Living Out God's Expectations: Justice, Mercy, Humility
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound question of what God expects from us as His creation. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus and the Old Testament prophet Micah, we delved into the timeless principles of loving God and our neighbors. Jesus summarized God's expectations with two commandments: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. This teaching is echoed in Micah 6:6-8, where the prophet asks rhetorically what offerings could satisfy God and atone for our sins, only to conclude that God requires us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
Micah's context was a time of moral decay and social injustice, much like our own. He condemned the greed and exploitation of the weak by the powerful, urging the people to return to God's ways. Acting justly means doing the right thing in every circumstance, even when it costs us something. Loving mercy involves showing kindness and compassion, going beyond what is required. Walking humbly with God means surrendering our pride and aligning ourselves with God's will as He has revealed Himself to us.
We examined real-life examples of people who acted justly and showed mercy, from a bus driver saving a life to a community rallying around a young girl in need. These stories illustrate that doing the right thing and showing kindness not only pleases God but also brings a sense of fulfillment and respect from others. Finally, we were reminded that true humility comes from recognizing our own need for God's mercy and grace, which should lead us to live lives marked by justice, kindness, and humility.
### Key Takeaways
1. Act Justly: Acting justly means doing the right thing in every situation, even when it is difficult or costly. It involves standing against injustice and exploitation, much like Micah did in his time. This principle calls us to be proactive in our pursuit of justice, ensuring that our actions reflect God's righteousness. [07:20]
2. Love Mercy: Loving mercy goes beyond mere kindness; it involves a deep, covenantal love that reflects God's own loving-kindness towards us. In a world that often views kindness as weakness, we are called to be countercultural by showing compassion and mercy to others, thereby manifesting God's love. [16:33]
3. Walk Humbly with God: Walking humbly with God requires us to surrender our pride and align ourselves with His will. It means recognizing that our understanding of God should be based on His revelation, not our own imaginations. True humility is about seeing ourselves rightly before a holy God and living in a way that honors Him. [25:10]
4. The Power of Kindness: Kindness has the power to transform lives and communities. The story of Kara Horton and her community's overwhelming support illustrates how acts of kindness can bring healing and hope. In a polarized world, showing kindness can be a powerful testimony of God's love. [20:51]
5. Humility and Repentance: Humility is essential for a genuine relationship with God. Recognizing our own need for God's mercy should lead us to repentance and a humble walk with Him. This humility allows us to extend grace to others, understanding that we too are recipients of God's unmerited favor. [28:15]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:54] - Historical Context of Micah
[03:40] - Reading Micah 6:6-8
[05:45] - The Escalation of Offerings
[06:33] - The Ultimate Sacrifice
[07:20] - Acting Justly
[08:06] - Modern Examples of Injustice
[09:17] - Personal Story of Doing the Right Thing
[10:49] - The Story of Hunter Shamat
[12:47] - The Story of Darnell Barton
[14:49] - The Importance of Kindness
[16:33] - Loving Mercy
[18:18] - The State of Our Nation
[19:29] - True Power and Greatness
[20:51] - The Story of Kara Horton
[22:56] - The Auction for Kara's Pig
[25:10] - Walking Humbly with God
[26:21] - The Dangers of Pride
[27:18] - Perspective and Humility
[28:15] - Humility and Repentance
[29:10] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Micah 6:6-8
2. Matthew 22:37-39
3. Romans 3:23
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Micah 6:6-8 say about what God requires from us?
2. How does Jesus summarize God's expectations in Matthew 22:37-39?
3. According to Romans 3:23, what is the universal condition of humanity?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "act justly" in the context of Micah 6:8? How does this principle apply to modern examples of injustice mentioned in the sermon? [08:06]
2. How does the concept of "loving mercy" as described in Micah 6:8 compare to the world's view of kindness? [16:33]
3. What does it mean to "walk humbly with God" according to the sermon, and how does this relate to our understanding of humility and pride? [25:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between doing the right thing and taking an easier path. How did you feel afterward, and what did you learn from that experience? [10:49]
2. In what ways can you actively stand against injustice in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week to act justly. [08:06]
3. Think of a situation where showing mercy or kindness might be seen as a weakness. How can you demonstrate God's love in that situation? [16:33]
4. How can you cultivate a habit of walking humbly with God in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to align yourself more closely with His will? [25:10]
5. The sermon mentioned the power of kindness through the story of Kara Horton. How can you show similar acts of kindness in your community? Identify one person or group you can help this week. [20:51]
6. Reflect on your own need for God's mercy and grace. How does this recognition influence your interactions with others? [28:15]
7. How can you ensure that your understanding of God is based on His revelation rather than your own imagination? What practices can help you stay grounded in the truth of who God is? [26:21]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the sermon’s key takeaways and apply them to their lives in practical, meaningful ways.
Devotional
Day 1: Pursuing Justice in Every Circumstance
Description: Acting justly means doing the right thing in every situation, even when it is difficult or costly. It involves standing against injustice and exploitation, much like Micah did in his time. This principle calls us to be proactive in our pursuit of justice, ensuring that our actions reflect God's righteousness. In a world filled with moral decay and social injustice, we are called to be beacons of God's justice, standing up for the weak and oppressed. This may require personal sacrifice, but it is a reflection of God's heart for justice and righteousness. [07:20]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you have witnessed injustice. How can you take a stand for what is right, even if it comes at a personal cost?
Day 2: Embracing Covenant Love
Description: Loving mercy goes beyond mere kindness; it involves a deep, covenantal love that reflects God's own loving-kindness towards us. In a world that often views kindness as weakness, we are called to be countercultural by showing compassion and mercy to others, thereby manifesting God's love. This kind of love is not just about doing good deeds but about embodying the steadfast love that God shows us. It requires us to go beyond what is required, to show kindness and compassion in ways that reflect God's heart. [16:33]
Hosea 6:6 (ESV): "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
Reflection: Identify someone in your life who needs an extra measure of kindness and mercy. How can you show them God's covenantal love today?
Day 3: Walking in Humility
Description: Walking humbly with God requires us to surrender our pride and align ourselves with His will. It means recognizing that our understanding of God should be based on His revelation, not our own imaginations. True humility is about seeing ourselves rightly before a holy God and living in a way that honors Him. This involves a daily surrender of our own desires and ambitions, choosing instead to follow God's path for our lives. It is a call to live in a way that reflects our dependence on God and our commitment to His ways. [25:10]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of Kindness
Description: Kindness has the power to transform lives and communities. The story of Kara Horton and her community's overwhelming support illustrates how acts of kindness can bring healing and hope. In a polarized world, showing kindness can be a powerful testimony of God's love. When we choose to act kindly, we reflect God's character and open the door for His love to work through us. This kind of kindness goes beyond mere politeness; it is a deliberate choice to show love and compassion, even to those who may not deserve it. [20:51]
Proverbs 11:17 (ESV): "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself."
Reflection: Think of a recent opportunity you had to show kindness but didn't. How can you make a deliberate effort to show kindness in a similar situation today?
Day 5: Humility and Repentance
Description: Humility is essential for a genuine relationship with God. Recognizing our own need for God's mercy should lead us to repentance and a humble walk with Him. This humility allows us to extend grace to others, understanding that we too are recipients of God's unmerited favor. True humility involves a continual recognition of our dependence on God's grace and a willingness to repent and turn back to Him when we fall short. It is through this humble posture that we can truly experience God's transformative work in our lives. [28:15]
Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's mercy and grace. How can this memory inspire you to live a life marked by humility and repentance today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "What does God expect of us as human beings created in His image? What does He ask of us? That is, how are we to live our lives, both in relation to Him and in relation to our fellow human beings? When Jesus was asked a very similar question, He responded by quoting from the Old Testament, saying, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." [00:00] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The only sufficient sacrifice for the sins of our souls is the Son of God. And that sacrifice would be made centuries later on a cross. So what then is God's expectation of us as Micah has phrased it and put it in his prophecy? He answers that question in verse 8. The New International Version says what does the Lord require of you? To act justly. To act justly." [06:33] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "None of us has ever always done the right thing but it should be our objective it should be what we pursue and indeed it is what God expects of us to do the right thing and on those occasions when we have done the right thing haven't we always felt good about it even if it cost us something haven't we always felt glad that we did it it does something within us to know that we have done the right thing." [09:17] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "True power, true greatness is found not in darkness, not in dominating others, but in showing kindness to others. That's power. That's righteousness. That's what God wants us to see. Do you think God cares whether we dominate some opponent on some field of battle, whether it be sports or politics or business or whatever it may be? That doesn't impress God, not in the least. What God expects is that we would love kindness, and treat one another with courtesy and respect no matter what our differences may be." [19:29] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with God, is that too much to ask? I don't think so. Do you?" [28:15] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Micah burned with indignation at the merciless exploitation of the weak by the strong. Don't we do the same thing? Don't we burn with indignation when those who are strong and powerful exploit the weak and the vulnerable? After all, it's why we're sympathetic to Ukraine as they fight against the aggression of Russia. It's even behind the anger that we see at Israel over the deaths of innocent children in Gaza. Even as Hamas exploits those innocent children by hiding behind them, putting them in danger. Those sorts of things infuriate us. We see the injustice in that." [08:06] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Thirty years ago, President George Herbert Walker Bush expressed a hope for a kinder, gentler nation. But we've not achieved that, have we? In fact, instead, we've become less kind and more violent, more polarized, more angry, more aggrieved, it would seem. We've become a people that worships power and views kindness as weakness. God forbid that someone in one party show kindness or courtesy to someone in another. That's weakness. Kindness, we're losing the ability even to be civil to one another, much less kind." [18:18] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Perspective changes how we see things. Winston Churchill once gave a speech and 10,000 people turned out to hear him. And one of his friends said, Winston, aren't you impressed that 10,000 people came out to hear you speak? And he said, no, not really. 100,000 would have come to see me hang. Perspective makes the difference there. And when we see ourselves as we ought to see ourselves, before a holy God who expects us to act justly, to be merciful and kind, and to walk humbly with Him, it becomes easier to do." [27:18] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. C.S. Lewis said, Pride is a telescope turned the wrong way. It makes us look big and the heavens look small. It distorts perspective. And perspective impacts everything, doesn't it?" [26:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "In light of what God has done for us in Christ, a little humility in our walk with God, and even before others, is not too much to ask. To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with God, is that too much to ask? I don't think so. Do you?" [28:15] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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