justice & the church
At the heart of Common Good’s mission is the belief that God cares deeply for South Africa and desires to see all people flourish and reach their God-given potential. The Church plays a crucial role in living this out in the world, with so many opportunities to love our neighbours and neighbourhoods and to be the ‘city on a hill’ (Matt 5) that God calls us to be. In fact, founded in 2005 by Common Ground Church, Common Good was started with this very purpose: to equip Christ-followers to live justly.
supporting churches respond to injustice with wisdom, compassion and courage.
a church that acts justly
Common Good’s Justice & The Church programme supports Churches with the following challenges:
- Lack of knowledge of God’s heart for the poor and marginalised, His mandate to the church to be just and to represent Him in the world.
- Overwhelm at the sheer scale of the challenges facing South Africa.
- Apathy resulting from familiarity with how things are vs how things ought to be.
- Helping that hurts: not being developmentally aware to help in a way that truly helps those in need.
Our Justice & The Church programme equips churches across South Africa to confidently engage in biblical justice, enabling Christ-followers to wisely and effectively serve those “in the shade of their own tree.” Imagine what could happen if every congregant recognised and responded strategically to the opportunities for mercy and justice right around them. We believe the Church holds unique potential to bring about God’s kingdom on earth – sparking a powerful, collective groundswell of transformation across the nation.
Xenophobia & The Church | Three Part Series
Xenophobia and the Church is a three-part series exploring one of the hardest conversations South Africa is holding right now. Rather than adding to the noise of anger or retreating into silence, it invites you to pause and look deeper. Part One returns to the beginning, asking what Scripture reveals about the stranger, the neighbour and the kind of community we are made for. Part Two turns to the city, sitting honestly with the history, the fear and the broken promises beneath the headlines, and refusing to stand at a distance and point fingers. Part Three brings it home to Monday morning, offering not a grand programme but a gentle, practical invitation to move from conviction to action, person by person and relationship by relationship. Written for anyone wrestling with this moment, whatever your background or beliefs, it is an invitation to see one another more clearly and to love without fear.
HOW WE HELP
guiding the journey to justice
Content & Resources:
Common Good has developed a series of courses for self reflection and group discussion as an introduction to biblical justice topics.
Our 15 day devotional is freely downloadable and facilitates meditation and prayer on the God of Justice and Mercy and His plan for the world.
Topical resources on justice issues facing every day South Africans like: paying a living wage, foreign nationals and immigration, early life, education and employment.
Watch this space!
Training & Consulting:
Common Good facilitates workshops around biblical justice topics like how to set up a biblical justice ministry in churches. For more information please contact jtc@commongood.org.za.