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Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Technical Assistance Network (MICTAN)

First Century Theology, 21st Century Ministry: Contextual Bible Study for Contemporary Realities. Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Technical Assistance Network (MICTAN). Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D. Professor of Old Testament Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston, Illinois.

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Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Technical Assistance Network (MICTAN)

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  1. First Century Theology, 21st Century Ministry: Contextual Bible Study forContemporary Realities Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Technical Assistance Network (MICTAN) Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D. Professor of Old Testament Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston, Illinois

  2. Objectives By the end of these sessions participants will: 1. Explain the term ‘contextual Bible study’ and identify how it differs from traditional Bible study 2. Identify the principles of contextual Bible study 3. Describe how important it is to consider the contemporary realities of congregations and communities when working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS 4. Know how to develop a Bible study utilizing the principles of contextual Bible study “Conversations That Cultivate Leadership That Transforms Communities Through HIV/AIDS Prevention”

  3. Overview Contextual Bible Study is a way of doing Bible studies that was developed in South Africa in the midst of ongoing struggles against poverty, violence, and HIV/AIDS

  4. Contextual Bible Study: The Experience Reading the story of Ruth as a story about social justice • Summary of story • Hear the story • 2:1-13, 14-23 • 3:1-7, 8-18 • 4:1-6

  5. Contextual Bible Study Question #1 How have you normally heard this story used? Now, we’re going to see how it relates to the theme of social justice

  6. Contextual Bible Study Question #2 Who are the main characters? What do we know about each of them? Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, and male next-of-kin (chapter 4)

  7. Contextual Bible Study Question #3 Who are the “Ruths” (male or female) in our communities today?

  8. Contextual Bible Study Question #4 Reading Ruth as a story relating to social justice; what kinds of programs and initiatives should we work to put in place today?

  9. Contextual Bible Study Question #5 How would such changes improve our ability to prevent HIV and AIDS?

  10. The Four Principles of Contextual Bible Study Context = incorporating the perspectives of the poor, marginalized, working-class, and others

  11. The Four Principles of Contextual Bible Study Community = reading the Bible in community

  12. The Four Principles of Contextual Bible Study Criticality = using resources of critical thinking in the academy and in communities

  13. The Four Principles of Contextual Bible Study Change = seeking individual and social transformation as a result of reading the Bible Dr. SarojiniNadar University of KwaZulu-Natal

  14. A comparison . . . Traditional Bible Study Contextual Bible Study Teacher is a facilitator Participants develop the answers from the “bottom up” Student role is active Process assumes passage can have several meanings • Teacher is the expert • Teacher gives participants answers from the “top down” • Student role is passive • Process assumes passage has only one meaning

  15. The Biblical Foundation for Contextual Bible Study My proposal . . . Contextual Bible study is an example of inclusive biblical interpretation. Inclusive biblical interpretation takes into account the realities and perspectives of the marginalized.

  16. Biblical Foundation for Contextual Bible Study Jesus considers the impact of an interpretation on the marginalized Then he said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! For Moses said, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.” But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban” (that is, an offering to God*)—then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.’ Mark 7:9-13

  17. Biblical Foundation for Contextual Bible Study Jesus’ new interpretation is grounded in the biblical tradition Example: Matthew 23:23-28 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

  18. Biblical Foundation for Contextual Bible Study I hate, I despise your festivals,   and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings,   I will not accept them;and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals   I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs;   I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters,   and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:21-24

  19. Biblical Foundation for Contextual Bible Study Jesus identifies the absolute requirement of God Example Matthew 22:34-40 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’

  20. Biblical Foundation for Contextual Bible Study Jesus includes the excluded (against traditional practices) • Sinners and tax collectors (Mark 2:16) • Samaritan woman (John 4:7-26) • Poor, crippled, blind, lame (Luke 14:16-24; contrasted with Leviticus 21:16-20) • Bent-over woman healed on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17)

  21. Biblical Foundations and our Reading of Ruth Jesus considers the impact of an interpretation on the marginalized We have considered the realities of our communities and the impact of traditional interpretations

  22. Biblical Foundations and our Reading of Ruth Jesus’ new interpretation is grounded in the biblical tradition We have read the biblical version of the story of Ruth, and our interpretation is consistent with the call for justice in Amos

  23. Biblical Foundations and our Reading of Ruth Jesus identifies the absolute requirement of God Our interpretation affirms the presence of a loving God and we love our neighbors enough to take measures to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS

  24. Biblical Foundations and our Reading of Ruth Jesus includes the excluded (against traditional practices) We have included those who have been excluded because of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation in God’s radically inclusive community

  25. How to do Contextual Bible Study • Start by identifying a theme • Example: social justice

  26. The Contextual Bible Study ‘Sandwich’ Bread See Contextual Bible Study begins with the reality, experience and resources of the community … In-between we re-read the Bible, slowly, carefully, and closely, using relevant resources Judge Meat … and ends with the reality, experience, and resources of the community. Bread Act

  27. Contextual Bible Study and Ruth Bread: How have you normally heard this story used? Meat: Who are the main characters? Bread: Who are the “Ruths” in our communities? What kinds of programs and initiatives need to be put in place?

  28. Conclude with Action • Formulate an action plan • The action plan must be owned by the community • An action plan has three levels • an immediate course of action to implement • a plan of action that requires some time and resources to implement • a dream of an action that will require extensive resources

  29. Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Technical Assistance Network (MICTAN) Resources: University of KwaZulu-Natal's Resources on Contextual Bible Study (http://www.sorat.ukzn.ac.za/ujamaa) Cheryl B. Anderson, Ancient Laws and Contemporary Controversies (Oxford University Press, 2009)

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