During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness.
Titus 2:11–14
We live in a wicked world. With injustice all around us, we await God’s return, when all of creation will be redeemed completely and when justice will light up every dark corner of the earth. No more starvation. No more cruelty. No more violence. No more lies. No more evil.
As we look to ultimate justice in the future, we can begin to bring it to our world by living as God has called us to. When we live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives and show justice to those around us, we reveal a glimpse of that heavenly justice that will one day erase all pain and evil. Through His life, Jesus revealed how we can bring justice in a wicked world. All we have to do is follow the blessed hope and live as He did.
Encourage the students to ask their family members, “Have you ever helped someone in need? What did you do?” Teens can then share what they learned about God’s justice.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Before class, clear an open space for the opening activity, or you may do the game outside.
Welcome your students warmly and ask them to tell you the definition of justice. If the students do not remember, remind them that justice means doing what is morally right based on God’s standard. Justice restores things to the good way God intended for them to be. True justice arises out of God’s love. It means treating people the way God would—caring for those who do not have anyone to care for them and respecting everyone around us.
God has a heart for justice. It is part of His character, and He shows justice in everything He does. Because He loves us and we can trust Him, we can cry out to Him for justice. Last time we talked about situations in which people have been treated with injustice.
Allow 5–6 students to answer. They may give answers such as victims of violence, the poor, those with diseases or disabilities, or other overlooked or outcast members of the community.
As the students name different types of people who are treated unjustly, repeat their answers and ask each student who answers to stand beside you and remember his answer. After 5–6 students have answered and are standing near you, give the directions for the activity. The students standing should remain with you.
These students standing by me represent people who are treated unjustly. They represent the people in our families and communities who are overlooked, disrespected, or considered unimportant or unworthy.
Divide the rest of the class in half. Have each group stand together in a different area of your teaching space. Point to 1 of the groups and give the following instructions.
This group will represent those who act unjustly or who ignore injustice when they see it. Those in this group will try to tag those who are treated unjustly.
But those of you who have been treated unjustly will have help. God will defend you!
Have a student read Psalm 12:5 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the verse is printed here for you.
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
Psalm 12:5
The last group will be defenders helping to bring God’s justice. You will squat down. When someone who has been treated unjustly is tagged, you can rise up, tag that person, and set her free.
Have the group that will tag others stand in the centre of the teaching space. Then allow the students who represent those treated unjustly and those who will arise to help them stand around the outside of your space. Then say, “Go!”
Allow the students to play for 5 minutes. If time allows, you can repeat the game, giving the teams different roles.
As we have learned, God cares for the needy. He loves justice and defends those who are treated unjustly. He also avenges injustice. Though God has called us to leave vengeance to Him, we can help those who are treated unjustly. When we do this, we become defenders who arise to help bring justice, just like the students who defended others in our game.
In this Bible passage, God was correcting His people. They were worshipping Him, but it was not sincere. They thought that fasting was all they needed to do to please Him. But God sees the heart. He knew that the way they were treating others showed that they were not truly honouring Him. Listen to what He said about how to honour Him and bring justice.
Have a student read Isaiah 58:6–7 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the verses are printed here for you.
This is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Isaiah 58:6–7 NLT
These concepts are similar and connected. Worship of God will show in how we treat others.
Students may answer freeing those wrongfully imprisoned, treating workers fairly, setting free those who are bound in some way, sharing food with the hungry, giving shelter and clothing to those who need them.
Treating others justly is a way to honor God. When we seek to bring justice in this world, we are allowing His mercy to flow out of us. We are showing His love to others. Listen to what the Bible says about defending justice.
Have 2 different students read the verses aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the students can read them from this guide.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8–9
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Psalm 82:3
Guide the students to understand that God has called us to defend justice, particularly for those who are vulnerable.
God has not just called us to act justly. He also tells us to defend justice. We are to open our mouths for and defend the rights of others.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts.
Treating others with justice promotes peace and safety in your community, your country, and the world. It encourages others to behave in right ways, which makes life better for everyone. And when you treat others with justice, they are more likely to treat you justly as well.
Here are some practical ways you can bring justice in your community.
Jesus defends justice in all situations. When He was on earth, He was especially caring toward those who were needy and vulnerable. Listen to what He said about justice as He told His disciples about how He will one day bring justice to the world.
Show the Memory Verse poster if you are using it.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” … The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:35–36, 40
Guide the students to understand that Jesus was explaining how to act justly toward those who are vulnerable and needy.
Guide the students to understand that treating others unjustly is like treating God unjustly, just as they saw in the Isaiah passage.
You can make a difference in our community by being defenders of justice.
Divide the students into groups of 4–5. Then ask them these questions and have them talk about their answers with their groups.
God has called us to bring justice to vulnerable people who are treated unjustly. But the Bible tells us something else about bringing justice to the needy.
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God.
Proverbs 14:31
This verse tells us that oppressing a poor man is showing contempt to God. Why would that be true?
There are 2 ways to respond to injustice. You can defend against injustice and protect those who are being treated unjustly. Or you can ignore injustice or choose not to do anything, which allows the injustice to continue.
Choose 1 of the categories of vulnerable people we just talked about: those who lack basic needs, those who are strangers, those who are sick, and those who are imprisoned. With your group, act out the unjust situation and decide how you can defend justice in that situation.
Allow the students to act out their situations for 4–5 minutes. Then gather the class for discussion.
Recognising and defending against injustice, even in small ways, can make a big difference. You can start by treating others justly, which brings honour to God and helps others to see that all people are worthy of justice.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, give the teens time to complete the activity on their pages.
Close the class with a blessing over your students based on Matthew 25:35–40.
Blessing: May you give honour to God by finding ways to bring justice to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those around you. May you see each person as God does—worthy of justice and honour.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
