God and Race Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video

A Guide for Moving Beyond Black Fists and White Knuckles

John Siebeling, Wayne Francis, John Siebling

• Publisher: HarperChristian Resources
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9780310137955
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Civil Rights in Politics

How you—and your church community—can play a part in ending racism.

Pastors John Siebeling and Wayne Francis—whose thriving congregations are the embodiment of diversity—have pooled their insights and experiences to help others have conversations about racism. Many churches and leaders have sought their counsel, hoping to emulate their success, and yours can too.

This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:

• The study guide itself—with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and a leader's guide.
• An individual access code to stream all five video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).

God and Race provides a non-threatening means for pastors, church leaders, and churchgoers to speak to each other about this difficult and pervasive problem. In this study, Wayne and John show how neither black fists nor white knuckles are the answer to the problem, but that what is needed are open hands, open hearts, and open minds. Together, they:

• Examine the White-Black tension from both perspectives.
• Answer all the uncomfortable questions we're afraid to ask—regarding ourselves, our families, our work and relationships, and the church.
• Discuss seven key statements that they believe the church needs to acknowledge today—including that racism is a real problem, that it's more than just a spiritual issue, and that the Gospel is the solution.
• Provide practical steps anyone can take to become part of the solution.

In the Gospels, we see how the crowds came to Jesus because he talked about real issues and was not afraid to engage in the important issues of his day. In the church of today, we need to be doing the same: only by recognizing, addressing, and openly dialoguing about the racial tension in America can we begin to work toward real solutions together.

Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

SESSION ONE

OPEN YOUR HANDS

Perfect love drives out fear.

1 JOHN 4:18

Welcome

The most common question we hear about the conversation between black and white communities of faith is how do we move forward from here? The desire to move beyond racism—defined in our book as prejudice plus power—is real, and so is the lack of understanding about the best place to start in the conversation. A powerful place to start the conversation about race is by understanding two key symbols.

Symbolism is where we find the significance of black fists and white knuckles. The black fist is a symbol made famous at the 1968 Olympics when two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, raised their fists during the medal ceremony as the Star-Spangled Banner played, symbolizing solidarity with the black community. Ever since, the black fist has become a symbol of standing up against the residue of segregation, slavery, and the systemic oppression that was, and still is, happening against black people in our country.

White knuckles are symbolic in this study of white Americans who are gripping to a long-standing paradigm of privilege that holds an advantage over people of color. When people try to hold on to the past, it is because something is actually slipping away—and they don’t like change. So, they “white knuckle” it and try to hold on to the “good old days” because they are afraid of new things on the horizon that will not be as good as the things in the past.

But here’s what we know to be true—we have to move beyond just white fists and black knuckles. We can’t afford to have the race conversation from just one perspective. We need open-handed conversations about race and opportunities to discuss relevant issues in the church from both a black and white perspective. Our call as Christians is to love all people, and we can’t do that with closed fists. Racial diversity in the church is an opportunity to open our hands instead of an obstacle. We need to learn how to open our hands and surrender.

Consider

If you or any of your fellow group members do not know one another, take a few minutes to introduce yourselves. Then, to get things started, discuss one of the following questions:

• What opportunities have you had lately to talk about God and race?

— or —

• How has your church recently addressed conversations about race and faith?

Read

Invite someone to read aloud the following passage. Listen for new insights as you hear the verses being read, and then discuss the questions that follow.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. . . .

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

— 1 JOHN 4:7–12, 16–21

What does this passage say about everyone who is in the family of God?

[Your Response Here]

What does this passage have to do with how we approach the topic of racism?

[Your Response Here]

Watch

Play the video segment for session one (see the streaming video access provided on the inside front cover). As you watch, use the following outline to record any thoughts or concepts that stand out to you.

God cares about race. We have different skin colors, speak different languages, enjoy different cultures, and yet the Bible says we are all human beings made in the image of God.

[Your Response Here]

What is standing in our way of getting to where we need to go? Clenched fists. We hold onto the past, but we must be willing to receive with open hands.

[Your Response Here]

The black fist is a symbol of standing up against the residue of segregation, slavery, and the systematic oppression that was (and still is) happening against black people in our country.

[Your Response Here]

White knuckles is the other side of that equation. Many white Americans are still gripping to a long-standing paradigm of privilege that holds an advantage over people of color.

[Your Response Here]

There are three big problems that result in us keeping our fists clenched:

The pain problem: the pain of racism

[Your Response Here]

The paralysis problem: the failure to stand up to racism by saying that’s enough!

[Your Response Here]

The perfection problem: perfection as a prerequisite for progress as it relates to racism

[Your Response Here]

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were the original cancel culture. There is a story in John 8 where they catch a woman in adultery. They demanded perfection from her, but since she fell short, she sat paralyzed in fear in the temple courts—until Jesus entered the picture.

[Your Response Here]

One day every tribe, tongue, and nation will be worshiping together. Until that day comes, our job is to work to make that a reality today. And we can’t do that with closed fists.

[Your Response Here]

Discuss

Take a few minutes with your group members to discuss what you just watched, and then explore these concepts in Scripture.

1. What stood out to you from listening to John and Wayne today? How can you identify with the stories they shared?

[Your Response Here]

2. In what ways have problems caused by clenched fists—either black fists or white knuckles—shaped your own story? Which problem is most prevalent for you—the problem of pain, the problem of paralysis, or the problem of perfection?

[Your Response Here]

3. The Bible gives us a beautiful picture of the beginning and end of the human story in Genesis 1:26–31 and Revelation 7:9–17. What stands out to you in these verses and gives you hope about the beginning and the end of our story?

[Your Response Here]

4. Read Luke 10:25–37. There is a poignant reason that the story is called “The Good Samaritan” rather than “The Good Person.” How is this story a challenge for us today? Can you think of a modern-day example?

[Your Response Here]

5. Why do you think it is so hard for us to open our hands when it comes to the conversation on racism? What do we miss by keeping our fists clenched?

[Your Response Here]

6. What will you do to stay engaged and open to challenges throughout this study? What specific commitment will you make to your group today?

[Your Response Here]

Respond

Review the outline for the video teaching and any notes you took. In the space below, write down your most significant takeaway from this session.

[Your Response Here]

Pray

One of the most important things you can do together in community is to pray for each other. This is not simply a closing prayer to end your group time but a portion of time to share prayer requests, review how God has answered past prayers, and actually pray for one another. As you close your time together this week, thank God for creating every tribe and nation in his image and for loving all of us as his children. Ask him to search your heart and give you that kind of love toward others, especially when they look different than you. And ask God to help you keep an open mind and open hands regarding this conversation on God and race over the next few sessions. Use the space below to record prayer requests and praises.

Name	Request/Praise

SESSION ONE

BETWEEN-SESSIONS
PERSONAL STUDY

Reflect on the material you have covered during this week’s group time by engaging in the following personal studies. Each day offers a short reading adapted from God and Race, along with a few reflection questions to take you deeper into the theme of this week’s study. (You may also want to review chapters 1–3 in the book before you begin.) Be sure to read the reflection questions and make a few notes in your guide about the experience. At the start of your next group session, you will have a few minutes to share any insights that you learned.

Day One: The Pain of Racism

Read Genesis 32:22–32 and Matthew 11:25–30.

If you’ve ever experienced racism, you know how bad it hurts. When Wayne was just eight years old and living in the Bronx, he watched a white teenager call his mom the N-word and throw a rock that hit his mother in the back. He could tell it hurt her because she grimaced in pain when it happened. But she just looked over at Wayne and said in her deep, calm Jamaican voice, “Don’t worry, jus’ keep walkin,’ babee.” As an eight-year-old boy, Wayne was angry, confused, and sad all at once. The way his mother responded was one of the most important lessons of his life. She responded like a champion when sh...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Streaming Video Access
• Ebook Instructions
• Contents
• Introduction
• How to Use This Guide
• Session 1: Open Your Hands
• Session 2: Start In Your Heart
• Session 3: What About Your Home?
• Session 4: Use Your Influence
• Session 5: A House That Looks Like Heaven
• Closing Words
• Leader’s Guide