Elements City Church
Good & Beautiful & Kind series - Love in Public
As we conclude our series seeking to grow as people who promote and radiate the goodness, beauty and kindness of God, we are each called to be active agents for God and His good in the world. We will look into the relationship between Christian faith and justice. Biblical justice is about the renewal of the world, renewal of all things…setting things right and gets expressed interpersonally and institutionally. Justice is what love looks like in public. Justice is central to the heart of God.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Welcome to Elements City Church
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new and want to get connected, we'd love to hep you do so! Click the link below to fill out our Connection Card.
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If you have a prayer request you'd like our Elders and Prayer Team to pray for, click the link below to share it with us.
https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fPOEM:
“Tired” - by: Langston Hughes
I’m so tired of waiting,
Aren’t you,
For the World to become good,
And beautiful and kind?
Let’s take a knife
And cut the world in two -
And see what worms are eating
At the rind.
This is NOT further language of division …
This is language of inspection…
We must get at the roots of the chaos in and around us.
“Tired” - by: Langston Hughes
I’m so tired of waiting,
Aren’t you,
For the World to become good,
And beautiful and kind?
Let’s take a knife
And cut the world in two -
And see what worms are eating
At the rind.
This is NOT further language of division …
This is language of inspection…
We must get at the roots of the chaos in and around us.
*remember a portion of the LORD'S PRAYER
May your Kingdom come on earth, as it is in Heaven.
(May the way things operate in heaven, operate here more and more)
The call of us Christ followers is to be part of God’s solution, not further stoke and exasperate the world’s problems…we’re to leverage our lives for God, His good and His gospel within our weary and broken world. To experience and then reflect more the goodness, beauty and kindness of God into our world.
May your Kingdom come on earth, as it is in Heaven.
(May the way things operate in heaven, operate here more and more)
The call of us Christ followers is to be part of God’s solution, not further stoke and exasperate the world’s problems…we’re to leverage our lives for God, His good and His gospel within our weary and broken world. To experience and then reflect more the goodness, beauty and kindness of God into our world.
This series premise flows from a book entitled: Good and Beautiful and Kind, by pastor Rich Villodas
Tonight we will look into the relationship between Christian faith and justice
Tonight we will look into the relationship between Christian faith and justice
And all throughout the Scriptures, we see God advocating on behalf of people - calling His people to not be silent, to not stand by, but to be a part of bringing justice and setting things right.
ONE DAY JESUS WILL SET ALL THINGS RIGHT - but we’re to partner / advocate for that in our here and now moments of history.
Cornel West (philosopher)
“Justice is what love looks like in public.”
ONE DAY JESUS WILL SET ALL THINGS RIGHT - but we’re to partner / advocate for that in our here and now moments of history.
Cornel West (philosopher)
“Justice is what love looks like in public.”
On display through the gospel accounts - the life of Jesus:
Jesus has a passionate love for those the world often has little regard for.
Do you? Do I?
Quote:
“Practicing justice is an act of joining God in seeing that the created order (people and everything else) receives what it is due.” -Dr. Gerry Breshears
Jesus has a passionate love for those the world often has little regard for.
Do you? Do I?
Quote:
“Practicing justice is an act of joining God in seeing that the created order (people and everything else) receives what it is due.” -Dr. Gerry Breshears
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”
-Romans 12:21 CSB
Good Policy has its place.
The people of God have a greater place!
As followers of Jesus:
We work for justice not because it justifies us.
We’ve been justified; therefore, we work for justice.
-Romans 12:21 CSB
Good Policy has its place.
The people of God have a greater place!
As followers of Jesus:
We work for justice not because it justifies us.
We’ve been justified; therefore, we work for justice.
What does it mean to live a life of justice?
Justice doesn’t have to be big.
-DO FOR ONE WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD DO FOR EVERYONE.
Saint Teresa of Avila:
“Christ has no body on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walk to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
Justice doesn’t have to be big.
-DO FOR ONE WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD DO FOR EVERYONE.
Saint Teresa of Avila:
“Christ has no body on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walk to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”
The practice of justice calls us to “raise our voice.”
-advocating FOR...
Justice calls us to guard against moral numbness.
--Avoid becoming numb to other’s heartaches, burdens and stories…*empathetic listening is a must!!
Justice requires us to prioritize proximity to the poor.
-how might you position yourself in proximity?
-advocating FOR...
Justice calls us to guard against moral numbness.
--Avoid becoming numb to other’s heartaches, burdens and stories…*empathetic listening is a must!!
Justice requires us to prioritize proximity to the poor.
-how might you position yourself in proximity?
WE > me
NO ONE PERSON CAN DO IT ALL
Quote:
“The Loving Presence does not burden us equally with all things, but considerately puts upon each of us just a few central tasks, as emphatic responsibilities. For each of us these special undertakings are our share in the joyous burden of love…” --Thomas Kelly
NO ONE PERSON CAN DO IT ALL
Quote:
“The Loving Presence does not burden us equally with all things, but considerately puts upon each of us just a few central tasks, as emphatic responsibilities. For each of us these special undertakings are our share in the joyous burden of love…” --Thomas Kelly
We will each find our hearts drawn to particular justice issues, people groups, neighbors/families; our lines of work uniquely orchestrated to be able to leverage God’s grace and justice — demonstrating His love out loud in public...
Questions to ponder:
Is there something that you feel the Spirit of God stirring your heart to care about more with Him?
Do you feel an invitation from Christ in today’s Scripture passages?
Do any of the words resonate with you? If so, why?
How have you understood the role of justice within the Christian faith?
To what degree has justice been a part of your own faith?
Because of technology and social media, we are more aware of the fractures and points of injustice in our world. How has this “injustice-fatigue” impacted your own commitment to justice work?
How might the invitation of DO FOR ONE WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD DO FOR EVERYONE be a freeing invitation for you to enter into living out more of God's justice in the world?
Is there something that you feel the Spirit of God stirring your heart to care about more with Him?
Do you feel an invitation from Christ in today’s Scripture passages?
Do any of the words resonate with you? If so, why?
How have you understood the role of justice within the Christian faith?
To what degree has justice been a part of your own faith?
Because of technology and social media, we are more aware of the fractures and points of injustice in our world. How has this “injustice-fatigue” impacted your own commitment to justice work?
How might the invitation of DO FOR ONE WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD DO FOR EVERYONE be a freeing invitation for you to enter into living out more of God's justice in the world?
We're so grateful for our financial partners...
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings. They enable us to be the church, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. They enable us to advocate for justice and blessing in our city! Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveWe're so glad you came to church tonight!
Gathering together as a church body to worship in song and in the Word is a great way to be refreshed in God's presence. We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Next Sunday we lean into what it's like to live a generous life and why that matters to God. Join us next Sunday evening for worship and stay current with all upcoming events in the Elements app:
- Faith and Family Night at the Tucson Roadrunners hockey game on Friday, Nov 22nd - get link to tickets in our app
-Cookies and Cocoa in the Courtyard, Sunday December 15th.
-Christmas Eve Service - December 24th at 530pm
Gathering together as a church body to worship in song and in the Word is a great way to be refreshed in God's presence. We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
Next Sunday we lean into what it's like to live a generous life and why that matters to God. Join us next Sunday evening for worship and stay current with all upcoming events in the Elements app:
- Faith and Family Night at the Tucson Roadrunners hockey game on Friday, Nov 22nd - get link to tickets in our app
-Cookies and Cocoa in the Courtyard, Sunday December 15th.
-Christmas Eve Service - December 24th at 530pm