The nature of the words the prophets were given to deliver are attention-getting and troublesome on purpose. We want God to show up and make our lives easy. Joel seems to think that wheel God shows up, it will be more terrifying and bring more focus to our commitments

We live in a loud world. We surround ourselves by noise and oftentimes, when things are quiet we'll put on some music, or turn on the TV just to have some noise. Today's lesson is a reminder of the value of silence in our walk with God. We will look at several different aspects of and reasons for silence. "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him". - Habakkuk 2:20

A heavy load is placed on the shoulders of Habakkuk as he confronts God in a dialog reminiscent of Job. This prophet asks hard questions in a confusing, threatening environment. God replies with direct and challenging words that still ring true today.

God has a passionate commitment that flows from His great love for his creation and man as his image bearer. He refuses to allow us to walk around in the pain of lives filled with corruption: the cancer of the soul. So He brings judgment just like a surgeon brings a cure for physical cancer.

God gives a heavy message to Nahum to deliver to Judah about their torturer. Assyria has strayed so far from the life that God created for humans that they will receive what they have sown. From God, not from Judah.

After sin entered the picture, separation occurred between God and man. Since that time, God has relentlessly been chasing us down. Because of Christ, we now have a way back in to the intimacy of God. What is our response to that?

Micah's name is also the theme of his prophecy. He focuses on who is God and how we can know what he "requires" in hearts and societies. He viewed disruption, corruption, and exploitation common in his Judean home (740 - 690's BC) as the direct result of not building relationships on justice, love, and humility before God.

Father’s Day – Today let’s examine the story of Hosea. Hosea is a story about a broken family; but it is also a story of restoration to the only Good Father. Hosea examines how God's people who became unfaithful to God, were ultimately restored to a foundation of Hope in God.

While Jonah was sent from the Northern Kingdom to Assyria. Amos was sent from Judah to the North. His message is heard to hear. In fact, they tell him to leave. His words are direct and hard to hear, but often those words are the words that save lives.

During a series of national crisis, God brought insight and encouragement from a series of unlikely messengers.