What does God require of us?

Do we need to sacrifice a little bit—maybe a burnt offering or two? Rivers of oil? Our firstborn? Well, that escalated quickly.

Every culture has sacrificed to the gods. It makes sense—when you’re surrounded by nature, before germ theory or the scientific method, you want to appease the forces beyond your control. People feared famine, sickness, and war.

But the God of our ancestors has a different answer: Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God. Simple. And yet…

I once realized that if I wanted things to change in my life, I’d have to work on some things I’d rather not face. I asked my therapist, “Isn’t there some easy button or pill you could prescribe me?”

“No,” she said. “You’re going to have to feel the feelings and do the work.”

This is true. And here’s the uncomfortable fact: You can’t buy God off. There’s no offering you can give, no check you can write to get out of the work God asks of us. It’s simple, stand for: Justice. Kindness. Humility.

When I think of justice, I think of Jackie Smith. Jackie stood for justice.

She and I come from what I call “tea kettle stock.” Our hearts were built to hold heat, to steam, to boil whenever we saw the world’s wrongs. Jackie’s whistle blew for hungry kids, for forgotten families, for anyone treated unfairly. She didn’t just talk about it; she did something about it.

She was always learning, and then she acted. She started computer labs before anyone thought to. She built food ministries and book clubs. She gave her time, her voice, her love. When things weren’t right, she let off steam; not because she was angry for herself, but because her heart was tender and couldn’t bear the world’s apathy.

Jackie hungered and thirsted for righteousness. She lived the words of Micah 6:8 she did justice. And when her kettle whistled, it was a holy sound: the sound of a heart on fire for God’s people.

Today, Jackie’s Jars are set out. Collect your loose change—these funds will go to feeding area seniors. We also have the Blake Families sign-up out this Sunday. Jackie was part of the team that founded it for Garfield Families, but I think she’d be proud of the team who coordinates and delivers. And she’d be pleased as punch that the program is still supported by her church. Yes, Jackie stood for justice.

When I think of kindness, I think of Tom Evans. Tom stood for kindness.

This church so admired Tom’s kindness that an award has been given in his name each year—and we’ll continue to tell his story as long as there’s a church on the square. Because it was never about Tom. It was about others.

Tom worked hard his whole life, from delivering groceries in a step van to shaping Medina Parks and Rec. Everyone who knew him said the same thing: he was patient, gentle, and kind. He’d show up in the snow when others stayed home, always thinking of someone else’s needs before his own.

After my installation service, Tom took a bad fall. When I reached him, he apologized for ruining my big day. That’s who he was. Even hurt, he was thinking of someone else. But that moment showed exactly what kind of place Tom helped create—a place where neighbors stop to help, where kindness is simply what people do. Someone literally lived out the parable of the Good Samaritan that day for Tom.

Tom lived the second line of Micah 6:8, he loved kindness. Not the polite kind, but the steady, everyday kind that builds community. He didn’t make it about himself; he made it about others and in doing so, made Medina a kinder place. Yes, Tom stood for kindness.

Jackie for justice. Tom for kindness. These two knew you can’t buy God off. They lived it.

As for humility… when I look out at our congregation, I see so many faces, so many stories of amazing, humble people. People who have no business being as humble as you are!  I think we have the best people in Medina here. Y’all stand for humility. You don’t condemn others or shame them into joining the church. We don’t threaten hell here. Y’all are about humbly doing the work you’re called to.

Folks who have overcome so much and still smile and serve. Folks who run their own businesses, hold patents, volunteer, count bluebirds, pick up trash in our parks, and quietly write checks to make sure neighbors are fed, clothed, and cared for. Folks in recovery who live courageously, one day at a time. Teachers and life-long learners. Book nerds and folks so busy they collapse into bed every night.

When I counsel pastors in the search and call process, I tell them to ask this question of a church: If your church closed tomorrow, who would notice?

I’ve asked that question in interviews before we found each other. Most churches sat in silence. One finally said, “Well… we’d be sad.”

But not you. Immediately, your search team at the time said, “CUPS Café would notice. Feeding Medina County would, too. The library’s afterschool program. Families at Garfield. Our recovery groups. The programs we help fund.”

So many in this community would notice. Often when folks find out where I serve, they say, “Oh, if we were religious, we’d go there. We still might check you out, you all seem to be doing the work.” And you are.

This isn’t the Luke Show or the Meghan Show. This is your show. Meghan and I are here to resource and walk beside you, not for you. And yes, sometimes I’m here to rage against dumpster-fire theology that shames, degrades, and dehumanizes our neighbors because that’s not of God. But mostly I’m here to remind you.

I’m here to remind you that Jesus said in John 14:12, “These things I do, you can do and greater than these.”  You, in your baptism, have been joined to Christ; anointed to bring good news to the poor, to release anything that binds you or your neighbor, to recover sight and see anew, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim not God’s condemnation, but God’s favor. For God is love.

You are the church. You are the body. You are the covenant for the forgiveness of sins.

You who are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses like Jackie Smith, Tom Evans, and all the humble neighbors beside you, hoping you won’t notice them… but also that you do. Notice each other. Be for each other. Reach out to one another. Ask folks to be part of your team. Help usher. Feed. House. Work for affordable health care. If you have an idea, tell someone. Help make this place what you need and dream it to be.

All the while, we shall know what the Lord requires of us. To do justice like Jackie. To love kindness, like Tom. To walk humbly with our God. For today, the Scripture is being fulfilled in your hearing. Thanks be to God. Amen.