Want to learn more about Major Lessons From Minor Prophets? Use these Bible Studies for personal devotion, group Bible studies, or teaching a church class. Below are links to the lessons in this 13-part series.
“Scorned” is not a common word today. But, we all know
how it feels. We feel scorned when we are rejected and someone else
is chosen. Some experience this with their parents, some experience
this with their children, some experience this in dating, some
experience it in marriage, and some experience it in their work.
Perhaps you have experienced it in all of these contexts. It hurts.
Our lesson this week is about us scorning God. It seems completely
illogical, but we do it all the time. Let’s jump into our new series
of lessons and learn more about “spiritual adultery!”
Have you ever seen someone who needed an attitude
adjustment? We consider what is going on, and make the judgment that
person’s attitude is inappropriate for the situation. Let’s turn our
judgment inward. Consider your attitude towards God. Could it use an
adjustment? I know that God has been working on my attitude for
decades. While I believe that my attitude has gotten significantly
better, I know I need further improvement! Let’s plunge into our
continued study of Hosea to see what we can learn about improving our
attitude towards God!
Assume disaster comes into your life. What is your most
important goal? To survive, and if possible, turn it to your
advantage. The Bible contains God’s promises to help us. This week we
look at the prophecies of Joel, a minor prophet, who predicted not
simply disaster, but the end of the world. He also prophesied what
God would do to help. Let’s jump right into Joel to see what God has
in mind for us in times of trouble!
When my children were very young we played a game
called “Roar.” I would hide and then roar like a lion. (Well, a
little bit like a lion.) The children would then try to figure out
where I was hiding. Since their sense of sound direction was not
very good, the result was often humorous. I would be very close to
them, roar, and they would run the opposite direction. Our lesson
this week is about God “roaring” His message to pagans and to His
followers. Are we like children, misunderstanding God’s direction?
Do we fail to follow His instructions for living? Are we “tone deaf”
to God’s roar? Let’s race into our study of the book of Amos and see
what we can learn!
Last week we studied the “roars” that God sent out to
the pagan nations that surrounded His people. Next, we read that
God’s roars were also directed towards His own people. What should we
learn from that? God is an “equal opportunity” roarer? How about
reaching the conclusion that God encourages us to live holy lives? If
that is God’s message, and I believe it is, let’s explore that
message in more depth and learn how do we do that by jumping into our
study of Amos!
Are you a loyal citizen of your country? Does your
citizenship prejudice your thinking about other countries? Since I
live in the United States, and many of our readers do not, insert the
right answer for you in the following questions. Which country is the
most dangerous enemy of your country? Have that country in mind? Now
imagine that you are a prophet. For most of your life God sent you
messages that were helpful to your country. Now God sends you a
message that will threaten, but may help, the country which is your
most dangerous enemy. You are supposed to personally deliver it. If
you are a patriot, how would you like that assignment? You might like
the threat part! But it might get you killed! What if it helps your
enemy? Let’s dive into our study of the book of Jonah to see what we
can learn about God and His dealings with us!
Does everyone need hope? The obvious answer is, “yes.”
But, hope is a funny thing. You don’t need hope if you are satisfied
with how things are now. In Revelation 3:16 God says He wants to spit
out lukewarm people. God prefers us to be hot or cold. Does that mean
that God wants to spit out people who don’t need hope? Recall that
last week God sent the worm that killed the plant that gave Jonah
shade? Would God send “worms” into our life to put us in a posture
where we needed hope? If so, what kind of hope does God offer? Let’s
dive into our study of the book of Micah and find out!
Would you like to keep private past decisions that were
questionable? How many times do you wish that others would not
criticize you? Do you like it when others want to discuss with you
some error that you made in the past? Except when you are sinfully
bragging, do you like to talk about past sins? Unless you are an
uncommon saint, the answer to all of these questions is that we do
not like to be questioned, criticized or reminded of our sins. Our
amazing God is open to a discussion about His decisions. The God who
created us is willing to discuss how He treats us. The book of
Habakkuk reveals a God who is open and transparent. Let’s jump into
our study of the Bible and see what we can learn about God’s
decision-making!
Do you feel nervous? Does life make you anxious? Do
you try to calm yourself by saying, “I can handle this?” Our lesson
this week is about people who got into a whole bunch of trouble. The
trouble began because they depended upon their own power and
authority. They relied on their gates, walls, wealth, and intellect
to keep them safe. They sacrificed others to protect themselves. God
has a better way for us. Let’s plunge into our study of Zephaniah
and find out more!
Does it seem like you have a hole in your pocket? You
can never get ahead, never save? Whenever it seems like you are going
to have additional money, it turns out that some new need arises that
sets you back to where you were before! If you answered, “Yes, that
describes my life,” then carefully consider the book of Haggai. Our
study this week is about a people who have been released from
Babylonian captivity, but things are not going right in their lives.
Let’s dive into the Bible and find out why!
Zechariah is a fabulously interesting book! It is
filled with symbols, complexity and great news about the gospel! We
will spend this week and the next unraveling the stories that give us
confidence in our Messiah and the message of salvation by grace
alone. Let’s plunge into our study to discover the lessons God has
for us in the first half of the book of Zechariah!
When I was growing up, some of my elders would tell me
that if I did not obey God, He would not listen to me when I needed
help. Others would say that God would listen to me regardless of
what I might do. Our study of Zechariah 7 helps unravel that issue.
Another issue when I was younger was whether Christianity was the
correct religion. There were so many religions. I grew up a
Christian, how could I be sure I was born into the right religion?
Zechariah 9 & 11 help with that issue. Let’s dive into the lesson and
see what lessons God has for us!
As we close our series of lessons on the “Minor
Prophets” of the Old Testament, we study Malachi. Malachi sounds a
familiar tone among the minor prophets: pay attention to your
relationship with God. Perhaps because of the wonderful message that
we should look at God as our father, some treat God as they do their
earthly father – with disrespect and indifference. Let’s jump into
our study of Malachi and find what God has to say about that!
