Sunday, October 14, 2018 - "Justice: Jesus & Dignity"
Scriptures
Luke 18:1-8
Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 24:17
Hymns and Other Music
God Welcomes All!
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Goodness Is Stronger than Evil
Wonder
O for a World
Reflection Questions
What do you think it means to judge someone fairly?
Have you ever felt like you were denied justice? How did that make you feel?
How often has persistence been the deciding factor in your life?
How do you think God provides justice for you?
How do you extend justice to someone else?
Bible Challenge
Young Disciples
In what can we take pride? Clue: Romans 5
Adults
What does character produce? Clue: Romans 5
Further Study
Luke 10:25-37– A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” - CEB
Isaiah 42:1-4- But here is my servant, the one I uphold; my chosen, who brings me delight. I’ve put my spirit upon him; he will bring justice to the nations. He won’t cry out or shout aloud or make his voice heard in public. He won’t break a bruised reed; he won’t extinguish a faint wick, but he will surely bring justice. He won’t be extinguished or broken until he has established justice in the land. The coastlands await his teaching.
Quote
“Justice in its most general sense is a virtue that empowers a person to give everyone what is due. What is due all persons includes respecting their personhood and giving them equal treatment precisely because they are human beings.” – Thomas L. Schubeck’s book “Love that does Justice”
Glossary of Terms
-Rightouesness (dikaiosyne) – ethical standard – right relationship, gift, requirement, duty
-Judgment/Justice (kima/krisis) – retributive justice, restorative justice – advocating/taking steps to seek out the vulnerable
-Righteous/Justified Ones(dikaios/dikaioi)
-To justify - to set right
Music Playlist
Respect by Aretha Franklin (1967)
Who Has the Answersby Andy Kim (1972)
Heal the Worldby Michael Jackson (1992)
Roarby Katy Perry (2013)
Further Conversations with Others
(This is a challenge to engage others in conversation over the next week. Here are a couple of questions to help discuss with others)
Have you ever felt something was unjust? Why did you think it was unjust?
How do you think something can go from unjust to just or vice versa?
How do you generally handle an injustice? Do you think there are other ways to deal with injustices?