Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. —John 14:6

And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. —Genesis 3:21

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. —Genesis 15:17

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram a caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” —Genesis 22:13-14

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. ²⁶ He did this to demonstrate his righteousness… so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. —Romans 3:25-26

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. —Colossians 1:24

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. —Hebrews 11:17-19

Discipleship Guide

Let’s Talk About It

We learned last week that the Bible presents many truths that are in tension with one another, and that all truth leads us to a trust relationship with Jesus. This week, we looked at one tension in particular: Mercy vs. Justice. For love to be experienced in its fullness, God must be both 100% merciful and 100% just at the same time! This was only possible through the sacrifice of Christ, which upheld mercy and justice for all simultaneously. As Christians, we are to follow the example of Christ, dying to ourselves for love’s sake. Whether through acts of selfless mercy or selfless justice, we can be Spirit-empowered Christians advancing God’s love in our community.

Discussion questions:

• Which part of the message impacted or challenged you?

• What is an area in your life where you feel the need to remove the tension of love by picking either mercy or justice?

• What do you gain personally when you choose a side? What does love cost you?

• How does the death and resurrection of Jesus enable you to choose the loving path of dying to self?

Take a Step

Think of one area where you can die to self in order to help someone else better see Christ in you.

Here’s My Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank you for all of the many ways you have sacrificed for us in order to bring us into a relationship with you. Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice can never be repaid, but we can use His example in how to live our own lives. Help us to live sacrificially in order to bring the lost world closer to you. In your holy name, Amen!