Living Significantly: Justice, Mercy, and Humility

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound question of whether our lives truly matter in the grand scheme of things. With over 8.2 billion people on the planet, it's easy to feel insignificant. However, we are reminded that our lives can indeed make a significant impact, especially when we align ourselves with God's call to justice, mercy, and humility as outlined in Micah 6:8. This passage serves as a "quick start guide" for living a life that makes a difference. Acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God are not just religious platitudes but practical steps to influence our world positively.

Justice, as discussed, is not merely about retribution but restoration. It involves making things right, reflecting God's justice-loving nature. The Hebrew words "mishpat" and "tzedek" illustrate the intertwined concepts of justice and righteousness, emphasizing that justice is about restoring what is broken. This understanding challenges us to see justice as an act of love in public, as Cornel West aptly puts it. Jesus' ministry was about restoring humanity, and as His followers, we are called to continue this work by advocating for justice in our communities.

We are created in the image of a justice-loving God, and our actions should reflect this. The prophets, like Amos and Isaiah, remind us that true worship involves justice and compassion for the marginalized. Justice is not just a personal endeavor but a communal one, requiring us to engage with others and address societal injustices. Practical ways to do this include offering dignifying attention, focusing on local issues, and building countercultural communities that embody the realities of heaven on earth.

As we leave today, let's reflect on where God is calling us to advocate for justice. Whether it's through small acts of kindness or larger community efforts, we have the opportunity to make an impact by living out the love and justice of God in our world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Significance in a Vast World: Despite feeling insignificant among billions, our lives can make a profound impact when we align with God's call to justice, mercy, and humility. This alignment is not just about personal fulfillment but about contributing to the greater good in our communities and beyond. [38:58]

2. Justice as Restoration: Biblical justice is about restoration, not retribution. It involves making things right and is deeply connected to righteousness. This perspective challenges us to see justice as an act of love, reflecting God's nature in our interactions with others. [44:31]

3. Reflecting God's Image: We are created in the image of a justice-loving God, and our actions should mirror this. True worship involves justice and compassion, emphasizing the importance of addressing societal injustices as part of our spiritual journey. [51:35]

4. Justice as Love in Public: Justice is what love looks like in public. It requires us to advocate for the marginalized and to engage in acts that restore right relationships. This understanding calls us to live out our faith in tangible ways that impact our communities. [55:42]

5. Practical Justice: Engaging in justice involves dignifying attention, local focus, and building countercultural communities. These actions help us address injustices and create spaces where the realities of heaven break into our world, making a lasting impact. [01:00:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [38:58] - The Question of Significance
- [40:11] - Life's Unfairness and Our Call
- [41:44] - Micah's Quick Start Guide
- [42:27] - Understanding Justice
- [44:31] - Justice as Restoration
- [48:31] - Advocating for Justice
- [50:14] - Prophetic Calls to Justice
- [51:35] - Reflecting God's Image
- [52:25] - The Image of God and Justice
- [54:34] - Justice as Love in Public
- [55:42] - Jesus' Ministry of Restoration
- [56:39] - The Standard of Love
- [57:52] - Justice and Social Interaction
- [59:23] - Practical Ways to Do Justice
- [01:00:17] - Dignifying Attention and Local Focus
- [01:02:41] - Countercultural Community
- [01:05:42] - Encouragement to Advocate for Justice
- [01:07:13] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
2. Amos 5:21-24 - "I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream."
3. Isaiah 58:6-7 - "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Observation Questions:
1. What does Micah 6:8 suggest are the three key actions God requires from us? How are these actions described in the sermon as a "quick start guide" for making an impact? [41:44]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between justice and righteousness using the Hebrew words "mishpat" and "tzedek"? [44:31]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of justice being described as "love in public"? [55:42]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate practical ways to engage in justice at a local level? [01:00:17]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of justice as restoration, rather than retribution, challenge common perceptions of justice in today's society? [44:31]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that acting justly is a reflection of being made in the image of a justice-loving God? [51:35]
3. How does the sermon connect the idea of justice with Jesus' ministry and the call for His followers to continue His work? [56:39]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of community in addressing societal injustices and embodying the realities of heaven on earth? [01:05:42]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt insignificant. How does aligning with God's call to justice, mercy, and humility change your perspective on your impact in the world? [38:58]
2. Consider the injustices you observe in your community. What small acts of kindness or larger efforts can you engage in to advocate for justice? [48:31]
3. How can you incorporate the principles of acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly into your daily routine? What specific changes might this require? [41:44]
4. Identify a local issue that you feel passionate about. What steps can you take to address this issue and make a positive impact? [01:01:15]
5. Think about a person or group in your community who may feel invisible or marginalized. How can you offer dignifying attention and support to them? [01:00:17]
6. How can your small group work together to build a countercultural community that reflects the justice and love of God? [01:05:42]
7. What resources or support do you need to step out of your comfort zone and advocate for justice in your community? How can your small group assist you in this journey? [01:07:13]

Devotional

Day 1: Finding Significance in God's Call
In a world of over 8.2 billion people, it's easy to feel insignificant. However, when we align ourselves with God's call to justice, mercy, and humility, our lives can make a profound impact. This alignment is not just about personal fulfillment but about contributing to the greater good in our communities and beyond. By living out the principles outlined in Micah 6:8, we can find our significance in the grand scheme of things. This passage serves as a "quick start guide" for living a life that makes a difference, reminding us that our actions, no matter how small, can ripple out to create meaningful change. [38:58]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you align your daily actions with God's call to justice, mercy, and humility today?

Day 2: Justice as an Act of Restoration
Biblical justice is about restoration, not retribution. It involves making things right and is deeply connected to righteousness. This perspective challenges us to see justice as an act of love, reflecting God's nature in our interactions with others. The Hebrew words "mishpat" and "tzedek" illustrate the intertwined concepts of justice and righteousness, emphasizing that justice is about restoring what is broken. As followers of Jesus, we are called to continue His work by advocating for justice in our communities, seeing it as an act of love in public. [44:31]

"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a situation in your community where you can contribute to restoration rather than retribution. How can you take a step towards making things right?

Day 3: Reflecting God's Image Through Justice
We are created in the image of a justice-loving God, and our actions should mirror this. True worship involves justice and compassion, emphasizing the importance of addressing societal injustices as part of our spiritual journey. The prophets, like Amos and Isaiah, remind us that true worship is not just about rituals but about living out justice and compassion for the marginalized. By reflecting God's image, we engage in acts that restore right relationships and advocate for the marginalized, living out our faith in tangible ways that impact our communities. [51:35]

"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?" (Micah 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you reflect God's image in your daily interactions by advocating for justice and showing compassion to those around you?

Day 4: Justice as Love in Public
Justice is what love looks like in public. It requires us to advocate for the marginalized and to engage in acts that restore right relationships. This understanding calls us to live out our faith in tangible ways that impact our communities. Jesus' ministry was about restoring humanity, and as His followers, we are called to continue this work by advocating for justice in our communities. By seeing justice as an act of love, we can create spaces where the realities of heaven break into our world, making a lasting impact. [55:42]

"Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:9, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community is marginalized or in need of advocacy? How can you be a voice for them today?

Day 5: Practical Steps Towards Justice
Engaging in justice involves dignifying attention, local focus, and building countercultural communities. These actions help us address injustices and create spaces where the realities of heaven break into our world, making a lasting impact. By focusing on local issues and offering dignifying attention, we can build communities that embody the realities of heaven on earth. This practical approach to justice challenges us to engage with others and address societal injustices, making a difference in our world. [01:00:17]

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to address a local injustice? How can you involve others in this effort to create a countercultural community?

Quotes

1. "And it occurs to me that for many of us, we might suspect that because we are only one person out of 8.2 billion people on the planet, that maybe we don't really matter that much. I mean, think about billions and billions of people. Or even in this country, if you're one of 330-some million citizens, does your vote really count for anything out of all those millions? Or maybe you're an employee or a student and there are hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands kind of like you. And again, the question is, what do you do? The question some of us can wrestle with is, do I really even matter among all these other people?" [38:58] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "But what if your life really could make an impact? What if the not fair part of life was part of what we were called to address?" [40:11] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "In a world where there is injustice, or in an unjust world, if you want to think about it this way, justice advocates make an impact. In an unjust world where things are not right. Where things are not always fair. Someone who stands up and advocates for justice makes an impact." [48:31] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If we are created in God's image, then doing justice is a key component of reflecting that image into the world. Which, oftentimes, is a very unjust world." [54:34] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Justice is what love looks like in public. Now, full disclosure, I stole that phrase. I stole that phrase from, you're not going to believe this, from someone who's running for president in this country. And you're like, hmm, I don't remember hearing that. It's not one of the main candidates. It's a philosopher, author, theologian, teacher by a guy named Cornel West. Maybe you've heard of him. Maybe you haven't. He's got a very long track record of advocating for justice in the public square. Justice, he writes, is what love looks like in public. I can't disagree." [55:42] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If justice is making things right, then that means there's a standard for what is right. And even though in this country we'll often look to the Constitution or the Supreme Court to say, here's what's right and here's what's justice, for followers of Jesus, it's clear. The standard is love. Love God and love one another." [57:52] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Justice always involves a component of interaction with others. Now, the people. In other words, justice always has a social component to it. And I know the conversation in our country is social justice this and blah, blah, blah, that. But unless the Scripture writers are completely off base, justice always has a social foundation to it." [59:23] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Looking someone in the eye can be one of the first steps toward advocating for justice. I see you. You're a person. You matter." [01:01:15] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "So there's a very practical way that one business owner decided, I'm going to do justice. Injustice. Then there's also becoming a counter-cultural community where the realities of heaven are breaking into our world and where injustice is being set right, where those who've been overlooked and left behind and discarded and dismissed are being included and encouraged and invited into community." [01:03:51] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The theologian and author, Stanley, said it this way, the task of the church is to serve as the best example of what God can do with human community. So I want to encourage you today to reflect on where God may be nudging you to become an advocate for justice." [01:05:42] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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