October 23 – 29

Weekly Reading for October 23 – 29

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Major Lessons from the Minor Prophets
Sermon Title: God Wants to Save Sinful Rebels...of All Sorts

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on October 30, 2016:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Major Lessons from the Minor Prophets
Sermon Title: God Deserves our Best...Don't Hold Back!
Delivered On: October 23, 2016

WATCH SERMON VIDEO
VIEW WEEKLY BULLETIN
VIEW SERMON NOTES

Memorize and Reflect

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:1)


Prayer Direction

Thank God for His faithfulness and goodness. Praise His name and His sovereignty. Ask God to reveal any areas in your life that may not be honoring to Him or bring Him glory and ask for His forgiveness and power to make the changes that are needed. Also ask Him to give you the strength and endurance to sustain you even though your circumstances may be challenging or seem to be hopeless. Thank Him for the gift of Jesus and the hope and healing that only He offers when we place our faith in Him.


“Live It!” Challenge

Am I giving God my best? Ask yourself in the areas of worship, relationships, service and generosity towards God and others, is God getting my best? What may be preventing me from doing so? Also, are there areas in my life that may be displeasing to God and what are one or two steps I can take this week to make changes, if necessary?


Small Group Discussion

  1. Read: Malachi 1 The priests were allowing blemished sacrifices to be offered to God in the Temple. What was the role of the priest within the Temple and Jewish society? Why was this practice so sternly rebuked by the Lord? Hint: Read Deuteronomy 15

  2. What was this disrespectful and displeasing service by the priests a probable reflection of?

  3. What might be a modern day example of this type of unacceptable behavior within the church?

  4. Read: Malachi 2 Things get even tougher for the priests. What was the issue with their instruction and allowance of infidelity and intermarriage between the men of Judah and foreign women? What were these types of behaviors and practices a reflection of in relation to God’s covenant with the people of Israel?

  5. Read: Malachi 3 The first part of this chapter speaks of God’s demand for justice and judgment. But it also speaks to God’s faithfulness and mercy. Who was the messenger referred to in the first part of Malachi 3:1 and Malachi 4:5-6? What was his role? Hint: Read Luke 1:5-17

  6. How were the people “robbing from God”? What was God’s challenge to them? How might this apply to our perspectives on giving towards God’s kingdom or service to Him?

  7. Read: Malachi 4 In spite of the message of rebuke, correction, and judgment throughout the Book of Malachi, God provides the people of Israel a snapshot of the hope that was to come in Malachi 4:2. As you read this verse, what image comes to your mind? Is this foreshadowing of anything?

  8. What lesson can we learn from Malachi about the importance of worship? Relationships? Service? Giving towards God?

  9. What is one significant step or change I can take/make in each of these areas to honor God and give Him my best?

  10. Read: Malachi 1 The priests were allowing blemished sacrifices to be offered to God in the Temple. What was the role of the priest within the Temple and Jewish society? Why was this practice so sternly rebuked by the Lord? Hint: Read Deuteronomy 15

  11. What was this disrespectful and displeasing service by the priests a probable reflection of?

  12. What might be a modern day example of this type of unacceptable behavior within the church?

  13. Read: Malachi 2 Things get even tougher for the priests. What was the issue with their instruction and allowance of infidelity and intermarriage between the men of Judah and foreign women? What were these types of behaviors and practices a reflection of in relation to God’s covenant with the people of Israel?

  14. Read: Malachi 3 The first part of this chapter speaks of God’s demand for justice and judgment. But it also speaks to God’s faithfulness and mercy. Who was the messenger referred to in the first part of Malachi 3:1 and Malachi 4:5-6? What was his role? Hint: Read Luke 1:5-17

  15. How were the people “robbing from God”? What was God’s challenge to them? How might this apply to our perspectives on giving towards God’s kingdom or service to Him?

  16. Read: Malachi 4 In spite of the message of rebuke, correction, and judgment throughout the Book of Malachi, God provides the people of Israel a snapshot of the hope that was to come in Malachi 4:2. As you read this verse, what image comes to your mind? Is this foreshadowing of anything?

  17. What lesson can we learn from Malachi about the importance of worship? Relationships? Service? Giving towards God?

  18. What is one significant step or change I can take/make in each of these areas to honor God and give Him my best?