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INTRODUCTION
As participants in these World Vision
Bible Studies, you will already be a caring person.
But sometimes it is hard to know how to express that
care in everyday life. We hope and pray that as you
study the Bible and look at some of the world's needs,
you will be able to discover ways in which you can also
be a sharing person. God can use your vision, your resources,
your love and your life to make a difference for a needy
world.
Now, as you begin . . .
The studies are best done in a group context, with both
the group leader and other participants having done
some preparation in advance.
STORY
We begin with a story and then a reflection on that
material. This dual activity, which might take about
15 minutes, sets a framework for the rest of the study
and provides a springboard into the biblical texts.
BIBLE STUDY
The Bible passages invite us to hear the word of God
and then unravel its applications for each of the themes.
This will be a process likely to take 20-30 minutes
for the main passage (maybe 40-50 minutes if you look
at all the biblical material).
RESPONSE
The next component of the study is an invitation to
"earth" what has emerged from the study, a
decision to act in some concrete and perhaps new way
to meet some element of the challenges discussed. A
personal-plus-group activity like this could occupy
between 10 and 20 minutes.
PRAYER
The study concludes with prayer. A prayer is included
for your individual or group use, or you can create
your own. Depending on the size of the group, it should
be possible to complete the study in about an hour and
a half.
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose
the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to
provide the poor wanderer with shelter- When you see
the naked, to clothe him and not to turn away from your
own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth
like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the
glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will
cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do
away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing
finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves
on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the need of the
oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become the noonday.
Isaiah 58: 6-10 (New International Version)
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