"Who Ya Gonna Call???" Psalm 86:7-13 VBS Sunday In our day of trouble we must: 1. Be open to God's deliverance. Our willingness to trust God involves a: * Systematic Comparison * Settled Conclusion 2. Be obedient to God's direction. This obedience involves: * Knowing God's decrees * Making your decision 3. Be one with God in your devotions. This oneness involves: * A proper reverence towards God * Passionate rejoicing for who God is * A personal relationship with God * God's powerful response to us
"Are You a Hall of Famer?" Malachi 3:16-18 Part 13 A Hall of Fame life involves: 1. A personal commitment to exalt God. Fearing the Lord involves the understanding that: * God can hurt us & * We can hurt God. 2. Participation in a community that edifies others. Community is important because: * God warns us against solo Christianity. * We wander away from God at times. * Other witnesses of God's grace help grow our faith. Community involves a common: * Attitude * Activity * Association 3. A powerful conclusion that should encourage us. We are encouraged because the Lord: * Receives us as his own. * Responds when we pray. * Regards us as His treasured possession. * Remembers us on the Day of Judgment.
"What Do You REALLY Think About God?" Part 12 Malachi 3:13-15 Do you think: 1. Doing God's work is unfulfilling? (14a) This mindset: * Reflected a fanciful notion * Resulted in a false statement 2. Submitting to God's will is unrewarding? (14b) This belief comes from a wrong: * Attitude * Assessment 3. God's word is unreliable? (15) This approach to God's word allows for: * Hypocritical actions * Hateful accusations
Bearers of God's Heart Psalm 146:5-10 1. Bold Proclamation Luke 4:16-21 -Blessed Generosity Deuteronomy 14, 15 -Blind Guides Matthew 23:23-28 -Breaking the Yokes Isaiah 58:6-10 2. Be Doers James 1:22 -Beatitudes Matthew 5:3-10 -Brothers of Christ Matthew 25:37-40
Are You Robbing God? Malachi 3:6-12 Part 11 Robbing God involves our: * Attitudes * Actions * Assets If we desire to find victory in the area of giving we must: 1. Remember what God has done for us (6). God is completely trustworthy in: * The promises He has made to us. * The plans He has for us. 2. Return to God (7). Our return involves: * Acknowledging our departure. * Admitting our sin. * Asking for His forgiveness and guidance. 3. Realize the importance of giving (8-9). This involves understanding: * The significance of giving. * The systematic nature of giving. * The strategy of giving. * The submission that is shown in giving. 4. Rejoice in God's blessing (11-12).
I Do Not Change!!! Part 10 Malachi 3:6-7 The immutability of God means that He is unchanging in His being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in His response to certain situations. Our text declares that this immutability involves: 1. God's character Which involves His: * Perfection * Personhood * Promises * Plans 2. God's covenant The covenant with Jacob proved: * His faithfulness * Israel's faithlessness 3. His Compassion This compassion allows for: * God's redemption of humanity * Our return to God
"He's Coming: Are You Ready?" Malachi 3:1-5 Part 9 Our readiness for His coming involves: 1. A thought that should challenge us. His coming should challenge: · The unbeliever to experience salvation. · The believer to pursue sanctification. This challenge involves: · A diligent examination. · A daily expectation. This expectation includes: * Wanting. * Waiting. * Watching. 2. A testing that should concern us. This testing involves: * A confrontation by the Lord. * Our condition before the Lord. Our condition will determine whether the day of His coming will result in a: * Grievous condemnation. * Glorious celebration.
Part 8 "Are you sick and tired of God?" Or "Is God sick and tired of you?" Malachi 2:17 1. God's patience was exhausted. The patience of God: * Is extremely long in duration. * Will be eventually lost. 2. God people were exasperating. They believed that God: * Delights in people's iniquity * Dwells in perpetual indifference 3. God's path involves expectation. Our expectation includes a: * Coming deliverer * Child's discipline * Certain destruction * Christ-like direction
"Broken" Malachi 2:10-16 Part 7 When our spiritual relationship is broken we become: 1. Unfaithful in our fellowship with others. We are called to love one another because we share: * The same Father * The same faith 2. Unfaithful to our Father in heaven. The Israelites unfaithfulness was evident when: * God's covenant of marriage was ignored * The people's choice in marriage allowed for idolatry God's anger towards inter-marriage * Had nothing to do with race * It was all about religion 3. Unfaithful to our families. God declares that he is the sole: * Author of marriage * Authority in marriage * Administrator in marriage God's plan to prevent broken marriage is seen in his: * Attitude towards divorce * Admonition to pursue faithfulness with your spouse Malachi's message today has practical application for the * Not married * Nearly married * Newly married * Numbly married * Narrowly married
"Real Leadership" Malachi 2:1-9 Part 6 Our text gives 10 characteristics of leadership. 1. First, we see five characteristics of spiritually flawed leadership. Leadership is flawed when we: * Dishonor God's holiness (2-3). * Depart from God's way (8a). * Damage the spiritual lives of others (8b). * Desecrate the covenant God has given (8c). * Are despised by the people we serve (9). When leaders are flawed they may be (2-3): * Rebuked. * Rejected. * Removed. 2. Second, we see five characteristics of spiritually faithful leadership. Faithful leadership: * Responds to God with obedience (2). * Reveres God as awesome and faithful (4-5). * Resolves to live a holy life (6). * Reproves people regarding their sin (6b). * Represents God to others (7). When leaders are faithful: * A reward is given (5). * A relationship is experienced (6). * A respect is due (7).