Congregational Discussion Guide

The Intercultural Study Committee invites you to utilize these questions with your congregation to explore the Revelation 7:9 vision and what Jesus calls us to become.You are welcome to share your answers with the committee by commenting on this post.

1) How did Jesus minister inter-culturally? What did he do to reach out to those from other cultures? What specific examples can you find in the Gospels of Jesus’ ministry to those from other cultural backgrounds?

2) Discuss ways in which we can overcome ethnocentrism, which means thinking “our way” (whether US American or even Brethren) is the “right way.”

3) What are some barriers to building intercultural relationships? How can we begin to overcome those barriers, especially looking to Jesus’ life and ministry as an example?

4) What are some things we can do specifically to meet –and love- people from a different race or culture in the next few weeks?

5) What would/can we change in our church to welcome – and accommodate- people from different cultures? How can we begin to put others’ needs above our own?

6) What other scriptures shed light on God’s plan for us to be an intercultural body of Christ?

7) What are the benefits of being an intercultural body of Christ?

8) What can we do to be more involved in the lives of those from other cultures in our community? How can we share and celebrate God’s love together?

9) How can we more intentionally build true Christian community within our congregation, moving more toward living the Revelation 7:9 vision? What does true Christian community look like?

10) What do the two great commandments mean in context of our congregation? Of worship?

Additional questions drawn from “The Second Mile” curriculum, “The Road to Emmaus”:

A) How might “church family” be experienced differently in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic congregation?

B) How do we practice community when people of different cultures, ethnic and racial backgrounds view community differently?

C) How can our own church family become more diverse?

D) Is the majority of your congregation culturally, racially, or economically similar? If the answer is yes, have members of your group commit to worshipping at least one time this month in a church community where you will not feel as socially at home. Then discuss these experiences together and how God was revealed through these experiences.