Creation Groans: Our Call to Care and Justice

Devotional

Day 1: Creation Groans and Waits for Redemption

Creation is not silent; it groans alongside humanity, longing for justice, healing, and restoration, as both the natural world and people suffer and hope together for God’s redemption. [53:30]

Romans 8:19-23 (ESV)
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Reflection: Where do you see or hear creation “groaning” in your community or in the world today, and how might God be inviting you to respond to that suffering this week?

Day 2: The Earth Is the Lord’s—We Are Stewards, Not Owners

Everything in the world belongs to God, and we are called to be faithful caretakers, tending and protecting creation rather than exploiting it for our own gain. [59:41]

Psalm 24:1-2 (ESV)
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can act as a steward of God’s creation today—whether in your home, neighborhood, or church?

Day 3: God’s First Call—To Tend and Keep, Not Exploit

From the beginning, God’s command was to tend and keep the earth, inviting us into a relationship of care and partnership with creation, not domination or exploitation. [01:01:41]

Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Reflection: In what area of your life have you treated something or someone as a possession rather than a gift to be tended—how can you shift your approach this week?

Day 4: Seeing the Image of God in Every Person

Every human carries the image of God (Imago Dei), and our words and attitudes toward others—especially those different from us—reflect how we honor or dishonor God’s name. [56:28]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Reflection: Think of someone you struggle to see in a positive light; what is one step you can take today to recognize and honor the image of God in them?

Day 5: Our Legacy—Planting Seeds for the Next Generation

We are part of a long story of God’s people, called to plant seeds of justice, compassion, and care so that future generations inherit a world and a faith marked by love and stewardship. [07:40]

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (ESV)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Reflection: What is one value or practice you want to intentionally pass on to the next generation—how can you begin to model or teach it this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the deep interconnectedness between humanity, creation, and the Creator. The image of a tree stump with new life springing from it reminds us that even in places that seem dead or hopeless, God is always at work, bringing forth renewal and hope. This is not just a metaphor for our personal lives, but a call to recognize the earth’s own groaning—a creation that is crying out for healing, justice, and care. The suffering of the natural world is not separate from human suffering; when the earth is wounded, so are its people, especially the most vulnerable among us.

We are reminded that our role is not to dominate or exploit creation, but to tend and keep it, as God first instructed in Genesis. This stewardship is not optional or secondary; it is at the heart of discipleship. The way we treat the earth, the way we speak about and treat one another, and the way we respond to the needs of our neighbors are all deeply spiritual acts. To see the image of God—Imago Dei—in every person, and to honor the earth as God’s own, is to live out the fullness of our faith.

The call is to move from belief to action. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are not just ideals, but practices that must shape our daily lives and our community. The saints who have gone before us tended the garden so that we might flourish; now it is our turn to plant and nurture for those who come after us. This means advocating for policies that protect the vulnerable, caring for the environment in practical ways, and living with gratitude and humility for the gifts we have received.

Ultimately, the hope is not just for personal salvation, but for the redemption of all creation. We are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work of restoration, to bring heaven to earth, and to ensure that our legacy is one of compassion, stewardship, and justice. As we gather at the table, we remember that God’s invitation is open to all, and that our unity in Christ calls us to be one with each other and with the world God so loves.

Key Takeaways

1. Creation’s Groaning Is Our Groaning The earth’s suffering—through storms, hunger, pollution, and injustice—is intimately connected to human suffering. When creation cries out, it is not just the wind or water, but the stomachs of our neighbors and the cries of the vulnerable. To ignore the earth’s pain is to ignore the pain of God’s children, and to respond is to participate in God’s healing work. [54:59]
2. Stewardship Is the Essence of Discipleship God’s first command was not to dominate, but to tend and keep the garden. We are caretakers, not owners, called to honor the earth as a holy gift. True discipleship means living in right relationship with creation, recognizing that how we treat the earth reflects how we love God and each other. [61:13]
3. Imago Dei: Seeing God in Every Person Taking the Lord’s name in vain is not just about words, but about how we regard one another. Every person bears the image of God, and our thoughts, words, and actions toward others—especially those different from us—must reflect that sacred worth. Unlearning prejudice and embracing the Imago Dei in all is a lifelong spiritual discipline. [58:18]
4. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Move Us from Belief to Action Faith is not passive; it calls us to act for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. This means advocating for policies that protect the vulnerable, standing against systems that exploit people and the earth, and building communities where all are welcomed and valued. The saints before us acted in their time; now it is our turn. [52:10]
5. Hope Is Found in Faithful, Practical Love Small acts—recycling, planting trees, supporting the hungry, speaking out for justice—are not insignificant. They are seeds of hope, joining with God’s Spirit to renew the world. As we honor the saints who have gone before, we are called to leave a legacy of stewardship, compassion, and justice for those who follow. [71:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:09] - Worship: “How Great Thou Art”
[39:34] - Prayers for Leaders and the World
[41:41] - Generosity and Giving
[48:34] - Personal Story: Back Pain and Everyday Struggles
[49:27] - Introduction to Creation and New Life
[50:41] - United Methodist Social Principles and Action
[51:44] - The JEDI Group: Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
[53:30] - Creation’s Groaning and Our Responsibility
[54:59] - Creation’s Groaning in Human Suffering
[56:28] - Imago Dei and the Power of Words
[59:41] - Psalm 24: The Earth Is the Lord’s
[61:13] - Called to Tend and Keep, Not Exploit
[62:53] - Bringing Heaven to Earth
[65:33] - Honoring the Saints and Our Legacy
[70:02] - Creation Care as Discipleship
[71:46] - Practical Steps for Creation Care
[72:44] - Creation as Our Partner in Praise
[73:39] - Hope: Creation Groans for New Life
[75:11] - Invitation to the Table and Communion
[91:41] - Announcements and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 2:15 (ESV) — The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Psalm 24:1 (ESV) — The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.

Romans 8:22-23 (ESV) — For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Observation Questions

In Genesis 2:15, what two things does God tell the first human to do in the garden?
According to Psalm 24:1, who does the earth belong to, and what does that include?
In Romans 8:22-23, what is creation doing, and how is that connected to us?
The sermon described creation as “groaning” not just in storms, but in hunger and injustice. What are some specific examples the pastor gave of this groaning? [[54:59]]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean that God’s first command was to “tend and keep” the garden, rather than to dominate it? How does this shape our understanding of our relationship with the earth? [[01:01:13]]
The sermon says that when creation suffers, people—especially the vulnerable—suffer too. Why do you think the suffering of the earth and the suffering of people are so closely linked? [[54:59]]
The pastor talked about “Imago Dei”—the image of God in every person. How does seeing others as God’s image-bearers change the way we speak about or treat them? [[56:28]]
The sermon calls stewardship “the essence of discipleship.” Why is caring for creation and for each other not just a side issue, but central to following Jesus? [[01:10:02]]

Application Questions

The pastor said that ignoring the earth’s pain is ignoring the pain of God’s children. Is there a way you’ve seen environmental harm affect people in your community or in the news? How did it make you feel, and what could you do about it? [[54:59]]
Think about your daily habits—recycling, using water, what you buy, how you travel. What is one small, practical change you could make this week to better “tend and keep” God’s creation? [[01:11:46]]
The sermon challenged us to see the image of God in every person, even those we disagree with or find difficult. Is there someone in your life you struggle to see this way? What’s one step you could take to honor their sacred worth? [[58:18]]
The pastor mentioned that faith is not passive, but calls us to act for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Is there a cause or issue you feel called to speak up about or support? What’s holding you back, and what’s one step you could take? [[52:10]]
The saints before us “tended the garden” so we could flourish. What kind of legacy do you want to leave for those who come after you—in your family, church, or community? [[01:05:33]]
The sermon said hope is found in “faithful, practical love”—like planting trees, supporting the hungry, or speaking out for justice. Which of these feels most doable for you right now, and how could you get started? [[01:11:46]]
When you pray “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” what does that look like in your everyday life? Is there a specific way you can help bring a little more of heaven to earth this week? [[01:10:26]]

Sermon Clips

It's not about how we get to heaven it's about how we bring heaven here it's about how we choose to do what we need to do to make our world better and more like heaven it's about restoring the world to heaven and us being the right relationship between the creator the creation and the creature making them all be in right relationship together. [01:03:05] (29 seconds) #ClimateJusticeNow

It's about when we see families that are losing food benefits while grocery prices are going up, we're witnessing an ecological sin. It's the breaking of relationship between abundance and equity between gift and gratitude. Because make no mistake, God created enough for everyone. But humans, we got greedy. And when we get greedy, we create scarcity. And when we create scarcity, we create fear. And when we create fear, we figure out a way to control other people. And that's a sin, y'all. [01:04:36] (41 seconds) #LegacyOfCare

Will they inherit cleaner air? Will they inherit safer water? Will they inherit thriving ecosystems? Will they inherit a church that stood for justice? Will they inherit justice? Or will they inherit a planet that's gasping for breath? Will they inherit a faith that stays silent? [01:07:55] (26 seconds) #OurTurnToCare

``The great saints before us responded to God's call in their time. I think that they're telling us today it's our time. It's our turn. It's our turn to step up. Creation care is not an extracurricular activity for Christians. It is the essence of discipleship. How we love and care for all that God created, including us. [01:09:47] (26 seconds) #SmallActsBigImpact

We are called to pray with creation. To go outside and let creation be our cathedral. To hear the wind as the spirit whisperer. To feel the soil as our sacred ground. Creation is not our property. Creation is our partner. It is our partner in praising God. [01:12:21] (25 seconds) #BirthOfNewLife

When we harm creation we harm ourselves. But there is hope. The same spirit that hovered over the waters at creation is still at work in the world today. It is still redeeming. It is still restoring. It is still renewing. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead and breathed life into Jesus at resurrection and breathed resurrection life into us is still at work. [01:13:03] (27 seconds) #StewardshipGeneration

Creation groans but not in despair. It groans like a mother in labor birthing something new. And as the children of God we are called to help bring that new life. To bring that new part of creation. [01:13:31] (20 seconds)

May we be remembered as the generation who choose stewardship over exploitation. Compassion over consumption. Justice over greed. Because the earth is a place of worship. The earth is God's and all that is in it. And when we love the earth we love God. When we love each other love God. [01:14:02] (29 seconds)

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