the discussion in the comment section below.

Questions to ponder

1. What are stories in the gospels that display the Kingdom of God as works of righteousness and justice?
2. How is God inviting you into the story of God’s kingdom to live out justice and righteousness to bring Shalom ?
3. Where do you think God is “launching” our church in the work of Justice and Righteousness?

Next week we will discuss Chapters 13-15  It’s a little longer read.

God Loves Justice Week 3

Hello Friends,

Let's keep on reading! Below are my reflections on Chapters 7-9.  Please watch the video and comment with your questions, answers or thoughts!

Questions to Ponder:

What are some actions and changes we need to make to move from understanding

the poor as people to simply “take care of”  and view them as people who need to

be seen, heard, respected, and treated as equal?

When you look at the description of Job’s life, what are some of the qualities that

you want said about how you live your own life? How can you start building those

habits?

What about our worship practices are pleasing to God because they reflect justice?

What about our worship practices might irritate God because they deflect from

justice? 

Share a part of the reading that taught you something about justice.

Next week we discuss chapters 10-12.

God Loves Justice Week 2

Thank you for coming back to week two of our discussion of God Loves Justice! I'm glad you are reading with me and that we are discovering more and more about what God loves. Watch the video below and please comment if you can!

Reflections and comments: 

Think about and share an example, story or someone you know that displays our new understanding of Justice, Righteousness and Mercy.

What stands out for you in Chapters 3-6?

Do you have any questions about what we have read?

Next week we read Chapters 7-9

God Loves Justice Week 1

Hello Friends,

Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovering biblical justice. You can see my reflections on the first couple of chapters of God Loves Justice in the video below.  

If you haven't done so already please add you email to the blog! You can add your email in the box to the right that says, email address.  I have been using our Constant Contact email lists to send reminders about the blog but I may not do so every week.  

Please comment so I'll  know you were here!  I hope you have enjoyed the reading so far!  

Questions to ponder

1. What are stories from your own life that have urged you, pulled you, shaped you or called you to help those in need?  (you don’t have to call it social justice if you don’t want to:)  

2. I want you to think about the invitation Nicholas gives us in Chapter 1. 

“My goal is to extend the same invitation to you in the pages ahead. Whatever your current political opinions are, keep them. All I want to do is to challenge you to go deep into what God says He loves and allow God’s love for these things to transform your heart so you too can love what He loves.”

1. What, if anything, makes you hesitant to study social justice?
2. What, if anything, excites you about this study?
3. Have you been surprised by anything you have learned so far?

3. Preaching, teaching and pastoral care are part of the everyday work of a congregation.  If God loves justice should the work of justice also be a part of the everyday work of a congregation?   What might that look like? What changes need to take place for justice to be an everyday part of our work? 

Feel free to simply ponder these questions or share your response to one or more of them in the comments section below.  You can also comment about something you discovered in the reading.  

Next week.

Next week we will discuss chapters 3-6.  That seems like a lot but it's just a little longer than this weeks.  Happy reading!!