Sunday - 15 June 2025
[Message] When Justice Leads to Worship – From Proximity to Participation
Ezekiel 15, Isaiah 58:6-11, Matthew 25:31-36
Zachary Wylie
MAIN IDEA:
Justice isn’t something we do to fix the world—it’s something we embody because Christ has already
We don’t do justice to earn
True worship is not just expressed in the
INTRODUCTION:
This week is
Awareness Week.
Jesus says: ‘Whatever you did for one of theof these, you did for Me.’
Ezekiel was overwhelmed, not by his own suffering, but by sitting in the pain of.
POINT 1 – SIT WHERE THEY SIT
Ezekiel lived in a
camp of sorts by the Kebar River.
His first assignment: not to speak, not to act, but to.
“I sat where they sat for seven days,.” (Ezekiel 3:15)
The Hebrew word shamem means desolate, laid waste, or stunned into. Justice begins not with action, but with .
Before you claim to understand, you must be willing to be.
POINT 2 – STOP THE PERFORMANCE
Isaiah 58 critiques spiritual
and social injustice. God says: “You’ve misunderstood what is for.”
“You think you’re getting My attention by skipping a meal. I want you to skip.”
“If you don’t have a relationship with theand , you don’t have a relationship with Me.” – Tim Keller
Justice is how we get our soul back.
POINT 3 – YOU MET ME AND DIDN’T KNOW IT
Jesus says: “Whatever you did for one of the
of these… you did for Me.”
In Greek: ton elachiston — the, the socially invisible.
Jesus doesn’t say, “They reminded me of Me.” He says, “ThatMe.”
This is not just about humanitarian action—it’s about spiritual.
POINT 4 – THE GOD WHO BECAME THE OPPRESSED
Jesus was born in
, became a in Egypt, and had no place to lay His head.
The scandal of the gospel is that God chose to save not from above, but from.
To follow Jesus is to walk the road of theOne.
POINT 5 – JUSTICE AS WORSHIP
“If you spend yourselves on behalf of the
…” (Isaiah 58:10) In Hebrew: naphsh’ka – give your breath, your , your self.
Worship is how we respond to the image of God in the.
Justice is not a detour from discipleship—it’s ayou’re on the right road.
APPLICATION – THE EZEKIEL PATTERN
Step 1: Be
by the Spirit.
Step 2:where others sit.
Step 3: Allow forto reshape you.
Step 4: Letmove you to action.
Step 5: Speak only after beingand broken open.
Conclusion:
We do justice not as saviors, but because we’ve been
.
Jesus fully identifies with the.
Worship must become.
For reflection and LIFE Group facilitation:
- Opening Connection (5–10 minutes)
• Icebreaker Question:
What is a time someone showed up for you when you felt unseen or overwhelmed?
• Connection Moment:
Invite each person to share a story or moment when they felt marginalized, alone, or forgotten—whether recently or in the past.
Encourage a spirit of honesty, knowing that these stories connect us to one another and to Jesus’ heart.
- Read the Scripture Together (5 minutes)
• Matthew 25:31–46
Invite two people to read the passage aloud slowly and reflectively. Pause for 30 seconds of silence afterward.
Ask: What words or images stood out to you?
3. Discussion Questions (20–30 minutes)
A. SEEING JESUS IN THE MARGINS
Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for Me.”
How does this change the way you view people who are overlooked or suffering?
B. VISITING JESUS IN DISTRESS
Who are the “least of these” in your world right now—your neighborhood, your church, your workplace?
How might Jesus be inviting you to draw near—not with pity, but presence?
C. LIVING FOR ETERNITY
In this passage, Jesus talks about eternal reward and separation.
What do you think it means to live in light of eternity, today?
What small, tangible act of mercy can you take this week that honors Christ in the margins?
4. Vulnerability and Prayer (15–20 minutes)
• Open Prayer Time:
Begin with silence. Ask: “Where have I missed seeing Jesus in the margins this week?”
Then invite the group to share any prayer needs or any barriers that prevent them from stepping into uncomfortable places.
• Guided Group Prayer:
“Jesus, thank You for meeting us when we were hungry, lonely, or forgotten.Forgive us for the ways we’ve turned away from others out of fear, busyness, or indifference. Teach us to see You in the faces of the broken. Move us with compassion. Empower us with love. May we be known as people who visit, care, and go—because we see You. Amen.”
5. Worship Experience (10–15 minutes)
Close with one or two songs. Between songs, pause and reflect on Jesus’ presence in the hurting and the hidden.
Suggested Worship Songs:
• “Here Again” – Elevation Worship
• “God of Justice” – Tim Hughes
• “Who Am I” – Needtobreathe
• “Christ Be All Around Me” – All Sons & Daughters
Optional Serving Response
As a group, consider taking action this month—visiting a refugee family, volunteering, or writing letters of encouragment to someone in need.