Class Lesson October 4, 2020

 Hey Gang,

We continue in our series called Oneness Embraced

Wayne & Alex

Click Play to Watch

Oneness Embraced Book by Tony Evans

Click Here to Read the Book

I have purchased the eBook for you to read above, if you’d like to read along with the study - just click on the link above for the book.

Week 6: Oneness Embraced – Discussion Guide

FREEDOM and JUSTICE for ALL

FOCUS: 

a) Freedom, justice and being under God’s divine rule are precisely linked. 

b) Getting right with God is critical to order in society.

 

Tony Evans’ Video highlights:

• The lady with the torch beckoning the huddled masses to freedom for all.
• Freedom is God’s goal. (John 8:36, Luke 4:18)
• Biblical definition of justice:  the equitable and impartial application of God’s moral law in society.
• Psalm 89:14 - Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before you.
• God is against injustice; prophets speak a lot to this.
• Ezekiel 16:49. Sodom was judged not only for immorality but for injustice.
• Freedom began in Genesis 3
• Leviticus 25. Jubilee could only occur after the Day of Atonement. The nation of Israel didn’t get the Jubilee without first getting their sins addressed by God. They didn’t get the social until they had the spiritual.
• 2 Chronicles 15:3-6. Getting right with God is critical to order in society…The further our culture gets away from God, the more chaotic our society will be.
• Unless we take the spiritual seriously, the social is in trouble.
• Removing God by illegitimate division based on race or culture or class invites chaos into the society.
• Jesus holds up the cross and invites all to come.  God’s church ought to be reflecting that.

 

For Group Time

Icebreakers:

• Can you quote any part of the saying on the Statue of Liberty? What does this represent about America?

 

Discussion Questions Session 5:

1. Read Luke 4:18. Why did Jesus come to earth? (Note: The good news that Jesus preached was for those in economic crisis <the poor>, those in political crisis <the captives>, those in the social crisis <the oppressed>.)
2. Review the biblical definition of justice that Dr. Evans provides (above.) What happens when God is taken out of the picture?
3. A strong biblical connection exists between our knowledge and relationship with God and our concern for the poor and the oppressed. Read Jeremiah 22:16, Matthew 25:34-40.  What does God call us to do in Micah 6:8?
4. Dr. Evans mentioned that there is no freedom without justice.  What does it mean for our fellow citizens who are not experiencing justice?
5. Do you see injustice exhibited in the church and society?
6. What is the churches’ responsibility to help bring about “liberty and justice for all” in our society? How can individuals help bring about racial justice in our society?

 

Self-Reflection: 

• When did you make a decision based on race rather than on the Word of God?         

Challenge: Discover a new way you can “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” as it relates to your relationship with people of a different race.

~~~

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

God Bless,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

ONENESS EMBRACED

6th

Click Play to Watch

Wayne's Sermon:

The Lost - Walls Torn Down - Nehemiah's Brokenness

Injustice - Walls - Where is our brokenness?

• Have we become ok with it? Is it too big a problem to do anything about so we just don't?

Freedom and Justice for All

FOCUS: 

a) Freedom, justice and being under God’s divine rule are precisely linked. 

b) Getting right with God is critical to order in society.

 

Tony Evans’ Video highlights:

• Ezekiel 16:49. Sodom was judged not only for immorality but for injustice. 49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

·                 

·                 2 Chronicles 15:3-6.

3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4 But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. 5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.

Getting right with God is critical to order in society…The further our culture gets away from God, the more chaotic our society will be.

·                 Unless we take the spiritual seriously, the social is in trouble.

• Removing God by illegitimate division based on race or culture or class invites chaos into the society.
• Jesus holds up the cross and invites all to come.  God’s church ought to be reflecting that.

 

For Group Time

Icebreakers:

·                 Can you quote any part of the saying on the Statue of Liberty? What does this represent about America?

New Colossus (Statue of Liberty poem)

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightening, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

 

Discussion Questions Session 5:

• Read Luke 4:18. Why did Jesus come to earth? (Note: The good news that Jesus preached was for those in economic crisis <the poor>, those in political crisis <the captives>, those in the social crisis <the oppressed>. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, (Luke 4:18)
• Review the biblical definition of justice that Dr. Evans provides: What happens when God is taken out of the picture? Biblical definition of justice: the equitable and impartial application of God’s moral law in society.
• A strong biblical connection exists between our knowledge and relationship with God and our concern for the poor and the oppressed. Read Jeremiah 22:16, Matthew 25:34-40.  

What does God call us to do in Micah 6:8?

 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

• Dr. Evans mentioned that there is no freedom without justice.  What does it mean for our fellow citizens who are not experiencing justice?
• Do you see injustice exhibited in the church and society?

What is the churches’ responsibility to help bring about “liberty and justice for all” in our society? How can individuals help bring about racial justice in our society?

Self-Reflection:  When did you make a decision based on race rather than on the Word of God?

To have injustice based on race the color of a man’s skin rather than as MLK said the content of a man’s character to want to be free from England but not want to free people who live here is a travesty and an assault on God and when you assault God that’s a fight you can’t win.

 

Lady Liberty holds up her torch and invites all to come

Jesus holds up the cross and invites all to come who are tired and weary who need something different and God’s people ought to be reflecting that in the church so that the culture sees what biblical justice is not based on a preference a history or what my parents taught me but based on what God says because when the Spirit is upon you:

·       The oppressed get set free

·       The poor have hope

·       The disenfranchised have a future

·       The kingdom of God has its way

Challenge: Discover a new way you can “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” as it relates to your relationship with people of a different race.

 

Class Lesson September 27, 2020

 Hey Gang,

We continue in our series called Oneness Embraced

Wayne & Alex

Click Play to Watch

Oneness Embraced Book by Tony Evans

Click Here to Read the Book

I have purchased the eBook for you to read above, if you’d like to read along with the study - just click on the link above for the book.

Week 5: Oneness Embraced – Discussion Guide

DEBUNKING RACIAL MYTHS 

FOCUS:  To recognize that:

a) God created all men – regardless of race – equal and valuable in His sight, and thus we should see each other the same way and

b) the importance of studying and meditating on the whole Word of God – the Bible – to ensure we live in truth and not myths/lies.

 

Tony Evans’ Video highlights:

• Myths are traditions passed down over time that are accepted as true, even though there’s no scientific or historic evidence.
• A tragic myth in the history of race is the myth of inferiority - that some people were created to be dominant and others created to be subservient.
• The “curse of Ham” teaching which has been very damaging to the Church
• Christian Blacks can take great pride in black leaders in the Bible including:
• Jethro the priest of Midian, and father-in-law of Moses
• Zephaniah, son of Cushi, wrote a book of the Bible
• Bathsheba was the mother of Solomon
• Rahab from Jericho was the mother of Boaz
• Ruth from Moab was the great grandmother of David
• Nimrod was a nation builder but not a godly leader
• In the New Testament, there was the Ethiopian eunuch
• Black leaders in the church in Antioch
• The wife of Moses who God defended
• Early church fathers who were blacks included Augustine and Athenasius

 

Setting the story straight:

• Ham was not cursed, Canaan was.
• Not all Canaanites were cursed.
• Not more than 3 generations were cursed in the Bible.
• Jesus’ death on the cross ended every curse.

 

For Group Time

Icebreakers: Can you think of a myth that was later proven to be false? Why or how was it proven false?

 

Discussion Questions Session 4:

1. Share a belief that has been passed on to you or you have heard over the years with regards to another race that you since have found has no historical or factual merit.
2. Have you ever heard of the “Curse of Ham” teaching?
3. Imagine if the church had stood up and exposed the myth of Ham teaching 300 years ago. How do you think that could have changed history?
4. Dr. Evans mentioned a number of Bible heroes who were black. How does that impact your view of Black’s contribution to our Christian heritage?
5. What part of church history are we missing due to racial bias?
6. What impact does racial bias have on individuals? On the church today?

 

Self-Reflection: 

• Would I rather have my son/daughter marry a Christian of another race or a non-Christian of my same race?  (Assuming everything else is equal.) Why?
• Where do I need to repent to God of my wrong view of another race?

 

Challenge: This week consider googling Black church leaders in history and see what you find.

Class Lesson September 20, 2020

 

 Hey Gang,

Back in our old classroom @ 9:50 AM

We continue in our series called Oneness Embraced

Click Play to Watch

Oneness Embraced Book by Tony Evans

Click Here to Read the Book

Hey everybody, I have purchased the ebook for you to read above, if you’d like to read along with the study - just click on the link above for the book.

Week 4: Oneness Embraced – Discussion Guide

Outline Session 4:  God is the Ultimate Independent

FOCUS:  To define myself as a Christian first and to recognize that I as a Christian must have God’s/Christ’s concerns utmost whenever I make decisions, including when I vote.

 

Tony Evans’ Video highlights:

• Humpty Dumpty revisited
• The failure of government intervention in bringing people together across racial/class lines
• We have allowed the politics of man to divide us racially.
• Political parties cannot usurp the roles that the people of the Kingdom of God have been uniquely called to.
• Joshua met the Captain of the Host of the Lord - Joshua 5:13-15
• God is not committed to Republicans or Democrats, but to Himself, to His Kingdom.
• We must not allow the politics of men to interfere with the program of God.
• The government of this nation was wrong, and the church authorized its wrongness. The unity of God’s people is critical for the well-being of the nation.
• The example of abortion and cradle-to-grave belief
• God wants us to define ourselves by His Kingdom. America needs the glory of God, not merely the votes of politicians and voters. If God is working for you, it really doesn’t matter who you elect.
• Political affiliation of the Christian must be second to our commitment to Christ.

 

For Group Time

Icebreakers:

• Have you had any conversations this week with someone of different race? How did it go?
• When did you first vote?  What was your experience?

 

Discussion Questions Session 3:

1.    Which of the key points of this message stick out to you?

2.    Was there anything in this video that challenged you or convicted you?

3.    Read 2 Chronicles 5:11-13 and Joshua 5:13-15.  For each:

a.    What was going on?

b.    How did God (or His representative) respond? 

4.    How did you feel when Dr. Evans said that “It is time for God’s people to make the statement that their party is second to their faith and their political affiliation is second to their commitment to Christ”?  What makes that challenging? 

• How can you have a discussion with another person who differs from you in political ideology and still honor God?
• What is the cost to the advancement of God’s Kingdom if we don’t unite?

 

Self-Reflection:  Do I regularly (or ever) make comments (face-to-face or on social media) that reflect an allegiance to my political party over my Christian faith?

 

Challenge: Reconciliation begins with listening. Talk with some of your friends who are from different cultural and/or racial backgrounds. Spend time listening to your friend’s story, ask questions. Allow God to use you as an agent of active reconciliation.

We look forward to our continued discussion on this very important topic.

Hope to see everyone this Sunday!!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teachers' Notes:

Click Play to Watch

Week’s Focus:

Problem Statement:

·       Our racial situation is broken.

·       We’ve depended on the government & politicians to solve the problem.

·       This is a problem that only God and the church can solve.

 

Solution:

·       We need an overarching kingdom agenda to unite us.

·       I must define myself as a Christian first.

 

Outline:

What shapes our convictions and values?

·       We don’t understand how people from different cultures think.

·       What causes us to be divided –> when we are unwilling to recognize differences

 

Can you see how people who have different backgrounds and experiences can have different convictions & priorities?

Our convictions are shaped by our personal:

1.    Experiences

2.    Relationships and

3.    Awareness of Reality

·       Not aware of truth

·       People want to define their own truth

·       There is no “white truth” & “black truth”

·       Holy Spirit reveals God’s objective truth to us

·       Ignorance (lack of knowledge of something)

·       Examples of being ignorant - things we have not been taught, or exposed to

·       Paul Revere & Wentworth Cheswell – Paul rode west, Wentworth rode north. (p35)

·       George Liele – 1st American foreign missionary – 1770’s – African American

·       The SBC was formed over the issue of slavery in 1845 ()

·       The 1st SB Seminary was founded in Greenville, SC by 4 slave owners.

Slavery right before the Civil War (1860)

·       South Carolina - Population  703,708 / 402,406 Slaves (57%)

South Carolina had the highest percentage of slaves of any state.

·       USA – 33 states - Population 31,443,322 / 3,953,762  Slaves (13%)

 

 

The lack of awareness can divide us. 

·       Being willing to listen and hear would bring us closer together.

·       Diversity in the body of Christ can help be a check and balance

 

God and political allegiances.

·       Is God for us or against us? (Joshua 5) Proper view of the relationship between God and political parties

·       Can we understand why White and Black Christians generally lean toward different parties?

 

 

 

Political Landscape

 

 Which topics are high priority for most white Christians?

Which topics are high priority for most black Christians?

No party fully represents God’s views on all issues

Christians prioritize issues differently

We’ve let political parties divide the Kingdom of God

We as Christians shouldn’t fit nicely into political boxes

 

Read 2 Chronicles 5:11-13 and Joshua 5:13-15.  For each:

·       What was going on?

·       How did God (or His representative) respond?

 

Is God a Republican or a Democrat?

Joshua 5:13-15

Background:

·       Joshua: Appointed commander of Israel

·       Joshua has been doing reconnaissance on Jericho as the God had commanded. (He is doing the Lord’s work)

Who was the commander of the army of the Lord?

How did the Lord respond?

If Joshua was doing God’s work, why did the Lord answer with “no” (ESV) or “neither” (NIV)?

 

How should we view God’s relation to political parties?  To Nations?

The question is not if God is on our side, but are we on God’s side?

 

Should we feel “at home” more with:

a) people who share our faith but not our politics?

                              or

b) people who share our politics but not our faith?

 

How can you have a discussion with another person who differs from you in political ideology and still honor God?

 

How did you feel when Dr. Evans said that “It is time for God’s people to make the statement that their party is second to their faith and their political affiliation is second to their commitment to Christ”?  What makes that challenging?

 

How can you have a discussion with another person who differs from you in political ideology and still honor God?

 

 

What is the cost to the advancement of God’s Kingdom if we don’t unite?

 

Self-Reflection:  Do I regularly (or ever) make comments (face-to-face or on social media) that reflect an allegiance to my political party over my Christian faith?

 

Challenge: Reconciliation begins with listening. Talk with some of your friends who are from different cultural and/or racial backgrounds. Spend time listening to your friend’s story, ask questions. Allow God to use you as an agent of active reconciliation.