by Wayne Schwab

Here’s an idea to help members to think about current issues in the framework of faith.  Share with them articles of any kind that raise current issues in any of the seven daily mission fields.  Connect each article with a biblical theme and its source.  Make copies available and convene a discussion on a Sunday morning before or after worship – or any sensible time.  The guiding principle is that members seldom speak up on various current issues because they have had little practice talking about them in a faith framework – hence “Practicing God-talk” as the name for the activity.

Practicing God-talk for Sunday adult classes

Preparation:

• select a printed piece on a private or public issue
• connect it with one of the seven daily mission fields
• select a related biblical theme
• provide copies of it for advance reading

For example:
A Sunday leaflet or a newsletter announces:

On Sunday (date), we will work with two aspects of our mission in spiritual health.  We will work with two articles:

• “In the wake of the devastating election, the church must stand in solidarity with those who are most fearful— and speak truth to power” by Jim Wallis who writes “. . . “honest and prophetic truth-telling about race in America will be needed as never before in our time . . .”;and
• “Resistance is Holy Work” by Brittany Packnett who writes “. . . tell the truth and defend people in public, even—and especially—when it is inconvenient.”

Both articles come from Sojourners magazine for January 2017.  One biblical theme relates to both: “. . . let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).

Look online for the quotes from Wallis and Packnett to read and print out. Also, copies will be available in the church on the two previous Sundays.

At the session:

Open with the related biblical theme: “. . . let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). Read the two quotes and suggest these are issues in spiritual health, and open for discussion.