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I thought it would help to ease into our discussion of the book by starting with the introduction. If you don’t have your copy of the book yet, this will give you a chance to get it by next week!
I think it’s important to discuss what we hope to get out of reading a book like this. When I started reading this book, I had two main expectations or hopes:
1) I wanted to learn how to live justly and make a difference in my reasonably comfortable suburban lifestyle. I wanted to be stretched.
2) I wanted to be motivated to do so.
What are your expectations going into this book? What is the main thing you hope to get out of both reading this book and the discussion here?
The very first sentence of the book is: “We failed.” How did that and the following story of the Samsons impact your expectations as you began to read the book?
The Samsons grew up in Christian families and churches that emphasized Scripture, yet they don’t remember hearing about God’s concern for the poor and oppressed. This resulted in them feeling that they were missing something in their lives. How is this similar or different to your own experience? Did you have anyone like Lisa’s father, uncle, or grandfather that modeled giving to the poor for you?
Lisa expresses that their lives were busy with church activities and kids school activities, and that whatever little acts of goodness they did felt like enough. Can you relate to feeling consumed by these pressures? What do you feel is your biggest obstacle to living justly?
Please feel free to answer any or all of these questions in the comments. I think by sharing our own experiences we can really learn from each other. Please remember that we are all in a different place in our quest to make a difference in this world and that you are welcome no matter where you are in the journey!
We will discuss chapter one next Friday.
Pray that God will move in your heart through our study and discussion of Justice in the Burbs.
and perservere to make the right choices when it’s hard to do so.
The things I hope to learn from this book, is how to live in a way that daily causes me to have concern and think about others. I want to also be able to teach my kids about giving generously, and also what God expects of us.
I did not grow up going to church with my parents. My grandparents, however were very involved and during the summers that I’d spend with them, I experienced their generosity with others. My grandfather was apart of the “heifer project” where they’d take animals to Mexico, things like chicken for eggs, cows for milk etc. They were also very generous with those who worked for them.
In my daily life, I don’t feel like I do enough. I feel like I get sucked into my own world. I feel like I am very consumed with my own life and needs that the outside world of needs, seem worlds away to me. I am saddened at the thought that I am not teaching my kids that there are needs out there, and we are to be helping. I am not quite sure how to teach them these things, without them seeing them up close and personal. It makes me wonder if it can be done in the comfy suburban life, I’m interested to read what they have to say.