Sermon Tone Analysis

They had a history.

Our text today comes from the Old Testament book of Micah.

What was happening that the Prophet had to tell the people what God wanted.

What is it that Jesus talks about in the New Testament when we read about the Good Samaratin, what’s happening when the disciples are having issues because people are neglecting widows and orphans, what is behind Jesus having compassion on people who are hungry and telling the disciples to feed them?

Micah has spent a good chunk of the book talking about Israel’s history, specifically as it relates to their failure to follow God’s plan.

The children of Israel went through cycles when of obedience and obstinance, doing what they knew was right and then falling away and running after money, power, position, anything that would make them feel good.

Micah is reminding them of all the things they have done to deserve God’s judgment, while at the same time talking about ways to come back to God, and the fact that God has a plan of redemption in place.

Which is where comes in.

Micah is being clear that God wants more than mechanics when it comes to living a life of faith.

When we read about the people bringing all kinds of sacrifices, thousands of them even, or with streams of oil, or even giving over their firstborn to God, we find that this is not really what it’s about, this isn’t what God wants.

With God it’s not really about the mechanics of the faith.

With God it’s always about the heart behind the mechanics.

Three things!

Act Justly!

Somebody Stole my Teeth

Luke 18:1-8

Even when we don’t feel like it.

As followers of Christ we are supposed to be becoming more like Jesus.

This is Justice...

(HCSB) — 6 The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.

Jesus consistently reached out to the ones the important people didn’t want to be around.

He had to talk to everyone about this though.

He had to talk to the disciples about it when it was the widow, he had to talk to the scribes and pharisess when it was people that were needing healed or restored because they made mistakes.

He consistently would reach out to anyone and everyone that desired a relationship with God that went beyond words and mechanics.

He healed people.

Talked to people, fed people, encouraged people, and rebuked people, and prayed for people, and poured into people no matter who they were.

This is what it means to reach out.

To not see a person as their sin, or their problem or their politics but to see a person as someone that needs a relationship with God.

(why it’s important to meet needs before trying to preach truth)

2. Love Faithfulness

Love Faithfulness

Faithfulness:

the quality of being faithful, fidelity.

Faithful:

Strict or thorough in the performance of duty, true to ones word, promises, vows, etc. steady in allegiance of affection, loyal constant, reliable, trusted or believed.

God was faithful to the promise to redeem humanity.

He wants us to be the same.

He wants us to be faithful in the call he has given to every Christ follower.

(go and do)

Walk Humbly!

We have heard it said that there but for the grace of God go I.

We must constantly filter everything we do through the lens of being human.

Because that’s what God did when he decided to come to earth.

This Week’s Challenge

Ding Dong Do...

Think of someone in your neighborhood that you can give something to, a note, flowers, a gift card for a coffee and doughnut, then ring their bell set the gift down and run.

Put a note just thinking of you..#justreachout tell us on Facebook when you did it.