Reframed, Part 5: Commonly Human

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

A question from God to me and you:
Is there any prejudice within you?

Racism, prejudice, and discrimination in any form is evil and
completely antithetical to the heart and gospel of Jesus.

The God of the Bible is not color.
He is currently and historically color.

How do we reclaim our common humanity?

Reframe

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10

Reframe the original

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven…  
⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs…
¹⁷ In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…
³² God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:5, 9-11, 17, 32, 41

Reframe the

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Reframe the of Jesus

⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:7-9

Reframe the of Jesus

Jesus was a dark-skinned, Middle Eastern, Jewish man. (Matthew 2:2)

Reframe the of Jesus

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13

God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him, and do what is right. Acts 10:34b-35

Reframe the of today

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

Reframe biblical

From one man, he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Acts 17:26

Reframe

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them. Genesis 1:27

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to
bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

Small Group Questions

1. Do you like the rain? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think the topic of race so uncomfortable for people to discuss?
3. What spoke to you from Grant’s experiences? How will this change your own future conversations?
4. Read all the scripture in the outline out loud. What is revealed to you about God’s character and his love for all people?
5. What is one tangible action step you can take today regarding the issue of our common humanity?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?