1. What does God require? (part 1)
From the Pastor’s Heart
Opening
We all want to know what is required (expected) of us.
Job description
Loan repayment plan
Relational boundaries
This summer, we needed to find someone to watch our cat, Alfie.
We left basic instructions because the requirements were very simple.
However, not all cat owners have the same requirements…

2. Mookie
Mookie scratches desperately at the door to be let out because his favorite pastime is to go to the garden to scratch desperately at the door to come in. Rest assured that he will not actually come in, but you have to go to the door to show that you care.
–Cindy, Morges, Switzerland

3. Berlin & Ruby
Keep the shower doors closed or Berlin will poop in the tub. If Ruby jumps on the toilet, it is specifically because she wants to be brushed. And if you’d like to give them a treat, please go get turkey sliced fresh for them from the deli (NOT from Super King — Ruby doesn’t like their meat) because the cats won’t eat prepackaged poultry.
–Joanna, Los Angeles

4. Mabel
Don’t worry, Mabel hasn’t dripped urine on my face while I was sleeping for a few years, but it’s best to do the litter every day. And don’t even think about removing one of the litter boxes.
–Mattie, Amsterdam

5. Gail Burgess was heading on vacation for a week and would be 1,500 miles from home…
“While plenty of people make sure their sitters understand their pet’s medical requirements, feeding times and other special needs, Gail went one step further, and cat owners everywhere would appreciate the time Burgess took to make sure her fur babies were understood. 
Burgess left her sitter printed-out sheets, complete with pictures and detailed biographies of each of her four cats. The dossiers painted a picture of the cats’ unique personalities, inter-cat relationships, how they liked to be fed, and their habits and hobbies, with a level of detail that would make a CIA agent proud”.
…at least you know what’s required…

6. Overview of Micah Covenant Violation Injustice Coming Judgement
Hope & Restoration
Introduce mini series
As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to know what He requires.
As FICF, members of the body of Christ, we want to know what He requires.
Overview of Micah
Both kingdoms (Israel and Judah) have been violating their covenant with God for over 500 years.
Micah confronts the leaders saying they’re unjust and accuses them of…plotting evil, fraud, coveting, violence, stealing, dishonesty, driving widows from their homes, hating good, loving evil, despising justice, distorting what is right, murder & corruption, taking brides and ultimately favoring the wealthy at the expense of the poor and vulnerable, which violates the law.
He also confronts the prophets who are corrupt as they’re willing to give favorable promises to those who pay.
God warns that the Assyrians and Babylonians are coming to defeat them.
But it won’t be permanent. There is hope. God will restore his people through a new King, Jesus.
The restored people of God, in the new Kingdom of God, will be a blessing to all the nations!
This hope is rooted in God’s character and God’s promises.

7. Micah 6:1-8
1 Listen to what the Lord says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. 2 “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. 3 “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. 4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
Introduce Micah 6
Imaginary conversation between the Lord & Israel.
Courtroom
The mountains are the witnesses

8. 5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” 6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Verses 1-5, the Lord introduces His case against the disobedient people of Israel.
Remember
What He has done for us…The new covenant through Jesus Christ
What He has done for you…
Verses 6-7, Israel’s response.
Works are insufficient
Increased attendance
More serving
Greater giving
Verse 8, God’s covenant requirements.
Distinctives of the people of God.
Fulfilling these requirements demands a new heart.
3 responses of a Godly heart…outward, inward and upward.
Vision for FICF.

9. Upward Response of a Godly Heart
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? … to walk humbly with your God.
Upward Response of a Godly Heart
FICF vision…Humbly Submitted
Matthew 22:37…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Bruce Waltke, OT Professor, described it as, “bringing one’s life into conformity with God’s will”.
It starts with repentance.
Blinking your eye- happens frequently and softens, cleans and protects the eye.

10. Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Closing
Fulfilling God’s requirements demands a new heart.
We need a heart transplant not a heart by-pass.
When was the last time we got on the altar?
Response
Worship & Prayer