{"id":927961,"date":"2025-01-23T12:25:59","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T17:25:59","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-06-23T17:24:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:24:47","slug":"bible-study-epiphany-6-c-february-16-2025","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/bible_study\/bible-study-epiphany-6-c-february-16-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Epiphany 6 (C) \u2013 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/epiphany-6c\/\">RCL: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/E6-2025-Bible-Study-Graphic-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-327963\" style=\"width:512px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This Bible study is part of a series produced by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/ministries\/global-partnerships\/\">the Office of Global Partnerships<\/a> of The Episcopal Church.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-jeremiah-17-5-10\"><strong>Jeremiah 17:5-10<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to. And the saddest thing is that most children are not even aware of the fate that awaits us. We will not understand it until it\u2019s too late. And yet we are the lucky ones. Those who will be affected the hardest are already suffering the consequences. But their voices are not heard.\u201d<br><em>\u2013 Greta Thunberg, climate activist, from a 2019 excerpt of a speech to the British Parliament<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jeremiah 17:5-10 warns of the consequences of trusting in human strength and turning away from God. It states, \u201cCursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.\u201d This passage highlights the senselessness of relying solely on human wisdom without grounding our actions in God\u2019s will. Greta Thunberg\u2019s words on climate change echo Jeremiah\u2019s prophecy. The \u00abfalse hope\u00bb she describes reflects misplaced trust in systems prioritizing short-term gains over long-term care for creation. This disregard for responsibility reveals a disconnection from God\u2019s call to stewardship and justice.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jeremiah compares the cursed to barren bush in the wasteland and those who are blessed with the tree planted by water, symbolizing the difference between separation from God and a life rooted in him. Likewise, humanity&#8217;s neglect of creation has led to barren lands, rising seas, and suffering, especially among the most vulnerable\u2014those whose cries for help often go unheard. Jeremiah reminds us that God examines the heart and rewards deeds. Our environmental crisis calls for an honest evaluation of our actions and our Christian calling to Creation Justice. As stewards of God\u2019s creation, we must act with justice and compassion. Aligning our efforts with God\u2019s will can restore hope and healing for all generations.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Where have you placed your trust in addressing local, national, and global issues like climate justice \u2013 on human systems and temporary solutions, or on God\u2019s guidance and principles of Climate Justice? (read Gen 2:15, Ps 24:1, Lev 25:23-24, Isa: 24:4-5, Rom 8:19-21, Mic 6:8, Rev 11:18)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can you actively respond to the cries of this generation, who are suffering the most from environmental consequences? Whose are the voices that you need to hear? Indigenous? Young people or elders?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-psalm-1\"><strong>Psalm 1<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00abFor Aboriginal leaders, the social and moral obligation that comes with community leadership is life-long. Those who lead, who have authority, must care for and look after those who come behind.\u00bb<br>&#8211; <em>Patrick Dodson, former Aboriginal senator of Australia, 2016 &#8211; 2024<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Psalm 1 paints a vivid picture of the life of the righteous and contrasts it with the way of the wicked. We can view leadership in the same manner, as it portrays the righteous as \u201clike trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season.\u201dThis resonates deeply with the Aboriginal worldview, particularly in the context of former Senator Patrick Dodson\u2019s reflection on leadership. Dodson emphasizes the life-long moral obligation of leaders to nurture and protect their communities, ensuring the well-being of future generations. The righteous person delights in God\u2019s law and meditates on it day and night; their actions are rooted in wisdom and sustained by a life-giving source, enabling leaders to provide stability and growth for those around them. Like a tree\u2019s roots anchoring it firmly, a leader\u2019s connection to the divinity of God\u2019s law, their cultural identity, and community enables us to care for others selflessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But leadership in wickedness is often driven by self-interest, power, and greed; it disregards the wellbeing of others, is short-sighted, and is unstable. Wicked leadership leads to instability and division, and eventually fails the community with long-term consequences, as in verse 4: \u201cThey are like chaff which the wind blows away.\u201dThey lack a firm foundation and cannot withstand challenges or judgment. Wickedness erodes trust and brings harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dodson\u2019s call to care for those who come behind parallels Psalm 1\u2019s emphasis on living a life that nurtures collective prosperity; we are many trees planted by streams of water. This reflection invites us to consider leadership as an act of custodianship \u2014grounded in faith, with a profound responsibility rooted in care, safeguarding land, culture, tradition, and knowledge, sustained by wisdom, and aimed at nurturing both individuals and communities and the future generations to come \u2013 this is collective prosperity. <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In what ways does your role as a custodian \u2013 whether of relationships, community, church life, or the environment \u2013 reflect a commitment to the values of Psalm 1?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can you cultivate a leadership style that embodies the characteristics of the \u201ctrees planted by streams of water\u201d in Psalm 1 \u2013 ensuring your leadership is an act of custodianship?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can you recognize and address signs of wickedness in leadership? How do we safeguard the collective to ensure prosperity for all?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-corinthians-15-12-20\"><strong>1 Corinthians 15:12-20<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat the Gospel did not come as Good News for Aboriginal people, but rather came as bad news, was due to the notion held by Missionaries that all of Aboriginal Culture was demonic. Thus began a Ministry of oppression and degradation, in trying to turn Aboriginal people into White folk. So, today the Christian faith of Aboriginal people is endeavouring to Aboriginalise the Gospel and Christian teaching.\u201d<br><em>&#8211; Bishop James Leftwich, from <\/em>Christian Faith and Aboriginal Culture<em>, National Council of Churches in Australia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As people of faith, we hold this tension of the resurrection as an anchor to our Christian faith, proclaiming that without Christ\u2019s resurrection, faith is futile and humanity remains in sin. The Apostle Paul\u2019s writing challenges believers to recognize the transformative power of the Gospel, but how is this message being shared and received across others and cultures?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bishop James Leftwich\u2019s words shed light on the historical tension between the Christian faith and our experience as Indigenous people and Aboriginal culture. Missionaries, in their colonial mindset, often misrepresented the Gospel by framing Aboriginal traditions and identity as inherently demonic. This injustice opposes the gift of transformative justice we inherit in the resurrection of Christ, which restores and redeems all creation. Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians are reclaiming their faith by \u201cAboriginalising\u201d the Gospel, ensuring it speaks to our unique experiences through a cultural lens. This act of resistance and restoration demonstrates the Gospel\u2019s true purpose \u2013 a message of hope, liberation, and justice. The church must confront its complicity in oppression and injustice; it must embody a faith that upholds transformative justice and true reconciliation.&nbsp; <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How does the resurrection of Christ challenge us to confront systems of oppression and embody a faith that brings restoration and dignity for all?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In what ways can we ensure that the resurrection and faith are shared and lived out in ways that honor justice and truth-telling for marginalized and oppressed communities? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-luke-6-17-26\"><strong>Luke 6:17-26<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are places in the churches where, because I am a woman, I am not allowed to speak or lead. In my diocese, in most places this is not the case. It can be a covert discrimination in lots of places and even sadly amongst women who have been conditioned to do this as well. As an Aboriginal person there is even more suspicion and anxiety, because when I include Aboriginal objects or Aboriginal spiritual thoughts people feel threatened.\u201d<br><em>&#8211; The Rev. Canon Aunty Di Langham, director of reconciliation in the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, from <\/em>Common Grace<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This passage calls for radical inclusivity and solidarity with those on the margins, a vision of God\u2019s upside-down kingdom, where the poor, hungry, weeping, and excluded are blessed. We also challenge societal discourses; we must continue to affirm God\u2019s justice by uplifting the marginalized and oppressed while warning the privileged, for they will be cursed. <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Rev. Canon Aunty Di Langham describes this ongoing struggle for inclusion within the church. Her words highlight the double standard faced by women, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, in spaces where their voices and cultural expressions are met with suspicion and anxiety. Her statement echoes the exclusion Jesus addresses, where societal structures marginalize those deemed as \u00abother.\u00bb This passage and Aunty Di\u2019s reflection invite us to examine ourselves as Christians, challenging us to confront our complicity in systems that perpetuate inequality. As followers of Christ, we are reminded to embrace diverse voices and perspectives, to seek reconciliation and justice, and to embody the inclusive love of God\u2019s Kingdom in our communities. <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How can we align our hearts with Jesus\u2019s vision of justice and inclusion as described in Luke 6:17 &#8211; 26?<strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can you support and amplify the voices of those who feel silenced or marginalized, as Aunty Di Langham describes?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-a7a62433-32eb-44fd-8c14-c18dca226f49\" href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Epiphany-6-Bible-Study.docx\">Word \u2013 Epiphany 6 (C) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Epiphany-6-Bible-Study.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-a7a62433-32eb-44fd-8c14-c18dca226f49\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-1805120d-2418-4df8-9d91-5f69b05f7337\" href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Epiphany-6-Bible-Study.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Epiphany 6 (C) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Epiphany-6-Bible-Study.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-1805120d-2418-4df8-9d91-5f69b05f7337\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RCL: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26 This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church. Jeremiah 17:5-10 \u201cYou lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to. And the saddest&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23,32,52,3],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-927961","bible_study","type-bible_study","status-publish","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-epiphany","category-sermons-that-work","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-epiphany-6c"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Bible Studies"},{"value":32,"label":"Epiphany"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":260,"label":"Epiphany 6C"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/927961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bible_study"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/927961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":951975,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/927961\/revisions\/951975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=927961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=927961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=927961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}