Messenger Service

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December 6, 2009, Malachi 3:1-6 (2.10-3.15)1

Open It

  1. How would your closest friend describe the kind of friend you are?

  2. In conversations do you tend to be a talker or a listener?

  3. When do you feel most thankful for your blessings?

Explore It

  1. How had God’s people broken faith with Him? (2:10-12)

  2. What was the consequence of Israel’s sin? (2:12)

  3. What was  additional evidence of a broken covenant? (2:13-16)

  4. What was God’s view of divorce? (2:16)

  5. What charge did God give His people? (2:16)

  6. How had Israel wearied God? (2:17)

  7. How were the people oblivious to their sin? (2:17)

  8. What warning did God give? (3:1-5)

  9. What was the basis for hope in God? (3:6)

  10. What did God require of Israel? (3:7-12)

  11. How had Israel sinned against God in the past? (3:7)

  12. What was the nature of the curse on the nation? (3:9)

  13. What did God promise? (3:10-12)

  14. How had Israel challenged God? (3:13-15)

Get It

  1. What is the extent of the price we pay, and possibly cause others to pay, when we knowingly disobey God?

  2. Why is it wrong for a Christian to marry an unbeliever?

  3. When have you clearly sensed that your fellowship with God was disrupted because of your sin?

  4. How would the prophet speak to the issue of divorce among Christians in our culture today?

  5. In what ways do we try to rationalize our sins?

  6. How have you been guilty of robbing God?

  7. For what blessings from God are you most thankful?

Apply It

  1. What personal unconfessed sin or negative attitude toward the Lord or others would you be willing to confront with a responsible Christian friend or small group?

  2. Starting this week, when can you set aside a few minutes in prayer with another believer, asking the Lord to help you become more faithful, obedient, and trustworthy in each of your relationships?

NOTES2

Notes for 3:1: There are two messengers in this verse. The first is usually understood to be John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:27). The second messenger is Jesus, the Messiah, for whom both Malachi and John the Baptist prepared the way.

Notes for 3:2,3: In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with fire until it melts. The impurities separate from it and rise to the surface. They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal. Without this heating and melting, there could be no purifying. As the impurities are skimmed off the top, the reflection of the worker appears in the smooth, pure surface. As we are purified by God, his reflection in our lives will become more and more clear to those around us. God says that leaders (here the Levites) should be especially open to his purification process in their lives. Launderer's soap was alkali used to whiten cloth. It is also used here as a symbol of the purifying process.

1Adult Questions for LESSONMaker, (Austin, TX: Wordsearch, 1992), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "The Sinful People - Malachi 2:10-3:15".

2, Life Application Study Bible, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1988), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Chapter 3".

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