1. What one thought or idea from today's lesson especially intrigued, provoked, disturbed, challenged, encouraged, warmed, warned, helped, or surprised you?
2. Share a story about a movie you've seen or a book you've read that upheld violence as the way to prosperity and peace. Can you share an alternative movie or story that pointed to a nonviolent way to peace?
3. How do you respond to Matthew's story of the Canaanite woman in conversation with the Deuteronomy story of Canaanite slaughter? Can you think of other paired stories like this?
4. Who do you think is stronger — a person who can punch a bad guy and scare him away, or a person who can convince a bad guy to become good?
Activate
5. Listen for situations when people use God (or some other "good reason") to justify violence or unkindness. Try to understand why they would see God and violence this way. Seek to see the world through their eyes and to imagine how hard it would be for them to see God differently.
Meditate
6. Hold in silence the tension between a violent worldd and a God who calls us to reconciliation, mutual understanding and respect, and peace.
1 comment:
The explanation of the violence occurred in Old Testament days and the transition to the more merciful New Testament approach was interesting. I also found the discussion of how the more violent Old Testament stories should be presented to be thought provoking.
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