January 8 - Study Guide

As part of Brian Newman’s sermon this week, he shared the Dinner Party video from the He Gets Us campaign. As a group rewatch that video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUUG3aXWiA0&t=1s

• What stands out to you about Jesus’ character in this video?
• How does Jesus’ example of inclusivity challenge you personally?

Jesus was radically inclusive. His love movement ran counter to cultural norms and religious expectations of the day. He went out of his way to care for people whom society had rejected – from disabled people, to conquering military oppressors, to prostitutes. He befriended corrupt tax collectors and violent nationalists. He treated women as equals at a time when such behavior was unheard of, and he embraced people in historically oppressed races and ethniccommunities. Many times his love was so radical that it even violated the law.

Jesus invited all to participate in the love, but not everyone was interested. The powerful and the wealthy were often threatened by Jesus’ movement, because it always resisted systems of oppression. After all, many benefited from oppressing the poor, the sick, women, and even certain races that Jesus embraced throughout his activism. So, they didn’t just reject his invitation, they killed him for it.

But in spite of their best efforts to silence the movement, Jesus’s message still resonates today.

And it’s still radically inclusive. We’re all invited.

As a group, read the following passages:
Mark 2:15-17
Luke 19:5-7

Jesus modeled for us what radical inclusivity can look like. He didn’t pick favorites or exclude others who had a different worldview or lifestyle from him. From the poorest of poor, to influential political and religious leaders, Jesus welcomed everyone to his table.

• Who, in your life, is God asking you to include? Share specifically how He is asking you to do that. Some ideas to extend inclusivity could be through an act of kindness, a gesture of love, an invitation to your home or out to coffee, a posture of forgiveness or through meeting a need.

• Our culture has us conditioned to only look after ourselves and those who are close to us. Think about your day to day rhythms, Do you hold unhealthy learned behaviors that excludes others? Or, are there particular groups of people you might hold a bias towards?

• Even though it may be uncomfortable and convicting, it can be helpful to think about the topic of inclusivity from the other person’s perspective. Is there anyone who could say they have felt unloved or unwelcomed by you?

• Who might you reach out to and tell them you love them or forgive them through a simple word, note, text or call?

CLOSING PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the example of radical inclusivity that Jesus modeled for us, and how it is a direct reflection of your own character towards each of us. Help us to show the same level of love, respect, and honor towards everyone in our lives. Amen.