Public Love: Living Faith Through Justice and Kindness

Devotional

Day 1: Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly

God’s desire for us is not rooted in ritual or religious performance, but in a life that actively pursues justice, extends kindness, and walks humbly with God. The prophet Micah’s words cut through the noise of empty religiosity and call us to a faith that is lived out in tangible ways—standing up for the vulnerable, loving our neighbors, and remaining grounded in humility. This is not about perfection or grand gestures, but about showing up with integrity and compassion in the everyday moments of our lives. [22:56]

Micah 6:6-8 (ESV)
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 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: What is one small, concrete act of justice or kindness you can take today to make God’s love visible in your community?

Day 2: Justice Is What Love Looks Like in Public

Justice is not an abstract concept or a distant ideal; it is the visible expression of love in the public sphere. When we advocate for the dignity and humanity of others—especially those who are marginalized or mistreated—we embody the heart of God’s love. Speaking up, standing with the vulnerable, and resisting dehumanization are all ways that love takes shape in the world around us. Each of us is called to find our voice and take a step, however small, toward a more just and compassionate society. [23:36]

1 John 3:18 (ESV)
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Reflection: Who in your life or community needs you to stand up for their dignity today, and how can you make your love for them public?

Day 3: Faith Is Measured by Public Love, Not Private Piety

Our faith is not measured by the eloquence of our prayers or the frequency of our religious rituals, but by the depth of our love that spills out into the world. True spirituality is found in the steps we take toward justice, equity, and truth—even when those steps feel small or difficult. Each act of public love, no matter how modest, contributes to the common good and reflects the heart of Christ in a world longing for hope and healing. [33:20]

James 2:17 (ESV)
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Reflection: What is one way you can move your faith from private belief to public action this week?

Day 4: Community Sustains the Work of Justice

Pursuing justice can feel overwhelming and exhausting when we try to do it alone, but in community, the work becomes life-giving and sustainable. We are called to journey together, supporting one another as we take steps—big and small—toward a more just world. Community provides the encouragement, accountability, and shared vision we need to keep going, especially when the road is difficult or progress feels slow. [30:39]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Reflection: Who are your companions in the work of justice, and how can you encourage or support each other this week?

Day 5: Small Steps Create Big Change

God does not require us to fix everything or perform spectacular acts; instead, we are invited to take the next faithful step—however small—toward justice, kindness, and humility. Each simple act, whether signing a declaration, sharing a story, or blessing a book, is a building block in God’s dream for the world. When we offer what we have, trusting that God multiplies our efforts, we participate in the slow, steady transformation of our communities and ourselves. [41:06]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Reflection: What is one small, faithful step you can take today to contribute to God’s vision of justice and love in your neighborhood?

Sermon Summary

Grace and peace to all as we gather in this sacred space, an “island of sanity in a world on fire.” Today, we reflect on what it means to live out a faith that is not just private or ritualistic, but public and transformative. Drawing from the prophet Micah, we are reminded that God does not desire grand gestures or empty religious performances, but rather calls us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. This is a call away from spectacle and toward substance—a faith that is measured not by our piety or perfection, but by the way we show up for others, especially the vulnerable and marginalized.

Justice, as Cornel West so powerfully puts it, is what love looks like in public. Tenderness is what love feels like in private, but justice is love’s public face. In a world where power often crushes the weak and where religious and political forces can be allied with ignorance, we are called to resist dehumanization and to speak up for those whose voices are silenced. This is not about exhausting ourselves with the weight of activism, but about taking one step at a time—sometimes small, sometimes bold—toward a more just and compassionate world.

We are invited to see justice not as a solo act, but as a communal calling. Community sustains us when the work feels overwhelming, and together we can find joy and grace even in the slow, sometimes difficult, steps toward change. Whether it’s signing a declaration in support of immigrants, creating a space for banned books and stories that expand empathy, or simply standing up for someone’s dignity, each act of public love matters. These are the ways we embody a Christianity for the common good, where love spills out of the sanctuary and into the streets, schools, and policies of our shared life.

God does not require the impossible or the spectacular, but the right things: justice, kindness, humility. As we go forth, may we do so not with empty rituals, but with love that is visible, tangible, and real—love that shows up in public, for the sake of the world God so loves.

Key Takeaways

1. Justice as Public Love: True faith is not measured by religious rituals or outward displays, but by the pursuit of justice in the public sphere. Justice is the visible expression of love, especially for those who are vulnerable or marginalized. This calls us to move beyond comfort and to let our love be seen and felt in the world around us. [23:36]
2. The Simplicity and Depth of God’s Requirements: God’s call is not for grand gestures or perfection, but for a life marked by justice, kindness, and humility. These are not burdensome demands, but invitations to live authentically and relationally, focusing on presence and impact rather than performance or image. [26:33]
3. The Power of Small Steps: Change does not require us to “boil the ocean” or heal the world overnight. Instead, progress is made through small, faithful steps—signing a declaration, supporting a neighbor, or creating space for silenced voices. Each step, no matter how small, is a movement toward the common good and a reflection of God’s love. [33:20]
4. Community as Sustenance for Justice: The work of justice can be overwhelming if attempted alone, but it becomes life-giving when shared in community. Friendship, shared purpose, and collective action sustain us, preventing burnout and helping us to find joy and grace even in difficult times. [30:39]
5. Reimagining Activism as Belonging: Public love is not a burden to bear, but a way to belong to God’s dreams for the world. When we act for justice, we are not just “doing activism”—we are participating in God’s ongoing work of redemption, building bridges of compassion, and creating spaces where all are welcomed and valued. [37:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:30] - Affirmation of Inclusion and Embodied Grounding
[20:57] - Contemporary Reading: “In the Steps of RBG”
[22:08] - Steps Toward Justice and Joy
[22:56] - Scripture Reading: Micah 6
[23:36] - Justice as Public Love: Cornel West and Call & Response
[24:49] - What Does God Require? Ritual vs. Relationship
[26:33] - Micah’s Prophetic Challenge
[30:39] - The Need for Community in Justice
[31:29] - Lament, Defiance, and the Refusal to Give In
[32:29] - Faith Measured by Public Love
[33:20] - Small Steps Toward Justice
[34:17] - Declaration for Immigrant Dignity
[35:27] - Creating Safe Spaces for All
[37:09] - Public Love as Belonging, Not Burden
[38:07] - Modern Prophets and Speaking Up
[39:05] - Everyday Acts of Public Love
[40:05] - The Freedom Shelf: Banned Books for the Common Good
[41:06] - Blessing and Sharing Stories
[42:04] - The Good News of Micah
[43:00] - Sending Forth: Justice, Kindness, Humility
[44:07] - Prayer for Justice and Love
[45:13] - Blessing for the Journey
[46:51] - The Lord’s Prayer and Closing
[64:51] - Final Blessing and Sending Out

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Micah 6:6-8 (ESV) — “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
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?

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## Observation Questions

1. According to Micah 6:6-8, what kinds of offerings or actions does God say are not required? What does God actually require instead?
2. In the sermon, what is the difference between “empty religious performances” and the kind of faith God desires? ([24:49])
3. The phrase “justice is what love looks like in public” was repeated throughout the sermon. What examples did the pastor give of what this looks like in real life? ([33:20])
4. How does the sermon describe the role of community in pursuing justice? ([30:39])

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## Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God, through Micah, rejects grand gestures and rituals in favor of justice, kindness, and humility? What does this reveal about God’s character?
2. The sermon says, “Justice is what love looks like in public. Tenderness is what love feels like in private.” How does this distinction help us understand the difference between private faith and public action? ([23:36])
3. The pastor mentioned that justice is not a “solo act” but a “communal calling.” Why might it be important to pursue justice together rather than alone? ([30:39])
4. The sermon talks about “small steps” toward justice, not needing to “boil the ocean.” Why might small, faithful actions matter just as much as big ones? ([33:20])

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## Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to move beyond “empty rituals” and let our love be visible and real. Are there any religious habits or routines in your life that have become empty for you? What would it look like to replace them with acts of justice, kindness, or humility? ([24:49])
2. Think of a time when you saw or experienced “justice as public love”—maybe someone stood up for a vulnerable person, or a group created space for silenced voices. How did that impact you? Is there a similar opportunity in your life right now? ([39:05])
3. The pastor gave examples like signing a declaration for immigrants or bringing a banned book to church. What is one small, concrete step you could take this week to make love visible in your community? ([33:20])
4. The sermon says that community sustains us when the work of justice feels overwhelming. Who are the people or groups that help you keep going when you feel discouraged? How can you lean on them or support them in return? ([30:39])
5. The message invites us to “walk humbly with God.” What does humility look like in your daily life, especially when you’re trying to do what’s right? Is there a situation where you need to practice more humility? ([26:33])
6. The pastor said, “Public love is not a burden, but a way to belong to God’s dreams for the world.” Do you ever feel weighed down by the idea of activism or justice work? How might seeing it as “belonging” rather than a burden change your attitude or actions? ([37:09])
7. The sermon ended with a call to “go forth…with love that is visible, tangible, and real.” What is one area of your life—work, school, neighborhood, family—where you want to make God’s love more visible this week? ([43:00])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion: — Invite the group to pray for courage to take small steps of justice, kindness, and humility, and for eyes to see where God’s love can be made visible in their daily lives.

Sermon Clips

Every day we hear rhetoric in our national life that degrades people, that dehumanizes people with words like illegals. Christianity for the common good asks of us to find our full-throated voice—what does love look like in public—to do something that doesn't have to boil the ocean and heal the world by Monday, but rather to find meaning in progress that makes its way sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

We are grateful to be in community, this island of sanity in a world on fire, as we take step two in talking about justice—justice, being what love looks like in public today. [00:15:30]

We all wonder what does God actually want from me. What does God actually want from us? Is it rituals? Is it perfect church attendance? The prophet Micah answers with surprising simplicity: do justice, kindness, love kindness, love kindness, walk humbly. [00:24:56]

Do you think God is after spectacle? Burnt offerings stacked high, rivers of oil flowing like a wasteful parade, thousands of rams, even the life of your firstborn? Is that weird enough? Maybe we would ask today, do you want my resume? Do you want my titles? My portfolio or my endowment or my pious performance? No. Not according to Micah, a thousand times no. [00:26:05]

Micah lowers the boom and raises the truth. God isn't impressed by our empty religion, our empty religiosity. God wants something better, something deeper, something public and real. [00:26:45]

If we believe Micah, this is not about ritual, this is about relationship—not about performance, about presence—not about image, but about impact. What does God require of us? Not everything, just the right things: justice, love, humility. In other words, love in public. [00:27:39]

Ignorance allied with power is the most ferocious enemy justice can have, and I might just add ignorance allied with religious power, political power allied with religious power, which is what brought down Jesus. [00:28:30]

Doing justice can feel big and risky and a little overwhelming and a little bit like where do we even start, but the good news is that justice is not a solo performance—it is a communal calling. And this is the difference between what can feel life-draining if we go it alone, but life-giving when we do it together so that we all don't become so crispy-fried or buckle under the weight of activism as grind. [00:30:17]

This is why we need community. This is why we need friendship. This is why we need an island of spiritual sanity in a world on fire. [00:30:54]

It's a cry of the soul that names what is wrong and longs for what could still be right. That's exactly what the prophet Micah is doing. Micah looks at a society gone off the rails, exploiting the poor, worshipping success, dressing up injustice in the cloak of religion. And he says, God is not impressed with your rivers of oil or your empty offerings. What God wants is justice and kindness and love that goes public and humility that walks with God. [00:31:47]

Common good Christianity understands that our faith is measured not by how loudly we pray, or what flowery words we might use in a prayer, or how much we can holler at people who disagree with us, but by how deeply we love in public. [00:33:20]

Often, that love in public is measured in just one step that we can take right now. No boiling the ocean and healing the world by Monday, remember? But one step. [00:33:53]

It's a reminder that the common good is created when love spills out of the sanctuary and moves into schools and streets and neighborhoods and policies of our life together. And this is not about exhaustion or guilt or another thing to feel weighted down by. It's about reimagining love as a source of life and connection, not just activism as burnout. [00:36:55]

Public love is not a burden, but a way to belong to God's dreams for the world. [00:37:24]

Justice isn't just a policy debate. It's not a partisan issue. It's love made visible in the space where power meets people where they are. When someone is threatened, when the weak are silenced, to speak up is an act of public love. To resist censorship, to protect the voice of another. This is what love looks like in public. [00:38:53]

We each have moments where we can resist silence, when we can protect someone's dignity, even in a small way, or give voice to those who don't have a megaphone or a microphone. That is how love takes shape in public. This is how we live out a Christianity for the common good. [00:39:30]

At Pine Street, we believe stories have power. They expand empathy. They confront injustice. They awaken our shared humanity. In a time when voices are being silenced around the nation, we're going to create a sacred space for those stories to live and breathe. Breathe and be shared. [00:40:34]

Because justice is what love looks like in public, even when it's just a small step. [00:41:56]

So what does God require of us? Not the impossible, not the spectacular, not rivers of oil or mountains of rams, not our performance and not our perfection, but this. Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with your God. This is the good news of Micah, the prophet. God doesn't demand everything, only the things that matter most. [00:42:04]

Go forth from here and be just like a normal human being. With love that shows up in public. Go with justice on your hands and kindness on your lips and humility in your steps. Because justice is what love looks like in public. [00:42:51]

As you go out into this day, it's so important for you to remember who you are. You are sons and daughters and children of God. You're friends and followers of Christ Jesus. And the love and the peace and the joy and the justice and the beauty of God are forever at loose in the world through your lives. Go now and live like it is true, because it is. [01:05:00]

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