Rule Breakers | Learning Guide

July 30th, 2023

Introduction:​

For children, rules are designed to help make sense of the world in which boundaries are intended to keep them safe, abide by social norms, and generally help them become successful adults. If you’re like me, you generally love rules. You treat them like a playbook where if you play your hand just right, you won’t get in trouble but your siblings will. I am the youngest of three and while I am the presumed trouble maker, the rule breaker, I used rules to earn praise, love, and attention. I navigated my life attempting to avoid behavior that would earn me scoldings, groundings, or the dreaded baseboard to the bum. As an adult reflecting on these behaviors and motivations I realize that I used rules to self protect as opposed to protecting others. I used the unspoken rules of our society to insulate myself rather than see potential injustices happening around me. And while children shouldn’t and aren’t expected to see the oppression of others around them or speak up on their behalf even, God does call His children, He calls you and me, to do just that.

Shannon and the Teaching Team

Big Idea:

Throughout the text we are called to protect the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow, but if we fail to do so, God will hear their cry and respond justly.

Take Away:

Breaking the rules of Empire in favor of protecting the oppressed can feel daunting, but it’s one of the most common themes found throughout the Bible, and one of the few rules we’re called to continually abide by.

Text:

Exodus 21:21-27 (NET)

How does this fit with Belong, Become, Believe?

Ignoring the oppressed, taking the voice from the voiceless, and perpetuating a system of exclusion will always create a divide that can’t be bridged.

Resources:

Exodus 2:23-25, 3:7 (NET)

Psalm 137 (NET)

What's Next?

Betty takes us through Exodus 29:20.