Homework: Justice

“Justice is always about what one owns.”  (John Perkins)   

Consider your responsibility before God for what you have.  How does God view the gifts he has given you?  How can you share those gifts with others?  This week, give away something you love, volunteer in a new capacity, tutor a difficult child, etc.

Homework: Witness & Work

Finally, caught up to real-life speed.  =)  This was from yesterday's class.

How do you contribute to the flourishing of others and yourself?  Adopt a daily or weekly practice (such as Sabbath, prayer, acts of service, or Bible study with co-workers/ others in your field) that speaks to your allegiance to an “alternate city,” where you work for God’s glory and rest in God’s grace.  Plan to maintain this discipline for at least a month.

Homework: Community

This week is about people being the people of God TOGETHER.  Our witness is not alone, but collective.

Listen to someone this week.  Listen to the story of their life, their faith, or even their bad day.  Practice not speaking, instead drawing near to God with this person.

AND/ OR

Ask for help this week.  Rely on somebody else in your community for a ride, a cup of sugar, advice, childcare, car repair, serving a meal together—be creative!

Homework: Your Heart Condition

Write a letter to God.  Describe honestly where you often find your identity.  (If it’s helpful, you could identify with a prodigal son, a pharisee, or any other characters that come to mind.)  Who are you?  What makes you important? 

 Tell God what happens when you forget the gospel (good news that you are chosen, welcomed, beloved).   

When you remember it again, how does your behavior change?   

What scripture passage(s) can serve to remind you?   

Consider sharing this activity with a close friend and praying together for Jesus to replace any idols that say more to you and your identity more than God does.

Homework: Shalom of the City

Take a walk, either around your own home or on the blocks around your church's building.  Where do you see ‘redemptive potential’ for this city?  Where and how do you see evidence of people looking for help or protection?  For justice?  For creativity or leadership?  For spiritual nourishment?  Where do you see people finding these things?

Homework for Gospel in Life

Confession: yes, I am doling out a slew of entries that should have been done a while ago and I wanted to say a few things about these "Homework" posts. 

At First Presbyterian (San Diego), where I've been worshiping this past year, a few of us are team-teaching a class using some Tim Keller materials (he's fantastic; pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC).  We wanted to be clear that these aren't just nice things to think about-- when the good news intersects our lives, we change.  Our standard practices and procedures change.  Sometimes we need a little help with that shift, and we need it to be concrete. 

With that conviction, I worked through the lessons and themes of Keller's material and came up with homework assignments for each week's class.  I'll dole them out here, for good thinking and prompting of gospel-motivated action in your life, wherever you are.  Please realize that the bent of each assignment is geared to flow out of Bible study, discussion and video clips... but I think they stand on their own as well.  We'll see, right?!  Please offer feedback-- may these challenges be motivation and blessing to live more and more fully in the promises of our Father.