Faith in Action: Justice, Kindness, and Serving the Poor

This weekend has been a beautiful reminder of the joy and power of community. From the laughter and singing of our youth during pilgrimage, to the shared meals and the hard work of so many volunteers, God’s presence has been tangible among us. We’ve seen how simple acts—like singing together in a van or sharing lasagna—can knit us closer, and how opening our doors to others, whether through worship or a food pantry, is a living expression of Christ’s love.

We paused to honor our veterans and their families, recognizing the visible and invisible sacrifices they make. Their courage, resilience, and the burdens they carry are not lost on us. As a church in a military community, we are called to gratitude, support, and prayer for all who serve and those who love them. We also remember that Christ calls us to be peacemakers, to long for a world where swords are beaten into plowshares and every person lives in safety and dignity.

Our food pantry is a small but significant way we live out our faith. It began as a way to help our own, but quickly grew into a ministry for the wider community. We are learning that faith is not just about belief, but about action—about being the hands and feet of Jesus. When we see hunger or need, we are not called to offer only words or prayers, but to do something tangible. This is the heart of the gospel: faith that moves us to act, to heal, to feed, and to lift others up.

We reflected on the call to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion—not as abstract ideals, but as practices rooted in our faith. Jesus’ first sermon was a manifesto: “God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” If it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for us. God’s dream is not scarcity or hierarchy, but beloved community and abundance for all. We are challenged to both meet immediate needs and to ask deeper questions about why those needs exist, working to dismantle unjust systems even as we offer charity.

Our faith is not private or passive. It is public, lived out loud, and measured by how we love and what we do. In a world where many go hungry and systems are broken, we are called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. May we be a people who do something—who let our faith have legs, hands, and hearts overflowing with kindness.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith Must Move Us to Action Faith that remains only in our hearts or words is incomplete. True faith compels us to act, to meet needs, and to be present for others. When we see hunger or injustice, we are called not just to pray, but to do something tangible, embodying Christ’s love in the world. [52:56]
• 2. God’s Preferential Concern for the Poor Jesus’ ministry began with a declaration of good news for the poor and marginalized. God’s heart is especially attuned to those left out or left behind. This challenges us to examine our own comfort and to align ourselves with God’s priorities, even when it is uncomfortable or calls us to repentance. [56:34]
• 3. Justice Is a Practice, Not an Opinion Justice is not just a belief or a social media post; it is a way of life. We are called to both meet immediate needs and to address the root causes of suffering. This means pulling people out of the river and also going upstream to prevent them from falling in, living into the “and” rather than the “or.” [60:28]
• 4. Our Faith Is Public and Measured by Love Faith is not meant to be hidden or private. It is lived out loud, seen in our choices, our generosity, and our advocacy. We measure our discipleship not by attendance or recitation, but by how we love and what we do for others in Christ’s name. [64:37]
• 5. God’s Dream Is Abundance and Beloved Community God’s vision is not for a world of scarcity or hierarchy, but for one where all have enough and all are valued. We are called to use our privilege, resources, and voices to help bring about this beloved community, walking humbly and acting boldly for justice and mercy. [67:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:34] - Pilgrimage Recap and Youth Joy
• [05:44] - Announcements and Volunteer Opportunities
• [06:14] - Social Principles Study Invitation
• [07:24] - Food Pantry Story and Vision
• [10:05] - Honoring Veterans and Families
• [12:20] - The Toll of Military Service
• [13:00] - Prayer for Peace and Peacemaking
• [24:46] - Community Gratitude and Prayer Requests
• [35:03] - Prayer for New Life and Community
• [45:51] - Scripture Reading and JEDI Group
• [51:56] - Faith Without Works: The Call to Action
• [55:44] - Jesus’ Manifesto: Good News to the Poor
• [59:12] - Justice as a Way of Life
• [63:06] - Living Out Social Principles
• [69:24] - Confession and Communion
• [79:28] - Doing Something: Food Pantry in Action
• [86:18] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

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.

Luke 4:16-19 (ESV) — > And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
>
> “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
> because he has anointed me
> to proclaim good news to the poor.
> He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
> and recovering of sight to the blind,
> to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
> to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

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?

Observation Questions

1. In James 2:14-17, what does James say about faith that is not accompanied by action? How does he illustrate his point?
2. According to Luke 4:18-19, what did Jesus say was his mission when he read from Isaiah in the synagogue? [55:44]
3. In the sermon, what are some specific ways the church has tried to put faith into action in the community? (Hint: Think about the food pantry and other examples.) [07:24]
4. What does Micah 6:8 say God requires of us? How does this connect to the other passages and the sermon? [59:12]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think James is so strong in saying that faith without works is dead? What might he be warning the church against? [52:56]
2. Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4 was about bringing good news to the poor and setting people free. Why do you think he started his ministry with this message? What does it say about God’s priorities? [55:44]
3. The sermon talked about “God’s preferential concern for the poor.” How does this challenge the way we usually think about faith and church? [56:34]
4. The pastor said, “Justice isn’t an opinion, it’s a practice.” What does it look like for justice to be a way of life, not just a belief or a post on social media? [59:12]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “Faith that remains only in our hearts or words is incomplete. True faith compels us to act.” Think about your own life: Is there a place where you feel God nudging you to move from words to action? What’s one small step you could take this week? [52:56]
2. The food pantry started small but grew as people saw the need and responded. Is there a need in your neighborhood or community that you’ve noticed? What would it look like to “do something” about it, even if it feels small? [07:24]
3. The pastor mentioned that sometimes we “put Jesus on a shelf” or “behind the couch.” Are there ways you keep your faith private or hidden? What would it look like to “live your faith out loud” this week? [54:49]
4. The sermon challenged us to both meet immediate needs and ask deeper questions about why those needs exist. Can you think of a time when you helped someone in need? Did you also think about the bigger reasons behind their situation? How might you do both in the future? [01:00:28]
5. “God’s dream is abundance and beloved community.” Are there places in your life where you see scarcity thinking or hierarchy? How could you use your resources, voice, or privilege to help create a more just and loving community? [01:07:26]
6. The pastor said, “We measure our discipleship not by attendance or recitation, but by how we love and what we do for others in Christ’s name.” How do you measure your own faithfulness? Is there a change you want to make in how you love or serve others? [01:04:37]
7. The church honored veterans and their families, recognizing both visible and invisible sacrifices. Is there someone in your life who serves or sacrifices for others that you could thank or support this week? What would that look like? [10:46]