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Malachi 1:6-14

Theme: God exposes Israel’s half-hearted (read: half-arsed) worship of him, warning them that this is evil.

Aim: [For us] So be thankful to Christ, that we have his righteousness, driving us to lives lives filled with honour and worship to him.

Study Aim: Read Malachi as a whole, and then focus on the relevant passage. Draw out the problems with Israel’s sacrifices and attitude towards God, and why this is a problem. Highlight how this is fulfilled in Jesus, and make us more thankful for him, leading us to be fervent in our worship.

Study

  1. [Opener] What does it mean / In what ways do we worship God?
    • Singing
    • Prayer
    • Giving of time and money
    • Living God-honouring lives

[10 minutes to discuss the next three questions in groups]

  1. [Quickly] What do we see the Israelites doing here?
    • Offering inadequate sacrifices:
      • Lame
      • Sick
      • Blind
      • Blemished
      • Polluted
      • Taken by violence
  2. [Quickly] What does this tell us about their attitude?
    • Half-hearted service
    • Lack of respect, fear and reverence for God
    • Serving God is wearisome for them
    • God is their last priority - giving him the minimum
  3. [Quickly] What does this tell us about God?
    • Jealous God
    • Deserving of worship, honour and praise
    • Blasphemous worship is an affront to his holiness
    • A great King - feared among the nations (aside: why then is he not feared in Israel?)

[5 mins to recap and discuss next question]

  1. Why is the Israelites’ behaviour and practices a problem?
    • Against God’s commands (Lev 20:20-22)
    • Disrespectful and blasphemous to God’s holiness
    • Sacrifices are a foreshadowing of Jesus - must be perfect as he was
  2. How does this passage make us thankful for Jesus?
    • Jesus is the fulfilment of the sacrificial system -> a once and for all sacrifice, fully sufficient
    • God looks at us and sees Jesus’ righteousness (1 John 3:1) -> will never say “I have no pleasure in you” (1:10)
    • We can be certain of the victory over sin by Christ, we know God has saved us (1 Peter 3:8)
  3. Where in our lives do we see the same attitude as the Israelites had?
    • Church is boring
    • Can’t bothered reading the Bible or praying
    • Frustrated by “Christian Politics” (by that I mean politics within the Church)
    • Reluctance to give, especially money
  4. How does this drive us to and how can we encourage in each other fervent worship of God?