Explore God's Justice Principles with Imaginative Vision
Dive into a series of Bible studies focused on understanding God's justice principles and envisioning a world where justice prevails. Reflect on the essence of justice, seek divine inspiration, and engage in discussions on justice-seeking and envisioning a better world.
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Presentation Transcript
Session 1 Introduction to the Principles for Justice
Take a moment to introduce yourself. What is one thing you are grateful for this week?
Gracious God, Give us a vision of our world as your love would make it: A world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or live in poverty; A world where the riches of life are shared by all, A world where different races, nations and cultures can live together in joy; A world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love; And give us the inspiration and courage built is, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Take a sweet and then pray a prayer or ask for prayers based on the colour of your sweet. Green the environment Orange pursuing peace Red tackling poverty Pink ending discrimination Purple justice for refugees Other colour other concerns for justice
What words spring to mind when you think about justice or injustice? This series of Bible studies helps us to explore God s justice, which is deep at the heart of God. The Methodist Church has chosen six Principles for Justice that sum up aspects of God s justice and will help us as we wrestle with injustice in the world. If we use only one story as a definitive statement on justice, we distort the biblical witness as a whole, and reduce justice to a monolithic concept, rather than a vocation to be worked out in every time and place.
Imagine a world where you can see, hear, feel or taste justice. Complete the sentence I dream of a world where What does this look like practically, personally, imaginatively, globally, locally ? Write as many answers as you like.
Film What does justice-seeking look like to you? What images of God s justice speak to you most, and why?
Film The different speakers describe justice-seeking for them. How would you describe it? Hannah says justice-seeking is a feeling of uncomfortableness . How would you talk about the feeling of seeking justice and why? Where is God in this for you? Mark says, Justice seeking for me is becoming aware of injustice, but also then seeking help to work out what I can do to bring it to an end. How have you become aware of something that is unjust, and how have you tried to bring it to an end?
With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:6-8
Prophets in the Bible showed that justice is about facing up to the realities of the world as it is and longing for the world as it should be. What do realities you want our world or society to face up to, and to long for? Can you share a time when you learned more about God s love through acting justly and loving kindness?
Who are the modern prophets in society? Think of some examples some may be Christian, some may not be and explain why you consider them so.
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he said, what must I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, What is written in the law? What do you read there? He answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself. And he said to him, You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live. But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? He said, The one who showed him mercy. Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. Luke 10:25-37
Have you been in a situation where you havent known the right thing to do? Why was that? How did you decide? How are you challenged by the question of the people to who you are called to be a neighbour? What about non-human creation? And who might be the Samaritan in the story for you who might challenge you by being your neighbour? How might we also be called to fix the Jericho Road? How might that change being a neighbour for you?
Listen to the story told from the perspective of the traveller, the priest, the Levite or the Samaritan. How did they feel? What were their motivations? Try and take on one of the roles and tell their story.
Fix the Jericho Road! What social action activities are you involved with, or do you know? What kind of things would be needed to fix the Jericho Road and make life better for people?
The Methodist Justice Principles God made humans in the image of God, each worthy of equal value and dignity. The search for justice entails treating others with respect, and may involve reclaiming lost worth. God desires the flourishing of creation and human community within it. The search for justice does not diminish or limit the flourishing of others but seeks to enable it.
The Methodist Justice Principles God consistently shows a bias to people experiencing poverty and those who are excluded. The search for justice must attend to those who live in poverty, and those who are marginalised in other ways, as a priority. God entrusts those in power with a special responsibility for upholding justice. Those seeking justice will encourage and challenge those with power to fulfil their vocation.
The Methodist Justice Principles God calls all people and nations actively to work for peace and justice, liberation and transformation. It is never just someone else s responsibility. We all have a part to play. God calls us to live in hope and in ways that reflect God s character and the pattern of God s kingdom. Thus, seeking justice involves honesty and truth, and may demand protest and resistance, restitution, forgiveness, reconciliation and ultimately transformation.
God made us and loves us and so we are all equal God loves all creation and wants it to grow and be healthy When things are unfair in the world, God really cares about those who are suffering most If you ve got power, God expects you to use it to do good Each one of us can do something to bring about peace and justice We can live in ways which help us to be closer to God and make the world better
Anchor What do anchors make you think of? Think of one thing that gives you stability. Tools What implement would you take to a desert island and why? What is one thing that helps you when you have to make difficult decisions? Speak What words do you use to talk about God s hope for a better world? Can you find a way to express this to someone without words?
What are the biggest injustices the world faces today? What are the hardest questions you are wrestling with? Does one of these Principles jump out at you? Why? What would you like these sessions to help you to explore?
Loving God, In uncertain times, when we are spun around, fearful and disoriented, we know that we are anchored in you and your justice. Help us to reorient ourselves as we seek justice in your world. At times when we struggle to know what is right, we know that each generation is called to seek its vocation for justice. Help us to use the tools you have given us with humility to discern your way of justice for the world.
In these days of discordant voices and competing claims, we know that you call us all to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you. Help us to learn to speak of you and your justice with kindness and humility, that others may know for themselves your justice, love and holiness. Amen.
