Faith in Action: Healing, Justice, and Community

Devotional

Day 1: Living Out Faith Through Compassionate Action

A true Christian community is known not by words alone, but by the tangible ways it cares for others—welcoming refugees, supporting immigrants, and standing with the marginalized. When faith is lived out in acts of compassion, it reflects the heart of Christ and brings hope to those who are hurting. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, is a testimony to God’s love at work in the world. [01:43]

Matthew 25:35-36 (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.”

Reflection: Who in your community could use a tangible act of compassion from you this week, and how can you reach out to them in love?

Day 2: Healing Instead of Harming with Our Words

The Bible should never be used as a weapon to hurt others or exclude them; instead, it is meant to bring healing, encouragement, and truth. When Christians misuse Scripture to judge or wound, it distorts the message of Jesus and drives people away from God’s love. Let your words and actions reflect the grace and acceptance that Jesus modeled, especially toward those who have been hurt by religion. [00:10]

James 3:9-10 (ESV)
“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

Reflection: Is there someone you have hurt with your words or actions, perhaps unintentionally? How can you seek to bring healing and reconciliation today?

Day 3: Building Community in a Disconnected World

In a time when many feel isolated and alone, intentionally creating spaces for connection—through small groups, retreats, and outreach—can be a powerful expression of God’s love. Community is not just about gathering, but about truly seeing, supporting, and journeying with one another through life’s joys and struggles. When we invest in authentic relationships, we reflect the unity and care that God desires for all people. [01:43]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to deepen your connection with someone in your faith community or neighborhood?

Day 4: Transforming Violence into Peace

Taking action to end violence—such as participating in efforts like Guns to Gardens—demonstrates a commitment to transforming instruments of harm into tools for growth and healing. Faith calls us not to accept the status quo, but to be agents of peace, working creatively and courageously to address the root causes of suffering in our world. Every step toward peace, no matter how small, is a witness to God’s vision for humanity. [02:40]

Isaiah 2:4 (ESV)
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can help transform a situation of conflict or harm into one of peace and healing this week?

Day 5: Caring for God’s Creation

Caring for the earth—through actions like planting gardens, installing solar panels, and striving for sustainability—is an act of worship and stewardship. God calls us to tend and protect creation, recognizing that our well-being is deeply connected to the health of the world around us. By making intentional choices to care for the environment, we honor the Creator and ensure a better future for all. [01:43]

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: What is one new habit you can adopt this week to better care for God’s creation in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

At CUCC, the call is to embody a faith that heals, welcomes, and uplifts rather than wounds or excludes. In a world where scripture is sometimes misused to harm, the focus here is on living out the radical love and justice of Jesus. This community has a long history of standing with the vulnerable—supporting refugees and immigrants, caring for the earth through sustainable practices, and building genuine relationships in a time when isolation is rampant. The church is not just a place of worship but a hub of connection, where men’s and women’s groups, small gatherings, and outreach to the homebound foster belonging and care.

Service is woven into the fabric of CUCC’s identity. Whether it’s forming social action teams to fight hunger, collecting essentials for unhoused neighbors, or leading efforts to end gun violence, the commitment is to put faith into action. The Guns to Gardens initiative is a powerful example—transforming instruments of harm into tools for growth and beauty, and inviting other faith communities to join in this redemptive work. The journey is not just about what happens within the church walls, but about being a force for good in the wider world, living out the gospel in tangible, transformative ways.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is meant to heal, not harm. When scripture is used as a weapon, it distorts the heart of the gospel. True discipleship is measured by how we love and lift up others, especially those who have been wounded by religion or society. [00:01]
2. Community is a sacred antidote to isolation. In a culture marked by disconnection, intentionally building relationships—through groups, retreats, and visiting the shut-in—reflects the relational nature of God and offers a glimpse of the kingdom here and now. [01:43]
3. Justice and compassion are inseparable from authentic faith. Supporting refugees, immigrants, and the unhoused is not an optional add-on but a core expression of following Jesus, who always sided with the marginalized. [00:45]
4. Creation care is a spiritual responsibility. Efforts like installing solar panels, planting gardens, and striving for carbon neutrality are acts of stewardship, honoring God’s gift of the earth and ensuring its flourishing for future generations. [01:10]
5. Transforming violence into peace is a holy calling. The Guns to Gardens movement is a prophetic witness—taking what was meant for harm and turning it into something that nurtures life. This is the work of redemption, and it invites all faith communities to participate in God’s vision for a world made whole. [02:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - The Pain of Misused Scripture
[00:45] - CUCC’s Legacy of Welcoming Refugees
[01:10] - Caring for Creation: Solar Panels and Gardens
[01:25] - Building Community in a Disconnected World
[01:43] - Men’s and Women’s Groups
[01:55] - Visiting Shut-Ins and Social Action Teams
[02:10] - Fighting Hunger and Supporting the Unhoused
[02:20] - Leadership in Ending Gun Violence
[02:30] - The Guns to Gardens Movement
[02:50] - Transforming Weapons into Tools for Good
[03:05] - Inviting Other Faith Communities
[03:20] - Living Out the Gospel in Action

Bible Study Guide

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?

2. Matthew 25:35-36, 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... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

3. Romans 12:21 (ESV)
> Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Observation Questions

What are some specific ways CUCC has put faith into action in the community, as described in the sermon? [01:43]
According to the sermon, how has scripture sometimes been misused, and what is CUCC’s response to that misuse? [00:00]
What is the Guns to Gardens movement, and how does it serve as an example of transforming harm into healing? [02:10]
What are some of the outreach efforts CUCC has made to support the vulnerable, such as refugees, immigrants, and the unhoused? [00:45]

Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon emphasize that faith should heal and not harm? How does this relate to the way Jesus lived and taught? [00:00]
In what ways does building community serve as an “antidote to isolation,” and why is this important for reflecting God’s nature? [01:43]
How does caring for creation—like installing solar panels and planting gardens—reflect a spiritual responsibility, according to the sermon? [01:10]
What does it mean to “overcome evil with good” in the context of transforming weapons into tools for growth, as seen in the Guns to Gardens initiative? [02:10]

Application Questions

Have you ever witnessed or experienced scripture being used to harm rather than heal? How did it affect you, and what would it look like to respond with love and justice instead? [00:00]
Think about someone in your life who might feel isolated or disconnected. What is one practical step you could take this week to reach out and build community with them? [01:43]
CUCC supports refugees, immigrants, and the unhoused as a core part of following Jesus. Is there a group or individual in your community you feel called to support more intentionally? What’s one action you could take? [00:45]
The church has made efforts to care for creation. What is one change you could make in your daily life to better steward the environment? [01:10]
The Guns to Gardens movement turns instruments of harm into tools for good. Is there something in your life—an attitude, habit, or resource—that could be “transformed” to bring healing or growth to others? What would that look like? [02:10]
CUCC forms social action teams to address needs like hunger and gun violence. Is there a justice issue you feel passionate about? How might you get involved, either through the church or another group? [01:55]
Building genuine relationships is a key part of CUCC’s mission. What is one way you could deepen a relationship within this group or the wider church community this month? [01:43]

Sermon Clips

It really breaks my heart and just hurts the way some people who call themselves Christian read the Bible and use the Bible as a weapon and share things about God and Jesus that are so hurtful to people. [00:00:54]

And so it's why we here at CUCC are really living out and proud and living into who we are as a community. [00:01:12]

Over the decades, CUCC has supported refugees and immigrants from all over. [00:01:23]

We've worked to mitigate climate change by installing solar panels, planting a garden, and working toward carbon zero on our building. [00:01:29]

We are creating community in a time of great disconnection. [00:01:39]

We host a men's group that includes those from all over Boulder County and beyond, women's retreats, small groups, and more. [00:01:43]

We visit shut-ins and form social action teams working to end hunger with the crop walk and collect socks and water bottles for our unhoused neighbors. [00:01:51]

We have been leaders in working towards ending gun violence in this country. [00:02:01]

We've launched a national effort to encourage faith communities to be involved in the Guns to Gardens movement, which transforms weapons into garden tools and or jewelry. [00:02:07]

And it's a way for churches, faith communities to be involved in ending this pandemic of gun violence in this country. [00:02:20]

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