Key Truth: God graciously burdens His people to share His love with others who have strayed away from Him or have never known Him in their spheres of influence.  

Introduction:

What burdens are you carrying?
Is it weighing you down or encouraging you to take action for the greater good?  

“Malachi faced a mountain of apathy….It is never easy to deal with indifference. When people cease to care, religion, morality, social customs, and values cease to function as the mortar that holds a society together. In Malachi’s time certain religious fundamentals such as election, the love and justice of God were doubted. Malachi tried to rekindle the fires of faith in the hearts of his discouraged people. He assured them that God still loved them and the covenant was still in force (Mal. 1:2-5).”
Ralph L. Smith, “The Shape of Theology in the Book of Malachi” in Southwestern Journal of Theology, Vol. 30 — Fall 1987

Malachi’s Burden from God for Israel:

Malachi 1:1: 

“The title of the book characterizes this prophecy as a ‘burden’….The oracles included here will be heavy and stern. But the messages are also consolatory: they are not against Israel, but to Israel. And there are hopeful notes of forgiveness and joy — if the people will heed the warnings.”
Allen P. Ross, Malachi Then and Now:
An Expository Commentary Based on Detailed Exegetical Analysis

Do you ever feel burdened to share God’s love with those in your spheres of influence?
What are some of the barriers you experience at various times and in various circumstances? What has been most helpful and encouraging to you when you have shared?

Hosea 1:1 teaches us that:

God graciously burdens His people to share His love with others who have strayed away from Him or have never known Him in their spheres of influence

“…the message of the prophet was to tell who Yahweh was. The message was not from men to God (‘We are sorry’); it was from God to man. And it said Yahweh is father, lover, a God who is faithful because that is the kind of God he is and who wants most of all that men be faithful to him.”

James A. Fischer, “Notes on the Literary Form and Message of Malachi” in
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Vol. 34 — 1972

Communion

Benediction:

2 Peter 3:8-13