The Outsiders | What is Required?

·34 min·3 clips

God says in Amos that he hates festivals and offerings if they're not accompanied by justice and mercy.

The episode begins with Pastor Adam Schell welcoming listeners and inviting them to worship at Melbourne Heights Church. He introduces the topic by noting Martin Luther King Jr. Day and highlighting King's role as a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church before his civil rights leadership. Schell describes the expectations placed on King as a pastor, such as preaching and counseling, and contrasts this with his duties during the 381-day Montgomery bus boycott. He shares that King apologized to his congregation for being overwhelmed by boycott responsibilities, feeling torn between church and movement. This leads Schell to pose the question of what God requires from followers, suggesting many Christians focus on religious practices like attending church, reading the Bible, praying, and giving. He references the prophet Micah, explaining that Micah served as a warning to Israel. Schell reads Micah 6:1-5, where God reminds Israel of his deeds, and then verses 6-7, where people offer sacrifices. He cites Amos 5:21-23 to show God's rejection of mere rituals without justice. The core of the sermon is Micah 6:8, which states God requires doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly. Schell defines justice as standing up for the oppressed, mercy as active compassion, and humility as following rather than controlling God. He connects this to Jesus' actions in the Epiphany season, such as welcoming outsiders like the wise men and calling fishermen. Schell argues that religious practices are easier but insufficient, and God cares more about how we treat people. He challenges listeners to assess if they are doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly, using King's resignation from Dexter Avenue to join his father's church as an example of prioritizing this calling. The episode ends with a prayer and an invitation to worship.

As heard by us

Micah's lawsuit becomes a pastoral call to remember God's deliverance and weigh the response.

The sermon sets Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil-rights legacy beside Micah's warning to Israel, then turns toward the question of faithful response.

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Why you'd press play

Press play when you want Micah's courtroom scene to turn remembered deliverance into a question about your response.

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