Justice Story (Sermon Blog)
Series Recap: In Part 3 of our Christmas Stories series, Pastor Steve reminded us that Christmas is not only a story about family and war—it is also a justice story. From the birth of Jesus to the mission He later proclaimed, God reveals His heart for the oppressed, the overlooked, and the marginalized. Christmas shows us that justice is not optional—it’s central to the gospel. 1221
Why Justice Matters to Every Human Heart
Pastor Steve began with a simple truth:
Every human heart longs for justice—especially when we witness injustice.
Whether it’s inequality, abuse, poverty, addiction, or oppression, something inside us cries out, “This is not how it’s supposed to be.” That longing reflects God’s own heart.
Scripture tells us plainly:
“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” (Psalm 103:6)
“The Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” (Psalm 140:12) 1221
Justice is not a modern idea—it has always been central to God’s character.
Christmas Was Born in Injustice
When Jesus entered the world, He did not step into comfort or equality. He entered a world marked by:
Poverty
Abuse
Marginalization
Power imbalance
Social exclusion
Christmas is God stepping directly into that brokenness.
Pastor Steve shared powerful imagery through the Justice Bell, which symbolized the fight for women’s right to vote—and would not ring until justice was achieved. In the same way, Christmas rings out God’s declaration that injustice will not have the final word. 1221
Mary’s Song: God Lifts the Lowly
God chose Mary, a young woman with no power, position, or prestige, to carry the Savior of the world. In Luke 1, Mary’s song—the Magnificat—reveals God’s justice-oriented heart.
From Luke 1:46–55, we learn that God:
Sees the humble
Lifts up the lowly
Fills the hungry
Scatters the proud
Brings down unjust rulers
Extends mercy across generations 1221
Mary felt seen—perhaps for the first time in her life. Christmas reminds us that God sees those the world overlooks.
Justice Requires Something of Us
Pastor Steve emphasized a phrase worth repeating:
“Justice requires something of us.”
Justice is not just something we feel—it’s something we do.
Scripture makes this clear:
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:17–18 1221
Justice shows up when we:
Feed the hungry
Care for the homeless
Provide clean water
Support pregnant mothers
Stand against addiction and exploitation
Walk with people toward restoration
Jesus’ Mission Statement: Justice in Action
In Luke 4, Jesus publicly declares His mission by reading from Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me… to proclaim good news to the poor… freedom for prisoners… recovery of sight for the blind… to set the oppressed free… to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” — Luke 4:18–19 1221
This wasn’t symbolic language—this was a declaration of purpose.
Jesus came to bring:
Spiritual restoration
Physical healing
Freedom from bondage
Hope to the marginalized
A reset for broken lives
God Prioritizes the Marginalized
When Jesus was born, the first people invited were shepherds—social outcasts who were:
Considered unclean
Excluded from synagogue
Distrusted by society
Yet God chose them first.
Christmas makes a statement:
God’s kingdom prioritizes the overlooked.
Doing Justice One Person at a Time
Pastor Steve reminded us not to become overwhelmed by the scale of injustice. While we can’t fix everything, we can make a difference for someone.
Like the starfish story, justice often looks like:
Helping one person
Changing one life
Restoring one story
And when the church does this together, the impact multiplies.
Living the Justice Story Today
Christmas invites us to ask:
Who is God calling me to see?
Where can I bring a little bit of heaven into someone’s life?
What injustice is God asking me to respond to—not with anger, but with love?
Justice isn’t about perfection.
It’s about participation.
Because we are a blessed people, we are called to be a blessing.
This Wednesday at our Christmas Eve Service at 5pm, Pastor Steve will finish the Christmas Stories series.
Join us as we celebrate how Jesus brings hope, justice, and redemption into a broken world.