Redemptive Poverty Work Student Workbook

2 0 / R E D E M P T I V E P O V E R T Y W O R K S T U D E N T W O R K B O O K

• The Old Testament stresses the principle of creating pathways of opportunity for the poor. • Jesus was not wealthy when he lived on earth and his ministry occurred mainly among the common people. • Jesus showed special concern for those in poverty. • Jesus warned against riches and condemned economic injustice.

Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about our lesson, A Brief Theological Reflection . What questions do you have, considering the material you have just studied?

Student Application and Implications

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CASE STUDY

Having completed this teaching, revisit the case study from earlier in the lesson. How might you respond differently, given the content of the teaching? A young urban minister who oversees training volunteers for a tutoring program for a school in an impoverished neighborhood has come to you for advice. Her job is to give an orientation before the volunteers are assigned kids to work with. She has found that she consistently runs into a problem. In every orientation a debate breaks out among the new volunteers concerning the causes of poverty. One group argues that people are poor because they made bad choices in their lives. The others argue that people are poor because of economic injustice. Rarely does either group cite Scripture to back up their arguments. What is your advice to her?

page 15 & 7

Redemptive Poverty Work is anchored on a simple, practical theology that includes renewing your thinking concerning people living in poverty, identifying your own preconceived ideas on poverty against key biblical themes, and affirming basic truths related to doing poverty work.

Restatement of the Lesson’s Thesis