Sermon Series: Israel In Captivity
Malachi
Pastor George Stephens | December 1, 2024
Loved Enough to Be Corrected
Overcoming Complacency in Worship
1. Offerings Chapter 1:2-14
““A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.” (Malachi 1:6–7, ESV)
Does God Exist?
2. Teachings - Chapter 2:1-10
“For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 2:7, ESV)
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV)
Does God Make Sense?
3. Relationships - Chapter 2:11-16
Pursuing the wrong relationships
“Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.” (Malachi 2:11, ESV)
Abandoning the right relationships
““For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”” (Malachi 2:16, ESV)
Does God Make a Difference?
4. Justice - Chapter 2:17-3:5
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.” (Malachi 3:3–4, ESV)
Does God Care?
5. Commitments - Chapter 3:6 – 18
““Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?” (Malachi 3:13–14, ESV)
Does God Count?
6. Promises - Chapter 4
““For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:1–2, ESV)
Does God Follow Through?
