Be the Change: Embracing Justice and Righteousness

Oct 10, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Living Without a King—Everyone Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes

When society lacks a unifying standard or authority, people tend to follow their own sense of right and wrong, leading to confusion, division, and moral chaos. This is not just a historical observation but a present reality, as many today seek to define justice and morality on their own terms, often resulting in conflict and a lack of true justice. The call is to recognize the need for a higher standard—God’s standard—so that our actions and decisions are rooted in truth and righteousness, not just personal preference. [09:08]

Judges 21:25 (ESV)
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to set your own standard of right and wrong instead of seeking God’s guidance and authority? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 2: Justice and Righteousness—God’s Standard Above All

True justice cannot exist apart from righteousness, and both are defined by God’s character and ways. When we try to establish justice based solely on human reasoning or compassion, we risk ignoring the consequences of actions and the rights of others, including God’s rights. God’s justice is not only about fairness among people but about honoring Him as the ultimate authority, ensuring that our pursuit of justice aligns with His truth and righteousness. [16:49]

Psalm 89:14 (ESV)
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Reflection: Think of a current issue—personal or societal—where you desire justice. How can you intentionally seek God’s standard of righteousness in your response or involvement?

Day 3: Jesus Is the Standard—Grace and Freedom Through His Sacrifice

Grace and freedom are not arbitrary gifts; they were purchased at a great cost through the sacrifice of Jesus. Just as the freedoms enjoyed in society often come through the sacrifices of others, our spiritual freedom and the grace we receive are rooted in the shedding of Jesus’ blood. Recognizing Jesus as the standard means understanding that all true righteousness, justice, and grace flow from Him, and our lives should reflect gratitude and alignment with His example. [17:17]

Romans 3:23-26 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Reflection: In what ways can you express gratitude for the grace and freedom Jesus has given you, both in your private devotion and in your actions toward others today?

Day 4: Be the Difference—Turning Conviction Into Action

It is not enough to be motivated or inspired; real change happens when conviction leads to action. Each person has a sphere of influence, and God calls us to use our voice and our actions—whether in our community, church, or daily interactions—to bring about positive change and reflect His love and truth. Even small acts of obedience and courage can have a ripple effect, impacting not just individuals but entire communities and even the nation. [37:14]

James 2:17 (ESV)
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today—no matter how small—to be a difference-maker for Christ in your home, workplace, or community?

Day 5: Unity With Compassion and Truth—Engaging Others With the Heart of Jesus

True unity is not about watering down convictions but about engaging others with both compassion and truth. Even when people hold opposing views, it is possible to interact with respect, grace, and a desire for understanding, trusting that God can use these moments to plant seeds and open hearts. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be both bold in our message and gentle in our approach, always seeking to reflect the heart of Christ in every conversation and relationship. [25:30]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV)
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Reflection: Who is someone with whom you disagree or find it difficult to connect? How can you intentionally reach out to them this week with both compassion and truth, reflecting the heart of Jesus?

Sermon Summary

In this season of change, both in the weather and in our nation, there is a stirring among people—especially the next generation—to step up and be a voice for truth, justice, and righteousness. Recent events, like our gathering at the University of Nebraska Omaha, have shown that people from all backgrounds are hungry for real conversation and genuine solutions to the challenges facing our country. The presence of God was tangible, and it was clear that He is opening doors for us to engage, not just in debate, but in meaningful encounters that can awaken hearts to His truth.

One of the central themes that emerged is the need for a true standard of justice—one that honors not only the rights of individuals but, first and foremost, the rights of God. In a culture where everyone does what is right in their own eyes, we are reminded that justice and righteousness are inseparable, and both are rooted in the person of Jesus. Without a divine standard, our attempts at justice become subjective and ultimately fall short. The freedoms we enjoy, both spiritually and nationally, were purchased at a great price, and it is our responsibility to steward them with wisdom and action.

We are called not just to talk about change, but to be the change. This means getting involved—whether that’s through local organizations, attending town halls, or simply being present and active in our communities and churches. The days of passive Christianity are over; now is the time to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to bring light where there is darkness, and to counter the negative narratives with hope and truth. Our influence is not limited to grand platforms; even small acts of faithfulness in our daily lives can ripple out and impact the nation.

Ultimately, the goal is not just to win arguments or debates, but to see people encounter Jesus, discover their true identity, and experience heaven on earth. We are committed to moving forward with compassion, boldness, and unwavering commitment to biblical truth. As we continue to gather, pray, and act, we believe God will use this generation to bring about a divine reset in our nation—one that starts with each of us choosing to be the difference in our own spheres of influence.

Key Takeaways

1. True justice cannot exist apart from God’s standard of righteousness. When society abandons objective truth and everyone does what is right in their own eyes, chaos and injustice follow. Honoring God’s rights first sets the foundation for honoring the rights of others and brings clarity to complex issues like immigration, free speech, and governance. [09:08]
2. Every action has a consequence, and compassion must be balanced with accountability. When discussing issues like illegal immigration, it’s not enough to simply feel compassion; we must also consider the impact on those who follow the law and the broader community. Justice requires that we uphold consequences for wrongdoing while still extending grace where possible. [11:20]
3. Justice and righteousness are inseparable, and both are fulfilled in Jesus. The freedoms we enjoy—spiritually and nationally—were purchased through sacrifice, and it is only by aligning with God’s standard that we can truly steward these freedoms. Grace is not cheap; it was established through the ultimate price paid by Christ, and it calls us to live with both conviction and compassion. [16:14]
4. Real change begins with action, not just conversation. It’s easy to talk about what needs to be done, but transformation happens when we step out, get involved, and use our voices and gifts to make a difference. Whether it’s attending a local meeting, serving in your church, or simply reaching out to someone in need, every act of faithfulness matters and can have a national impact. [27:25]
5. The ultimate goal is to see people encounter Jesus and walk in their true identity. Debates and discussions are important, but they are a means to a greater end: awakening hearts to the truth of God, breaking off worldly mindsets, and empowering people to live out their purpose. As we move forward, let’s do so with boldness, compassion, and a commitment to release heaven on earth in every sphere of influence. [22:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - Chiefs Takeover and Special Guest Introduction
[01:41] - Matthew Joins from the Road
[03:53] - Recap of UNO Event and Panel
[04:29] - Presence of God and Open Doors
[07:32] - Community Engagement and Streaming
[08:34] - Unity Amidst Division
[09:08] - Justice, Rights, and God’s Standard
[11:20] - Compassion, Consequences, and True Justice
[16:14] - Righteousness, Grace, and Freedom
[19:58] - The Power of Conversation
[21:07] - Responding to Tragedy with Action
[22:12] - Encountering Jesus and True Identity
[27:25] - Moving from Ideas to Action
[29:00] - The Bible and Governance
[31:41] - The Call to Vote and Engage
[33:37] - Countering Darkness with Light
[35:07] - Equipping the Next Generation
[37:14] - Influence Beyond the Platform
[40:44] - Encouragement and Closing Remarks
[42:26] - Supporting the Movement and Resources
[43:43] - Breaking Cycles and Walking in Freedom
[47:43] - A Turning Point for Your Life

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

Judges 21:25 (ESV)

> In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

> He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Observation Questions

According to Judges 21:25, what was the result when there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes? How does this relate to the current state of our culture as described in the sermon? [[09:08]]
In Micah 6:8, what three things does the Lord require of us? How do these requirements connect to the sermon’s emphasis on justice and righteousness?
The sermon mentioned that Jesus is the standard for justice and righteousness. What examples were given of how Jesus’ sacrifice established grace and freedom for us? [[16:14]]
What are some practical ways the sermon suggested for being “the hands and feet of Jesus” in our communities? [[27:25]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon draws a parallel between the time of the Judges and today, where “everyone does what is right in their own eyes.” What dangers arise when society abandons a shared standard of truth and justice? [[09:08]]
How does honoring God’s rights first help us better honor the rights of others, especially in complex issues like immigration or free speech? [[09:08]]
The message emphasized that “justice and righteousness are inseparable, and both are fulfilled in Jesus.” What does it mean for our daily lives to align with God’s standard rather than our own? [[16:14]]
The sermon said, “Real change begins with action, not just conversation.” Why do you think it’s easy to talk about change but harder to actually step out and do something? [[27:25]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to move from passive Christianity to active involvement. What is one specific way you can get involved in your community, church, or local government this month? [[27:25]]
When you think about issues like justice or immigration, do you tend to lean more toward compassion or accountability? How can you balance both, as the sermon suggests, in your conversations and actions? [[11:20]]
The message said that “every act of faithfulness matters and can have a national impact.” Can you share a time when a small action you took made a bigger difference than you expected? How might God be calling you to take a new step of faithfulness now? [[37:14]]
The sermon talked about being a light in the darkness and countering negative narratives with hope and truth. What is one negative narrative you encounter regularly, and how can you respond to it with hope and truth this week? [[33:37]]
The ultimate goal is to see people encounter Jesus and walk in their true identity. Who in your life needs to experience the love and truth of Jesus? What is one thing you can do to help them take a step closer to Him? [[22:12]]
The message reminded us that grace is not cheap—it was purchased at a great price. How does remembering the cost of grace affect the way you live and treat others? [[16:14]]
The sermon encouraged us to “be the difference” in our own spheres of influence. What is one area of your life where you feel called to be a difference-maker right now? What’s holding you back, and how can the group pray for you as you step out? [[37:14]]

Sermon Clips

“The one thing that I think is bringing everybody together is we all recognize that the current condition of this nation is not good. And what we mean by that is what we've seen the last four years, where anything goes, anybody does what they see is right in their own eyes. Which by the way, I saw that the liberal left is planning another no Kings Day Protest event on October 18th. And that's something that we're gonna pray against. But also that's something we should also be looking as believers, kingdom minded people and those who genuinely have a love for this nation, we should be countering that by coming together and rallying and having something else that will shine light instead of highlighting the negativity and the evil of this, no Kings Day, because that goes back to the Bible verse where it said when there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”

“Politics is about justice, which involves the rights of all parties involved not being infringed, which includes God's rights first and foremost. And so what we're looking at right now is people, people are trying to rectify in their minds what actual justice looks like. What does it look like to be able to see my neighbor have rights while my rights are also not infringed upon, but ultimately while God's rights are honored, which is the standard for everything.”

“If you want true justice, you can't allow something illegal to happen without a consequence. And you can't ignore what people are doing right, either. And I think this brings about the larger issue, which, again, which I believe Charlie Kirk was trying to share with everybody, was like, look at. Everyone has a sense of morality in their own heart. But, yes, whose standard are you going off of? If you want to see justice and if you want to see things made right in this nation, you first have to look at truth. And then through truth, you have to understand that there is a completely different standard of honoring righteousness and ultimately justice, and that's only through God.”

“You can't have justice without righteousness, and you can't have righteousness without justice. So to your point, when you talk about grace and when you talk about really just honoring the freedoms that have been afforded to us, well, you have to understand, in order to get grace, there had to be a way for grace to be established, and that was through Jesus. Jesus is the standard. Jesus is the standard. He is our righteousness. So that means that's God's way of giving us grace.”

“If in order to address justice, you have to have a standard or God's way that we go about things, the way we go about honoring society, that will uphold the ability to honor people and to honor people's rights and ways of life.”

“The moment we stop having conversation is when violence begins to take over.”

“If this is something that is near and dear to your heart and you truly felt like you have had a turning point in your own life and you want to get involved, please help us. Email us, you know, DM us, message us, comment. Let's start finding ways to partner, to come together and to have a venue and platform where we can have conversations. But more importantly, the thing that is on Matthew and my heart is for people to begin to encounter Jesus. Look, we didn't just do this to have a debate or discussion. Yes, the issue, the, the issues of human affairs are very real and we need to have those discussions. But at the end of the day, this is ultimately about truth and releasing the truth about God and Jesus so that people's eyes can be awakened, veils can be torn off, worldly ideologies can be broken so that then we can begin to operate in our true purpose and identity in Christ, to see and experience heaven on earth.”

“It doesn't matter that people don't, may not say they believe in God or anything, but you're actually asking for heaven on earth. But the only way that you can do that is when you become awakened to Jesus and your identity in him. And we come together and say, okay, let's begin working and moving towards that in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“We're not afraid to do altar calls. We're not afraid to get up and pray for people, share a word of knowledge in the middle of that debate if it, if, if God decides to move that way. But we desire to see this whole nation changed. And I know it starts with this generation.”

“There was still recognition on both sides that, hey, we are both in this fight together, both sides, all of us. And for us, though we desire to end, without a doubt, we desire to impart the wisdom of Jesus we're not going to hold back on that. And so every time we approach this, it's always going to be from a biblical standard, a biblical viewpoint. But most importantly, too, it's going to be with the heart of Jesus and the heart of compassion, but with truth.”

“At the end of the day, we have to be about action and we have to be now about being, being the hands and the feet of Jesus. Jesus, yes, Jesus was powerful in his speech and his communication, but you know what? He was also out there in the middle of it all. And that is where God is desiring us to be as believers, but also as just American citizens.”

“If you think about this, Matt, I mean, we've had probably, what, since Roie Wade, what was that about 40, 50 years of inaction of the church? You know, we chose to stay out of so many different discussions that we needed to really be involved in. And so now it's really not an option. We must take action. We must use our voice. We must vote. Hello. We must vote. Be registered and vote. You got midterms coming up.”

“For those who are searching and wanting to know more about Jesus, this is about action within the local church as well. I noticed that. We've noticed that attendance has gone up local, locally with some of the churches, you know, shortly after Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Keep that going. You know, we can't just all of a sudden abandon the church either. It starts in the church and then you go out. So we need to make sure we always keep that order at the top of our mind, at the forefront.”

“There are very easy ways for you to begin to assimilate into not just politics. We talked about this last night, Matt, but we're talking about the governance of human affairs in daily life. It's not polit. And since this is dealing with governing human affairs on a day to day basis, this includes biblical biblio, this includes scripture because what is the Bible? The Bible governs daily human affairs. So this is not about separation of church and state. This is about you needing to get involved because it's about us as the individual citizen being able to govern ourselves, but establishing that standard through Jesus so a governmental system doesn't have to.”

“We believe this is the time now that God desires all of us to not be bound to past emotions, maybe past regrets, guilt, past failures. But this is the time now to move ahead in his goodness, but also knowing who we are in Him.”

“We pray that you are also not just motivated, because that's temporary, but you are inspired, and that flame inside of you is burning to be the difference. Not look for someone to be a difference, but you're ready and you are willing to. To be the difference for. Not just for, you know, for your. In. For your. For your sphere of influence, but also, you know, your voice can carry to the national level as well.”

“Your daily actions, even in your sphere of influence, can, if can, cause things to be shaken and changed, even at the national level. And Charlie Kirk proved that. And so, you know, you can do the same.”

“Despite the divisive rhetoric that has been so ridiculously portrayed across all of your media outlets, there is a unification where people generally want to see the goodness of God begin to overtake this nation. And that is something I know that going to release an amazing outpouring of God's presence, His love, but also the manifestation of his power. And you're going to see massive amounts of people coming to the Lord.”

“This is time now where God is using us in the big things and the small things as well to turn this nation around for what he has desired to see as a divine reset.”

“This is the time. This is that turning point. Not just for the nation, but for your life. Go be and do and change the game in your city.”

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