This series seeks to explore what faithful engagement in a time of political and social division might look like. This series will explore this engagement through themes of citizenship, hospitality, justice, and peace.
Each of these themes will explore the ways that we are called by God to love our neighbors and our enemies alike in a faithful way that affirms the created goodness in each person while also emphasizing the real need for reconciliation.
While these are complex problems that will not be solved simply through this lesson, the hope is that leaders and youth alike begin to question the ways that they and others engage with people and how they might do that differently in a way that demonstrates the presence and peace of God.
Details:
$75.00
Week 1—Citizenship
For this week’s lesson, you will lead students into an understanding of citizenship. This lesson will engage both current American understandings of citizenship and the theological concept of Kingdom citizenship. This will begin by first listening to a song about the complexity and tensions of citizenship in the United States and how that differs from the Kingdom citizenship that we see in scripture. Students will explore what this tension means for them as they prepare to consider what citizenship means in a theological perspective. With this theological lens and scripture exploration, students will learn how belonging to the household of God as citizens of the kingdom of God shapes the way that they interact in the world from a posture of seeking peace and unity with those that we often estrange or exclude ourselves.
Scripture—Ephesians 2:11-22
Week 2—Hospitality
This week’s lesson centers around the concept of hospitality. This lesson will help to connect the previous concept of citizenship where they explored how all people are members of the household of God to what it looks like to welcome people well. Hospitality is often considered as big moments of hosting but it is equally about the act of receiving hospitality. Students will explore how they can show hospitality to those that they encounter and how that shapes our actions in our world.
Scripture—Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:34-45
Week 3—Justice
In this lesson on faithful engagement, you will be discussing what justice looks like in the kingdom of God and as faithful participants in the story of God in the world. Justice can often be a “broad” term, defined and understood in various ways. Our collective concepts of justice might be connected to our justice system, civil rights, inequality, protests, and more. To start this lesson, you will explore justice in this knowledge base by reflecting on protest images and signs. From this activity, students will reflect on what images display what they might consider to be God’s justice. While justice is potentially a broad concept in our culture, the justice of God has a particular shape and characteristic, which will be explored in this session. Through this exploration, students and leaders will learn the liberative and restorative nature of God’s justice and what it might look like to pursue that justice in meaningful, practical ways.
Scripture—Micah 6:6-8
Week 4—Peace
In this lesson, students will be exploring the work of reconciliation and peace. This exploration will include listening to Desmond Tutu discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and reflecting on where we need reconciliation in our own communities. Then they will explore the words of Jeremiah where the people of Judah are told to settle in with their oppressors and seek the peace of their enemies, and in turn find their own. Overall, this lesson will highlight that wholeness and reconciliation cannot happen within only one group of people, in one way, or without affirming even our enemies’ humanity. This is the hard work of forgiveness, peace, truth-telling, and reconciliation. This lesson should help connect the previous weeks’ content as well.
Scripture—Daniel 6:3-5, 10, 16, 19-23
Holy Disruptions series are designed to delve into the unique experiences of today’s youth, spark deep theological reflection, and foster transformative discussions. Our three-part methodology empowers students to align with God’s vision and desires for the world.
Facilitate a disorienting experience – where students are most receptive to growth.
Invite students to investigate their reaction to the disorienting moment.
Ask students to explore what God says about it.
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