Scripture

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

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.

Questions

What is the difference between someone who believes in Jesus and someone who follows Jesus?

Of Jesus’ teachings, which do you find the hardest to go from believing to following? (eg: I believe loving my neighbor is a good idea/harder to put into practice!).

In today’s terms, the Israelites went to church, prayed prayers, sang songs and heard sermons, yet it had little impact on their lives. What are some of the ways we can keep ourselves from falling into empty religion? How can we remain alive and active in our faith?

Practical Application

“We’ve not only been saved from something; we’ve been saved for something. Following Jesus isn’t just a life of songs, services, and sin avoidance. We live in a world where there are challenges and wrongs and injustices all around. God hasn’t given up on this world. This great God of ours continues His work of restoring and healing and blessing and gives us the opportunity to join Him.”

(Pastor Mike)

What are some of the ways in which you can come alongside God’s restorative work in the world? Click on the link in the Further Reading section below to see how you can follow in Jesus’ footsteps in our local community.

Discussion

If there is one main message we can apply today from the book of Micah, it’s that there is a big difference between simply believing in Jesus and following Him. But what are those differences and how can we tell if we are simply believing or actually following?
In this weeks BTS discussion, Pastor Mike outlines some simple ways we can look at our own lives and begin to answer those questions for ourselves.

Go Further

Local Serving Opportunities – Find ways to follow Jesus practically

Overview: Micah – Video Teaching by The Bible Project

God of Justice (We Must Go) – Song by Tim Hughes