LEARN BY TOPIC

Justice and mercy

Connect worship with solidarity, fairness and attention to overlooked needs.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Micah 6:8

   ⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Micah contrasts just living with multiplying offerings; relationship with God includes how others are treated.

   Reflect

   • What might justice, mercy and humility look like in daily life?

   Put it into practice

   Review a relationship in which you can act more fairly.

   Next lesson →

2. 2. Justice and fasting - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Isaiah 58:3-7

   ³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you don’t see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you don’t notice?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and oppress all your laborers.

   ⁴ Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You don’t fast today so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

   ⁵ Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

   ⁶ “Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

   ⁷ Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Isaiah condemns religious practice that coexists with exploitation; the response includes freeing, feeding and sheltering people.

   Reflect

   • What acts of care and justice does God call for in this passage?

   Put it into practice

   Share a resource and review your treatment of those depending on you.

   Next lesson →

3. 3. Worship and justice - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Amos 5:21-24

   ²¹ I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies.

   ²² Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals.

   ²³ Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

   ²⁴ But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Amos denounces celebrations coexisting with injustice; social conduct must correspond to worship.

   Reflect

   • Why does Amos call for justice rather than empty religious celebrations?

   Put it into practice

   Review whether a daily practice contradicts your stated values.

   Next lesson →

4. 4. Becoming a neighbor - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 10:25-37

   ²⁵ Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

   ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”

   ²⁷ He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

   ²⁸ He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

   ²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

   ³⁰ Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

   ³¹ By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

   ³² In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

   ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

   ³⁴ came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

   ³⁵ On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’

   ³⁶ Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”

   ³⁷ He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The Samaritan crosses a social boundary to care for the injured man; Jesus shifts the question toward acting mercifully.

   Reflect

   • How does the Samaritan show what it means to become someone’s neighbor?

   Put it into practice

   Offer practical help without making group membership a condition.

   Next lesson →

5. 5. Organizing fair care - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Acts 6:1-7

   ¹ Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

   ² The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

   ³ Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

   ⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

   ⁵ These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,

   ⁶ whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

   ⁷ The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   A complaint about unequal distribution leads to new responsibilities; the community listens and reorganizes service.

   Reflect

   • What happens when an overlooked need becomes visible?

   Put it into practice

   Hear a complaint without dismissing it and seek a concrete improvement.