Being the One: Unity and Justice in Christ
Summary
Today marks the beginning of our “Summer of One” series, a tradition where we pause our regular teaching to focus on what it means to be unified as the body of Christ. Over the past two summers, we’ve explored identifying the “one” God calls us to reach and discovering the “one” spiritual gift we can use to serve others. This year, we’re taking it a step further: not just identifying or using a gift, but actually choosing to “be the one” through whom God works, so that together, as a unified church, the world can see Jesus in us.
Unity in the church is not just a nice idea—it’s the very means by which Jesus is revealed to the world. When we come together, setting aside our differences and working toward a common vision, we become the living, breathing body of Christ. This unity is not passive; it’s active, and it’s deeply tied to the biblical concept of justice. But justice, as God defines it, is often misunderstood. In our culture, justice is filtered through political or personal lenses, but the Bible’s vision is far richer and more demanding.
The Hebrew word for justice, “mishpat,” appears hundreds of times in Scripture and means more than just punishing wrongdoing. It’s about treating people equitably, giving people their rights, and—most often—restoring and supporting the most vulnerable. This is paired with “tzedakah,” or righteousness, which is about right relationships. Together, these call us to actionable compassion and equitable relationships, especially with those on the margins: the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the immigrant.
God’s heart beats for justice, and He calls us to make the problems of the vulnerable our own. There are no loopholes in Scripture that let us off the hook; living out biblical justice will cost us something—our time, resources, and comfort. But this is the way of Jesus, who didn’t just talk about justice but lived it, getting proximate to the hurting and lifting up the outcast. He tells us that what we do for the least of these, we do for Him.
This summer, we’re partnering with organizations and ministries that embody this kingdom-minded justice. Each week, we’ll highlight ways to serve, give, and get involved, so that together, we can be the unified church through which our community sees Jesus. The challenge is simple but profound: will you choose to be the one, so that together, we can show the world who Jesus is?
Key Takeaways
- Unity in the body of Christ is not just about agreement, but about active participation in God’s mission. When each person chooses to “be the one” through whom God works, our collective witness becomes a powerful revelation of Jesus to the world. True unity requires setting aside personal preferences and working together for a greater kingdom purpose. [10:06]
- Biblical justice is fundamentally different from our cultural or political definitions. Rather than being about retribution or fairness alone, it is about restoring the vulnerable, acting with mercy, humility, and love, and ensuring equitable relationships. Justice in God’s eyes is deeply relational and always seeks the flourishing of those on the margins. [19:22]
- There are no loopholes in God’s call to justice. Scripture consistently commands those with resources, influence, or voice to make the problems of the vulnerable their own. Living out this justice ethic will cost us—our time, energy, and comfort—but it is the non-negotiable way of God’s kingdom. [25:48]
- Jesus embodied justice by getting proximate to the hurting and marginalized. He didn’t just teach about justice; He lived it by touching the leper, dining with outcasts, and defending the vulnerable. Our call is to follow His example, seeing every person as made in God’s image and worthy of love, mercy, and grace. [29:03]
- What we do for the “least of these” is what we do for Jesus Himself. Our acts of justice, compassion, and service are not just good deeds—they are direct acts of worship and obedience to Christ. The unified church, living out this justice, becomes the clearest picture of Jesus the world will ever see. [32:07]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - Introducing the Summer of One
[02:10] - The Power of Church Unity
[04:15] - Recap: Identifying the One and Using Our Gifts
[06:30] - This Year’s Focus: Being the One
[08:05] - Why the Church Matters
[10:06] - The Church as the Body of Christ
[12:51] - Cultural Views of Justice
[16:06] - Biblical Justice: Mishpat and Tzedakah
[19:22] - Justice, Mercy, and Right Relationships
[21:18] - The Quartet of the Vulnerable
[23:30] - Justice Requires Proximity and Responsibility
[25:48] - No Loopholes: Justice Will Cost Us
[29:03] - Jesus as the Embodiment of Justice
[30:54] - The Final Judgment: Matthew 25
[32:07] - Serving the Least of These
[34:11] - Partnering with Kingdom-Minded Organizations
[36:22] - Prayer and Challenge for Unity
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Summer of One – Be the One”
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### Bible Reading
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 25:31–46 (ESV)
*(Read aloud in your group. This is the parable of the sheep and the goats, where Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”)*
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Micah 6:8, what three things does the Lord require of us?
2. In Matthew 25:31–46, what specific actions does Jesus say are done “for Him” when done for the “least of these”?
3. The sermon described two Hebrew words: “mishpat” (justice) and “tzedakah” (righteousness). What do these words mean, and how are they connected? [19:22]
4. The pastor said, “When the church is unified, the world sees Jesus.” What does it look like for the church to be unified, according to the sermon? [10:06]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God ties justice so closely to mercy and humility in Micah 6:8? What does this reveal about His character and what He wants from His people?
2. In Matthew 25, why does Jesus identify Himself with the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the prisoner? What does this say about how we should view and treat people on the margins?
3. The sermon emphasized that biblical justice is not just about fairness or punishment, but about restoring and supporting the vulnerable. How does this challenge or expand your understanding of justice? [16:06]
4. The pastor said there are “no loopholes” in God’s call to justice and that living this out will cost us something. Why do you think God designed it this way? [25:48]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us to “be the one” through whom God works. Is there a specific person or group in your life right now who is vulnerable or on the margins? What is one step you could take this week to get proximate and serve them? [21:18]
2. The pastor said, “Living a just life in accordance with God’s word, it just might cost you something.” What is one area of your life—time, money, comfort, reputation—that you sense God might be asking you to sacrifice for the sake of justice? [25:48]
3. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me.” How does this truth change the way you view acts of service or compassion, especially when they go unnoticed or unappreciated? [32:07]
4. The sermon talked about unity not just as agreement, but as active participation in God’s mission. What is one way you can set aside a personal preference or comfort to work together with others in the church for a greater kingdom purpose? [10:06]
5. The pastor mentioned that our culture often filters justice through political or personal lenses. Are there ways you have let politics or personal opinions shape your view of justice more than Scripture? How can you realign your perspective with God’s heart for justice? [12:51]
6. This summer, our church is partnering with organizations that serve the vulnerable. What is one practical way you can get involved—serving, giving, or advocating—so that our community can see Jesus through us? [34:11]
7. Think about a time when you saw someone in need but chose not to act. What held you back? What would it look like to respond differently next time, in light of Jesus’ example? [29:03]
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Close in prayer, asking God to give your group courage, humility, and unity as you seek to “be the one” for others this week.
Devotional
Day 1: When the Church is Unified, the World Sees Jesus
Unity in the body of Christ is not just a nice idea—it is the very means by which the world comes to see Jesus in action. When believers come together, setting aside differences and working toward a common vision, the presence of Jesus is made visible to those around them. This unity is not uniformity, but a beautiful joining of diverse gifts, backgrounds, and callings, all moving together as one body. The world is watching, and when the church is unified, it becomes a living testimony of Christ’s love, grace, and power. Imagine the impact if every believer chose to be the one through whom God works, so that together, the church could be the one through whom the community encounters Jesus. [10:06]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV)
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to build unity with someone in your church family, especially someone you don’t usually connect with?
Day 2: Biblical Justice Means Restoring and Uplifting the Vulnerable
Biblical justice is not merely about punishment or fairness; it is deeply rooted in restoring those who are vulnerable and ensuring that everyone is treated with equity, mercy, and humility. The heart of God beats for the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, and the poor—those often pushed to the margins of society. Justice in the Bible is about right relationships (tzedakah) lived out through actionable compassion (mishpat), creating a community where the vulnerable are seen, valued, and protected. This is not just a personal ethic but a communal calling, inviting us to make the problems of the vulnerable our own and to act on their behalf. [19:22]
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?
Reflection: Who in your community is vulnerable or overlooked, and how can you tangibly show them God’s justice and compassion this week?
Day 3: Justice Requires Proximity, Responsibility, and Personal Sacrifice
Living out biblical justice is uncomfortable because it demands that we get close to those in need, take responsibility for their burdens, and allow it to cost us something—whether time, energy, resources, or presence. There are no loopholes in Scripture that excuse us from this calling; instead, God asks us to let the suffering of the vulnerable become our own burden. True justice is not about passing the responsibility to someone else or the church as an institution, but about each of us choosing to act, even when it is inconvenient or costly. [25:48]
James 2:14-17 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Reflection: What is one area of comfort or convenience you can sacrifice this week to serve someone in need?
Day 4: Serving the “Least of These” is Serving Jesus Himself
Jesus makes it clear that our treatment of the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned is, in fact, our treatment of Him. When we provide food, shelter, care, and presence to the most vulnerable, we are not just doing good deeds—we are serving Christ Himself. This is the standard by which Jesus says we will be judged: whether we have lived with a bent toward justice for the poor and the vulnerable. Every act of compassion toward the “least of these” is an act of worship and obedience to Jesus, aligning our hearts with His kingdom ethic. [32:07]
Matthew 25:35-40 (ESV)
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Reflection: Who is one “least of these” in your life you can serve this week, and what specific action will you take to show them the love of Jesus?
Day 5: Embodying Justice Together Reveals Christ to the World
When the church unites to serve, partner with, and uplift the vulnerable in their communities, it becomes a living demonstration of Christ’s love and justice. This is not about charity or checking a box, but about embodying the unified love of Christ in practical ways—feeding the hungry, sheltering the unhoused, caring for vulnerable children, and supporting those on the margins. As we join together in kingdom-minded initiatives, we reveal to the world that Jesus cares for them and that they are loved by the Most High God. The impact of a unified, justice-driven church is transformative, both for those who serve and those who are served. [34:11]
John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Reflection: What is one way you can join with others in your church or community this week to serve together and make Christ’s love visible to those around you?
Quotes
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