North Main Street Church of God Sermons

The Priestly Prophet

(Ezekiel)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

July 21st, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49289992

GOD’s refining fire is meant not only as a means of punishment, for it truly is a painful experience to be under GOD’s judgment, but also of purification, to make ready the people and the land for GOD’s purposes once more.  GOD doesn’t merely bring destruction through judgment because of His anger against idolatry, but because of His love for humanity to find Him once more amidst the ash and rubble.  Sometimes things must be consumed by the fire so that we can see the love of GOD that is left in its wake. Key Point:  “The LORD’s judgment is meant to purify.”

The Weeping Prophet

(Jeremiah and Lamentations)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

July 14th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49287156

Though Jeremiah’s story ends with him (and many, many others) being taken with a remnant of people (against his will) to Egypt for refuge, his message would continue to plague the people who were trying to avoid GOD’s judgment.  Ultimately all that Jeremiah prophesied would come true, and he would be vindicated, though not in his lifetime.  He would die in exile like the rest of the first-generation exiles, but he would also continue to be blessed by GOD for his faithfulness.

The Hopeful Prophet

(Isaiah)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G major”

July 7th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49283795

Though Isaiah prophesied warnings and judgment to the nations of Israel and Judah, he also focused on hope in GOD’s plan of salvation not just for the Jews but for the nations of the world.  Isaiah’s messianic prophecies are so prolific that one would have to be completely blind to the metanarrative of his message.  And what was that message specifically?  It was a message centered on judgment (yes), but more importantly on the future of life beyond GOD’s judgment.  Because GOD loves humanity so much, Isaiah tells us that He was willing to become Immanuel (GOD with us).[1]  And in His coming to be with us, He would fulfill the promise He made to Abraham so very long ago to become a blessing to the nations so that all the world would know that there is one GOD who loves them and in Whom there is everlasting hope.[2]   

[1] Isaiah 7:14.

[2] Genesis 12:1-3.

The Cleansing Prophet 

(Malachi)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

June 30th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: https://bible.com/events/49280579

About the last book of the Old Testament, Biblical scholars, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart write, “Malachi’s book is a graphic indicator of the moral and spiritual apathy of the time, which expressed itself in various forms of contempt for Yahweh and the covenant.”1 Angry at GOD and merely going through the motion of worship, their actions mocked GOD and the covenant they made with Him.  Bringing sacrifices to Him that were diseased and crippled, they worshiped Him with contempt.  The priests weren’t any better.  They had left GOD’s path of righteousness and in so doing had caused many people to stumble in their faith.  Showing favoritism to some and rejecting others, the priests’ corruption was a hindrance in the worship of GOD to the fledgling group of exiles who were returning to Jerusalem. 

The Realist

(Haggai)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

June 16th, 2024

Join us as we talk about the Minor Prophet Haggai and how God desires righteousness and obedience from his people.

The Prophet of Doom

(Zephaniah)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

June 9th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49270556

Judgment and hope go hand in hand.  Judgment means fear for the one who is in opposition to GOD, but it means hope for those who are faithful to Him.  Throughout every generation – Old Testament, New Testament, and now – there has been a remnant of faithful believers who have not bowed down to idols, who have not adopted sinful practices, and who have not become numb to the wickedness of the world.  They have done justice, loved mercy, and walked humbly with GOD.  However, as many as have remained faithful to GOD there are countless others who have compromised their faith by adopting the way of the world, and thus have stood in the crosshairs of GOD’s wrath and judgment. 

The Matter-of-Fact Prophet

(Micah)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

May 26th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49263120

As we continue our series today on the Minor Prophets, we come to the Prophet Micah.  Micah was a prophet from the Southern Kingdom, Judah, and lived in the small town of Moresheth some 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem.[1]  According to Scripture, he prophesied between 740 BC and 686 BC and spanned the reigns of Jotham and Hezekiah.  In his lifetime, he witnessed the overthrow of the Northern Kingdom, Israel in 722 BC by the Assyrian Empire and foresaw the coming destruction of Judah and Jerusalem.

[1] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible Book by Book, (Zondervan:  Grand Rapids, Michigan; 2002), 235.

The Cheated Prophet

(Hosea)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

May 19th, 2024

Follow along in the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49260188

As we continue our series on the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, we come to the longest of the 12 minor prophets (14 chapters):  Hosea.  Hosea is a prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel, more than likely from Samaria, who is called by GOD to prophesy against the northern kingdom for their continued idolatry and unfaithfulness to Him.  In the process of calling Hosea to prophesy, GOD also tells him to go and marry a woman who has been sexually promiscuous.  It must be noted here that this seems counter to the character of GOD, and at first glance it definitely is.  However, as we consider the writings of Hosea, we see that Hosea is writing this part of the narrative in the past tense.  Many scholars deduce from this that having married Gomer and gone through the difficulties of her unfaithfulness to him throughout his years married to her, he is, in hindsight, declaring GOD’s hand and guidance throughout his marriage to her.