Preparation for Christmas 15 NovWorshipping idolsMicah 1 22 NovOppressing the poorMicah NovChristingle 6 DecReign of peaceMicah 4 13 DecBethlehem promiseMicah 5 20 DecWalking humblyMicah 6-7

Walking the paths of the Lord Righteousness Justice No Fear Peace

The people who follow the Lord’s Path, will be following an ancient path followed by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Micah, Jesus and CHBC In Micah’s day the people following the Lord’s path would meet not in CHBC, but in the temple, found in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Because those following the Lord’s path have lives of extraordinary Righteousness, Justice and Peace, where they meet is important – Mount Zion will be the chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills Many people and nations come to the mount of the Lord so that the Lord can teach them his ways, so that they too may walk in his paths. Here they find the justice to judge between peoples Here is where they will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. Because the disputes are settled, they will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more. The justice that is found in the Lord is one where no person is disenfranchised economically – in an Middle eastern agricultural economy they have their own vine and their own fig-tree. There is social freedom where noone lives in fear. Once we have a vision of what the Lord’s path is like we are likely to say that even if other people walk in the path of their Gods, “we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.” However, we live in a world now, where most people and nations have not caught his vision, but we have a hope that there will come a time. In the last days …..

1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more. 4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig-tree, and no-one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. 5 All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. Micah 4 Thank God for his written Word to us

Walking Action – Alongside the paths Different of the Lord Pray biblically Justice Nothing wrong Righteousness Not earning No Fear Pray! Peace No short cuts