Page 6 - Called to Be Just template

Read the following scriptures as a crew. Have the students highlight the verses in

their bibles and then pick words that caught their attention

One thing that we must remember about God’s view of what is just is that it is
Matthew 23:37-39 (CSB) not how we view justice. We see justice through our very limited view point. It is
always skewed by our own perceptions , notions and ideologies. Justice is some-
37 thing that is completely objective., meaning it is impartial and focuses on every-
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those
thing that has the law as its standard. A useful distinction is that justice is objec-
who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children to- tive, while fairness is subjective. A judge's sentence may be just, because it is
[a]
gether, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were based on a law that is the same for all, and yet not seem fair because it fails to
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not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, take circumstances into account.
you will not see me again until you say,’ Blessed is he who comes in
[b]
the name of the Lord’!” God takes justice very seriously. Through Isaiah, God declares that the Messiah’s
purpose on earth is to establish justice—and he will not give up until that work is

Matthew 25:34-48 complete. We know today that the Messiah described here is Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, who came to conquer the power of sin in this world (see John 1-10). He
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“ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed came to bring forgiveness of sins and new life. He came so that we could receive
by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since his righteousness and live by it. In following Christ, we are agents of God’s mission
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the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something in this world.

to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger Our part in God’s mission includes leading people to salvation in Jesus, feeding
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and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick the hungry, caring for the poor, visiting the sick, and encouraging the discouraged.
and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ This has historically been the ministry of the church. God brings justice; we point
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“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry people to the One whom God sent to establish it. In following Christ’s example,
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and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we we help reveal to the world what Christ came to do as the fulfillment of God’s
see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe promise.
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you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 There is no shortage of needs in the world. It can be discouraging and overwhelm-
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least
of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’.” ing to consider how much injustice seems to prevail. Yet we cannot let that stop
us from taking steps today to join in God’s mission. Let’s not grow impatient ei-

ther. God isn’t finished yet. In the meantime, we can be involved in a small part of
Colossians 3:16 ESV what God has promised, and he will do it. We put our hope in him.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.