SERIES OVERVIEW
WALK THE WALK
A Series About Following Jesus, Based on the Words of Micah 6:6-8 Pastor Greg is spending the month of August unpacking the full meaning of God’s words to us in Micah 6:6-8.
With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:6-8
MESSAGE NOTES
To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice ~ God (Frequently in Scripture)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8
HUMILITY
Not prideful, haughty or arrogant. Courteously respectful.
True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. ~ C.S. Lewis
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… ~ Philippians 2:3-5
THE ELEVATOR PRINCIPLE: Some people are LIFTERS. Some people are DRAGGERS.
1) BASIC LIFTERS (ADDERS):
Some people ADD something to life.
WE SHOULD ENJOY THEM!
The smallest good deed still outweighs the greatest good intention. ~ John Burroughs
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. ~ Philemon 4-7
2) BASIC DRAGGERS (SUBTRACTERS):
Some people SUBTRACT something from life.
WE SHOULD TRY TO TOLERATE THEM!
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. – Philippians 4:2-3
3) SUPER LIFTERS (MULTIPLIERS):
Some people MULTIPLY something in life.
WE SHOULD VALUE THEM!
If you can’t say sumthin’ nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all! ~ Thumper
I want to make a difference, with other people who want to make a difference, doing something, together, that actually makes a difference. – Pastor G
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:15
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ~ 2 Timothy 2:1-2
4) SUPER DRAGGERS (DIVIDERS):
Some people DIVIDE something in life.
WE SHOULD AVOID THEM!
But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:17-18
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! ~ Philippians 3:1-2
Why don’t these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves! ~ Galatians 5:12
… Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. ~ 2 Timothy 4:2-4
The reason dividers are so damaging and dangerous, is because unlike subtracters, the negative actions of dividers ARE ALMOST ALWAYS INTENTIONAL!
And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. ~ Luke 9:5
Always assume the best of one another, unless given concrete, irrefutable evidence to the contrary. ~ Pastor G
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ~ 1 Peter 4:8
FEARLESS MORAL INVENTORY QUESTION
Which type of person am I usually? Am I a lifter or a dragger? More specifically, am I an adder, a subtracter a multiplier or a divider?
He must increase, but I must decrease. ~ John 3:30
HOW DO WE WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD?
Intentionally Choose to Initiate the Positive in a Negative Environment.
Be a LIFTER. Be an ADDER. Be a MULTIPLIER.
I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again. – Unknown
GO DEEPER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS & PERSONAL STUDY
READ: C.S. Lewis Quote, the Definition of Humility & Philippians 2:3-5
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) With these definitions of “humility” in mind, do you feel like you are a humble person? Is it prideful to consider yourself humble? Why or why not?
2) How consistent are you at “regarding others as more important than yourself?” What are some ways you can show this humble attitude in your conduct in your daily life? With your family? With your friends? In your clubs? At a restaurant? In your church?
READ: Philemon 4-7
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) How well do you do at being the kind of person Paul is affirming in this passage? If we took a poll of all the people you regularly encounter on a daily or weekly basis, how many of them would say these words about you? Why is that? Do you feel like the hearts of the saints are regularly refreshed by your attitude, words and actions? Why or why not? If not, what are you willing to do to change that?
READ: Philippians 4:2-3
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Why did it matter to Paul if these two women were at odds with each other or with others in the church? What business was it of his to get involved? Was he appropriate in “sticking his nose into it” and telling them how they should behave? What gave him the right or authority to question their current behavior and urge them toward better behavior?
READ: James 3:1-12, Thumper’s Quote & James Burrough’s Quote Above
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Thumper says if you can’t say something nice you shouldn’t say anything at all. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
2) How easy is it for you to “hold your tongue” when the only thing you can think of to say is not nice?
3) What does James Burroughs mean when he says the smallest deed outweighs the greatest intention? How so? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4) Given the description of the human tongue by Jesus’ brother James, how are are you of the power your words have to harm or to help other human beings? Are you ever careless with that power? Do you ever speak without thinking and cause pain to someone else? How is that like waving a loaded gun around without being careful of where you are aiming? How is it different? Why?
READ: 2 Corinthians 5:15 and 2 Timothy 2:1-2
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) In what ways was Jesus an elevator, a lifter, an adder, a multiplier? Can you think of a few examples where Jesus intentionally did something to lift someone up? If this is the example He set for us, what are some practical ways we can follow His example?
2) Why does Paul tell Timothy not just to do these things himself but to also choose some faithful men to build these character traits into as well? How is that illustrating the difference between being an adder and a multiplier?
READ: 1 Corinthians 11:17-18
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Why was Paul so concerned about the reports he was hearing about the church in Corinth? Were the people in Corinth sinning because of their divisive attitude? Why or why not? What should their response have been to Paul’s admonishment? What gave Paul the right to call them out on their bad behavior?
2) If we encounter divisive behavior in the home, the school, the workplace, and especially in the church, what should our response be? How should we address those who are speaking the divisive words or causing the divisive issues? Why? Where should we turn to find the right answer for settling disputes? What is our final word of authority regarding what is right and what is wrong?
READ: Philippians 3:1-2, Galatians 5:12 and 2 Timothy 4:2-4
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Paul has some very strong, even harsh, words for these dividers in the church. Is Paul himself being a subtracter or divider with his rebukes? Why?
2) What should our response be when people begin to say or do divisive things that undermine the harmony and stability of the fellowship? What role and what authority do the pastor and other leaders have to make the decisions that reduce the division and enforce harmony? Why?
READ: Luke 9:5 and 1 Peter 4:8
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) How do we know when to “shake the dust of someone off our feet” and when to let our love cover a multitude of their sins?