A Down-To-Earth Bible Study

The students who lead our InterVarsity chapter at the College of DuPage decided that one of our means of outreach last fall would be earth care projects. So a few of us spent some blissful hours one afternoon collecting seeds on the COD prairie: big bluestem, milkweed, yellow coneflower and more. Another morning we went to Jan Smith Park in Carol Stream, Illinois, where we collected other seeds, pulled up bindweed and learned more about prairie systems from Jan herself, a lovely Christian woman who established the park’s prairie plantings. My group Bible study is on earth care, and we have been stunned to learn how vast God’s heart is, not just for people but for the whole earth and its many creatures.

Our Bible study theme came about in response to the request of an environmental science major—she hopes to work in sustainable agriculture someday and wanted help in thinking theologically about her field. Another person joined because she was interested in learning what the Bible says about earth care, having never learned about it in church or other fellowships. And two more just wanted to be in a Bible study and found that their schedules fit! The study passages were from my out-of-print IVP® study guide Environmental Stewardship: Genesis 1—2, Psalm 104, Leviticus 25, Isaiah 5:7-16, Hosea 4:1-3, Colossians 1:9-23, Romans 8:18-27.

We were all especially moved the day we studied Leviticus and realized that we are guests on the earth, and God is our host (Leviticus 25:23). Two of those present were sisters from India, and it was very moving to consider that in context of the high Indian values of hospitality and hosting. I’m sure it’s the only time studying Leviticus has ever made me teary!

—Ruth Goring serves as InterVarsity staff at the College of DuPage in Illinois and also works as a copy editor for InterVarsity Press.