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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Rich started by asking, “How do we figure out what is right and what is wrong?” When we talk about hot-button issues like torture, surrogate-motherhood, doctor-assisted suicide, abortion, or gambling, we tend to address them at a surface level. But we must go deeper and ask ourselves, “How do we come up with our view of just? What does a just society look like?” Rich then taught from Matthew 25:31-46 that justice has to do with the way that we as individuals, and as a society, relate to people on the fringes. According to Jesus, to be considered a just person, or a just society, we must do something to help the least and the last. A just person tilts towards the poor and toward assisting those in need. A just society tilts towards the immigrant and those who are sick.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
- What do you think of when you hear the word “justice”?
- Have you ever seen or personally experienced “injustice”? Explain.
- Where do you personally fall on some of the hot-button issues like torture, gambling, or doctor-assisted suicide? How did you come to that conclusion?
- Have you recently interacted with someone who would be considered “marginalized”? Briefly share about your experience.
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
2. Read James 2:14-26:
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that people are justified by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
- How would you define “faith”?
- How would you define “deeds”?
- What do you think faith without deeds might look like?
- What do you think deeds without faith might look like?
- Why do you think faith without deeds is “dead”?
- Is James contradicting what Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9? Is James preaching “salvation by works”? Explain.
- How does Abraham’s story illustrate faith and deeds?
- How does Rahab’s story illustrate faith and deeds?
- Read verses 15-16 above. Have you ever encountered a situation like this? Explain.
3. Read this quote from the great American author, Mark Twain:
Actions speak louder than words, but not nearly as often.
- What do you think Mark Twain is trying to say here?
- Would you consider yourself a person of words or action?
- How might one become a person who “tilts” in the direction of the poor and the needy?
- Where in your neighborhood do you see a need for justice?
- What are some practical ways that you (and your small group) can begin to live out “greater justice” this week?
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