CityHeart Church | Rudy Bazin

Thankfulness → Gratefulness → Justice

The movement that dethrones Mammon.

The movement James calls pure religion.

Thankfulness vs. Deserve

We can’t be thankful for something we believe we earned.

“Deserve” kills thankfulness.

When thankfulness dies, Mammon takes the throne.

Gift → Grace → Giving

Everything I have is a gift.

Gratefulness is grace moving outward.

Justice is grace taking responsibility for others.

He believed he deserved what he had — and believed he could deserve eternal life too.

Self-reliance shrinks generosity.

Whatever competes with Jesus has to go.

He knew he didn’t deserve grace — and when grace found him, generosity came alive.

Justice has two sides:
1. Repair: Restoring what was broken.
2. Give: Sharing what was never earned.

“Today salvation has come to this house…”

Justice is spiritual warfare against the idol of “deserve.”

Pure Religion

Orphans and widows = the vulnerable.

A category, not just two groups.

Wherever you find the vulnerable, you find Jesus leaning in.

To the Vulnerable: Your struggle is not all your fault.
Jesus moves toward those in need.

To the Convicted: God is not asking you to fix the world.
He’s inviting you into a faithful rhythm/cycle.

The Cycle of Justice: Prayer → Compassion → Proximity →Advocacy

1. Prayer
“God, open my eyes.”

2. Compassion
“Let what I see affect me.”

3. Proximity
“Move your feet toward the need.”

4. Advocacy
“Use what you have for someone who doesn’t.”

Thankfulness defeats pride.

Gratefulness defeats self-sufficiency.

Justice defeats Mammon.

This is what salvation looks like when it starts to bear fruit.

Let your thankfulness simmer long enough to become gratefulness… and let your gratefulness erupt into justice for the vulnerable.

What is it that you have plenty of— that fills you with pride, thatmakes you self-reliant?

Is it possible that Jesus is asking you to release it, to loosen your grip, to give it to the poor, to entrust yourself to Him again?