Ethnicity and Discipleship . . . OR . . . Beyond Cultural Diversity -- Part II

Sabbath School Class—A Life of Discovery
February 9, 2008
Larry R Evans

[Due to other responsibilities and travel there will be no additional class notes this week. They will resume the following week.]

Quiz for Reflection

1. Those who believe in biblical creation are less likely to hold ethnic prejudices. [Jn 1:3; Acts 10:34-36] True or False?

2. Before we serve someone we should determine if they are citizens of our country? [Lk 17:11-16] True or False?

3. It is difficult for Christians who have a long spiritual heritage to see new Christians receive unique spiritual blessings when they do not receive them. [Acts 11:1-3, 15-18] True or False?

4. Jesus showed by His treatment of the Canaanite woman that prejudices towards others will not hinder them from coming to Him. [Mt 15:21-28] True or False?

5. Faith is not a feeling. [Acts 8:39] True or False?

6. The leadership of the church where the disciples were first called Christians was ethnically diverse. [Acts 11:25-30; 13:-1-3] True or False?

Reflective Review

Where one was born, the color of one’s skin, the accent of one’s voice can all be points of identity but they can also be reasons for inclusion or exclusion. The Bible begins by giving all of us a common identity by acknowledging that we each have a mutual beginning – “In the beginning God . . .” (Gn 1:1) Both the source of our beginning and the place of origin are the same: God. Any hope for unity among diverse people groups is found in God. Creation is much more than a doctrine of what God made and the Sabbath more than a day when God rested. Creation asserts that we are brothers and sisters with a common heritage and the Sabbath reminds us that our unity despite diversity is celebrated weekly as we worship the Creator God. The last message to be given to the world is the Elijah message which turns “the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Mal 4:6) This message is the basis of all discipleship. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 (NIV)

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