Study 2: STEWARDSHIP

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#999933" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="040006e0ddwnfv.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Sage - Oxford's Christian Environmental Group</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sage Oxfords Christian Environmental Gr"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>STEWARDSHIP</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" background="041bec00esnpes.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0789e7a0.png" border=0 width="158" height="122" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Study 2: STEWARDSHIP</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B> The aim of this study is to explore our role as stewards of the world God has placed us in. There are three readings: it is recommended that you use the first one (Genesis) plus one of the other two. The Genesis passages look at the mandate God gave to the newly created people. The other two look at how that mandate can be put into practice.</div> <div> <B>Read </B> Genesis 1:26-31 and Genesis 2:4-20 </div> <div> <B>Note</B> Here we look at the two, quite different, stories of the creation of the human race, and what the similarities and differences of these stories can teach us about how we should relate to creation. Genesis 1 seems to be more dominant, using words like rule over and subdue, whereas Genesis 2 can be seen as gentler, as God commanded Adam to take care of the garden. The key verses are 1:28 and 2:15. Encourage your group to work out for themselves the significance of these differences. The first humans did not face the same environmental problems as we do today - maybe some of what God says was specifically geared to their circumstances. </div> <div>  <B>Discuss</B></div> <div> (1) Why do you think there are two stories of the creation of humanity? What differences can you find between them?</div> <div> (2) Look again at 1:28 and 2:15. Pick out the words which describe ways in which people should relate to creation. Discuss the meanings of these words and why you think God used them.</div> <div> (3) Have we interpreted these instructions correctly, or achieved the right balance between them? </div> <div> <B>Read </B>Leviticus 25:1-24 </div> <div> <B>Note </B>Among the laws God gave to Moses, there are several which concern what today we would regard as environmental issues. Here we look at two: the Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee. The rationale behind these, as given in the passage, is primarily practical. If these laws were followed, enough crops would be produced for everybody, including those at the bottom of the social scale (verse 6 - justice is a necessary part of stewardship). These laws were radical - so much so that it is doubtful that they were ever carried out in full, but our reason for studying them is to draw out principles which we can apply to ourselves. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Discuss</B></div> <div> (4) Verses 1-7 could almost come from Gardener's Question Time. Why do you think God is interested in such practical matters?</div> <div> (5) What do you think was the primary purpose of the Sabbatical Year? Was it physical or spiritual, for the people or for the land?</div> <div> (6) Looking at verses 8-24 again, how would you have reacted to the idea of the Jubilee year if you were living then? Would your attitude depend on your position in society? </div> <div> (7) Try to draw out the principles behind the Jubilee Year. (See especially verses 23-24.)</div> <div> (8) How can these principles be implemented in our society? (You might consider: allotment sharing, organic farming, the crisis in British agriculture, Third World debt)</div> <div> <B>Read </B>Matthew 25:14-29 </div> <div> <B>Note</B> This familiar parable is often applied to our stewardship of money or spiritual gifts. Here we apply it to our stewardship of the earth. At first sight it might appear to be very greedy - invest so as to get the highest return. This can be used to justify all kinds of environmental destruction, e.g. log as much rainforest timber as you can while it is still there. But this is a short term view and if we do that, future generations will suffer. In the parable, a time frame is provided by the master's return - a reference to the Second Coming. Some people think that Jesus' return means that it doesn't matter what we do to the earth now, but the parable suggests we will be held responsible for the way we use our resources.</div> <div> <B>Discuss</B></div> <div> (9) Jesus tells this parable to show something about the Kingdom of God. What does it tell us about the way our earthly life affects our eternal life in the Kingdom? </div> <div> (10) What aspects of life can this parable be applied to? What are our "talents"?</div> <div> (11) How could you apply it to our stewardship of the earth? Think carefully about this - is the parable telling us to exploit all we can as fast as we can?</div> <div> (12) Do you think the return of the master (verse 19) points to Jesus' Second Coming? If so, how should this affect our behaviour towards creation?</div> <bR> <div> <B>Worship </B></div> <div> Breathe on me breath of God. Give thanks with a grateful heart, I will give thanks to thee</div> <bR> <div> <B>Pray</B></div> <div> Leader: O God, your fertile earth is slowly being stripped of its riches,</div> <div> All: Open our eyes to see.</div> <div> Leader: O God, your living waters are slowly being choked with chemicals,</div> <div> All: Open our eyes to see. </div> <div> Leader: O God, your clean air is slowly being filled with pollutants, </div> <div> All: Open our eyes to see.</div> <div> Leader: O God, your creatures are slowly dying and your people are suffering, </div> <div> All: Open our eyes to see.</div> <div> Leader: God our Maker, so move us by the wonder of creation,</div> <div> All: That we repent and care more deeply.</div> <div> Leader: So move us to grieve the loss of life, </div> <div> All: That we learn to cherish and protect your world.</div> <bR> <div> From the Iona Community's Creation Liturgy. ©  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://ionabooks.com/newsite/sections/home/homepage.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://ionabooks.com/newsite/sections/ho"><U>Wild Goose Publications</U></A></FONT>, Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland. Reproduced by permission.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>