OPENING VIDEO
Rescue (10min)
Meet some of the men and women who are seeking justice out of an overflow of their faith in a God of justice.
VIDEO REACTION: Let’s go around and talk about our emotional reactions to what we just watched. If possible, try to name at least one emotion we felt as we watched the video and the scene(s) in the video that evoked that feeling.?
Discussion Questions:
In the video, Holly says, “Jesus would want to get in the closest proximity to despised people.”
Let’s take a look at Jesus interacting with two different groups of “despised people.”
Matthew 8:1-3
When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” and Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus passed on from here, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
In one story, we see Jesus drawing near to a person who is despised because he is seen as unclean (untouchable). In the next story, we see Jesus drawing near to people who are despised because they were exploiting people.
How do Jesus’ interactions with these people challenge you? Who are the groups of people who fall into these categories in our context today?
If you were here last week, you’ll remember that we talked about facing the injustices in our own lives and hearts. How do these stories help you understand how Jesus relates to you?
Holly talked about seeing the horrible brokenness of the world. Her reaction to the Rwandan genocide was thinking: “How can there possibly be a good god?” She was astonished that Gary Haugen’s response was: “God hates this and what can I, what can Christians, do about it?”
Whose response to brokenness is it easier for you to relate with, Gary's or Holly's? Why do you think that is?
Note to host: Consider bringing in a recent issue of justice from your community or country.
Digging Deeper
Let’s dig deeper into Gary’s response of “What can I do as a Christian?” As Holly points out, Jesus’s life demonstrates an example and motivation for seeking justice. Jesus’s death also provides our motivation and ability to seek justice and redemption in the world.
Let’s read Col 1:19-20: “for God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
If all the broken things of the world are being made right through Jesus, what difference does that make in how we seek justice?
Our Response to Injustice
How do you want to respond personally to Jesus as you consider pursuing what is good and just in your own heart and in the world?
Is there something that we want to try to do together as a group in response to what we’ve discussed over the past few weeks? How can we encourage each other to continue responding to injustice?
Connecting with IJM
This Conversation Series was produced in coordination with International Justice Mission. Here are a few ways to connect.
Become a Freedom Partner to send on-going rescue and protection to those experiencing violence and oppression around the world. ijm.org/give
Host an event to raise awareness and funds for the work of justice. Learn more at ijm.org/students.