In our modern era of bridges, tunnels, and ferries, it is difficult to grasp the significance of a water crossing for those living in biblical times. Bodies of water functioned as natural barriers that divided peoples. Water even figuratively divided one era from the next, i.e. Noah passed through flood waters into a new world. So when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, that began a new epoch in redemptive history and established a pattern of divine deliverance to be repeated throughout Scripture.

Sermon Notes: Moses and the Sea

https://youtu.be/QxBujSFYfl0

Abraham’s story is marked by sacrifice. In the beginning, he is asked to sacrifice everything comfortable and familiar, leaving behind home, family, and land. But at least every sacrifice God called him to make was balanced by a promise of blessing – of a new home, new family, and new land. But in our passage, Abraham is asked to make a sacrifice unlike any before – to sacrifice with nothing to gain. He is asked – to not just kill his son – but to kill all hope in the promises of blessing that he was banking on. This is a test to determine if your trust is really in the Lord or merely in the things he promises you.

Sermon Notes: Abraham and the Sacrifice

https://youtu.be/8H0rwmu7ujs

The Old Testament in our English bibles aptly ends in Malachi with a word of judgment and warning about a coming day of the LORD. The reader is meant to feel despondent and desperate for salvation in the pages of the New Testament. There we learn that the Day will arrive in stages – before the fiery judgment, comes Elijah who prepares the way for the LORD to swoop down with salvation in his wings.

Sermon Notes: Apathy Towards the Day of the Lord

https://youtu.be/2g_qebSErr4

Malachi brings one last disputation against the people: They have spoken harshly against God. While the people believe that God has let them down, it is really the people who have turned their backs towards God. In their apathy towards righteousness, they no longer see God as worthy to be served by them. We’ll see if there is anything in our hearts that may lead us towards or away from serving God in our lives.

https://youtu.be/2vbX6UJoWhU

Jesus once said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where you direct your money corresponds with whatever has captured your heart. So when the Israelites withheld a full tithe, it demonstrated that God did not have their hearts. So the prophet called them to return – not just their stolen tithes to the temple – but their hardened hearts to the LORD. For a generous hand of giving reveals a soft heart of repentance.

Sermon Notes: Apathy Towards Giving

https://youtu.be/Y6IUv0CSnMs

We don’t need to think very long before we can recall instances of injustices of this past year. We recall news of senseless killings in the news. Videos of racism play through our memory. We hear reports of families going hungry in our community. Injustice occurs all around us. It may make us wonder: “Where is God?” Where is his judgment? The absence of God’s intervention might lead to spiritual apathy. How do we avoid spiritual apathy when injustices occur? 

Sermon Notes: Apathy Towards Judgement

https://youtu.be/VEUFcO-ecx0

Failure to honor the holiness and permanence of marriage is not merely a private affair. It has public consequences for the entire covenant community of God. This is why Malachi confronts the prevalence of mixed faith marriages and divorces in his day – for how it damages and threatens the oneness of God’s people.

Sermon Notes: Apathy Towards Marriage

https://youtu.be/1Y6rSImffaY

Because the priests have become apathetic toward their ministry,

God warns them that if they do not return to their Levite duties of teaching

and modeling God’s Word, then they will face dreadful consequences.

Sermon Notes: Apathy Towards Ministry

https://youtu.be/236Y7Hh48tA

After a reminder of his electing love in the beginning of chapter one, the LORD challenges his people’s lack of love. He confronts their polluted worship and how it reveals about what they think of God and feel towards him. And such a strong rebuke is justifiable, considering what polluted worship takes from God.

Sermon Notes: Do We Love God?

https://youtu.be/MR-kbWBK-Kw

By Malachi's day, Israel was a mere shadow of its former self. Their depressed state led them to question God’s love, and such doubts resulted in spiritual apathy – the main concern of the book. But before the LORD confronts their apathy, he begins with an affirmation of his sovereign, electing love for them.

Sermon Notes: Does God Love Us?

https://youtu.be/zksEuBrW8wg