Dear Beloved Church Family,

Paul ended his letter to the Romans by declaring that the mystery of the gospel was kept secret for long ages, but was made known through the prophetic writings. Lord willing, over the next six Sundays, we’ll be pursuing that principle by walking through the Old Testament prophetic book of Malachi together.

The book of Malachi is a profound collection of prophecies and dialogues that weaves together God's enduring love for His people, their shortcomings, and the path to spiritual integrity. The prophet’s timeless messages resonate with us as individuals and as a church community, offering insights into how to nurture our relationships with God and one another.

Over the Coming Weeks, We’ll See:

• The Steadfast and Faithful Love of God—Despite the disorienting circumstances facing God’s people, His steadfast love endures forever.
• The Vitality of Worshiping with Integrity—Worship, at its heart, involves every aspect of our lives. Empty rituals are no replacement for being a living sacrifice.
• The Importance of Right Instruction from God’s Word—God’s Word must be taught to God’s people faithfully and comprehensively.
• The Sanctity of Marriage—God hates the destruction of marriage through divorce.
• The Surety of God’s Promises—God will deliver his faithful people who are prepared to receive his Messiah.

Prepare your hearts and minds by taking 10 minutes to read through the whole book each week for the next six weeks! Bring your questions and come with an eagerness to receive what God has in store for us.

See you Sunday!

Quick Info on the Book of Malachi

• Malachi was the last of the 12 minor prophets. He wrote this book some time around 430 BC to challenge the sinful hypocrisy, skepticism, and impatience of Israel.
• Israel had been restored back to their lack after the exile for about 100 years at this point.
• The book is structured as a series of six dialogues (or disputes) between God and his people. Each dispute has three elements: (1) the prophet gives a statement from God (usually about the attitude or behavior of people), (2) the prophet then anticipates their objection to God’s statement, (3) and then provides the response to their objection.

Suggested Outline

• First dispute: The Lord’s love for Israel (1:1–5)
• Second dispute (1:6–2:9)
  1. The priests worship the Lord unworthily (1:6–14)
  2. The prophet warns the priests (2:1–9)
• Third dispute: Illegitimate marriage and divorce (2:10–16)
• Fourth dispute: The day of judgement/redemption is near (2:17–3:6)
• Fifth dispute: The people must repent of robbing God (3:7–12)
• Sixth dispute: God will reward those who are faithful (3:13–4:6)

Memory Verse - Malachi 4:2

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (ESV)