2.12.23 Sermon Afterthoughts
Hello brothers and sisters,
It was wonderful to gather with you on Sunday and continue our study through the book of Malachi. In Sunday's text, the people of Israel had begun to doubt the holiness and justice of God and had concluded that it didn't matter how they lived. For themselves, they thought that God was pleased with them simply because they were "children of Abraham." As they looked outside of Israel, all they saw was evil and injustice and surely a just God would have come already to deal with it. They doubted the greatness and glory of their God and it affected the way they spoke to one another. So God comes to them for their words about him have wearied Him.
In His glorious mercy, rather than answering their desire for justice, he provides for their need of holiness. Rather than bringing justice, He brings the One who will purify them and prepare them for the day that His justice will finally come. They had bought the lie that their lives were good enough to stand on the day of judgment and so God brings His truth to them: One day, the savior that they need will come! He will do what they can't do. He will make them righteous so that they can stand on the day of judgment. This is the good news of the gospel as it is regularly found in the Old Testament. They looked ahead in hope of the Savior that would come. We look back to the Savior who has come. They were saved as we are, by grace and through faith in the promised Savior. This faith, as James says, is to show itself in works. In a life lived not in presumption of grace, but in the power of the grace God has given through His Son. Below are some follow up questions for us to consider:
1. How should God's grace change the way we live, speak, treat one another?
2. Often, when we are wronged, we want immediate justice. How does the gospel inform/ transform our desire for justice?
3. Think of people in your life who might need grace from you right now? How can you seek to show Christ to them?
March 31-April 1: Marriage Conference,
hosted at FBC Columbus with guest speaker Lou Priolo
WAYS TO SERVE
CHILDRENS MINISTRY:
We are in need of helpers in the baby room on Wednesday and Sundays.
If you would like to volunteer, contact Rebecca Stegall