In this seventh session take time to discuss how you tackled the challenge from last week.
‘Try to start every day this week by inviting God to fill you with his Holy Spirit, and then see how different your week is as a result.‘
If we take the Bible as a whole, few things seem more important to God than justice: the wrong things of the world being made right. Some scholars estimate that the concept comes up over 2,000 times across the 66 books of Scripture; it is literally all over God’s Word. Not only does he want to see justice done, but he asks us to be a part of that: through our small and larger actions, makings sure that we don’t contribute to injustice, but instead fight against it. God asks his family to come together to fight for justice – to be his hands and feet in a world which is so often cruel and unfair to so many. This is one of the principal jobs of the church; it’s how we join in with God’s plan to remake the world and extend his ‘kingdom’.
• Which of the different kinds of injustice listed on p.109-111 do you feel particularly passionate about? What else do you think should have been on that list?
• This chapter describes sin not just as something we do on an individual level, but which happens on a larger scale through systems like racism and inequality. What do you think about this way of talking about sin?
• P.114-116 outline six steps that we can take to help us identify and respond to injustice. Which of these steps feel most difficult, or exciting? Could you see yourself going on this journey?
• The story of Botham Jean, his brother and his killer is hard to read, but ultimately an example of how God can speak into the cycle of injustice. What did you think about this story and how did it inspire you?
• Pray about specific issues of justice, both on a global and national scale, and more locally to you.
• Ask God to show you where you are subtly participating in unjust systems, and how you can change that.
Find a small, practical way to ‘act justly’ this week. See what happens as a result, and how you feel, and come next week prepared to share your story with others.
