Summer Blockbusters: Schindler's List

In WWII, one of the most despicable acts of human brutality happened in the Holocaust.

Our movie today, depicts how this was experienced in Nazi, Germany.

Oskar Schindler used his own wealth and business to purchase the safety of over 800 Jewish people, allowing them to survive the war and go on with their lives.

(SHOW CLIP)

Schindler felt as if he had not done enough good. In his mind, he could have done more.

Question of the day: How does God define “good” and how do we learn to be good people?

Towards the end of the OT, the Jewish people were asking the same question.

Micah

Moresheth of Judah

(751-736) Around the same time as Isaiah

He saw a terrible judgment coming upon Israel, but he also saw beyond their failures. He looked to a future where God would restore Israel.

Micah brought a reminder and message to Israel answering the big question.

Micah 6:8 NASB95

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Up to now, Micah has accused the leaders of Israel. Now he is accusing the people.

“You are not ignorant to what God wants of you”. It had been declared for a long time.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 10:12 NASB95

12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Hosea 6:6 NASB95

6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

God never intended for His people to put themselves in their situation.

“We aren’t free to grab all we want out of life and be indifferent to others.”

Micah repeated the stipulations to open the door for hope and bring Israel back into covenant security.

“Let’s get away from what we have done and go back to who we are.”

Superbowl in 1993. Down 13-6 at halftime.

Power right on 1 for 6 six straight plays behind Mark Tuene, Erik Williams, John Gessick, Nate Newton, and Kevin Gogan.

The Word of God continually points us to this one thought.

Quit making church about religion and make it about growing your relationship with Christ in His church.

If all of us are honest with ourselves, we know that there is one way to produce full goodness.

What are these ways?

1. Do right to others.

Our relationship with other people is important to our God.

“Act justly” - When in a socially superior position, step in an deliver people who have been opressed.

The Jews were free to love their neighbor and not wish the worst upon people.

To stand against the wrong being done to people.

Schindler saw the oppression of the Jews and it hurt him to the point that he couldn’t unsee it. The oppression led him to do everything that he could to do the right thing even though no one expected him to.

Injustice and oppression is universal. We honor the Lord by learning these problems and helping people.

Social injustice is real.

Racism

Domestic violence

Poverty

Living as an orphan or widow.

Abortion and proper prenatal care for a pregnant mother.

James 4:17 NASB95

17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Indifference to oppression is not acceptable in the kingdom of God.

Seeking justice for those who need help is an act of worship to God.

2. Show kindness to others.

Another way to express kindness is to “exercise love”.

Israel wasn’t called to deliver people from oppression reluctantly but deliver others out of a spirit of generosity and loyalty.

The Hebrew word for kindness occurs often in the OT.

Refers to God’s (Yahweh’s) covenant with Israel.

God’s hearty desire to do good for others was to be mirrored by Israel.

What do non-church goers notice the most when they visit a church?

- Not preaching, music, facilities, ect.

- Most people want to know the answer to this question: “Do you want me to be here fore the right reasons?”

One of the greatest forms of worship we can give to God is showing kindness to the people He has created.

Sincere kindness with no motives.

Our possessions and talents may be limited but it is always free to show kindness.

To our neighbors, foreigners, and enemies.

Especially to people that we don’t understand.

3. Walk humbly under God’s care.

This Hebrew word occurs only in this passage.

It refers to humility that is careful and thoughtful.

Biblical humility is grounded in the character of God.

The Bible describes humility as:

Absence of self ()

Bankruptcy of spirit (Matthew 5:3)

Gains no merit in this earth but depends on God for salvation ()

Involves:

Falling on our face ()

Fasting ()

A heart that must match our posture in worship. ()

The Lord exalts the humble in his proper timing.

The sacrifices of animals were just a shadow of what was to come.

Philippians 2:5–11 NASB95

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Does our religious activity reflect a true humility before God?

Our acts of worship mean more that our rituals.