Session 1
Jesus & Justice Study Guide
This is a study guide based on the Red Letter Christians book, Jesus & Justice: Stories of Radical Christian Living. You will need to have a copy of the book so you can read along as the study unfolds. It is available from Paypal https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CNEZ9B8W2SHBA or as a kindle book from Amazon
Session 1
We hope you enjoyed reading chapters 1-3 by Cathy, James and Laura (if you haven’t read them, now would be good time to)
Link to dialogue Eco-Justice – Red Letter Christians UK
(There is a summary of the dialogue on p57-63 where Helen, Philip and Sally reflect on the challenges climate change brings to our walk with Jesus.)
Questions
- Do you see yourself as part of or separate from God’s creation story? Can you recognise the implications of this in how you live?
- James shared moments which acted as “prophetic pivots” and Philip described small acts as “micro-aggressions” and “micro-revolutions” towards eco-justice. Recount any similar moments in your life. How have they led to deeper or more radical acts?
- Have you ever thought about God’s very good creation in your most familiar locations? For example, the streets you travel daily for work, or the places you visit frequently? What difference has this made to your daily practices?
- These stories invite us to consider intersectional approaches – seeing things from the experiences of those who are often pushed to the margins of power. What steps can you take to broaden your learning by listening to global and diverse experiences?
Creative responses
We want to encourage you to make some kind of creative response to this issue, whether it be through painting, collage, writing poetry or a story. So, here’s a link to Pippa’s website with artwork and FREE worksheets to help you imagine the Magnificat in your neighbourhod, or to produce an Icon of Justice to reflect on climate change. We hope these jump start the creative process in you.
(Thank you so much Pippa for making your amazing work freely available)
Take a prayerful stroll around your local charity shops, reflect on the way every object has a past, present and future, commit to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle in your community – what’s the next step for you?
Bible
How does the bible help you go deeper with your thinking about this area. You might like to explore how these readings help expand the vision of justice in Isaiah 65
Psalm 15
1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
2 The one whose way of life is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
3 whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbour,
and casts no slur on others;
4 who despises a vile person
but honours those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;
5 who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.
Isaiah 65:17
17 ‘See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
Luke 1: 46-56
46 And Mary said:
‘My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me –
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants for ever,
just as he promised our ancestors.’
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Please use this link to share what you have discovered and created Doxology: Radically Unravelling – Red Letter Christians UK
Follow this link to Session 2