Sermon Tone Analysis
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Many people here at St. Luke's have shared fond memories of AM.
But of all the stories, and memories there is one that is particularly simple, yet it is packed with wisdom.
Aaron Brockmeier the former Pastor here at St. Luke’s reminded me of this story.
I say reminded because as soon as Aaron wrote about it, I remembered that AM had shared this story with me as well.
Occasionally, when it was time for AM to give advice, rather than come out and say it directly, he would instead share a story.
AM told a story about how when he needed to do business Texas, he found that to do business in Texas, you needed to gain a certain measure of credibility and respect.
So, to do that he learned that he needed to become a Texan.
He needed to have boots and a cowboy hat.
Once he had a ten-gallon hat and boots, he was able to do business with the Texans.
Knowing AM, I have a feeling that he told that story more than once.
In my case, AM was telling the story to teach me, a younger man, a bit of wisdom.
It taught about the need to build relationships, by identifying with people.
It taught about being humble and recognizing and having respect for people and their culture.
It was a simple story, yet it was filled with wisdom.
I tell this story because it is similar to our scripture text today.
A very simple verse .
When Dan sent over the scripture text, , knew right away it was a perfect text scripture for AM.
It is succinct; it is to the point.
And yet it packed with wisdom.
In preparing for this message many people shared with me their fond memories of AM.
But of all the stories, and memories there is a particularly simple one that just speaks of simplicity, yet is filled with wisdom.
He has shown you, O man 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.
Aaron Brockmeier the former Pastor here at St. Luke’s reminded me of this story.
I say reminded because as soon as Aaron wrote about it, I remembered that AM had shared this story with me as well.
Sometimes, when it came time for AM to give advice, rather than come out and say it, he would share a story, and this was one of those times.
I think everyone who knew AM knew his life reflected that verse.
Among his many character qualities were those same qualities found in that passage.
He was humble.
He was honest, He was kind.
But the real point is that these traits weren't just something he put on like a pair of cowboy boots and a ten-gallon hat rather, they were a part of who he was.
His strong, genuine character was evident in everything that he did.
It is refreshing to do business, with a real, and an honest businessman.
Although those Texans thought that we were getting a better man when AM put on the hat and boots, what they would soon find out was that it wasn't the appearance that makes the man, it was something else entirely.
AM told the story how in order to gain respect, and conduct business in Texas, he needed to have boots and a cowboy hat.
Knowing AM, I have a feeling that he told that story more than once.
Although it seems like a simple story, and we grin and chuckle, and move there is so much more to it than that.
The passage here, is just that.
It is God’s plea for his people to be genuine.
God is pleading with his people to stop acting like someone they are not, and to become a new person.
See he would tell that story in order to each people, in my case a younger man a bit of wisdom.
Wisdom about a lot of things It taught about building relationships, and how important that was.
It taught about being humble, and it taught about having respect for people and working together.
It is a simple story, yet it contains a lot of wisdom.
It is part of a larger conversation between God and his people.
Although Micah wrote this passage sometime between 750 and 680 BC, is not any different then what is happening today.
The so-called religious people of the day were oppressing people, and they weren’t treating everyone in their community fairly and with justice, and kindness.
Instead, they were taking advantage of the oppressed, and then they would run back to God and try to get back on His good side.
They sought to make up for it by doing things that they hoped would please God.
And God saw right through that.
Do you know that is the number one complaint against Christians today?
People look at Christianity and see Christians dealing dishonestly in business, or being cruel, or walking right by hurting people.
Then they see the same people coming to Church on Sunday and trying to make it all right with God.
Well not only does God see right through that, but even non-Christians find that distasteful.
This is exactly what the prophet Micah was talking about.
It actually starts a few verses before at verse 6.
At verse 6, Micah wrote.
How can we make up for the wrongs?
It is like our scripture text today.
When I read the scripture that Dan sent over, .
I knew it was a perfect text for AM.
It is simple.
It is , to the point.
And yet it unfolds to describe AM.
And then Micah asks how much is needed to overcome these wrongs?
Is it the firstborn, or is it ten-thousand rivers of Olive Oil? How can you make it up to God?
See none of that makes a difference.
What God's word is telling us is that you can’t purchase your way back into God’s favor by giving sacrifices.
What God is saying is he wants you to genuinely worship him through your whole life, through everything you do.
He wants you to be genuine.
Not just a Sunday morning Christian.
God expects us actually to live, the way we actually should live.
And see THAT is exactly what AM understood.
He lived his whole life in fellowship with God.
He lived his entire life the way God wanted him to.
He walked with God.
AM was not a Sunday morning Christian.
A Sunday Morning Christian, is just going to come to service, say hi and go home.
Oh, you’ll see from time to time, when the guilt builds up.
But not AM.
No AM, was here Sunday after Sunday, week after week, year after year.
Joan even remarked, of AM wasn't here he must be sick, because he would always be here otherwise.
A Sunday morning Christian is only here on Sunday, but not AM.
He was here as many days as needed.
When this Church needed a new building, because we had outgrown the old one, a Sunday Morning Christian would have just walked away.
AM became part of the project.
He sought out what was best to bring together the whole community of St. Luke's.
He was on the building committee, he worked tirelessly, put up with long meetings and sometimes difficult discussions.
He did not do it for honor or recognition, in fact, I think we would all agree, he would probably prefer that I not even mention it, because he was that humble.
But the reason I do bring it up is because the real reason AM he did it so that it would be a lasting place for others to come together and worship Jesus.
Not for AM's legacy but for Jesus' church.
I saw him not too long ago, and he made it a point to show me his Bible.
And he showed me the inscription with his name and the dates he had served on Church Council.
He kept it right next to his chair and told me how he reads it every day.
That is not a Sunday Morning Christian, that is someone who is walking with God every day.
I think everyone here agrees that AM’s life reflected that verse.
Among AM’s many character qualities were the qualities found in that passage, humility, honesty, and kindness.
Those character qualities were genuine AM.
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