This passage shows us a beautiful portrait of the God’s Family. Everybody has a part to play in church life. The eternal hope we have in Jesus that we saw in last week’s passage is not just individual but joins us together and shapes a community that shows off God’s grace and goodness. This passage is particularly important for us at Redemption Hill because we have a Titus 2 Team. We will take time this week to talk about how the gospel shapes God’s family in the church, the vital importance we all play.

I’m back in the pulpit this week as we begin a new short series in the book of Titus. August marks TEN YEARS of ministry for Redemption Hill Church. It’s hard for me to believe that it has been that long, and it’s amazing to look back at all that God has done over the past decade. Through the month of August we will work together to be reminded of what a church is, who we are, and whose we are. In the same way that NFL Teams head into training camps to re-emphasize the fundamentals each year, this will give us the chance to be reminded of the fundamental aspects of who we are and what we are called to. This week starts with Titus 1:1-2:1.

As we come to the last chapter of Micah, we’ll see God’s mercy in full display for us. Chapter seven will show us Micah’s perspective in the middle of his sinful and chaotic nation as the Prophet of God. This position leaves him alone and with the only option to run to God for refuge. Micah will ultimately prophecy of the future restoration of God’s people and remind us all of God’s grace and faithfulness towards sinners. I would strongly encourage you to spend time reading this last chapter before Sunday, and especially pay attention to the last three verses of Micah, as they are one of the most beautiful descriptions of God’s character in the entire Bible.

This week we’ll spend some time in God’s courtroom where Israel will be on trial for their rebellion against God himself. We’ll learn what God requires from his people and the verdict for God’s people transgressions. Ultimately Micah will provide for us a shadow of God’s justice that is ultimately found and accomplished in Jesus Christ as our lawyer and savior. I’d encourage to read Micah 6 as you prepare your heart for the Holy Spirit to speak to us.

This week the book of Micah takes a radical turn, and God brings a message of hope to His rebellious people who fell into idolatry, oppression, and abuse.   In this week’s text we find one of the most impressive and detailed prophecies of the birth of the Messiah, and one that brought hope to Israel and Judah. We will be reminded of the radical mercy of God, who brings hope through Jesus the Messiah, to us and to our rebellious world.

As we continue to learn from the prophet Micah in chapter 3, this week we’ll see God’s rejection of abuse, especially from leaders. In a world where even the people who are called to care for us fail, we are reminded of the way Jesus, whose servant leadership of grace is our only hope in a broken world.

This chapter shows us that God hates oppression, and that those who willfully destroy the lives of others will face God in the end. The chapter ends with a glimmer of hope, that God will lead His people as the ultimate King, guiding them to safety and flourishing in the end.

This week we start a new series in the book of Micah. This series will take us through the end of July. It’s always fun to spend time in one of the Minor Prophets, a name that indicates that the prophetic books are short, but no less important. Micah’s prophetic ministry in Judah was around the same time as Isaiah, before Assyria defeated the northern kingdom or Babylon defeated the southern kingdom, both resulting in exile for the Hebrew people. The book is filled with warnings for God’s people, but also intermixed with the hope of God’s faithfulness. The theme of the series is Micah: The God of Justice and Mercy. This week we begin with Micah 1:1-16.

This Sunday is the final sermon in our series as we study Revelation 22:6-21. It’s always bittersweet to finish up a series. I have loved the chance to walk through this book with you all over the past six months. I hope you have seen that it is filled with hope and intensely practical and important for us. We are living in the Last Days. Not just because we have lived through uprisings, wars and rumors of wars, global plagues, and bugs that emerged from the ground after a 17-year slumber to torment our eardrums. We are living in the time between Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension to the throne, and His return to renew and restore all things. Jesus promised to return soon. This week we will talk about just what that means, and how we are called to live in light of His return.

This Sunday is the penultimate sermon in our series in Revelation, we will wrap it all up next week. Revelation 21:9-22:5 gives us a portrait of the future glory of the New Jerusalem. It is a passage that is packed with beautiful imagery, ultimately showing us an image of the glory of God on earth. This is the end point of the whole biblical storyline and all of human history. Understanding it reshapes every aspect of our lives now.