What Does God Expect of Us
Trey Little | 21-Feb-10
"What Does God Expect of Us?"
This morning we begin our series of messages stemming from a book written by Richard Stearns entitled "The Hole in Our Gospel." I hope you are reading this book--it is a wonderfully convicting book. Also, we have various "Lent in the Living Room" small groups that will take a more in depth look into this book--I had hoped more of you would have chosen to participate in this 40 day study but your know the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink." And finally, I encourage you to pick up one of these "40 in 40" cards and participate in a 'mission" a day over the course of the 40 days of Lent.
Some of you may be wondering--"Why is the preacher suggesting we study a book written by a former CEO of Lenox China? What we need to be reading and studying is the word of God!" I would say, you are exactly right--we should be reading and studying the word of God. And we will--every message throughout this series will have a foundational Scripture on which we will focus. But I also think we can learn from the testimonies of others--listening to their stories about how God has transformed their lives--and then brace ourselves for how God might be transforming ours in the midst of it all. Finally, I think reading and studying the word of God is essential for our spiritual growth--I also believe that if we are not RESPONDING with our lives--there is a HOLE.
Is there a hole in our gospel--not The Gospel--but in our gospel?
Let's begin our journey together by reading Micah 6: 1-8 (pg. 923 in your pew Bible's).
"What does God expect of us?
That is the opening question Richard Stearns poses in his book "The Hole in Our Gospel." He goes on to say, "That's what this book is about. What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals, and avoiding the most serious sins--or does God expect more...On Sunday morning, safe in our church pews and surrounded by friends, it can be all too easy to leave the world's violence, suffering, and turmoil outside--out of sight, out of mind."
The idea behind "The Hole in Our Gospel" is basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world. Stearns suggests: If our personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then our faith--and he admits, his--has a hole in it.
So, are you feeling all warm and fuzzy now about this series?
It is estimated that there are now 2 billion people on earth who claim to be Christian. Within this particular body of Christ here at MMPC there are over a 150 of you who claim to be Christian. Now, imagine if all of us knew deep in our hearts what God expected of us and actually did what He expected--you want to talk about a difference--lives would be impacted; lives would be transformed; lives would have purpose; lives would be fulfilled and enriched--and I am just talking about ours.
In today's Old Testament text, the prophet Micah had a strong word for the smug, self-satisfied people of Israel. The "chosen ones" had fallen deep into the ways of sin and selfishness--they had come to believe that they were entitled to everything and they had become a bit indignant at God's perceived slow-to-save attitude.
Yet, as God's mouthpiece, Micah reminds Israel of the miraculous history she has experienced through the mighty acts of God--liberation from Egypt--no more oppression and safe passage into the promised land just to name a couple of big ones! And still, Israel doesn't seem to get it--some what of a short-term memory. And to top it off--they get a little snooty: they basically say, "So, what do you want God? Do you want thousands of rams! Ten thousand rivers of oil? Maybe you want the death of all the firstborn! Would that satisfy you God?"
Eugene Peterson put it this way, "How can I stand before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my first-born child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin?"
No, that wasn't what God expected at all--and with infinite patience God's message is that just three things are required to re-establish the rightness of the covenant relationship with the people of Israel and their God.
Peterson translates them this way: "It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously."
That's it--three things God expects--act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Every facet of our lives--every encounter with another person--every move we make--every breath we take--all God expects is that all of us will be defined by doing what is fair and just to our neighbor, mercy, and walking humbly with our God.
Suddenly becomes crystal clear how much easier it would be to produce thousands of rams, or buckets and barrels of oil than to transform our lives into genuine expressions of God's expectations--justice, mercy, and humble walking with a living God. Yet, Micah's words in today's text are God's expectations for all who claim to walk in a covenant relationship with Him--if we claim to be God's people--God expects us to live to a higher standard. God raised the standard when the Cross was raised with His Son upon it--and it was raised even further when His Son rose from the dead.
Each day, over 25,000 people die of hunger or its related causes--about 9 million people per year. More than 1 billion people in the world don't get enough to eat. That is one of every seven people on the planet. 143 million children under the age of 5 in the developing world are underweight because of poor nutrition. 400 million people worldwide have died from hunger and poor sanitation. That is three times the number of people killed in all wars fought in the entire 20th century. 15 thousand Africans are dying each day of preventable, treatable diseases--AIDS, malaria, TB--for lack of drugs that we take for granted (World Vision).
If those statistics aren't alarming enough to stir us to do something listen to these. According to the KIDS COUNT data Book in 2009--20 percent of children living in Shackelford County are living in poverty compared to 18 percent nationally. In addition to this, 15 percent of the children are uninsured compared to 11 percent nationally. Also, 91 Food Boxes were given out in 2009--feeding a total of 260 individuals in need. 6,625 Vittles by Vehicle meals were delivered in 2009. 2,925 meals were served during the Resource Center's Summer Day Camp program. Within that program--164 children enrolled of which 28% of those are living at or below poverty level. 38 individuals received Utility assistance. 10 individuals received rent assistance. 20 individuals received basic needs assistance. And over the past year The Albany Ministerial Alliance assisted 55 individuals who had various financial needs. There is need near and afar.
God expects us to do something.
Now listen, we are doing something. Some of us assist with the delivery of Vittles by Vehicle. Some of us have taken mission trips. Some of us have given financially to various worthy causes--including the relief efforts in Haiti. And you know the really cool thing? 20% of you who attended the church supper last Wednesday night made the choice to sponsor at least one child through World Vision.
But does God expect more?
According to Stearns, "Here is the bottom line: if we are aware of the suffering of our distant neighbors--and we are--if we have access to these neighbors, either personally or through aid organizations and charities--and we do--and if we have the ability to make a difference through programs and technologies that work--which is also the case--then we should not turn our backs on these neighbors" (pg. 104).
God expects us to do something.
I want to close with one more thought from Richard Stearns. He said this, "This book asks the question, What if? What if each of us decided with renewed commitment to truly embrace the good news, the whole gospel, and demonstrate it through our lives--not even in big ways, but in small ones? What if we each said to God, "Use me; I want to change the world"?
What God wants from us and what God will judge us by, is not how big our church is; it is not how much money we have in the bank, it is not how sacred our worship is on Sunday morning, it's not how good the sermons are--although these things can sometimes bring joy to God--it is not what He requires. What He requires is: "It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously."
What if--we did what God expected of us--what if we examined the holes in our gospel--what if?
AMEN.
This morning we begin our series of messages stemming from a book written by Richard Stearns entitled "The Hole in Our Gospel." I hope you are reading this book--it is a wonderfully convicting book. Also, we have various "Lent in the Living Room" small groups that will take a more in depth look into this book--I had hoped more of you would have chosen to participate in this 40 day study but your know the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink." And finally, I encourage you to pick up one of these "40 in 40" cards and participate in a 'mission" a day over the course of the 40 days of Lent.
Some of you may be wondering--"Why is the preacher suggesting we study a book written by a former CEO of Lenox China? What we need to be reading and studying is the word of God!" I would say, you are exactly right--we should be reading and studying the word of God. And we will--every message throughout this series will have a foundational Scripture on which we will focus. But I also think we can learn from the testimonies of others--listening to their stories about how God has transformed their lives--and then brace ourselves for how God might be transforming ours in the midst of it all. Finally, I think reading and studying the word of God is essential for our spiritual growth--I also believe that if we are not RESPONDING with our lives--there is a HOLE.
Is there a hole in our gospel--not The Gospel--but in our gospel?
Let's begin our journey together by reading Micah 6: 1-8 (pg. 923 in your pew Bible's).
"What does God expect of us?
That is the opening question Richard Stearns poses in his book "The Hole in Our Gospel." He goes on to say, "That's what this book is about. What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals, and avoiding the most serious sins--or does God expect more...On Sunday morning, safe in our church pews and surrounded by friends, it can be all too easy to leave the world's violence, suffering, and turmoil outside--out of sight, out of mind."
The idea behind "The Hole in Our Gospel" is basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world. Stearns suggests: If our personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then our faith--and he admits, his--has a hole in it.
So, are you feeling all warm and fuzzy now about this series?
It is estimated that there are now 2 billion people on earth who claim to be Christian. Within this particular body of Christ here at MMPC there are over a 150 of you who claim to be Christian. Now, imagine if all of us knew deep in our hearts what God expected of us and actually did what He expected--you want to talk about a difference--lives would be impacted; lives would be transformed; lives would have purpose; lives would be fulfilled and enriched--and I am just talking about ours.
In today's Old Testament text, the prophet Micah had a strong word for the smug, self-satisfied people of Israel. The "chosen ones" had fallen deep into the ways of sin and selfishness--they had come to believe that they were entitled to everything and they had become a bit indignant at God's perceived slow-to-save attitude.
Yet, as God's mouthpiece, Micah reminds Israel of the miraculous history she has experienced through the mighty acts of God--liberation from Egypt--no more oppression and safe passage into the promised land just to name a couple of big ones! And still, Israel doesn't seem to get it--some what of a short-term memory. And to top it off--they get a little snooty: they basically say, "So, what do you want God? Do you want thousands of rams! Ten thousand rivers of oil? Maybe you want the death of all the firstborn! Would that satisfy you God?"
Eugene Peterson put it this way, "How can I stand before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my first-born child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin?"
No, that wasn't what God expected at all--and with infinite patience God's message is that just three things are required to re-establish the rightness of the covenant relationship with the people of Israel and their God.
Peterson translates them this way: "It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously."
That's it--three things God expects--act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Every facet of our lives--every encounter with another person--every move we make--every breath we take--all God expects is that all of us will be defined by doing what is fair and just to our neighbor, mercy, and walking humbly with our God.
Suddenly becomes crystal clear how much easier it would be to produce thousands of rams, or buckets and barrels of oil than to transform our lives into genuine expressions of God's expectations--justice, mercy, and humble walking with a living God. Yet, Micah's words in today's text are God's expectations for all who claim to walk in a covenant relationship with Him--if we claim to be God's people--God expects us to live to a higher standard. God raised the standard when the Cross was raised with His Son upon it--and it was raised even further when His Son rose from the dead.
Each day, over 25,000 people die of hunger or its related causes--about 9 million people per year. More than 1 billion people in the world don't get enough to eat. That is one of every seven people on the planet. 143 million children under the age of 5 in the developing world are underweight because of poor nutrition. 400 million people worldwide have died from hunger and poor sanitation. That is three times the number of people killed in all wars fought in the entire 20th century. 15 thousand Africans are dying each day of preventable, treatable diseases--AIDS, malaria, TB--for lack of drugs that we take for granted (World Vision).
If those statistics aren't alarming enough to stir us to do something listen to these. According to the KIDS COUNT data Book in 2009--20 percent of children living in Shackelford County are living in poverty compared to 18 percent nationally. In addition to this, 15 percent of the children are uninsured compared to 11 percent nationally. Also, 91 Food Boxes were given out in 2009--feeding a total of 260 individuals in need. 6,625 Vittles by Vehicle meals were delivered in 2009. 2,925 meals were served during the Resource Center's Summer Day Camp program. Within that program--164 children enrolled of which 28% of those are living at or below poverty level. 38 individuals received Utility assistance. 10 individuals received rent assistance. 20 individuals received basic needs assistance. And over the past year The Albany Ministerial Alliance assisted 55 individuals who had various financial needs. There is need near and afar.
God expects us to do something.
Now listen, we are doing something. Some of us assist with the delivery of Vittles by Vehicle. Some of us have taken mission trips. Some of us have given financially to various worthy causes--including the relief efforts in Haiti. And you know the really cool thing? 20% of you who attended the church supper last Wednesday night made the choice to sponsor at least one child through World Vision.
But does God expect more?
According to Stearns, "Here is the bottom line: if we are aware of the suffering of our distant neighbors--and we are--if we have access to these neighbors, either personally or through aid organizations and charities--and we do--and if we have the ability to make a difference through programs and technologies that work--which is also the case--then we should not turn our backs on these neighbors" (pg. 104).
God expects us to do something.
I want to close with one more thought from Richard Stearns. He said this, "This book asks the question, What if? What if each of us decided with renewed commitment to truly embrace the good news, the whole gospel, and demonstrate it through our lives--not even in big ways, but in small ones? What if we each said to God, "Use me; I want to change the world"?
What God wants from us and what God will judge us by, is not how big our church is; it is not how much money we have in the bank, it is not how sacred our worship is on Sunday morning, it's not how good the sermons are--although these things can sometimes bring joy to God--it is not what He requires. What He requires is: "It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously--take God seriously."
What if--we did what God expected of us--what if we examined the holes in our gospel--what if?
AMEN.
