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A Question of God's Honor

April 29, 2018 Preacher: Series: The Burden of Malachi: God's Unchanging Love for His Unstable People

Scripture: Malachi 1:6–14

Key Truth: Our worship reflects our understanding and appreciation of God’s love for us.  

 


Introduction:

What makes you feel honored or respected? What about dishonored or disrespected?  

 

“God’s love for his people was unquestionably evident in their history. But it is a love that demands a response. The problem in Malachi’s day was that an appropriate reaction had not been forthcoming from the people.”

John L. Mackay, Haggai, Zechariah, & Malachi: God’s Restored People

 

 

A Question of the People’s Heart in Worship:

Malachi 1:6-14: 

“The name of YHWH is profaned, says the Lord, by the disdain shown His table (i.e., the altar) and its ‘fruit’ (v. 12). That is, one cannot claim to revere God while at the same time fail to worship Him in a proper manner. The cultus is not the means of achieving a saving relationship with Him, but one cannot maintain that relationship and at the same time count the cultus as of no importance. That is clearly the import of this entire oracle [or burden].’”
Eugene H. Merrill, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: An Exegetical Commentary

 

What are some ways that you prepare for worship?
What role does how God has loved
 you play in your preparation and worship experience?
What role does whether or not
 God was pleased with your offering play in your preparation and worship experience?

 

 

Application:

Malachi 1:6-14 teaches us that:
-our worship reflects our understanding and appreciation of God’s love for us

 

“The love of God toward us in Jesus Christ—the love that left a glorious throne and came down to dwell in our midst in this broken and pain-ridden world, the love that ultimately gave itself on the cross for us and for our salvation—this love is what confronts our cold hearts and insincere words and what ignites us into fresh adoration and praise of the living God, who by his astonishing grace now brings us into his presence. This love is what makes us ashamed of the ways that we constantly act as if we were orphans and independent contractors, not beloved children and servants of the Most High God.

Iain M. Duguid & Matthew P. Harmon,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi: Reformed Expository Commentary

 

 

Communion

 

 

Benediction:

2 Peter 3:8-13

More in The Burden of Malachi: God's Unchanging Love for His Unstable People

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A Call to Remember the Law and Behold the Prophets

June 10, 2018

A Declaration of the Future

June 3, 2018

A Question of Benefit