Study Guide for

“BEYOND: Beyond Racial Zones”

March 22, 2009

Open Up

Martin Luther King, Jr. “I have a dream” speech is one of the most famous in recent American history. Talk with your group about famous speeches: Have you heard any famous speakers in-person? What’s the most famous speech you heard via radio or television?

Dig In

(1) Read 2 Corinthians 5:15-21. Tell your group a personal example of reconciliation between two people who had been disagreeing. In most human reconciliations, both sides have some fault, but is that true of our reconciliation with God?

(2) Read Acts 2:5-11 and Revelation 7:9-12. These are only two examples of God’s love for diversity. What are some more examples of diversity in creation, in personalities, in cultures, and in races? BACKGROUND: The early church began among the Jewish people because God had centuries of interaction with them before Jesus’ coming. Acts 2 shows Judaism’s language diversity. Bible scholars may not agree on the exact identity of the people in the Revelation 7 prophecy, but clearly heaven will have all kinds of people.

(3) Read Acts 15:6-9 and Galatians 3:26-29. Though the early church began with Jewish believers, God rapidly grew the church to include non-Jews (“Gentiles”). This led to cultural problems about how to include different kinds of people. From these verses, how did the church leadership respond? BACKGROUND The writer of Galatians uses the word “sons” in verse 26 (some translations may use a non-gender specific word), but verse 28 emphasizes unity of all people.

Work On

Going beyond our racial zone by intentional personal friend-making does not need to wait for treaties from political leaders. Christ unites us, and our unity is in Him, not our color, politics, economic class, culture, or country. Christ’s church must be an inclusive, gracious, welcoming place for all. What are ways your small group can reverse the self-segregating decisions we often make, and teach our children to make?

Lift Up

Repentantly pray about the sin of racism and ask for forgiveness for ingrained assumptions, prejudices, stereotypes and biases that are keeping you from the oneness Jesus intends for his people. Pray that the Spirit will help you build a bridge of friendship with someone different than yourself.

Another Step - Advanced Study

Racism is a sin which grieves God’s heart. Discuss with your group the quote, “Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week.” What is the historical basis for that statement? Was that your experience before coming to MCC? Is that true of MCC?