(News, August 12, 2020)
This fall we are looking at Scripture from two of the minor prophets: Joel and Malachi. Joel is set during at plague of locusts and a drought. We’ve been going through a plague and a drought of our own, so the insights of this little book will remind us that amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God. Malachi is set in a time of looking forward. The prophet urges God’s people to get their lives ready now for the promises to come. We too look forward, and we will profit from the prophet’s insights.
Here’s the plan:
Date: August 30, 2020
Title: Lamenting the Locusts of Life
Text: Joel 1:1-12
Topic: Amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God.
Worship: Hear This!
Key Sentence: Hear and lament the tragedies of life in a fallen world
Outline:
I. Hear this! (Joel 1:1-3)
II. The plague of locusts (Joel 1:4-8)
III. The drought (Joel 1:9-12)
Date: September 6, 2020
Title: Crying Out!
Text: Joel 1:13-20
Topic: Amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God.
Worship: We Cry Out!
Key Sentence: Individually and in community we cry out to God
Outline:
I. Individually (Joel 1:13)
II. In Community (Joel 1:14-15)
III. We cry out to the Lord (Joel 1:16-20)
Date: September 13, 2020
Title: The Day of the Lord
Text: Joel 2:1-11
Topic: Amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God.
Worship: The Day of the Lord
Key Sentence: The day of the Lord is near, a day of darkness and gloom
Outline:
I. The day of the Lord is near (Joel 1:1-2)
II. A day of devastating judgment (Joel 1:3-10)
III. Who can endure it (Joel 1:11)
Date: September 20, 2020
Title: Yet Even Now!
Text: Joel 2:12-27
Topic: Amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God.
Worship: A gracious and merciful God
Key Sentence:
Even as we turn to the gracious and merciful God, he has turned to us.
Outline:
I. Turn to a gracious and merciful God (Joel 2:12-14)
II. Gather and cry out (Joel 2:15-17)
III. See his pity expressed (Joel 2:18-20)
IV. Rejoice in his provision (Joel 2:21-27)
Date: September 27, 2020
Title: I Will Pour out My Spirit
Text: Joel 2:28-32
Topic: Amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God.
Worship: Pour Your Spirit Out
Key Sentence: God pours out his Spirit on us and we find salvation in him
Outline:
I. I will pour out my Spirit (Joel 2:28-29)
II. Wonders in the heavens (Joel 2:30-31)
III. Everyone who calls will be saved (Joel 2:32)
Date: October 4, 2020
Title: I Will Restore
Text: Joel 3:1-21
Topic: Amid the trials of life we turn to a compassionate and just God.
Worship: Hear This!
Key Sentence:
That day shall be judgment for the evildoers and restoration for his people.
Outline:
I. I will judge what has been done to you (Joel 3:1-3)
II. I will judge the gathered nations (Joel 3:4-16)
III. I will restore my gathered people (Joel 3:17-21)
Date: October 11, 2020
Title: God’s Faithful Covenant Love
Text: Malachi 1:1-5
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: I Have Loved You
Key Sentence: God’s love calls and protects
Outline:
Prologue: The Burden of Malachi (Malachi 1:1)
I. I have loved you (Malachi 1:2)
II. I have called you and protected you (Malachi 1:2-3)
III. I will protect you for my glory (Malachi 1:4-5)
Date: October 18, 2020
Title: Worship that Honors God
Text: Malachi 1:6-14
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: The Fear of the Lord
Key Sentence: We honor and fear God by what we offer him
Outline:
I. Worship that honors God offers him our best (Malachi 1:6-8)
II. Worship that honors God cries out for his grace (Malachi 1:9-11)
III. Worship that honors God offers him our energy (Malachi 1:12-14)
Date: October 25, 2020
(Guest Preacher David Jackson, Bob off)
Date: November 1, 2020
Title: Faithful Teaching
Text: Malachi 2:1-9
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: The Law of the Lord is Perfect
Key Sentence: God’s shepherds and God’s people are called to faithful teaching
Outline:
I. Faithful teaching honors his name (Malachi 2:1-4)
II. Faithful teaching is a ministry of life and peace (Malachi 2:5-7)
III. Faithful teaching shows no partiality (Malachi 2:8-9)
Date: November 8, 2020
Title: The Covenant of Marriage
Text: Malachi 2:10-16
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: As Christ Loved the Church
Key Sentence: Faithfulness in marriage honors God’s covenant design
Outline:
I. Faithfulness honors God’s covenant plan (Malachi 2:10-12)
II. Faithfulness honors God’s covenant companion (Malachi 2:13-14)
III. Faithfulness honors God’s covenant purpose (Malachi 2:15-16)
Date: November 15, 2020
Title: The Lord Whom You Seek
Text: Malachi 2:17 – 3:6
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: As Christ Loved the Church
Key Sentence: God sends his messenger to purify or judge
Outline:
I. The accusation of injustice (Malachi 2:17)
II. The coming of the two messengers (Malachi 3:1)
III. The second messenger comes to purify (Malachi 3:2-4)
IV. The second messenger comes to judge (Malachi 3:5)
Date: November 22, 2020
Title: God’s Faithfulness to the Faithful
Text: Malachi 3:6-12
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: Great is Thy Faithfulness
Key Sentence: When we give all we have to God, we receive all we need to delight
Outline:
I. Return to Me (Malachi 3:6-7)
II. Bring it all (Malachi 3:8-9)
III. Become a delight (Malachi 3:10-12)
Date: November 29, 2020
Title: Preparing for the Day of the Lord
Text: Malachi 3:13 – 4:6
Topic: Walking Faithfully with a Faithful God
Worship: As Christ Loved the Church
Key Sentence: God’s promises comfort those who are frustrated with waiting
Outline:
I. Frustrated with waiting for the promise (Malachi 3:13-15)
II. It will be worth the wait (Malachi 3:16-18)
III. The day is coming (Malachi 4:1-4)
IV. Elijah is coming first (Malachi 4:5-6)