Embodying Justice: The Call of Faith and Community
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the Wesley Quadrilateral, a framework that guides us in understanding the world through scripture, reason, experience, and tradition. This approach helps us navigate our faith journey, offering a balanced perspective on how we interpret the Bible and apply its teachings to our lives. We also discussed various community activities, including upcoming events like "Beer and Hymns" and a field trip to Harbor, which will provide us with opportunities to connect and grow as a community.
Our reflection centered on the Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus speaks to a crowd seeking healing and truth. This passage challenges us to reconsider our understanding of power, wealth, and blessing. Jesus' words remind us that true blessing comes not from material wealth or societal status but from our relationship with God and our commitment to justice and love. We are called to stand with the marginalized, to challenge systems of oppression, and to embody the love and grace of Christ in our actions.
The message also emphasized the importance of not shying away from the gospel's radical call to justice, even when it challenges societal norms or personal comfort. We are reminded that our faith is not just about personal salvation but about actively working towards a world where all are valued and free. This involves confronting the systems that perpetuate inequality and striving to create a community that reflects the inclusive love of God.
As we move forward, let us hold each other in prayer, support one another in our endeavors, and remain committed to living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. May we be a community that embodies the love, justice, and mercy of God, standing with those who are marginalized and working towards a more equitable world.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Wesley Quadrilateral: This framework encourages us to interpret the Bible through scripture, reason, experience, and tradition, providing a holistic approach to understanding our faith and the world around us. It reminds us that our faith journey is enriched by diverse perspectives and experiences. [03:21]
2. The Sermon on the Plain: Jesus' teachings challenge us to rethink our understanding of blessing and power. True blessing is found in our relationship with God and our commitment to justice, not in material wealth or societal status. This calls us to stand with the marginalized and work towards a more just world. [35:20]
3. Active Faith: Our faith is not just about personal salvation but involves actively working towards dismantling systems of oppression. We are called to embody the love and grace of Christ in our actions, challenging societal norms that perpetuate inequality. [43:45]
4. Community and Justice: Being part of a faith community means supporting one another and working together towards justice. We are reminded that our actions should reflect the inclusive love of God, standing with those who are marginalized and advocating for systemic change. [41:32]
5. Prayer and Reflection: In our prayers, we lift up those in need and seek God's guidance in our efforts to live out our faith. We are encouraged to spend time in reflection, seeking to align our actions with the teachings of Jesus and striving to create a world where all are valued and free. [51:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:21] - Introduction to the Wesley Quadrilateral
- [07:03] - Community Announcements
- [20:01] - Prayer Requests and Reflections
- [24:51] - Call to Worship and Psalm Reading
- [35:20] - Sermon on the Plain: Understanding Blessings
- [39:31] - Jesus' Radical Call to Justice
- [41:32] - The Role of Community in Justice
- [43:45] - Active Faith and Systemic Change
- [51:11] - Prayer and Reflection
- [57:40] - Closing and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 6:17-26 - The Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus speaks about blessings and woes.
2. Psalm 1 - A reflection on the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing delight in God's law.
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the four components of the Wesley Quadrilateral, and how do they help us interpret the Bible? [03:21]
2. In the Sermon on the Plain, what contrasts does Jesus make between blessings and woes? [35:20]
3. How does the sermon describe the societal perception of wealth and power in Jesus' time? [39:31]
4. What role does the community play in working towards justice, according to the sermon? [41:32]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Wesley Quadrilateral provide a balanced approach to understanding faith and scripture? [03:21]
2. What might Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Plain suggest about the nature of true blessing and power? [35:20]
3. How does the sermon challenge the listener to rethink their understanding of wealth and societal status? [39:31]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith should be active and engaged with societal issues? [43:45]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: How do you currently use scripture, reason, experience, and tradition to guide your faith journey? Are there areas where you could seek more balance? [03:21]
2. Jesus calls us to stand with the marginalized. Who in your community might be considered marginalized, and how can you actively support them this week? [35:20]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of challenging societal norms that perpetuate inequality. What is one societal norm you feel called to challenge, and how might you begin to do so? [43:45]
4. Consider your role in your faith community. How can you contribute to creating a more inclusive and just environment? [41:32]
5. The sermon calls for prayer and reflection. What specific prayer or reflection practice can you incorporate into your daily routine to align your actions with the teachings of Jesus? [51:11]
6. How can you embody the love and grace of Christ in your interactions with others, especially those who may be different from you? [41:32]
7. Identify a system of oppression you are passionate about dismantling. What is one tangible step you can take this month to work towards change in that area? [43:45]
Devotional
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Quotes
"We talked about the Wesley Quadrilateral, which is how we read the Bible through. So how we use. See, that's not even a good description of it. So today it was the Quadrilateral, which is scripture, reason, experience and tradition. Of how we view the world. And so it was very interesting discussion." [00:01:06]
"God, we come today praising you for who you are. For the ways that you are at work in our lives. For the ways that you are available to us. Sometimes the world feels so dark, God, that we just don't quite know what to do. But we know that you are here with us." [00:22:58]
"The Jesus in our story says something shocking. And realistically, when all the commentators talk about how this is so shocking, I thought, it's not really all that shocking. Like, I've heard it my whole life. How shocking can it be, right? These are words that I've heard over and over and over again, preached on over and over and over again. How shocking can this be?" [00:33:55]
"When the words of Jesus become a political, a politicized idea, we have a problem. Because Jesus isn't calling us to politics. God and Jesus are calling us to love. You see, these words that Jesus preached, you are blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding." [00:34:46]
"Jesus is saying that, everything you think you know about power and wealth and blessing is wrong. Melania, who is a biblical scholar, says this, that to understand what Jesus' listeners would have heard in the ancient Mediterranean world is that the poor were not just those without money." [00:38:47]
"The poor were those who had lost their place in society. They're the widows, the immigrants, the sick, the outcasts. Poverty wasn't a fixed social class, but it was a revolving door. It was about the people who, through no fault of their own, couldn't hold on to their status." [00:39:23]
"Archbishop Desmond Tutu is credited with saying, there comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. And we need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in. It's not enough to donate food to a food pantry. If we don't also fight for living wages." [00:43:05]
"It's not enough to welcome queer people into the church. If we don't also challenge the policies that discriminate. It's not enough to say all are equal in Christ. If we don't confront the racism in our communities. You see, to follow Jesus is to actively work toward dismantling the systems that harm people." [00:43:30]
"I think that we shouldn't preach politics from the pulpit. I think that the church shouldn't be going out to political rallies. I think the church shouldn't be out there touting one party over another. 100%. But it is the church's job to dismantle the systems that harm people. And that's not political," [00:44:08]
"Jesus stands with the people. And I think that's our calling, too. To stand with the people. To stand with the poor. To stand with the hungry. To be with the grieving. To be with the outcasts. To be redeemed. To be revalued. To be reimagining a world where no one is deemed worthless." [00:45:11]
"God of justice and mercy, we confess that we have been too comfortable in a world that favors the powerful. We have turned away from the poor, hungry, and the hurting, choosing silence when we should speak. Choosing ease when we should act. Forgive us for the times we have valued security over justice." [00:50:23]
"With gratitude and thanksgiving, we celebrate in our spirits and in our bodies that barriers people erected cannot withstand the Holy Spirit. With gratitude and thanksgiving, we celebrate in our spirits and in our bodies that prejudices that people hold cannot withstand the Holy Spirit." [00:54:01]
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