Our society has a tendency to divide people according to race and culture. Yet, in the Bible, we are taught that God created all people; Christ died for all people; and the Holy Spirit is alive in all people. Nevertheless, there is a powerful temptation for human beings to create both racial and cultural barriers between one another. So, this August, we are going to study God’s relationship to humankind from the beginning of the Bible to the end. We will learn about the histories of various races and cultures in America. And we will celebrate God’s grace that is extended to people who are white, black, brown – and every color in between – while we explore the solidarity of The Human Race.
Between the Lines
- Week 1 Genesis 1:26-31 White Experience and the Image of God
- Week 2 Genesis 11:1-9 Native Experience and the Tower of Babel
- Week 3 Acts 2:1-8 Black Experience and the Day of Pentecost
- Week 4 Galatians 3:23-29 Hispanic Experience and the Love of God
- Week 5 Revelation 7:9-12 Human Experience and All Tribes
#TheHUMANRace
God made all people, Jesus died for all people, and the Holy Spirit is alive in all people.
Homework
GO complete The Human Race Photo Challenge by visiting the following places – and take a selfie to prove you were there!
- Coshocton Coal Miners Statue near the corner of 3rd and Chestnut on the grounds of the Coshocton Clerk of Courts (map)
- Newark Earthworks (map)
- Westerville Hanby House inside temporarily closed (map)
- Gahanna Los Guachos Taqueria restaurant – takeout available (map)
DO tell your story in the Historical Race and Culture Archive…then listen to the stories of others!
Contribute to the Historical Race and Culture Archive Project here.
WATCH The American Spirit Series of documentaries presented on Facebook weekly on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm.
- Week 1: Boom & Bust (the prequel)
- Week 2: Reservations
- Week 3: Underground
- Week 4: Walls
READ the book White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
PRAY for solidarity across lines of color and culture.
- Week 1: The ability to listen to people who are white
- Week 2: The ability to listen to people who are natives
- Week 3: The ability to listen to people who are black
- Week 4: The ability to listen to people who are Hispanic
- Week 5: The ability to listen to all people
Ryan began his pastoral ministry at Maize Manor United Methodist Church in 2014 after serving at the Church of the Messiah in Westerville, Ohio. He lives in Columbus with his wife, Mariellyn, and five children. Visit the Staff Page to learn more about Pastor Ryan.