Micah 5-6

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 17, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Micah 5-6. These chapters cover a layered prophecy blending immediate historical context with future hope: while Assyria besieges Jerusalem, Micah foretells a coming ruler from Bethlehem—a shepherd-king who will bring peace and reign globally, which the New Testament identifies as Jesus. God promises to cut off worldly dependencies—military power, idolatry, and injustice—and calls His people to live with justice, kindness, and humility instead.

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Reflect

Understanding Micah 5-6

As you study Micah chapters 5 and 6, consider the lessons they offer about obedience, suffering, hope, and God’s faithfulness. These chapters remind us that not obeying God led to suffering for the Jews. This raises an important question for personal reflection: Have you ever experienced times of great trials as a direct result of your own choices or disobedience?

Trusting God’s Timing in Deliverance

The deliverance for the Jews did not come immediately; it was delayed according to God’s timing. Similarly, when we pray for God to deliver us or to change our circumstances, sometimes His answer does not come as quickly as we would like. During these periods, do you find yourself losing confidence in God, or do you continue to trust that He will fulfill His promises in His own perfect timing?

Holding onto Hope

God’s promise in these chapters is one of hope and encouragement. Reflect on whether you have ever experienced, or are currently experiencing, a time when you are losing hope. If so, what are the reasons behind these feelings? Remember that God’s message through Micah was meant to encourage and uplift, even in difficult times.

The Power of Prayer and Surrender

If you desire freedom from sin, evil, and the attacks of the enemy, the call is clear: PRAY! Bring your struggles before God, asking Him to defeat the giants in your life and surrender fully to Him. Consider when the last time was you earnestly prayed and sought God’s deliverance from sin or the enemy’s attacks. Let today be the day you turn to Him in sincere repentance and prayer.

Addressing Feelings of Disappointment

There may be times when you feel that God has failed you. If so, reflect on the specific ways you believe this has happened. Remember, the truth is that God never fails. He is always on time, His ways are higher than ours, and He is at work even when we cannot see or feel it. Be honest with God and share your struggles with Him, knowing He understands and cares about your pain.

Freedom from Feelings of Failure

Are you troubled by feelings of failure or the belief that you have failed God? Do you think you need to do more good works for God to love you? Micah 6:8 provides the answer: God loves you and simply wants you to return to Him with all that you are and have. There is no need to earn His love—it is already freely given. (Please see Marshall’s conclusion notes for additional insight.)

Final Encouragement

Remember, God loves you! Return to Him, repent, and keep moving forward in faith. March on with the assurance of His love and blessings in your life.

Micah 3-4

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 10, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Micah 3-4. These chapters cover a contrast between the corruption of Judah’s leaders—driven by greed, injustice, and a loss of true worship—and God’s future promise of restoration, justice, and peace through His exalted kingdom. While Judah’s sins may seem distant from ours, the call to confession remains deeply relevant—not just confessing outward behaviors, but inner motivations. In light of Jesus’ resurrection and promised return, this prophecy invites us to live with hope, pursue repentance, and fix our eyes on the coming kingdom, exalting Christ above all else.

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Reflect

1. How can we identify and address the motivations behind our behaviors, similar to how Micah encouraged the people of Judah to reflect on their deeper issues?

2. In what ways can we incorporate regular confession into our spiritual practices to foster deeper healing and relationship with God?

3. How does the promise of Jesus' return impact the way we live and conduct ourselves in the present time?

4. What are some practical ways we can actively 'hammer swords into farming tools' in our personal lives and community?

5. How can we create a culture in our church that encourages openness about struggles with trust and fear?

6. In what ways can we encourage one another to read more scripture and less secular content, as suggested in the sermon?

7. How can we implement systems of accountability in our lives to ensure that we are confessing our sins and supporting each other in spiritual growth?

Micah 1-2

Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 3, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Micah 1-2. These chapters cover the opening of Micah, where the prophet delivers a fiery message of judgment to both Israel and Judah for their deep-rooted corruption and hidden sins. Micah warns of coming exile — yet also offers a glimpse of hope in a future Shepherd-King who will restore His people. It's a call to not just hear God's Word, but to be moved to repentance and trust in His coming restoration.

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Reflect

1. In what ways does the imagery of mountains melting and valleys splitting resonate with our understanding of God's power and presence?

2. What aspects of Micah's prophetic vision inspire us to hope for restoration within our community and ourselves?

3. How do we recognize and address the 'wounds' or moral decay in our own lives before they spread?

4. In what specific situations have we experienced the consequences of ignoring God’s call to repentance?

5. How can we, as a community, support each other in turning from selfishness to generosity?

6. What practical actions can we take to promote justice and integrity in our personal and professional relationships?

7. How does the hope portrayed in Micah for future restoration encourage us during hard times in our lives?

Hosea 13-14

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 27, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 13-14. These chapters explore Israel’s last prophetic warning before judgment, focusing on their tragic descent into spiritual emptiness through compromise and idolatry. Hosea 13 paints a vivid picture of a nation that forgot God and chose Baal, leading to death and destruction, while Hosea 14 offers a contrasting image of repentance and restoration. The message is timeless: God's ways are right—walk in them, and let His call to repentance stir both conviction and hope in your heart.

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Hosea 11-12

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 20, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 11-12. These chapters show God reflecting on His relationship with Israel: as a loving Father who raised His son, Israel, only to be met with rebellion and rejection, which led to just punishment but also held a promise of compassionate redemption. Hosea urges readers to seek the Lord, trust His plans even amidst personal stubbornness, and understand God’s actions by remembering His past faithfulness as revealed in His Word.

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Hosea 9-10

Kelly Burke | July 13, 2025

In this message, Kelly Burke teaches from Hosea 9-10. These chapters outline the judgment God will pour out on Israel. However, there is purpose in the judgment and pain. God’s heart desire is reconciliation and a people wholly devoted to Him.

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Hosea 7-8

Pastor Marshall Ochs | July 6, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 7-8. These chapters build on the theme of “knowing God” by exploring how obedience is the true evidence of knowing Him. Through the prophetic words of Hosea, we see Israel’s disobedience, political compromise, and false repentance, which ultimately rendered them unable to fulfill their calling to make God known among the nations.

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Hosea 5-6

Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 29, 2025

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Hosea 5-6. These chapters focus on a time of deep rebellion and political chaos in Israel around 740 BC. Despite repeated calls to repentance, Israel and Judah chase worthless things, turning from God and reaping the consequences in war and spiritual decay. Yet amid judgment, God offers a powerful invitation: seek His face, return to Him, and grow in knowledge of the Lord.

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Reflect

1. How can we ensure we are truly 'knowing the Lord' as opposed to just having surface knowledge about Him?

2. What steps can we take to seek God's face in our daily lives, rather than pursuing the 'filth' of this world?

3. How can the metaphor of God as a lion and moth help us understand His role in times of conflict and strife?

4. What does it mean for you personally to 'pray for knowledge of God,' and how do you envision that shaping your relationship with Him?

5. What practical measures can we implement to grow in our knowledge of God through scripture?

6. In what ways can we encourage and support one another in growing our knowledge of God as a community?

7. How can we discern when we are seeking worthlessness versus seeking what truly matters in God's eyes?

8. How can we reflect on our own lives to identify areas where we may be rebelling against God's call to repentance?

9. What can we learn from Israel's failure to know God and how can we apply it to our own pursuit of a deep relationship with Him?

10. How do you see the connection between our knowledge of God and our daily decisions and actions?