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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 4.3

7/9/2020

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What can God do through you?

You can walk more humbly with others when . . .
You remember how God mercifully walks with you.
You remember what Jesus did on the cross for you.
You look for the face of Jesus in everyone you meet—but especially in the faces of the poor, the sick, the oppressed, and the marginalized.

Matthew 24:31-46

Discussion Questions:

  • Read Mark 10:45. What would it look like for you to follow Jesus' example and give your life for others?
  • What's one way you're going to "walk humbly" this week? ​
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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 4.2

7/9/2020

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It's all connected

​For Jesus (and for us too) walking humbly, loving mercy, and doing justice are all connected.

Philippians 2:3-11
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
 
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death--
    even death on a cross.



Question of the Day:
Where haven’t you been humble when it comes to others? Do you have a story where you ignored the needs of others, especially those who are unwanted, or unloved?

Discussion Questions:
  • Have you ever had the opportunity to serve someone in Jesus' name? What was it like?
  • Have you ever encountered someone who needed help, but you didn't help them? What happened? What held you back?
  • If you could relive that moment, what would you do differently?
  • Who is someone in your life now who could be "Jesus in disguise?"
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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 4.1

7/9/2020

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Humility and justice

​The topic of humility would have been a good way to start this series on justice, but it is also a good way to end it. Remember, "justice" means "to make wrong things right."
 
So what do justice and humility have to do with each other? If injustice is on one end of the spectrum, humility is on the other. They're sort of opposites.
 
Injustice happens when people behave out of selfishness, arrogance, pride and greed. When those things exist, people tend to get hurt and injustice tends to take place.
 
But when people act from a place of mercy, love, and humility, justice tends to follow. People who are humble tend to make wrong things right more often than people who are selfish.

Question of the Day:
Have you ever humblebragged online or to your friends? Also, how would you define humility?

Discussion Questions:
  • ​Who comes to mind when you think of someone who is humble?
  • Do you want to be seen as someone who is humble? Why or why not?
  • How do you think someone can become more humble?
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MOre THAN A HASHTAG 3.3

7/6/2020

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Act justly

What are we supposed to do?
​
One of the first steps we can take toward justice is to help meet people's physical needs. 

Sometimes when we think about justice, all we think about is meeting physical needs. But justice is so much more than just giving people clothes, or money, or food. Justice can mean giving the gift of relationships to others, or it can mean receiving the gift of relationships from someone else, or leveraging our relationships for justice work.

While so much can be done for justice on through one-on-one interactions, local projects, and short-term initiatives, fighting for justice often requires a much deeper dive into the systemic, deeply rooted issues that cause injustice on a large scale. 

Question of the Day: How are you going to act justly this week? Challenge yourself to pick one thing from the list and do it this week. 

Discussion Questions:
  • What's one way you could fight injustice by meeting a physical need? 
  • What's one way you could fight injustice with a relationship?
  • What one example of a systemic injustice that you would like to learn more about?
  • How can we help each other act more justly?
  • What's one way you're going to "act justly" this week?
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MORE THAN A HASHTAG 3.2

7/6/2020

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A vision for justice

According to Scripture, orphans and widows should not be in distress. The weak and the fatherless should not be taken advantage of, Mercy and compassion should be shown to the poor and the oppressed. No one should be exploited by the powerful. No one should be voiceless or unheard. The refugee should be welcomed and given refuge.

If justice is about righting wrongs, we sometimes need to begin by righting the wrongs in our own hearts. Sometimes the fight for justice begins with confronting and uprooting the sins of greed, pride, lust, idolatry, and hardened hearts, which can all cloud our vision of justice. 

“I have come to see questions about suffering in the world not so much as questions about God’s character, but as questions about the obedience and faith of God’s people.” - Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission

Question of the Day: 
Did you hear the scripture differently as you listened with a new perspective in mind? 
​
Discussion Questions:
  • Choose at least one passage of Scripture that stood out to you today. Let's reread it together. Why did it stand out to you? What questions do you have about it? 
  • Dr. Cornel West said, "Justice is what love looks like in public." What do you think he meant by this? Can you think of any examples?
  • Tell us about something you've done to fight injustice.
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First Lutheran Church


1000 3rd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA  |  319.365.1494  |  info@firstlutherancr.org  |  A congregation of the ELCA

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  • About
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