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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 2.3

6/30/2020

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Learning to love mercy

Let this be a reminder, God isn't motivated by a desire to punish us. God wants to see us transformed. God’s mercy has the power to cause that kind of transformation in our lives, then empower us to show that same mercy to others. When it comes to justice, God is calling us to love mercy.

Question of the Day: What is one situation you need to learn from so you can be better at loving mercy as God calls us to?

​Discussion Questions:
  • Read Hosea 6:6. How would you have explained this verse to Simon, the Pharisee from today's story? Back then, remember people often made sacrifices and offerings in order to please God.
  • Has anyone hurt or offended you recently? Tell us about it.
  • How might you be able to show that person mercy, instead of judgment or revenge?
  • This week, what's one way you plan to show someone else mercy?
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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 2.2

6/30/2020

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NOT Getting what we deserve...

Sometimes mercy is defined in contrast to grace, but most of the time mercy and grace go together. Some might say it like this: If grace is like "getting a gift we don't deserve," then mercy is "not getting what we do deserve"—that is, punishment for our sins.
 
By taking on our punishment for sin, Jesus displayed an act of great mercy, Jesus died on our behalf.
 
Because of Jesus, we did not get the punishment we deserved—that's mercy. Instead, we get the gift of eternal life that's grace.

Question of the Day:
How are you called to love mercy, to show mercy to others around you? Showing mercy to your sibling after they mess up? Showing mercy to a neighbor? Whatever the situation and whomever the person, how do you show mercy?​

Discussion Questions:
  • Talk about a time you received mercy instead of punishment. How did it impact you?
  • Have you ever needed to be "forgiven much?" What happened?
  • Have you ever refused to show someone mercy? What happened?
  • What role do you think mercy plays in justice?
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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 2.1

6/30/2020

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Love Mercy...

Sometimes people get attacked online for no reason at all. Those attacks are simply hateful. But sometimes people get attacked online because someone feels wronged by them and is looking for justice.
 
People might start hashtags, declare campaigns, or rally their friends to go after someone online because they believe they've done something wrong and must be punished.
 
There are countless stories of people who have received so much negative online backlash because of their bad behavior that they've lost their jobs or even had to change their names.
 
Now, justice (the subject of our current series) is about making wrong things right.
 
Usually, making wrong things right requires someone to be punished or held accountable for their actions. But can our desire to punish someone who has done wrong ever go too far? Is there another way? When we look at the internet and how it’s easy to attack or write people off, do we have mercy? Do we understand what mercy is?
​
  • Why do you think it's so easy for people to be mean to each other?
  • Have you ever seen someone get attacked for their bad behavior? What happened?
  • Let's recap: how would you define "justice"? ​
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More Than A Hashtag

6/22/2020

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A new summer series on justice...

Our world is not as it should be. There is pain, evil, and injustice all around us. In the age of social media, it is easier than ever to stay informed about all sorts of injustices, but is sending a tweet, posting a selfie, or sharing a video about an inspiring cause really all it takes to make a difference in the world?
​
⁠
Or is it possible that justice is about something much more than a hashtag? In this series, we'll challenge ourselves to not just post about the injustices around us, but to actually do something about them by loving mercy, acting justly, and walking humbly.⁠
​
Micah 6:6-8

What God Requires6 “With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Picture
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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 1.3

6/22/2020

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Do Something...

​Maybe you heard me say, "Do something!" at the end of yesterday’s video, but instead of feeling inspired or motivated, you feel helpless or unsure of where to start. If that's you, here are two things I hope will encourage you:
 
The first is this: God is the miracle-worker—not us.
 
God is calling you and I to join God on God’s mission of making wrong things right in the world, but it is ultimately God’s mission. God is the miracle-worker!
 
God wants us to join God on God’s mission so God can use us in amazing ways. We join God when we choose to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
 
When we live that kind of faith, God can use us to do incredible things in the world. God can use us to make a difference if we're willing.
 
And here’s the second thing: You don't have to do everything—just do something.
 
It's easy to become overwhelmed by all that's wrong in the world, but God isn't calling you to do or change everything that needs to be changed. That's way too much for one person! 

Question of the Day: What is one thing you’re going to “do” this week to right the wrongs in our community? Let us know in the comments what ideas you have and maybe we can work together to make it happen in the coming weeks!

Discussion Questions:
  • Read John 6:1-13. What are your "loaves and fishes" that you can offer Jesus?
  • Why do you think many movements, revolutions, and revivals begin with young people? 
  • What's one way you're going to "do something" this week?  ​
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  • About
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