Wicked: The Wicked Witch Hunters

Devotional

Day 1: Violence Begins as a Whisper in the Heart

Violence does not erupt suddenly; it starts as a quiet whisper within, a simmering resentment, fear, or self-righteousness that grows until it spills out in words or actions. Before any outward harm is done, there is an inward process—fear, rumors, blame, and rage—that leads to violence, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Jesus warns that even anger harbored in the heart is subject to judgment, reminding us that the seeds of violence are sown long before any visible act. [25:07]

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to hell of fire.”

Reflection: What is one small resentment or grudge you are holding in your heart today? How can you bring it honestly before God and ask Him to transform it before it grows?

Day 2: The Power of Words—Blessing or Violence

Our words have the power to bless or to curse, to build up or to tear down. The Bible teaches that violence is not only physical but also found in the way we speak about others, especially those made in the image of God. Every time we use our words to diminish, gossip, or call down evil upon someone, we participate in a subtle but real form of violence. Instead, we are called to speak with grace, humility, and love, reflecting the character of Christ in all our conversations. [27:05]

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: Think of a recent conversation where your words may have wounded someone. How can you reach out to that person this week to offer healing or encouragement instead?

Day 3: God’s Justice Is Not Mob Justice

God’s justice stands in stark contrast to the world’s way of vengeance and retribution. While the world seeks to destroy what it fears or misunderstands, God calls us to put down the sword and take up the cross, following Jesus in self-sacrifice, mercy, and resurrection life. True victory is not found in vanquishing others but in overcoming evil with good, allowing God alone to judge and to bring new creation out of destruction. [42:07]

Psalm 37:12-14 (ESV)
“The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to “fight fire with fire”? What would it look like to lay down your sword and respond with the self-giving love of Christ instead?

Day 4: The Call to Love One Another

From the very beginning, God’s message has been clear: we are to love one another and not follow the path of Cain, whose violence was rooted in anger, envy, and pride. The roots of hatred are often hidden beneath the surface, but God calls us to recognize and uproot them, choosing instead the way of compassion and reconciliation. Loving others, even those we find difficult, is the true mark of following Christ and the antidote to the violence that divides. [37:32]

1 John 3:11-12 (ESV)
“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.”

Reflection: Who is one person you find difficult to love right now? What is one practical step you can take today to show them Christlike love?

Day 5: Marching to the Rhythm of Grace

Every day, we are invited to choose which march we join: the march of anger and condemnation, or the march of Christ—marked by truth, love, humility, and grace. Repentance is always possible; we can turn around and follow a new rhythm, allowing our hearts to be filled with healing instead of hurt. God’s whisper calls us to say “yes” again and again, to walk in the way of peacemakers, blessing others and building up the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. [46:52]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Reflection: As you go about your day, what is one way you can intentionally “march to the rhythm of grace”—choosing compassion, humility, or forgiveness where you might otherwise react in anger or judgment?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering invited us to look deeply at the roots of violence—both in the world and within our own hearts—and to consider the way of Jesus as a radical alternative to the cycles of anger, blame, and vengeance that so often define human relationships. Drawing from the story of “Wicked” and its powerful “March of the Witch Hunters” scene, we saw how easily pain and misunderstanding can turn into a mob mentality, where self-righteousness masquerades as justice and anger is mistaken for truth. The story of Bach, whose woundedness and loss led him to become a voice for vengeance, mirrors the crowds in Jerusalem who called for Jesus’ crucifixion, convinced they were defending what was good.

We explored how violence is not just physical; it begins as a whisper in the heart—a thought of superiority, a rumor, a simmering resentment. Before any hand is raised or word is spoken, the seeds of violence are sown in the quiet places of our souls. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 reminds us that the commandment not to murder is not just about outward action, but about the slow-burning anger that can take root within us. James warns us that our words, too, can be instruments of violence, cursing those made in God’s image even as we bless God with the same mouth.

The tragedy is that, so often, we believe we are standing for truth or righteousness, when in fact we are participating in the very violence we claim to oppose. When righteousness loses humility, it becomes dangerous; when conviction loses compassion, it becomes cruelty. The myth of redemptive violence—the belief that we can destroy evil by destroying those we label as evil—is as old as Cain and Abel, and as present as our latest argument or social media post.

But God’s way is different. Jesus calls us not to march with the crowd, but to follow him—to put down the sword and take up the cross. God’s victory is not in destruction, but in resurrection; not in vengeance, but in the relentless creation of new life. The invitation is to turn, to repent, to march to the rhythm of grace, love, and mercy. Our hearts were made for healing, not for harboring anger or resentment. Each day, we are called to say “yes” again to this way of Jesus, to let our words and actions build up rather than tear down, and to become peacemakers in a world hungry for redemption.

Key Takeaways

1. Violence begins as a whisper in the heart Violence rarely starts with outward action; it begins with subtle thoughts—fear, resentment, superiority—that quietly take root. Before we ever harm with our hands or words, we have already allowed something destructive to grow within us. Recognizing and addressing these inner whispers is essential to breaking the cycle of harm and choosing the way of Christ. [22:53]
2. Righteousness without humility becomes dangerous When our sense of being right is not tempered by humility, it can easily turn into self-righteousness and even cruelty. True righteousness is always marked by compassion and grace, not by a need to dominate or condemn. We must continually examine whether our convictions are leading us toward love or away from it. [29:36]
3. The myth of redemptive violence is a spiritual trap The belief that evil can be overcome by destroying those we see as evil is a lie as old as humanity. This myth fuels cycles of vengeance and blinds us to the possibility of redemption and new creation. God’s way, revealed in Jesus, is to overcome evil not with more violence, but with sacrificial love and resurrection power. [39:52]
4. God’s march is to the rhythm of grace We are invited to march not with the crowd that seeks vengeance, but with Christ, who leads us in truth, love, and mercy. This means daily choosing to turn from anger and condemnation, and to let our hearts be instruments of healing and reconciliation. The same heart that can harbor resentment can also hold the healing presence of Christ. [44:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:44] - Announcements and Connection Cards
[06:56] - Call to Worship and Opening Song
[07:19] - Introduction to the “Wicked” Series
[15:05] - Setting the Scene: March of the Witch Hunters
[16:42] - Bach’s Story: Woundedness and Anger
[19:51] - Mob Mentality: Vengeance vs. Justice
[21:58] - The Many Forms of Violence
[23:18] - The Path from Fear to Violence
[24:46] - Jesus on Anger and Judgment
[27:05] - The Power of Words as Violence
[29:36] - When Righteousness Becomes Cruelty
[33:30] - Parallels: Wicked and the Passion of Christ
[37:32] - Cain and Abel: The Roots of Violence
[39:52] - The Myth of Redemptive Violence
[42:07] - God’s Way: Cross, Not Sword
[44:51] - Marching to a Different Beat
[48:12] - Communion Invitation
[58:00] - Communion and Offering
[64:49] - Upcoming Events and Food Pantry
[67:33] - Christmas Preparations and Announcements
[70:20] - Blessing: March of the Peacemakers

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) — > “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to hell of fire.”

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.”

1 John 3:11-12 (ESV) — > “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.”

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 5:21-22, how does Jesus expand the commandment “You shall not murder”? What does he say about anger?
In James 3:9-10, what contradiction does James point out about the way we use our words?
The sermon described how violence can begin as a “whisper in the heart” before it ever becomes an action. What are some of the steps or stages that were mentioned in the sermon that lead from a whisper to violence? [[23:18]]
In the story of Cain and Abel (1 John 3:11-12), what was the root cause of Cain’s violence against his brother, according to the sermon? [[38:50]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus connects anger in the heart with the act of murder? What does this say about how God views our inner life compared to our outward actions? [[25:07]]
The sermon said, “When righteousness loses humility, it becomes dangerous; when conviction loses compassion, it becomes cruelty.” What does this mean in practical terms for how we live out our faith? [[29:36]]
The “myth of redemptive violence” was described as the belief that we can destroy evil by destroying those we label as evil. Why is this idea so tempting, and what are the dangers of believing it? [[39:52]]
The sermon compared the mob in “Wicked” to the crowd that called for Jesus’ crucifixion. What similarities did the pastor point out, and what warning does this give us about group behavior? [[34:28]]

Application Questions

The sermon said violence often starts as a whisper—thoughts of fear, resentment, or superiority. Can you think of a recent time when you noticed one of these “whispers” in your own heart? How did you respond? [[22:53]]
When have you found yourself justifying harsh words or actions because you believed you were “right”? How can you tell the difference between standing for truth and slipping into self-righteousness? [[29:19]]
The pastor talked about the power of words to bless or curse. Is there someone in your life you have spoken harshly about or to? What would it look like to speak blessing instead? [[27:05]]
The sermon challenged us to “march to a different beat”—not with the crowd seeking vengeance, but with Christ, who leads in grace and mercy. What is one practical way you can “march to the rhythm of grace” this week, especially in a situation where you feel wronged? [[44:51]]
The myth of redemptive violence says we can fix things by getting rid of the “bad people.” Have you ever caught yourself thinking this way about someone or a group? How can you shift your mindset toward redemption and new creation instead? [[39:52]]
The pastor said, “Your heart was made for healing, not for harboring anger or resentment.” What is one step you can take this week to let go of resentment or anger you’ve been holding onto? [[46:22]]
Repentance was described as simply turning around and marching in a new direction. Is there an area in your life where you need to “turn around” and follow Jesus’ way of love and mercy? What would that look like for you? [[45:28]]

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