Biased

Week Three

BOTTOM LINE

All are equal at the foot of the cross.

GOAL OF THE GROUP

We will discuss what the Bible says about racial inequality and how we can be a part of building a bridge for the sake of the gospel and for unity.

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:26-29; Rom 3:21-31; John 4:7-9

THINK ABOUT “In Christ’s family there can be no division into

Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and

female. Among us you are all equal. That is,

we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 3:28 MSG

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1.

Think about a time when you felt like an outsider - new job, a party where you only knew a couple people, moving to a new city. What made that situation difficult? Did you find yourself saying or doing things that made you stand out?

2.

Read John 4:7-9. At first glance, this might seem like just another random encounter with Jesus. But as we see here, “Jews do not associate with Samaritans”. In fact, often, Jews went out of their way to even avoid finding themselves in Samaria. Jesus is jumping across racial and cultural norms to engage with this woman for the sake of the Kingdom. When have you had a similar opportunity to break down racial barriers? How did it go?

3.

Read Romans 3:21-31. In modern church history, we could almost rewrite vs. 29 to say, “Is God the God of __(insert any race)____ only?” How have we excluded other racial groups from participation in the Kingdom? In our lives? How does verse 23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” give us perspective on how God views each and every person?

4.

For a lot of people, our prejudice is deep-rooted and unconscious. In what ways do we see our racial prejudices bubbling up in our own thoughts and lives?

5. How can we be a part of reducing racial inequality in our city/ community/country/church?

TRY THIS

This week, keep your eyes open for ways that you (and those around you), unconsciously create barriers between races. Pray that God opens your eyes to these blind spots in our lives. Pray that God gives us boldness to step into the truth that in Christ, there is no division… that we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.

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