We Have Work To Do // Roll Down Justice // Mar 22 2026

Mar 22, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Challenge of Pursuing Justice in a Running World

We are called to enact justice not in a controlled environment, but within the ongoing complexities of our communities and systems. Like a heart surgeon operating on a beating heart, we must work for change while life continues around us. This requires wisdom, courage, and a deep reliance on God's guidance. We are invited to participate in God's work of restoration without the luxury of stopping the world to fix it. [04:45]

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17, NIV)

Reflection: Where in your community or daily life do you see an “engine” of injustice that is still running? What is one small, respectful step you could take to engage with that system for positive change?

Day 2: Fasting from Injustice to Focus on God’s Priorities

God calls us to a fast that moves beyond personal piety to active compassion. This true fast involves loosening the chains of injustice, setting the oppressed free, and sharing our resources with those in need. It is a reorientation of our lives away from self-interest and toward the well-being of our neighbors. This kind of fasting creates space to focus on God’s heart for justice and mercy. [06:38]

“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?” (Isaiah 58:6-7, NIV)

Reflection: What is one habit or assumption in your life that God might be inviting you to “fast from” because it contributes to injustice or ignores the needs of others?

Day 3: The Power of Small, Kind Acts of Justice

Significant change often begins with small, practical acts of kindness that address a specific need. These micro-practices of justice can make systems more hospitable and break down barriers for those who are excluded. Something that seems simple to us can be profoundly transformative for someone else, demonstrating respect and embodying God’s love in a tangible way. [07:50]

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42, NIV)

Reflection: Can you recall a time when a small, thoughtful adjustment—like a redesigned mug or a clearer instruction—made a significant difference for you or someone else? How might that inspire you to identify and address a similar “small” injustice this week?

Day 4: Respectful Engagement Can Break Unjust Systems

History shows that respectful engagement and fair treatment can be more powerful than force in dismantling systemic injustice. Choosing to operate with integrity and to value the dignity of others can create alternatives that make oppressive systems obsolete. This approach reflects the character of God and trusts in the transformative power of justice and kindness. [14:46]

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21, NIV)

Reflection: In a current situation where you see conflict or injustice, what would it look like to respond not with similar force, but with respectful engagement and a commitment to doing good?

Day 5: Our Collective Call to Grassroots Justice

We are not called to wait for large institutions to solve problems but to actively participate in God’s work of justice through our local communities and churches. From providing housing support to advocating for compassionate prison reform, our collective efforts make a tangible difference. We are part of a long tradition of faithful action, always remembering that Christ is the ultimate Savior, and we are His humble servants. [18:49]

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:15-17, NIV)

Reflection: Considering the various justice ministries you are aware of, which one resonates most deeply with you? What is one specific, practical way you could contribute your time, resources, or voice to support that work?

Sermon Summary

A vivid metaphor compares justice work to doing heart surgery while an engine runs: corrective work must happen in the mess of everyday life, not after a clean restart. Lenten fasting receives a radical reframing as a fast from injustice—removing oppression, freeing innocent prisoners, feeding the hungry, and housing the unsheltered become spiritual disciplines as much as personal sacrifices. Isaiah’s charge prompts concrete, ongoing action rather than waiting for a distant authority to fix systems. Small, practical acts—micro practices—receive equal weight with large policy shifts: everyday design choices, compassionate policies, and grassroots loans dismantle barriers that keep people marginalized.

Concrete examples show how respect and fair exchange can unsettle entrenched power. A trade story about black pepper illustrates how bargaining with dignity and paying fair prices freed people from exploitative plantations. Local ministry partnerships demonstrate the blend of immediate care and long-term support: transitional housing combined with case management, facility repairs, leaf raking, and funds raised for sustained impact. Efforts to reform compassionate release policies and small loan programs reveal how institutions and congregations can apply pressure and resources to restore dignity and opportunity.

Historical reflection refuses self-congratulation and accepts accountability. Institutional efforts, even with good intent, have caused harm—forced schooling of Indigenous children stands as a confession and call to repent. The central claim of faith remains that Jesus saves the world; human work must operate in the power of that salvation, not as a replacement for it. Eucharistic memory invites a posture of shared abundance: early Christian meals modeled equality, and Paul’s rebuke of Corinth warns against replicating economic inequality at the table.

Accessibility and hospitality offer concrete ways to live justice: changing pews, creating seating for wheelchairs, and rethinking visitation policies in hospitals demonstrate how simple alterations remake belonging. The cumulative argument calls for varied faithful responses—voting, giving, advocating, volunteering, traveling in mission, and sharing meals—so that justice advances while life continues. The closing summons issues a clear directive: turn to neighbors and get to work, attending to both small acts and systemic change with patience, kindness, and resolve.

Key Takeaways

1. Fast from systemic injustice [06:05] Fasting should extend beyond food to patterns that harm people. Intentionally abstaining from policies and personal habits that perpetuate poverty and oppression creates spiritual space for solidarity. This discipline reorients priorities so justice becomes a practiced routine, not a seasonal project. [06:05]
2. Prioritize small, practical reforms [07:25] Tiny design choices and local practices can unlock dignity for vulnerable people. Micro-level innovations—accessible cups, visitation changes, tailored loans—remove everyday barriers and compound into larger cultural shifts. These actions model how to love neighbors without waiting for perfect solutions. [07:25]
3. Respect breaks systems of power [14:46] Negotiation with dignity and fair treatment undermines exploitation more effectively than domination. Respect creates windows for people to reclaim agency and economic life, turning oppressive arrangements into relationships of mutual benefit. Kindness becomes a tactical and theological strategy against entrenched wrongs. [14:46]
4. Combine charity with structural support [15:44] Immediate aid without casework leaves people exposed to repeat crises; long-term support without relief ignores current suffering. Blending emergency help, housing stability, and skills-building breaks cycles of poverty. Sustainable justice requires both mercy and systems that empower flourishing. [15:44]
5. Make worship reflect everyday equality [22:56] Communal rituals must mirror the economy participants want to build beyond the sanctuary. Sharing bread and cup as equals resists social hierarchies and trains congregations to practice common life. Eucharistic justice teaches that sacred acts should challenge, not reproduce, worldly inequality. [22:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:07] - Heart surgeons vs. motorcycle mechanics
[06:05] - Rethinking fasting: fast from injustice
[06:38] - Isaiah’s concrete commands for justice
[07:25] - Micro practices for justice ministry
[10:28] - Inclusive design: the balanced mug
[12:59] - Pepper, trade, and respectful negotiation
[14:46] - Kindness and respect break oppression
[15:44] - Local partnerships and housing work
[22:56] - Communion, abundance, and equality
[25:09] - Accessibility, pews, and small changes

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV)
“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? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”

Observation questions

According to Isaiah 58:6, what specific actions does God identify as a true "fast"?
What examples from the sermon illustrated the idea of "doing justice while the engine is running" [04:45]?
How did the story about black pepper demonstrate that respect can break systems of power [14:46]?
In what ways does the sermon connect the practice of Communion with economic justice and equality [22:56]?

Interpretation questions

Why might God connect spiritual practices like fasting with practical acts of justice such as freeing the oppressed and feeding the hungry?
How does the metaphor of “heart surgery on a running engine” reflect the challenge of pursuing justice in a broken world [04:07]?
In what ways can small, everyday actions—like redesigning a mug or changing a hospital policy—carry spiritual significance [07:25]?
Why is it important to combine immediate acts of charity (like providing housing) with long-term support (like case management) [15:44]?

Application questions

What is one practical way you can “fast from injustice” this week—whether in your habits, spending, or language?
Where in your daily routine (work, home, community) might you have the opportunity to make a small design or policy change that includes someone who’s often overlooked [07:25]?
How can you approach a difficult relationship or system not with force, but with “kindness and respect,” trusting that dignity can disrupt dynamics of power [14:46]?
What would it look like to make your home, small group, or church more physically welcoming to people with mobility challenges or other access needs [25:09]?
How can you participate in both “mercy” and “justice”—meeting immediate needs while also supporting long-term change in your community [15:44]?
In what ways does receiving Communion shape your understanding of shared abundance and economic equality [22:56]? How might that change the way you share resources?
Who is one person or group in your life that’s being marginalized by an existing system, and what’s one tangible way you can stand with them this month?

Sermon Clips

44s

#RepentAndRespect

“were welcoming children who had been forcibly removed from their families. They were required to cut their hair, they were not allowed to speak their languages or engage any of their family spiritual practices. And we have had to repent and apologize and confess our sins as Methodist Church for the harm we did through what we thought were good schools at the time, but we're not being run with respect for the families involved. We are not the saviors. Jesus is our savior, but God wants us to work through the power of Jesus to bring justice into the world.”

32s

#HousingWithSupport

“which not just provides housing for people and families who have lost their homes, but also provides an extended period of case managers who support families as they work to break the cycle of poverty in their lives and learn the life skills that helps them hold on to jobs and create a clean and safe environment for their children to grow well in. Now we don't get to erase what happened to these families, but we do get to walk beside the families.”

36s

#TellKidsClearly

“I go into the bathroom all by myself, and I'm standing there in the bathroom going, what's urine? What am I supposed to do? They said there's a little door in the wall and put the urine in the cup and then put it in the door, and I'm like, I don't know what, so I put the cotton ball in the cup, and I put it in the door, and I went out and said, mom, I I I don't know. And she's like, if only they had just told me to pee in the cup, we would have been fine.”

44s

#JusticeWhileEnginesRun

“we don't have the luxury of turning off the engine to try and fix things. We need to come up with ways to advance justice while we are still living together as a community in the world. And one of the biggest things we can do to make justice happen is to live with kindness and respect. Next slide. So how do we, sitting in this room today, bring justice to the world while the engine is running? This church has a great tradition of doing a bunch of projects that bring justice to the world. A big partnership we have is with the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing,”

42s

#WeAreNotTheSaviors

“One of the things as we get ready to celebrate Easter in two weeks though, when we look at this cross as it's being filled up with justice prayers, and feel free to add more justice prayers today, is that we tend to also have the feeling like maybe we're the savior of the world, but God sent us a savior, Jesus, and he does a much better job at saving the whole world than we do. As Methodist, there have been times we've screwed up as well. There was a time when we thought we were helping by providing schools for native American children, but in fact those schools”

35s

#EveryoneCanHelp

“And each of us has a way to do it. Maybe we're gonna vote, maybe we're going to give a financial donation, maybe we're going to advocate for an issue, maybe it's through physical volunteer work like our group that is going to Detroit this summer in June, and Judy has still got some openings if you are interested in joining. We're taking kids with their parents, 10 or 12 year olds, high school kids are welcome to come, we've got several college students from UW Stevens Point that are signed up to go, and then on up to senior citizens.”

35s

#ProudAmericanJustice

“I am proud to be an American, and part of the reason is that we have a tremendous tradition of justice in The United States. We don't always get it right, and that's a conversation for a different day, but there are examples of beautiful moments when we have gotten it right. I was recently reading a book about some of the great flavors of the world, and one of the great flavors is black pepper. I mean, most of us, if we put salt on, we usually put black pepper on and it adds just a lovely little flavor to it.”

44s

#PepperTradeDiscovery

“What I didn't know was that after the US revolution, The United States lost all its black pepper because Great Britain had an absolute monopoly on all black pepper in the entire world. So when we lost the world, the war, they wouldn't let us have any black pepper anymore. So black pepper comes from the Aceh region in Sumatra, which is currently in the nation we call Indonesia. American traders heard a rumor as to where black pepper came from, and they went to the islands of Indonesia and they started poking around until they found”

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We Have Work To Do // Roll Down Justice // Mar 22 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Challenge of Pursuing Justice in a Running World

Day 2: Fasting from Injustice to Focus on God’s Priorities

Day 3: The Power of Small, Kind Acts of Justice

Day 4: Respectful Engagement Can Break Unjust Systems

Day 5: Our Collective Call to Grassroots Justice

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

We Have Work To Do // Roll Down Justice // Mar 22 2026

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