The Heart of Racial Justice Bible Study

By Brenda Salter McNeil, Rick Richardson and Steve Tamayo

For Christians, pursuing racial justice and reconciliation begins with following Scripture and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Transformation starts in each individual and community as we ask God to give us new eyes and hearts. These five studies, adapted by Steve Tamayo, are based on the groundbreaking book The Heart of Racial Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil and Rick Richardson. By focusing on key New Testament passages, readers will learn how the early church engaged with issues of reconciliation and how we too can commit ourselves to discipleship, reading, prayer, community, and witness in alignment with God's call. As companions to the IVP Signature Collection, IVP Signature Bible Studies help individuals and groups explore and apply biblical truths found in classic books. Each session features quotations from The Heart of Racial Justice matched with Scripture passages, reflection questions, and application ideas that will equip readers to connect the text to their own lives. A leader's guide and list of suggested resources are also included.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IVP Bible Studies
• Release date: Jan 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9780830848508

Brenda Salter McNeil

Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a dynamic speaker, author and trailblazer with over twenty-five years of experience in the ministry of racial, ethnic and gender reconciliation. She was featured as one of the fifty most influential women to watch by Christianity Today in 2012 and is an associate professor of reconciliation studies in the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University, where she also directs the Reconciliation Studies program. Salter McNeil was previously the president and founder of Salter McNeil Associates, a reconciliation organization that provided speaking, training and consulting to colleges, churches and faith-based organizations. She also served on the staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for fourteen years as a Multiethnic Ministries Specialist. She earned a MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, a DMin from Palmer Theological Seminary and was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from North Park University. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and is on the pastoral staff of Quest Church in Seattle. In addition, she serves on the board of directors for Wycliffe USA and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. She is also the coauthor of The Heart of Racial Justice and the author of A Credible Witness. Brenda lives in Seattle with her husband Dr. J. Derek McNeil and their two children.

Book preview

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Contents

Getting the Most Out of The Heart of Racial Justice Bible Study

Introduction

Changing Hearts

Session One

Lordship

Acts 1:1-9

Session Two

Scripture

Acts 6:1-7

Session Three

Prayer

Acts 10:1-48

Session Four

Community

Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3; 14:26-28

Session Five

Witness

Galatians 2:11-21

LEADING A SMALL GROUP

Notes

About the Author

More Titles from InterVarsity Press

Getting the Most Out of The Heart of Racial Justice Bible Study

KNOWING CHRIST is where faith begins. From there we are shaped through the essentials of discipleship: Bible study, prayer, Christian community, worship, and much more. We learn to grow in Christlike character, pursue justice, and share our faith with others. We persevere through doubts and gain wisdom for daily life. These are the topics woven into the IVP Signature Bible Studies. Working through this series will help you practice the essentials by exploring biblical truths found in classic books.

HOW IT’S PUT TOGETHER

Each session includes an opening quotation and suggested reading from the book The Heart of Racial Justice, a session goal to help guide your study, reflection questions to stir your thoughts on the topic, the text of the Bible passage, questions for exploring the passage, response questions to help you apply what you’ve learned, and a closing suggestion for prayer.

The workbook format is ideal for personal study and also allows group members to prepare in advance for discussions and record discussion notes. The responses you write here can form a permanent record of your thoughts and spiritual progress.

Throughout the guide are study-note sidebars that may be useful for group leaders or individuals. These notes do not give the answers, but they do provide additional background information on certain questions and can challenge participants to think deeper or differently about the content.

WHAT KIND OF GUIDE IS THIS?

The studies are not designed to merely tell you what one person thinks. Instead, through inductive study, they will help you discover for yourself what Scripture is saying. Each study deals with a particular passage—rather than jumping around the Bible—so that you can really delve into the biblical author’s meaning in that context.

The studies ask three different kinds of questions about the Bible passage:

Observation questions help you to understand the content of the passage by asking about the basic facts: who, what, when, where, and how.

Interpretation questions delve into the meaning of the passage.

Application questions help you discover implications for growing in Christ in your own life.

These three keys unlock the treasures of the biblical writings and help you live them out.

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