3 Studies on Social Justice

In Genesis 12, God told Abraham that he would be blessed to be a blessing, and that all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through him. That is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus, but is additionally pointing to our role to help bring restoration re-creation, resurrection, or whatever other “re-” word you like back to all people. With that in mind, here are 3 studies on social justice that would be great use use to put hands and feet to your faith.

1. Start>Becoming a Good Samaritan by Michael Seaton

Start is a unique resource that gives participants an overview of various ways that they can engage others and become like the Good Samaritan from Luke chapter 10. You and your group will hear from many people (John Ortberg, Eugene Peterson, Philip Yancey, Jim Cymbala, Kay Warren, and many more) on multiple topics (honoring the poor, caring for the sick, tending creation, and others). The premise is simple – The local church is capable of doing what no other band of brothers and sisters can do: unite with love and passion to help bring reconciliation to every heart, soul and corner of the world.

2. Justice for the Poor by Jim Wallis & Sojourners

In the last year I have studied Isaiah and Luke and clearly see that God loves the outcast, the downtrodden, the poor. Poverty and injustice should be important to Christians precisely because it is important to God. Through this study, you and your group will explore the experiences of people living in poverty in the United States today. How can we learn from those experiences? What are the responsibilities of Christians to prioritize the needs of the poor? What is the Christian call to advocate for changes in laws that affect the poor? By turning to the Bible for answers to these questions, the goal is to come away with a firm understanding of one of the major tenets of the gospel of Jesus Christ: justice for the poor.

3. Jesus, Bombs, and Ice Cream by Shane Claiborne & Ben Cohen

A growing number of people are tired of violence and militarism and war. We are not willing to accept the world as it is, but insist on building the kind of world we all dream of, the kind of world we know God dreams of. That’s what Jesus, Bombs, and Ice Cream is all about. Imagining a world where there are fewer bombs and much more ice cream…and then creating it!

Join the Conversation

Have you participated in any of the above Bible studies on social justice? What did you think? Do you have any other favorite Bible studies to recommend to our readers? Leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!