Prayer

God of Hope, be with me, with us today. Inspire us, encourage us, stir us up that we might know you better. That we might love you better. That we might see you, among these friends, today. Amen.

Introduction

The format is simple. Some teaching, some talking, some summarizing, some homework.

Questions

• What is it about the matters of war that cause us so many problems?
• What would it look like to truly embody the gospel imperative to nonviolence?

Further Study

• Read this article by Stephen Backhouse: Explaining Away Jesus’ Nonviolence
• Read the gospels through the eyes of one who doesn’t see war as inevitable.
• Engage with modern scholars specializing in nonviolence. Give particular attention to Stanley Hauerwas and John Howard Yoder.