Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Malachi 4:1-6
Series: Malachi: God's Unchanging Love
- A Reminder about God's Coming Judgment (vv. 1, 5-6)
- A Reminder about God's Offer of Forgiveness (vv. 2-6)
A Call to Take Inventory
Posts filed under Malachi
You Can't Outgive God
Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Malachi 3:6-15
Series: Malachi: God's Unchanging Love
Sermon Notes
- The People Were Robbing God (vv. 6-9)
- The People Were Robbing Themselves (vv. 10-15)
Discussion Questions
Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
What is your biggest fear when it comes to sacrificial giving?
INTO THE BIBLE
- Read Genesis 14:20 and 28:22. Why do you think Abram and Jacob chose to give the amount of “a tenth”?
- Tithing appears before the Mosaic Law, so is it for all time? Why? Why not?
- What were the main points of the sermon this week?
- Read Malachi 3:8-10. What does God promise to faithful tithers here? Why? Who is cursed?
- Read Malachi 19:21. What does it mean to have “treasure in Heaven”? How do we get this?
- In light of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, how is the New Testament even more radical than the Old Testament when it comes to sacrificial giving? Be specific.
- Should our tithe be directed to our local church? Why? Should we tithe gross or net?
- Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-4. What does Paul mean: “they gave . . . beyond their ability”?
- Read Matthew 6:21. What does it mean: “wherever your treasure is—there is your heart also”?
APPLICATION
How did you make your decision about what amount of money to regularly give EFCCL?
The Coming Wrath of God
Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Malachi 2:17-3:5
Series: Malachi: God's Unchanging Love
Sermon Notes
- Questioning God's Justice (2:17)
- A Reminder about God's Messiah (3:1)
- A Reminder about God's Justice (3:2-5)
Discussion Questions
GETTING TO KNOW ME
What do you think of when you think of God's wrath? Did you hear about this growing up?
INTO THE BIBLE
- Read Matthew 25: Look over this passage in detail.
- Who gains eternal life? Who does not?
- What are the criteria for those welcomed into eternal life?
- Is Jesus teaching that we earn our salvation by doing good deeds? Why? Why not?
- Discuss details you learn in v. 41 about hell.
- Why is a day of coming judgment so difficult for our culture to accept?
- Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. Describe this future day of judgment that Paul writes about.
- Is the language of hell literal? Why? Why not?
- How do you react to passages like this?
- Read Revelation 20:7-15.
- What will happen to Satan? How long will it last? What is the nature of his punishment?
- What is “the book” that is opened in v. 12? Are there any other references to it in the Bible?
- Will those who go to hell be conscious or unconscious? Why?
- How is hell described in these verses?
- Read Revelation 21:1-8.
- Describe the scene here. What does John see? Describe what happens to death, pain, and sorrow.
- Read v. 6 and note that God the Father is speaking. Who is speaking in Revelation 1:17-18?
- How do these two texts establish that Jesus is God? Be specific.
APPLICATION
Discuss the following statement by theologian Miroslav Volf: “God is not loving in spite of His wrath; He is loving because of His wrath” (Free of Charge, Zondervan).
The Sanctity of Marriage
Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Malachi 2:10-16
Series: Malachi: God's Unchanging Love
Sermon Notes
- The Problem of Marrying Unbelievers (vv. 10-12)
- The Problem of Divorce (vv. 13-16)
Discussion Questions
GETTING TO KNOW ME
- Did you listen to the sermon?
- Describe a marriage that you admire.
INTO THE BIBLE
- Read Genesis 2:19-25. Discuss what you learn about marriage from these verses. Who is it for?
- Read Ephesians 5:22-23. What do we learn here about marriage? Be specific.
- Discuss the Bible’s description of marriage: one man and one woman for life. Any exceptions in the Bible?
- Read 2 Corinthians 6:14. What does it mean to be “unequally yoked”? Does this apply to marriage? Business relationships? Other relationships? Why? Why not?
- Read Deuteronomy 7:1-4. Why does God forbid His people to marry unbelievers? Discuss.
- Read Matthew 19:1-11. What does Jesus say about marriage in these verses?
- Discuss how He clarifies Moses’ command in Deuteronomy 24.
- What are the implications of what Jesus says here for gay marriage?
- What are the implications for divorce?
- When is divorce permitted according to Jesus? Not permitted?
- Read Malachi 2:10-16. Why does the Bible use such strong language about divorce? Why does the Bible call marriage a “covenant”? What does this mean?
- Look through 1 Corinthians 7. Under what circumstances, biblically, is someone free to remarry? Be specific.
APPLICATION
Spend time praying for marriages and singles.
Playing Games with God
Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Malachi 1:6-2:9
Series: Malachi: God's Unchanging Love
Sermon Notes
- Offering Worthless Sacrifices (vv. 1:6-14)
- Not Fearing God (vv. 2:1-6)
- Teaching and Tolerating False Doctrine (vv. 2:7-9)
Discussion Questions
Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
- Have you ever read the Bible from cover to cover?
- When did you first hear the true gospel?
INTO THE BIBLE
- Read Matthew 7:13-23. What is Jesus warning us about here? Who are these people?
- Read Malachi 1:11-14. What is going on here? What is “counterfeit faith”?
- Read Matthew 13:18-23. What are the four kinds of soils? Which one is genuine?
- Read James 1:19-24. What is the danger James is discussing here? How does it look today?
- Is James saying that salvation is by works? Why? Why not?
- Why does the Bible seem so intent on warning us about being a false disciple?
- Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. What is Paul urging us to do here? Be specific.
- Read John 10:25-30 and Romans 8:37-39. Can a genuine believer in Christ ever lose their salvation? Why? Why not? (See Grudem’s Systematic Theology, chapter 40, for a good discussion on this.)
- Read 1 John 2:1-6. Who is the one who really knows Jesus? How can we tell?
- What is the gospel? How can we know if we are really saved (cf. 1 John)?
APPLICATION
- Do these kinds of warning passages shake your assurance of salvation? Why? Why not?
- When is the last time you shared the true gospel with someone?
A Call to Respond to God's Love
Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Malachi 1:15
Series: Malachi: God's Unchanging Love
Sermon Notes
- An Overview of Malachi's Book
- Reminders of God's Love
Discussion Questions
Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.
GETTING TO KNOW ME
When is the first time you remember hearing about the love/wrath of God?
INTO THE BIBLE
- Read Malachi 1 out loud as a group. Summarize the chapter in your own words. What is the main point?
- Why were the people complaining about God not loving them? Have you ever done this? When?
- If you have a study Bible, remind the group of some basic information about Malachi and his times.
- Read Malachi 1:1-3. What does it mean, “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I hated”?
- Read Romans 9:6-21. How does Paul use this quote from Malachi? What is Paul’s point?
- Does the doctrine of election/predestination rule out God’s love? Why or why not?
- Read Psalm 136 out loud. What is the writer reminding us of? Why is this so easy to forget?
- Read Psalm 103:1-13 out loud. Talk about God’s love as revealed in the Old Testament.
- How is the love of God distorted in American culture today? Be specific.
- Read John 3:16. Name as many truths as you can find in this famous verse about God’s love.
APPLICATION
What do you struggle more with: God’s love or wrath? Why?