Micah 6:8, Luke 4
Rev. Jeffrey F. Keuss, PhD, Professor of Christian Ministry, Theology and Culture
In order to see and live into Justice (Mišpāt), Scripture points us to living lives of righteousness (sadîq ) that will mean a costly turning (hāpak) of our lives to face and do the work of Jesus in our world. As Jesus shows us in Luke 4, this work of Justice is the job description for all who wish to follow him into grace and truth.
- Justice is, first and foremost, a relational term — people living in right relationship with God, one another, and the natural creation.
- Justice requires that we stay obedient to the Gospel in all aspects of our life in the name and work of justice… even when it’s hard. This is why justice always points to Shalom.
- Justice requires that we need to make space for the Holy Spirit to give a vision and courage beyond ourselves so that we can rely on the Lord and not our own understanding of what justice and shalom should be.
Steps for doing justice… Jesus in the Temple in Luke 4 reading Isaiah 61
- Justices costs us something
- Justice is more than “marveling”
- Justice is seen most clearly in embodied grace
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
- As an icebreaker, watch this short Bible Project video (6 mins) on why humans care so much about justice and what the Bible says about it as we remember that the Old Testament talks about justice over 200 times!
- Christ’s ever-open arms on the cross remind us that justice is ultimately an open invitation where the arms of God are open to embrace us, bring us healing and wholeness, and release us into the world as agents of justice and healing for others.
- How do righteousness and justice work together in order to be such an agent?
- Have you experienced where it was difficult to see a need for justice because you were less attuned or out of practice of the rhythms of grace? What was it like to see more clearly? (Note: This is not meant to cause shame but be an opportunity to vulnerably share one’s own learning experience with others!)
- Which soul care rhythms come naturally for you and which do you need encouragement or accountability in practicing? ex. prayer, fasting, solitude, worship, tithing, confession, forgiveness...
- As we view justice as a relational term between God, one another and creation, how does that relate to what you’ve learned about shalom in the past weeks?
- To view justice as a call to “who” we are versus “what” we do centers justice as a discipleship question where we are rooted in God’s character and nature. How does this definition change your perspective on ways to engage in justice issues around you?
- Dr. John Perkins, who has been in the work of justice his entire life, offered us a beautiful picture of humility where after a hard conversation he spent a night of prayer ultimately leading in asking for forgiveness of the students he met.
- a. What would it look like if we went physically on our knees in humility before God in the same way; what question or situation would you place before him?
- b. How might this type relationship with God shape who we are?
- Have one person read the description and passage below for each example of the paths that justice often takes in the Christian life:
- ex. Emmaus Justice (Luke 24: 13-35) – a long journey of study, discernment, prayer and encounter a quest for deep understanding that leads to meaningful action
- ex. Damascus Justice (Acts 9) – a flash of divine insight and prophetic wisdom that is action prior to full understanding (Paul after his blinding encounter in Acts 9:6 – “Get up, enter the city, you will be told what to do”)
- Which route of justice do you tend to take, the Emmaus or Damascus path and why?
- Why is it important to not prioritize or discount one path over another?
- How can they be brought together to give us an even clearer view of God’s justice?
- There is challenge in creating space for the Holy Spirit to provide vision/courage versus relying on our own understanding of what justice and shalom should be. What might God be asking you to give up in order to find shalom and justice? (This could be more than a way of thinking, it could be your access or the view people have of you, etc.)
- How can the church be a “preventative” force of justice?
- Pastor Jeff gives us two examples of wondering or marveling; one that holds back and another that “names/claims” but doesn’t live into it. What are the dangers unique to each of these?