“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22). He will meet us on the mountaintops, in the valleys, and — as Pastor Grant reminded us yesterday — deep within the realm of the dead, in the prisons of our own making. Thank You, Jesus.
If you haven’t had a chance to catch the online worship experience this week, you can do so here.
Personal Devotional
Long ago God sent the prophet Micah to Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. Micah was called to confront the injustice and corruption of his day, specifically the exploitation of the poor: “But as for me,” Micah declared, “I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:8).
Let’s ask God to open our hearts and heal our personal sin as we study Micah 6:1-8 and 7:18-20.
Read Micah 6:1-8
Consider verses 1 and 2. Why might God be calling all of creation to listen to His accusation against Israel? What do these verses reveal about the significance of God’s message? Pause and reflect: Do I take seriously the words of God? Do I listen for what He is saying in Scripture, or do I assume I already know what He wants to tell me?
In verses 3-5 God recounts His faithfulness to the Israelites, so that they “may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” Take a moment to recount God’s faithfulness in your life. Where have you seen evidence of His righteousness? How has He intervened to rescue you again and again over the years?
Read verses 6-8. What does God want from us in response to His righteousness? What does He not want? Outward sacrifice isn’t wrong, but if it’s not the overflow of inward sincerity, it’s empty. Pause and reflect: Am I honoring God with my whole heart?
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. Think about these familiar phrases one at a time. Spend some time in prayer, acknowledging that these imperatives reflect the heart of God. Ask Him how you could take a next step toward Christ in one or all of these areas.
Read Micah 7:18-20
Praise God for His love and mercy! Pray these verses out loud, taking time to talk with God about everything He brings to mind along the way. Pray that He would have compassion on our country, “treading our sins underfoot and hurling all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Grace Communities: Sermon Discussion Questions
Reread Jonah’s confessional prayer to God in Jonah 2:3-9. Which verse(s) stands out to you the most? Why?
Another famous prayer of confession is found in Psalm 51 after David recognizes his sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging to have her husband killed.
Read Psalm 51 aloud and discuss any similarities you notice between these two prayers.
After confessing, what do both Jonah and David promise to do? (see Jonah 2:9 and Psalm 51:13-15)
Do you testify of God’s goodness and life-changing grace toward you? Who is one person you could share your testimony with this week?
So far, what is one thing you’ve learned in this series that has caused you to take a practical next step toward Christ? Is there a next step you feel prompted to take today?
How can we support and encourage one another to follow-through?
GraceStudents 5th/6th Grade
Word of the Week—Veracity
This is one of those smart-sounding words that has a really simple meaning. Veracity means “truthfulness.” The next time you want to impress someone, after they state some sort of fact, stroke your chin and say, “I’m not sure about the veracity of that statement.” (Translation: I don’t know if what you’re saying is true.)
Christians sometimes talk about the “veracity of God,” which simply means God is always truthful. Titus 1:2 says that God does not lie, and Hebrews 6:18 actually says it is impossible for God to lie. God is not capable of being anything but honest. This means we can always trust Him. God is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do.
GraceStudents (7-12 Grades)
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to download the zoom app on your device so you can tune in to our live GraceStudents service every Sunday night! For more information and links, head to the calendar.
Also, get this week’s sermon discussion questions for students here.
