Displaying 1 - 20 of 28

Go in Peace

Bible study on John 14:27-31 by Néstor O. Míguez for the WCC Assembly, 7 November 2013: At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “peace.” When Jesus tells us about peace, the night before his betrayal and death, he is not speaking from a peaceful place in his own life. Where and what kind of peace are the church and the ecumenical movement talking about? God's peace is not temporary, and it does not have to do with happy events. Peace is a matter of life for those people who are yearning for it. At the end of the assembly, “go in peace” will be a biblical and missiological empowerment and mandate for us to bear witness to the vision of abundant life in the new heaven and earth.

Assembly

Struggles for Justice in an Ambiguous World

Bible study on 1 Kings 21:1-22 by Sarojini Nadar for the WCC Assembly, 6 November 2013: The story of Naboth’s vineyard challenges the concept of justice in our society. It introduces God’s justice for the affirmation of life, a measure beyond the economic logic of King Ahab in the name of efficiency and productivity. The text can also guide us in dealing with current issues of injustice in the global market and in discerning how to live out God’s justice to safeguard life.

Assembly

Living Water

Bible study on Acts 8:26-40 by Eleni Kasselouri-Hatzivassiliadi for the WCC Assembly, 4 November 2013: The text relates the mission of the Spirit to the symbol of the water of life. The Holy Spirit is the Life-giver, who sustains and empowers life and sends out God’s people to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. How and where do we discern God’s life-giving work, and how are we enabled to participate in God’s mission today?

Assembly

Do Just This – Protect Life!

Bible study on Genesis 2:4b-17 by Jione Havea for the WCC Assembly, 31 October 2013: The God of life created human beings from the earth with God’s breath of life. The very nature of human life is in connection with God and creation. God entrusted us with the mission to look after the garden of life and forbad us to eat the fruits that tempt us to be like the Almighty God. The opening Bible study is a reflection on the nature of life and how to celebrate, sustain and affirm it in relation to the theme of the assembly. Diverse contextual readings of the text are possible.

Assembly

Changing international and political context (Ecumenical conversations)

"Changing international and political context" : From the prophet Isaiah to the pastor Bonhoeffer, from Esther in ancient Israel to the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in Argentina of our day, prophets are real and inspiring. They are raised up in honour at regular intervals in the Bible. God's promise of a new heaven and a new earth owes something to their labors. Yet most believers—no matter how committed to God's justice—would not call themselves prophets or think of themselves as prophetic people.

Assembly

Changing social and economic context (Ecumenical conversations)

"Changing social and economic context" : Poverty threatens life and human dignity. It is not a destiny, but the very result of the methods and structures of wealth creation and distribution of wealth in individual societies and worldwide. Inequality increases not by accident, but by the way economic and political processes are structured and function. Poverty undermines the very basis of life of billions of children, women and men who are denied not only the benefits of growing wealth, but even of access to basic necessities of life.

Assembly