2012 - Lessons From The Minor Prophets

Brian Messerli
01/01/16 - Articles

For several years now we have chosen a theme to help focus our thoughts on a common idea. Our hope has been that by thinking together on one specific biblical concept within the broader context of all of God’s word we would build up our spiritual muscles and grow stronger each year. We’ve covered the Mind of Christ, Growing up Together in Him, Diligently Seeking God, Kingdom Citizens, and in 2011, Doing the Lord's Work. We want to build on that growth in 2012 by focusing on lessons presented in the minor prophets.

Our American culture seems to be falling apart all around us. The economy gets worse and worse as people try to find work, find housing, and find hope for the future. Our politicians don't work for our interests and government corruption and impotence run wild. Morally, our nation runs farther and farther away from God every day. Our world holds up sports figures, actors and musicians, as our idols, even though their lives fly in the face of everything that Christ stands for. Moral decay has become commonplace, with widespread fornication, homosexuality, divorce, and abortion all becoming accepted as "the way things are." Those who try to worship and serve God faithfully are looked down upon and belittled as fanatics, intolerent, and antiquated relics of less enlightened times. In such a world, how can a Christian survive?

Looking at the history, of the Jews in the days after the reign of Solomen, we see their culture sinking into the same degradation we recognise in our own world. Idol worship was normal. Fornication and sexual immorality were accepted, while the faithful worship of God was neglected by a people that paid lip-service to Jehovah but whose hearts were far from Him. Into this world, God sent His prophets, preaching a message of judgement to the wicked, but patience and hope to those doggedly holding on to their rightousness.

If we are to hold on to our faith and spread the gospel message boldly to a lost and dying world who rejects us and the One who sent us, we need these messages of hope and patience to give us the strength to fight on.

Follow along with us through the year as we study the lessons of God's servants, the Minor Prophets. Download and listen to these Bible classes directed by our Elders focusing our thoughts on this years theme.
 

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