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Guest Speaker Hurmon Hamilton
Senior Pastor, New Beginnings Community Church

“CONNECT 4” PRINCIPLES

• Reveal Answer
• Reveal Answer
• Reveal Answer
• Reveal Answer

THREE HIDDEN DANGERS that can undermine any conversation about race––and how to overcome them:

1. Reveal Answer
   
   
   When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled… Then Jesus wept. John 11:33,35 NLT
   
   The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” John 11:36 NLT
   
   
2. Reveal Answer
   
   
   “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32 NLT
   
   “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” John 11:34 NLT
   
   
3. Reveal Answer
   
   
   “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. John 11:39 NLT
   
   Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out… Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” John 11:43,44
   
   What is one step you can take within your sphere of influence to make progress for racial justice?

QUESTIONS

For personal reflection or group discussion

1. What are your biggest obstacles when talking about race and justice?
2. Consider what Hurmon said about the dynamics of trauma, skepticism, and the potential for guilt in the interaction between Jesus and Mary in John 11. Have you had an experience where one of these obstacles affected your ability to have a conversation about race or another sensitive topic?
3. What adjustments can you make in your own posture to have more constructive conversations about sensitive topics like racial reconciliation? Listen more charitably? Speak less frequently? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you before you respond?
4. In your small group or with another person, share stories about your personal experiences of race and justice. Perhaps as a minority in our culture you have experienced this, or perhaps you are not a minority but you have observed it or heard of it from others. Perhaps you were raised in an environment you now consider racist.
5. Consider your sphere of influence. How might you take a step to make a difference?

FOR FURTHER STUDY

• Go to tlc.org/reconcile for resources on racial reconciliation: Videos, books, articles, and more!
• One of our small group study options this fall is “Be The Bridge,” focused on biblical racial reconciliation. Details soon!

NEXT WEEKEND

• In addition to our three livestream services, we will add an 11 am in-person, socially distanced outdoor gathering on the front lawn at Twin Lakes Church. To RSVP, go to tlc.org/rsvp
• Rene continues our series THE WAY FORWARD with a look at the Bible’s call for unity in the midst of diversity.