This week we continued our series on Fasting by looking at the theme of Justice in our fasting. In Isaiah 58, the people of God find themselves in a tenuous position. They are fasting, but not seeing very many results. Their expectation of God’s goodness and their experience of God’s goodness seem to lie in two very different places. Compounded by a cultural current where everyone is believing that every religion leads to the same place, Israel begins to wonder whether following God is worth it. They are fasting, but it isn’t working. And it is into this situation that Isaiah reveals to the people that their motives and practices around their fasting are coming from wrong places. They are seeking God’s blessing on their lives but what they are seeking will produce oppression instead of blessing in others. This week Jon challenged us to become “one just person” by aligning our hearts for fasting with the heart of God—a heart that is moved by injustice and longs to be a blessing to the least in our neighborhoods and communities.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: Fast 3: Justice // Scripture: Isaiah 58

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes

This week we continued our series on Fasting by looking at the theme of Justice in our fasting. In Isaiah 58, the people of God find themselves in a tenuous position. They are fasting, but not seeing very many results. Their expectation of God’s goodness and their experience of God’s goodness seem to lie in two very different places. Compounded by a cultural current where everyone is believing that every religion leads to the same place, Israel begins to wonder whether following God is worth it. They are fasting, but it isn’t working. And it is into this situation that Isaiah reveals to the people that their motives and practices around their fasting are coming from wrong places. They are seeking God’s blessing on their lives but what they are seeking will produce oppression instead of blessing in others. This week Jon challenged us to become “one just person” by aligning our hearts for fasting with the heart of God—a heart that is moved by injustice and longs to be a blessing to the least in our neighborhoods and communities.

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.

Fruitful fasting is motivated by the blessing of others, not the oppression of others.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes

Picture (What is the story saying?): What is your expectation of God’s goodness in your life (v. 1-10)? What is your experience of God’s goodness in your life? Where does your score place you on the Expectation/Experience Matrix that Jon shared on Sunday? (Steadfast, Seeking, Sad, Straying) What does Isaiah say is the difference between a futile fast (v. 1-5) and a fruitful fast (v. 6-7)? (blessing vs. oppression)

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): What part of Jon’s message this week challenged you the most? How do your motives for life and fasting need to change? What is the difference between fasting for the blessing of others and fasting in a way that oppresses others? What one place in your life might you need to consider changing to help bring justice to others?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What yokes or systems might need to be broken in your community? How can you become “one just person” helping to break these yokes?

BE IT – Practice 15 minutes

Change UP // One Just Person

Jon challenged us this week amid the overwhelming needs and issues in our world to not attempt to solve all the world’s problems, but to simply become “One Just Person.” At Grace, we have tried to embrace this idea for years. Take some time with your group to celebrate each other by recognizing where each person is already helping bring justice to the world. Spend a few minutes pointing out what people in your group are doing well. Follow this time of encouragement by challenging each other in new places you might sense God is calling in bringing justice to others.

Change IN // One Just Group

Every Community that we create at Grace is built in the model of UP (our relationship with God), IN (our relationship with each other), and OUT (our relationship with the world). In that design, we want all our Communities to be making an impact in the lives of those who participate in them and the lives of those in a particular network or neighborhood. Take some time this week to name out the justice issues in your group or in the network or neighborhood in which you are trying to make a difference. If you haven’t defined your OUT yet—consider what kinds of justice your group is designed to bring.

Change OUT // One Just Act

Invite each person in your group to participate in “One Just Act” this week by keeping their eyes open to an area in their life, work, neighborhood, or community that they could bring one act of justice. Ask God to bring one possible place to take action this week, then act and come ready to share your story next week.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.