Peninsula Covenant Church
Message Title: A Candid Conversation on Race
Date: June 7, 2020
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Scripture Referenced in Today's Conversation
Acts 2:7-8 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
Galatians 3:26-27 since that we are all children of God through faith in Christ and is neither Jew nor Gentile slave nor free neither male nor female but roll one in Christ Jesus.
Acts 16:37-40 (NLT) But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.
Exodus 3:7-10 (NLT) Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Acts 17:26-28 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Galatians 3:26-28 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Luke 10:29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
What Does God Want?
--He wants us to examine our hearts in a Psalms 139:23-24 way and repent of any prejudice the Spirit of God reveals.
--He wants his church unified: John 17:20-21
--He wants us to know we were chosen for this time, this place: Acts 17:26-27
--He wants us to know that the church is a multi-ethnic mosaic: Galatians 3:26-28
--He wants us to acts justly, love mercy, walk humbly: Micah 6:8
--He wants us to ask about and be concerned for our neighbors: Luke 10:29
--He wants us to join Him in creating a new counter cultural community: Revelation 7:9
--If you are a parent, he wants you to “raise Reconcilers”: Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Want to learn more?
Recommended reading by Gary:
One Blood by John Perkins
White Awake by Daniel Hill
The Third Option by Miles McPherson
Insider Outsider by Bryan Loritts
Beyond Color Blind by Sarah Shin
Called to Forgive by Anthony B. Thompson
PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!
Beyond Sunday
Based on the turmoil in our country around racial injustice, this week we are taking a break from our current series to lament, reflect on God’s truth and consider how to take action.
1. During this season, what are you lamenting when it comes to the racial injustice in our country? Is it simple or difficult to summarize your thoughts and emotions on this complex issue? What emotion does it illicit the most with in you? (hope, anger, sadness, hopelessness, etc.)
2. In your life or in the lives of others, what scenes are the lasting examples in your mind of racial injustice? From this past week, what scenes were inspiring or infuriating to you?
3. What are these passages telling us about the proper Kingdom perspective on race. Genesis 1:27, Deuteronomy 10:17, Malachi 2:10, John 13:34, Acts 17:26, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 5:9-10? What are the common themes? Which passage are you most drawn to and why?
4. In what ways do you feel equipped or helpless to promote racial justice around you? What is the role of prayer, education, protest, and politics as part of the solution? Which are you most comfortable being involved with? Which would take more faith and courage? Why?
5. What is God calling you to do when it comes to being part of the racial justice solution?
Daily Prayer: LORD, may all believe that you created everyone in your image. And may you give me the courage to take a step toward being a part of the solution for racial justice.
For PCC's Fiscal Year:
June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020:
Giving Update
Goal: $3,705,000
Giving to Date: $4,410,299
Surplus: $705,299