1 - LifeWay
Written by Barry Cram
Hosea–Malachi: Twelve Timeless Voices Leader Book © 2009 Serendipity House Published by Serendipity House Publishers Nashville, Tennessee All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without express written permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Serendipity House, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234. ISBN: 978-1-4158-6821-8 Item 005248674 Dewey Decimal Classification: 224.9 Subject Headings: BIBLE. O.T. MINOR PROPHETS Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scriptures marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. Scriptures marked The Message are from The Message, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Published by NavPress. Used by permission. Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. To purchase additional copies of this resource or other studies: ORDER ONLINE at www.SerendipityHouse.com; E-MAIL [email protected]; WRITE Serendipity House, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234; FAX (615) 251-5933; or CALL (800) 458-2772.
One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, Tennessee 37234-0175 Printed in the United States of America
Contents
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SESSION 1 No Small Thing: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets
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Luke 24:13-32; Matthew 22:37-40
SESSION 2 Hosea: A Beauty to Be Rescued
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Hosea 1:2; 2:14-17; 3:1-2; 6:1-3; 11:1-4,8; 14:4
SESSION 3 Amos: The Danger That Lies Ahead
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Amos 4:11-13; 6:1,8; 5:21-24; 9:11-15
SESSION 4 Micah: A Brutal Betrayal
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Micah 2:1-3; 3:1-3; 4:2,10-12; 6:8; 7:18-20
SESSION 5 Jonah: Unexpected Twists and Turns
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Jonah 1:1-3,12-17; 2:8-10; 3:6-10; 4:1-3
SESSION 6 Nahum: Something Worth Fighting For
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Nahum 1:2-13; 2:10-13
SESSION 7 Habakkuk: Glimpses of the Divine Intrigue
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Habakkuk 1:1-4,12-13; 2:1-3; 3:2,16-19
SESSION 8 Zephaniah: The Remnants of a Lasting Romance
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Zephaniah 1:2-3,14-18; 2:1-3; 3:5,8-17
SESSION 9 Joel: Paradise Will Be Restored
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Joel 2:12-13; 3:1-8,17-21
SESSION 10 Obadiah: Forgiven But Not Forgotten
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Genesis 25:27-34; 33:3-11; Obadiah 1:1-3,12-15
SESSION 11 Haggai: Adventure for Those Who Dare
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Haggai 1:1-15; 2:20-23
SESSION 12 Zechariah: The Enemy Seeks to Destroy
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Zechariah 3:1-10; 6:9-13; 10:1-3; 14:3-7
SESSION 13 Malachi: Our Hero Will Come Malachi 1:1-3,6-8,12-14; 2:17; 3:1,17; 4:1-5
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Core Values
Community: The purpose of this curriculum is to build community within the body of believers around Jesus Christ. Group Process: To build community, the curriculum must be designed to take a group through a step-by-step process of sharing your story with one another.
Interactive Bible Study: To share your “story,” the approach to Scripture in the curriculum needs to be open-ended and rightbrained—to “level the playing field” and encourage everyone to share. Developmental Stages: To provide a healthy program in the life cycle of a group, the curriculum needs to offer courses on three levels of commitment: (1) Beginner Level—low-level entry, high structure, to level the playing field; (2) Growth Level—deeper Bible study, flexible structure, to encourage group accountability; (3) Discipleship Level—in-depth Bible study, open structure, to move the group into high gear.
Target Audiences: To build community throughout the culture of the church, the curriculum needs to be flexible, adaptable, and transferable into the structure of the average church.
Mission: To expand the kingdom of God one person at a time by filling the “empty chair.” (We add an extra chair to each group session to remind us of our mission.)
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Group Covenant It is important that your group covenant together, agreeing to live out important group values. Once these values are agreed upon, your group will be on its way to experiencing Christian community. It’s very important that your group discuss these values—preferably as you begin this study. The first session would be most appropriate. (Check the rules to which each member of your group agrees.)
P riority: While you are in this course of study, you give the group meetings priority. Participation: Everyone is encouraged to participate and no one dominates. Respect: Everyone is given the right to his or her own opinion, and all questions are encouraged and respected. Confidentiality: Anything that is said in the meeting is never repeated outside the meeting. Life Change: We will regularly assess our own life-change goals and encourage one another in our pursuit of Christlikeness. Empty Chair: The group stays open to reaching new people at every meeting. Care and Support: Permission is given to call upon each other at any time, especially in times of crisis. The group will provide care for every member. Accountability: We agree to let the members of the group hold us accountable to the commitments we make in whatever loving ways we decide upon. Mission: We will do everything in our power to start a new group. Ministry: The group will encourage one another to volunteer and serve in a ministry and to support missions by giving financially and/or personally serving.
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For the Leader Master Teacher – For convenience, all Life Connections Leader Guides include a teaching outline and guided transition, teaching, and illustration ideas. You’ll find this content in the shaded green boxes that are numbered sequentially. Pay attention to the words that have been put in bold to indicate purpose. Actual Learner Book pages are inset—relevant content unshaded—to make leading a Life Connections study easier to lead. The Life Connections series utilizes the best of large-group and small-group dynamics. During large-group time: • Know key points and make them clear to the large group. • Don’t be afraid of silence—be willing to wait for responses. • Manage conversation by inviting short responses and building on individual contributions. During small-group time: • Move around the room paying attention to small-group discussion. • Listen in as groups engage the content. There may be insights that you’ll want to call out as you close your time together. Each group meeting consists of a three-part agenda: Icebreaker – Fun questions designed to warm the group and build understanding about other group members. These questions prepare the group for meaningful discussion throughout the session. Bible Study – The heart of each session is the Bible study time. The Life Connections series involves three easy-to-understand segments. 1. Scripture Reading – Each Bible study begins with the reading of the focal passage. 2. Today’s Session – This short teaching time will be led by the Master Teacher. These scripted teachings include a depth of biblical understanding, fascinating illustrations, analogies, statistics, and stories that will spark questions and conviction. Fill-in-the-blanks serve as a listening guide for group members during this time and State Points should always be read verbatim. 3. Learning from the Story – Subgroups will form out of the large-group setting to answer a series of questions that anticipate commitment to applying the truths taught. Subgroups will also learn more about each other by answering questions that will help them share their story. These questions directly relate to the topic for the day. Caring Time – All study should point us to action. Each session ends with prayer and direction in caring for the needs of group members. Time is also provided to pray for the “empty chair.” The empty chair is a visible symbol of the need for each group to lead an unbeliever to a relationship with Jesus Christ. 6
Every Life Connections group must fill three important roles. Teacher – The teacher is the key leader of any Life Connections group. It is the responsibility of the teacher to: 1. enlist facilitators and apprentices. 2. make facilitators and apprentices aware of their roles and be certain these responsibilities are carried out. 3. meet periodically with facilitators to train, encourage, and inspire them. 4. cast vision for and keep the group focused on the goals of the group. 5. guide group members to understand and commit to the group covenant. 6. be sure the group utilizes, fills, and evangelizes through use of the empty chair concept. 7. act as the Master Teacher for the group. 8. keep the group on task throughout each session. 9. when movie clips (suggestions found on pages 168–69) are recommended, be sure to review the designated clip ahead of time to ensure not only your own understanding but also how to connect the idea to the Life Connection topic. IMPORTANT: It is always advisable to describe the broader storyline in addition to the ideas included in the specific scene. Facilitator – Each subgroup will have a facilitator. It is the responsibility of the facilitators to: 1. lead each individual in their subgroup to participate in Icebreaker activities and Learning from the Story. 2. guide those in their subgroup to commit to apply the lessons learned in the Learning from the Story section of the weekly session. 3. with sensitivity and wisdom lead their subgroup to minister to one another during the Caring Time and involve their subgroup in ministry and evangelism. 4. minister to the needs of their subgroup members and lead them to minister to the needs of one another both during and between meetings. Apprentice – Every subgroup must have an apprentice. When the group consistently has eight or more in attendance, the group should divide into two groups. The apprentice will become the facilitator of the new group and choose an apprentice who will someday be the facilitator of a group. It is the role of the apprentice to: 1. learn from the facilitator of their group. 2. make welcome all new subgroup members. 3. be certain student books and pens or pencils are available for all participants. 4. turn in prayer requests. 5. encourage participation by actively participating themselves. 6. lead the group when the facilitator is unavailable.
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Session
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No Small Thing: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets
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Group Leader Outline Here is a map for your journey through God’s Word for this session. These are the primary truths you will be teaching, and the green boxes are meant to give you some directed discovery. 1. J esus is inviting Himself into our conversation today. (Luke 24:13-17) 2. With the Law and all the Prophets, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Narrative or Larger Story concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27) 3. Our new hearts long to be with Jesus and know the things of God—the story of His love for us. (Luke 24:28-32) 4. Studying the Prophets shows us how to live for God— loving Him first and loving others. (Matthew 22:37-40)
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#1 Getting Started • After a few minutes of socializing, gather members together in groups of 6-8 people in a horseshoe configuration. • Make sure everyone has a name tag. • Take time to share information pertaining to your class as well as relevant church events.
#2 Introduce the Icebreaker Activity The group members have instructions in their books. After the icebreaker, say
Session
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something like …
No Small Thing: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets
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Text: Luke 24:13-32; Matthew 22:37-40 OUR GOALS FOR THIS SESSION ARE:
BIBLE STUDY
. To recognize the importance of studying Hosea through Malachi—also known as the Minor Prophets . To realize that Jesus brings meaning and understanding to the stories in the following sessions . To remind us of the passionate heart of God for His people
LIFE CHANGE
. To change the way we understand the Minor Prophets . To motivate us to look for the thumbprint of God; to find Jesus in the details of life . To help us fulfill the two greatest commandments
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GATHERING: Form horseshoe groups of 6–8.
10 minutes
Depending on time, choose one or two questions, or answer all three. Go around the group on question 1 and let everyone share. Then go around again on questions 2 and 3. 1. What are your favorite movie themes?
• “ Like a good movie or story that may have an underlying message, each of the Minor Prophets tells a little bit more of God’s story. • Through the next few weeks, we are going to learn how huge this ‘message’ or ‘story’ really is as we take a dive into each of the 12 Minor Prophets. • While that will happen in the subsequent weeks, today we are going to see why these messages are huge, and where these stories all began. • We are going to take a moment and read about something that happened on Resurrection Day and see what was on Jesus’ mind on the very day He rose from the dead.”
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#3 Pray to begin your time. Ask God to speak to your hearts. Invite Jesus to participate in this discussion. • Hand out the Prayer/ Praise Report. A sample copy is in the back of the book. • Ask group members to write down prayer requests and praises. • Ask the prayer coordinator to collect the reports and make copies for use during the Caring Time.
#5 Introduction Introduce today’s session by saying something like … • “Have you ever had someone just butt into a conversation you were having with someone else? • Sometimes it is hard to listen, especially if we are busy, tired, disinterested, or wrapped up in an argument of some kind. • During the icebreaker, some of you may have expressed that you don’t like to think about what movies ‘really mean.’ You would just rather watch a movie for entertainment and not have to think about some hidden interpretation. • This isn’t the case with Jesus and the Minor Prophets; we can’t just be spectators. There is a deeper meaning in these stories, and Jesus wants to discuss it with us today.”
2. Have you ever watched a great movie with a group of your friends, but only afterward found yourself in a discussion about what the movie “really meant”? 3. Why do you think we have those kinds of discussions? Is this what really sets great movies apart? Explain.
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#4 Read • S elect a group member ahead of time to read aloud these verses from Luke 24.
Bible Study30-40 minutes
LEARNING FROM THE BIBLE LUKE 24:13-32
The Scripture for this week: 13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16But they were prevented from recognizing Him.17Then He asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. 18 The one named Cleopas answered Him, “Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” He asked them. So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. 21But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23and when they didn’t find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see Him.” 25 He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe 10
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#6 Begin Your Teaching Explain
#7 Ask the group: “Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?”
• T he Scripture for this week took place on Resurrection Sunday. • On the very first Easter Sunday, Jesus did something really cool. He came alongside some of His disciples who were talking about the rumors of His resurrection, and He held a little impromptu Bible study. • Something is on His mind today, and we should listen to Him. • S tate Point 1. • R efer to verse 17, when Jesus asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?”
#8 Explain Say something like …
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
conversation inviting 1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
Prophets 2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Big Picture Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
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hearts 3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the story things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke 24:28-32)
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• “ Jesus knew that these two disciples on their way to Emmaus were speaking intently with each other. Actually, in the original language it could be expressed as a ‘mild argument.’ • God doesn’t want you to argue about what is happening in your life if you miss the point about why it is happening. We need to look for where God is in all of it. It is important to study the Bible and let the Holy Spirit interject His thoughts and wisdom along the way. • Did you notice when I prayed at the beginning of the lesson, I invited Jesus to participate in this discussion? I did that on purpose. • Simply, we need to be ‘God-conscious’ in all that we do, in all that we study. We need to look for God in the little things of life also.”
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#9 Transition
#10 Illustration
Say something like …
Illustrate this point with the following list of examples. Move quickly through these (or you may have some of your own). The idea here is to saturate (but not overwhelm) the group with examples. Hopefully, they’ll say to themselves, “There is something else going on here in these Minor Prophets, and I’m interested to find out what it is.” • When you think about how much of the Minor Prophets revolve around the life of Christ, it is no surprise that Jesus interjected Himself here in the conversation of these two disciples. • Jesus (as the Bridegroom of the church in Ephesians 5:22-33) embodies the very essence of Hosea’s message of God and His people’s “divine marriage” through the covenant.
• “When Jesus shows up on the scene, He has an agenda or purpose. It’s not just an accident. His disciples were on a journey (literally and figuratively). They were still His followers—His disciples, with much to learn and process. We’re beginning a journey as well through the Minor Prophets. • Notice what Jesus states about the prophets in these verses.” • State Point 2.
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ conversation inviting today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
Prophets 2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Big Picture Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the hearts things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke story 24:28-32)
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• It was Jesus’ accomplished work on the cross that enabled Joel’s prophecy to resound from Peter’s lips on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-21). • Jesus echoed the theme of Amos when He said He was sent to preach to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captive, and give sight to the blind (Luke 4:17-21). • Jesus cited Jonah’s life and adventures to speak of His own death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 12:39-41). • In Haggai, the inauguration of a Davidic prince is preeminent, the lineage that the author of Hebrews saw in the person of Jesus Christ. • Zechariah had visions that portrayed a smitten shepherd (chapters 11 and 13), a Savior riding on a donkey to Jerusalem (9:9), and a Priest-King who would subdue all nations and establish His kingdom among men (14:3-9). • No wonder Jesus showed up to reveal Himself in such a way!
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
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today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
Continued on next page
conversation inviting 1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves Prophets together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Big Picture Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
hearts 3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the story things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke 24:28-32)
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#11 Illustration Find an example of a mosaic from the Internet. A modern-day example of this art form is PhotoMosaic, made popular by Robert Silvers. He recreates popular cultural icons and images from thousands of individual photos. Go to www.photomosaic.com and click on “portfolio” to see some examples, or just GoogleTM “Robert Silvers.” Print one to show the group and say something like … • “The word mosaic could be defined like this: a piece of art or picture that is created by assembling smaller pieces of glass, stone, or other materials into one large piece or work of art.” • Ask the group, “Looking at a mosaic, do the smaller pieces become less important once the big picture is in view, or do they somehow become more important now that they are seen in light of the larger canvas?” • Explain: When we back up far enough to see, Jesus is the Big Picture (or the main point in the Divine Narrative) in the Minor Prophets.
#12 Say something like …
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
• “ Let’s look at the next point and see the results of such a time spent with Jesus. How did these disciples respond to Jesus?” • R ead Luke 24:28-32 aloud and explain: When we spend time with Jesus … • S tate Point 3.
today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ conversation inviting today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
Prophets 2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Big Picture Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the hearts things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke story 24:28-32)
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#13 Explain
#14 Ask the group:
• In the original language, it could be expressed that the disciples “persuaded Jesus to stay with them by asserting themselves” (vv. 28-29). After hearing Jesus explain the Old Testament, they wanted to be with Him. • Also, once they recognized Jesus and He disappeared from their sight, this could be expressed that their “hearts, the inmost part of their hearts lit up” (v. 32). As a result of hearing Jesus’ explanation of the Old Testament prophets, these disciples came alive and realized that their hearts had been moved upon hearing Him.
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
Prophets 4. Studying the ________________ shows us how to live for loving others. (Matthew God—loving Him first and ____________ 22:37-40)
#15 Illustrate Say something like …
“Do you ever remember trying to find that ‘supersmart someone’ in school to study with before a test? How many of you bought Cliffs Notes® for English and Literature classes? Come on, be honest! You know you were carrying around those little black and yellow striped booklets!” Ask, “Why did we join
learning from the story Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
1. Your life is a small picture of what God is doing in this world. What picture or story is your life portraying for God? Do you see it as significant?
2. What is keeping you from loving God with everything you’ve got? What is keeping you from loving others as yourself? What is God teaching you from this story?
3. Is there any place or relationship where you are not fulfilling the second part of the Great Commandment?
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4. Describe a time when you’ve been “slow of heart” to sense God at work.
5. If Jesus were to sum up your life as a Cliffs Notes®, what one or two statements would He say?
those kinds of study groups?” (Answers could vary, maybe you didn’t have time, not disciplined enough to study by yourself, or really needed the help connecting the dots)
#16 Read aloud Matthew 22:37-40. • S ay something like … “This final point comes from a different passage of Scripture found in Matthew, and it is like the ultimate Cliffs Notes® for life. Jesus sums up all of life with one Great Commandment in two parts.” • S tate Point 4.
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#17 Explain • E verything that God has ever revealed and has been written down as inspired Scripture can be summed up into two commandments?!? It actually made so much sense that the simplicity of it all continued to persuade some of the religious elites in the New Testament. • R efer to Mark 12:34. Mark’s account of this has Jesus responding further to the scribe who asked the question.
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
Prophets 4. Studying the ________________ shows us how to live for God—loving Him first and ____________ others. (Matthew loving 22:37-40)
#18 Conclude • S tudying the Old Testament Prophets with Jesus making sense of it all is beneficial for spiritual growth. So the primary purpose of going back to the Minor Prophets and studying snapshots of their lives and ministries is this: to help us love God and love people.
learning from the story Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
1. Your life is a small picture of what God is doing in this world. What picture or story is your life portraying for God? Do you see it as significant?
2. What is keeping you from loving God with everything you’ve got? What is keeping you from loving others as yourself? What is God teaching you from this story?
3. Is there any place or relationship where you are not fulfilling the second part of the Great Commandment?
4. Describe a time when you’ve been “slow of heart” to sense God at work.
5. If Jesus were to sum up your life as a Cliffs Notes®, what one or two statements would He say?
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#19 Ask members to form horseshoe clusters and discuss the questions under Learning from the Story. • Group members will use the questions to apply the lessons of the text to their own lives. • As the groups discuss these questions, walk around, interact with them, and jot down some of their key thoughts.
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
4. Studying the ________________ shows us how to live for Prophets loving others. (Matthew God—loving Him first and ____________ 22:37-40)
learning from the story Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
1. Your life is a small picture of what God is doing in this world. What picture or story is your life portraying for God? Do you see it as significant?
2. What is keeping you from loving God with everything you’ve got? What is keeping you from loving others as yourself? What is God teaching you from this story?
3. Is there any place or relationship where you are not fulfilling the second part of the Great Commandment?
4. Describe a time when you’ve been “slow of heart” to sense God at work.
5. If Jesus were to sum up your life as a Cliffs Notes®, what one or two statements would He say?
#20 Wrap After your allotted time, regain the large group’s attention and recap what you discussed during this session … 1. Studying the journey of the prophets paves the way to understanding the preeminence of Jesus. 2. There is a “Larger Story” going on here, and in the weeks to come, the Minor Prophets will help tell God’s story for us.
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#21 Pray • H and out the Prayer/Praise Report to the entire group. Ask each subgroup to participate in praying sentence prayers, allowing each person to pray aloud. • Encourage them to pray for the empty chair. Pray specifically for God to guide you to someone to bring next week to fill that chair. * Remember, if someone is uncomfortable with praying aloud, encourage him or her to pray silently and then say “Amen” so the next person will know when to start. • Close in a corporate prayer after allowing a sufficient amount of time for prayer in subgroups. Say, “Next week, we will begin with the prophet Hosea. See you then.”
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Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
10 minutes
This is the time to develop and express your caring for each other. Begin by discussing this question: “How can I be more God-conscious in all I do—at work, at home, and at play?” Pray about the things you shared as well as the concerns on the Prayer/Praise Report. Include prayer for the empty chair. If you wish to pray silently, say “Amen” when you have finished your prayer so the next person will know when to start.
R Reference Notes
Use these notes to gain further understanding of the text as you study on your own:
Luke 24:13-32—two of them. These may not have been two of the remaining eleven apostles, but two followers of Jesus who lived in nearby Jerusalem. They were likely returning home after the Passover feast. Emmaus. The site of this village is uncertain. As Jesus came up to the two, they were prevented from recognizing Him. Later on, they were able to see who He was through the breaking of the bread together (vv. 30-31). Cleopas. While this man was probably a figure Luke’s readers would know, his identity remains uncertain today. Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem …? The events that occurred, Jesus’ betrayal, trials and crucifixion so dominated their minds that they could not comprehend anyone not having heard of them. Cleopas spoke of the confusion that filled the minds of all Jesus’ followers. How could Jesus, who was shown by miracle after miracle to be a powerful prophet undoubtedly anointed by God, have met with such a seemingly meaningless death? a Prophet. These men had respect for Jesus as a man of God, but after the crucifixion they seemed reluctant to call Him 13
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the Messiah. to redeem Israel. To free the Jewish nation from bondage to Rome and establish the kingdom of God (1:68; 2:38; 21:28,31; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18). the third day. This could refer to the Jewish belief that after the third day the soul left the body or to Jesus’ statement that He would be raised to life on the third day (9:22). How unwise and slow you are. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of understanding about the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah, and explained how these Scriptures foretold all that had taken place. Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer. The need for the Messiah to suffer was proclaimed in Isaiah 53. and enter into His glory? The messianic glory was a common expectation of the Jews, but His suffering was not. Moses and all the Prophets. This was a way of referring to all the Old Testament Scriptures (16:31). Jesus claims that all the Old Testament teachings about the Servant of the Lord, the Son of Man, the Son of David, and the Messiah apply to Him. It is these teachings taken collectively that explain who He is and what He came to do. He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. While this is a simple enough description of how a meal would begin, it is probably meant to carry overtones of the Lord’s Supper (22:19). He disappeared. The Gospels’ accounts of the appearances of the resurrected Jesus indicate that while He was in His earthly form (vv. 39,42-43; Matthew 28:9), He was not restricted by that body (John 20:19). Matthew 22:37-40—Love the Lord. This is part of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). This passage, recited by pious Jews each morning and evening, captures what was essential about the people’s relationship to God.
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#22 Remind participants of the daily Scripture readings for the week found on page 15 of their learner book.
R Reflecting
on the Truth
As you spend time with God this week use this as guide to reflect on the truth.
Monday
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REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS What was Jesus’ attitude toward the Law and the Prophets? Is it easier for you to keep the “letter” of the law or the “spirit” of the law?
Tuesday
Matthew 7:12
How do you think the “Golden Rule” is found in the Law?
Wednesday
Luke 10:23-24
Do you consider yourself more blessed than the Old Testament prophets? Why?
Luke 18:31
God revealed so much to Jesus through His study of the Prophets. Ask God to reveal new things to you as you begin your study.
Friday
John 1:45-46
Can anything good come out of the Prophets? What good are you expecting to see here?
Saturday
Acts 24: 14-16
How can you untangle the old from the new? How much of your faith in Jesus in rooted in the Old Testament prophets?
Sunday
Hebrews 1:1-3
How does God speak to you?
Thursday
20
READINGS Matthew 5:17-20
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Hosea–Malachi: Twelve Timeless Voices Leader Book © 2009 Serendipity House Published by Serendipity House Publishers Nashville, Tennessee All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, without express written permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Serendipity House, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234. ISBN: 978-1-4158-6821-8 Item 005248674 Dewey Decimal Classification: 224.9 Subject Headings: BIBLE. O.T. MINOR PROPHETS Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scriptures marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. Scriptures marked The Message are from The Message, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Published by NavPress. Used by permission. Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible. To purchase additional copies of this resource or other studies: ORDER ONLINE at www.SerendipityHouse.com; E-MAIL [email protected]; WRITE Serendipity House, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234; FAX (615) 251-5933; or CALL (800) 458-2772.
One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, Tennessee 37234-0175 Printed in the United States of America
Contents
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SESSION 1 No Small Thing: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets
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Luke 24:13-32; Matthew 22:37-40
SESSION 2 Hosea: A Beauty to Be Rescued
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Hosea 1:2; 2:14-17; 3:1-2; 6:1-3; 11:1-4,8; 14:4
SESSION 3 Amos: The Danger That Lies Ahead
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Amos 4:11-13; 6:1,8; 5:21-24; 9:11-15
SESSION 4 Micah: A Brutal Betrayal
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Micah 2:1-3; 3:1-3; 4:2,10-12; 6:8; 7:18-20
SESSION 5 Jonah: Unexpected Twists and Turns
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Jonah 1:1-3,12-17; 2:8-10; 3:6-10; 4:1-3
SESSION 6 Nahum: Something Worth Fighting For
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Nahum 1:2-13; 2:10-13
SESSION 7 Habakkuk: Glimpses of the Divine Intrigue
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Habakkuk 1:1-4,12-13; 2:1-3; 3:2,16-19
SESSION 8 Zephaniah: The Remnants of a Lasting Romance
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Zephaniah 1:2-3,14-18; 2:1-3; 3:5,8-17
SESSION 9 Joel: Paradise Will Be Restored
108
Joel 2:12-13; 3:1-8,17-21
SESSION 10 Obadiah: Forgiven But Not Forgotten
120
Genesis 25:27-34; 33:3-11; Obadiah 1:1-3,12-15
SESSION 11 Haggai: Adventure for Those Who Dare
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Haggai 1:1-15; 2:20-23
SESSION 12 Zechariah: The Enemy Seeks to Destroy
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Zechariah 3:1-10; 6:9-13; 10:1-3; 14:3-7
SESSION 13 Malachi: Our Hero Will Come Malachi 1:1-3,6-8,12-14; 2:17; 3:1,17; 4:1-5
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Core Values
Community: The purpose of this curriculum is to build community within the body of believers around Jesus Christ. Group Process: To build community, the curriculum must be designed to take a group through a step-by-step process of sharing your story with one another.
Interactive Bible Study: To share your “story,” the approach to Scripture in the curriculum needs to be open-ended and rightbrained—to “level the playing field” and encourage everyone to share. Developmental Stages: To provide a healthy program in the life cycle of a group, the curriculum needs to offer courses on three levels of commitment: (1) Beginner Level—low-level entry, high structure, to level the playing field; (2) Growth Level—deeper Bible study, flexible structure, to encourage group accountability; (3) Discipleship Level—in-depth Bible study, open structure, to move the group into high gear.
Target Audiences: To build community throughout the culture of the church, the curriculum needs to be flexible, adaptable, and transferable into the structure of the average church.
Mission: To expand the kingdom of God one person at a time by filling the “empty chair.” (We add an extra chair to each group session to remind us of our mission.)
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Group Covenant It is important that your group covenant together, agreeing to live out important group values. Once these values are agreed upon, your group will be on its way to experiencing Christian community. It’s very important that your group discuss these values—preferably as you begin this study. The first session would be most appropriate. (Check the rules to which each member of your group agrees.)
P riority: While you are in this course of study, you give the group meetings priority. Participation: Everyone is encouraged to participate and no one dominates. Respect: Everyone is given the right to his or her own opinion, and all questions are encouraged and respected. Confidentiality: Anything that is said in the meeting is never repeated outside the meeting. Life Change: We will regularly assess our own life-change goals and encourage one another in our pursuit of Christlikeness. Empty Chair: The group stays open to reaching new people at every meeting. Care and Support: Permission is given to call upon each other at any time, especially in times of crisis. The group will provide care for every member. Accountability: We agree to let the members of the group hold us accountable to the commitments we make in whatever loving ways we decide upon. Mission: We will do everything in our power to start a new group. Ministry: The group will encourage one another to volunteer and serve in a ministry and to support missions by giving financially and/or personally serving.
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For the Leader Master Teacher – For convenience, all Life Connections Leader Guides include a teaching outline and guided transition, teaching, and illustration ideas. You’ll find this content in the shaded green boxes that are numbered sequentially. Pay attention to the words that have been put in bold to indicate purpose. Actual Learner Book pages are inset—relevant content unshaded—to make leading a Life Connections study easier to lead. The Life Connections series utilizes the best of large-group and small-group dynamics. During large-group time: • Know key points and make them clear to the large group. • Don’t be afraid of silence—be willing to wait for responses. • Manage conversation by inviting short responses and building on individual contributions. During small-group time: • Move around the room paying attention to small-group discussion. • Listen in as groups engage the content. There may be insights that you’ll want to call out as you close your time together. Each group meeting consists of a three-part agenda: Icebreaker – Fun questions designed to warm the group and build understanding about other group members. These questions prepare the group for meaningful discussion throughout the session. Bible Study – The heart of each session is the Bible study time. The Life Connections series involves three easy-to-understand segments. 1. Scripture Reading – Each Bible study begins with the reading of the focal passage. 2. Today’s Session – This short teaching time will be led by the Master Teacher. These scripted teachings include a depth of biblical understanding, fascinating illustrations, analogies, statistics, and stories that will spark questions and conviction. Fill-in-the-blanks serve as a listening guide for group members during this time and State Points should always be read verbatim. 3. Learning from the Story – Subgroups will form out of the large-group setting to answer a series of questions that anticipate commitment to applying the truths taught. Subgroups will also learn more about each other by answering questions that will help them share their story. These questions directly relate to the topic for the day. Caring Time – All study should point us to action. Each session ends with prayer and direction in caring for the needs of group members. Time is also provided to pray for the “empty chair.” The empty chair is a visible symbol of the need for each group to lead an unbeliever to a relationship with Jesus Christ. 6
Every Life Connections group must fill three important roles. Teacher – The teacher is the key leader of any Life Connections group. It is the responsibility of the teacher to: 1. enlist facilitators and apprentices. 2. make facilitators and apprentices aware of their roles and be certain these responsibilities are carried out. 3. meet periodically with facilitators to train, encourage, and inspire them. 4. cast vision for and keep the group focused on the goals of the group. 5. guide group members to understand and commit to the group covenant. 6. be sure the group utilizes, fills, and evangelizes through use of the empty chair concept. 7. act as the Master Teacher for the group. 8. keep the group on task throughout each session. 9. when movie clips (suggestions found on pages 168–69) are recommended, be sure to review the designated clip ahead of time to ensure not only your own understanding but also how to connect the idea to the Life Connection topic. IMPORTANT: It is always advisable to describe the broader storyline in addition to the ideas included in the specific scene. Facilitator – Each subgroup will have a facilitator. It is the responsibility of the facilitators to: 1. lead each individual in their subgroup to participate in Icebreaker activities and Learning from the Story. 2. guide those in their subgroup to commit to apply the lessons learned in the Learning from the Story section of the weekly session. 3. with sensitivity and wisdom lead their subgroup to minister to one another during the Caring Time and involve their subgroup in ministry and evangelism. 4. minister to the needs of their subgroup members and lead them to minister to the needs of one another both during and between meetings. Apprentice – Every subgroup must have an apprentice. When the group consistently has eight or more in attendance, the group should divide into two groups. The apprentice will become the facilitator of the new group and choose an apprentice who will someday be the facilitator of a group. It is the role of the apprentice to: 1. learn from the facilitator of their group. 2. make welcome all new subgroup members. 3. be certain student books and pens or pencils are available for all participants. 4. turn in prayer requests. 5. encourage participation by actively participating themselves. 6. lead the group when the facilitator is unavailable.
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Session
1
No Small Thing: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets
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Group Leader Outline Here is a map for your journey through God’s Word for this session. These are the primary truths you will be teaching, and the green boxes are meant to give you some directed discovery. 1. J esus is inviting Himself into our conversation today. (Luke 24:13-17) 2. With the Law and all the Prophets, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Narrative or Larger Story concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27) 3. Our new hearts long to be with Jesus and know the things of God—the story of His love for us. (Luke 24:28-32) 4. Studying the Prophets shows us how to live for God— loving Him first and loving others. (Matthew 22:37-40)
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#1 Getting Started • After a few minutes of socializing, gather members together in groups of 6-8 people in a horseshoe configuration. • Make sure everyone has a name tag. • Take time to share information pertaining to your class as well as relevant church events.
#2 Introduce the Icebreaker Activity The group members have instructions in their books. After the icebreaker, say
Session
1
something like …
No Small Thing: Beginning with Moses and the Prophets
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Text: Luke 24:13-32; Matthew 22:37-40 OUR GOALS FOR THIS SESSION ARE:
BIBLE STUDY
. To recognize the importance of studying Hosea through Malachi—also known as the Minor Prophets . To realize that Jesus brings meaning and understanding to the stories in the following sessions . To remind us of the passionate heart of God for His people
LIFE CHANGE
. To change the way we understand the Minor Prophets . To motivate us to look for the thumbprint of God; to find Jesus in the details of life . To help us fulfill the two greatest commandments
R Icebreaker
GATHERING: Form horseshoe groups of 6–8.
10 minutes
Depending on time, choose one or two questions, or answer all three. Go around the group on question 1 and let everyone share. Then go around again on questions 2 and 3. 1. What are your favorite movie themes?
• “ Like a good movie or story that may have an underlying message, each of the Minor Prophets tells a little bit more of God’s story. • Through the next few weeks, we are going to learn how huge this ‘message’ or ‘story’ really is as we take a dive into each of the 12 Minor Prophets. • While that will happen in the subsequent weeks, today we are going to see why these messages are huge, and where these stories all began. • We are going to take a moment and read about something that happened on Resurrection Day and see what was on Jesus’ mind on the very day He rose from the dead.”
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#3 Pray to begin your time. Ask God to speak to your hearts. Invite Jesus to participate in this discussion. • Hand out the Prayer/ Praise Report. A sample copy is in the back of the book. • Ask group members to write down prayer requests and praises. • Ask the prayer coordinator to collect the reports and make copies for use during the Caring Time.
#5 Introduction Introduce today’s session by saying something like … • “Have you ever had someone just butt into a conversation you were having with someone else? • Sometimes it is hard to listen, especially if we are busy, tired, disinterested, or wrapped up in an argument of some kind. • During the icebreaker, some of you may have expressed that you don’t like to think about what movies ‘really mean.’ You would just rather watch a movie for entertainment and not have to think about some hidden interpretation. • This isn’t the case with Jesus and the Minor Prophets; we can’t just be spectators. There is a deeper meaning in these stories, and Jesus wants to discuss it with us today.”
2. Have you ever watched a great movie with a group of your friends, but only afterward found yourself in a discussion about what the movie “really meant”? 3. Why do you think we have those kinds of discussions? Is this what really sets great movies apart? Explain.
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#4 Read • S elect a group member ahead of time to read aloud these verses from Luke 24.
Bible Study30-40 minutes
LEARNING FROM THE BIBLE LUKE 24:13-32
The Scripture for this week: 13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16But they were prevented from recognizing Him.17Then He asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. 18 The one named Cleopas answered Him, “Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” He asked them. So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. 21But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23and when they didn’t find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see Him.” 25 He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe 10
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#6 Begin Your Teaching Explain
#7 Ask the group: “Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?”
• T he Scripture for this week took place on Resurrection Sunday. • On the very first Easter Sunday, Jesus did something really cool. He came alongside some of His disciples who were talking about the rumors of His resurrection, and He held a little impromptu Bible study. • Something is on His mind today, and we should listen to Him. • S tate Point 1. • R efer to verse 17, when Jesus asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?”
#8 Explain Say something like …
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
conversation inviting 1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
Prophets 2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Big Picture Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
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hearts 3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the story things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke 24:28-32)
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• “ Jesus knew that these two disciples on their way to Emmaus were speaking intently with each other. Actually, in the original language it could be expressed as a ‘mild argument.’ • God doesn’t want you to argue about what is happening in your life if you miss the point about why it is happening. We need to look for where God is in all of it. It is important to study the Bible and let the Holy Spirit interject His thoughts and wisdom along the way. • Did you notice when I prayed at the beginning of the lesson, I invited Jesus to participate in this discussion? I did that on purpose. • Simply, we need to be ‘God-conscious’ in all that we do, in all that we study. We need to look for God in the little things of life also.”
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#9 Transition
#10 Illustration
Say something like …
Illustrate this point with the following list of examples. Move quickly through these (or you may have some of your own). The idea here is to saturate (but not overwhelm) the group with examples. Hopefully, they’ll say to themselves, “There is something else going on here in these Minor Prophets, and I’m interested to find out what it is.” • When you think about how much of the Minor Prophets revolve around the life of Christ, it is no surprise that Jesus interjected Himself here in the conversation of these two disciples. • Jesus (as the Bridegroom of the church in Ephesians 5:22-33) embodies the very essence of Hosea’s message of God and His people’s “divine marriage” through the covenant.
• “When Jesus shows up on the scene, He has an agenda or purpose. It’s not just an accident. His disciples were on a journey (literally and figuratively). They were still His followers—His disciples, with much to learn and process. We’re beginning a journey as well through the Minor Prophets. • Notice what Jesus states about the prophets in these verses.” • State Point 2.
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ conversation inviting today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
Prophets 2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Big Picture Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the hearts things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke story 24:28-32)
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• It was Jesus’ accomplished work on the cross that enabled Joel’s prophecy to resound from Peter’s lips on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-21). • Jesus echoed the theme of Amos when He said He was sent to preach to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captive, and give sight to the blind (Luke 4:17-21). • Jesus cited Jonah’s life and adventures to speak of His own death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 12:39-41). • In Haggai, the inauguration of a Davidic prince is preeminent, the lineage that the author of Hebrews saw in the person of Jesus Christ. • Zechariah had visions that portrayed a smitten shepherd (chapters 11 and 13), a Savior riding on a donkey to Jerusalem (9:9), and a Priest-King who would subdue all nations and establish His kingdom among men (14:3-9). • No wonder Jesus showed up to reveal Himself in such a way!
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
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today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
Continued on next page
conversation inviting 1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves Prophets together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Big Picture Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
hearts 3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the story things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke 24:28-32)
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#11 Illustration Find an example of a mosaic from the Internet. A modern-day example of this art form is PhotoMosaic, made popular by Robert Silvers. He recreates popular cultural icons and images from thousands of individual photos. Go to www.photomosaic.com and click on “portfolio” to see some examples, or just GoogleTM “Robert Silvers.” Print one to show the group and say something like … • “The word mosaic could be defined like this: a piece of art or picture that is created by assembling smaller pieces of glass, stone, or other materials into one large piece or work of art.” • Ask the group, “Looking at a mosaic, do the smaller pieces become less important once the big picture is in view, or do they somehow become more important now that they are seen in light of the larger canvas?” • Explain: When we back up far enough to see, Jesus is the Big Picture (or the main point in the Divine Narrative) in the Minor Prophets.
#12 Say something like …
in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
• “ Let’s look at the next point and see the results of such a time spent with Jesus. How did these disciples respond to Jesus?” • R ead Luke 24:28-32 aloud and explain: When we spend time with Jesus … • S tate Point 3.
today’s session A WORD FROM THE LEADER Write your answers in the spaces provided as the leader teaches. Use extra space to write what God may be saying to you from this story.
1. Jesus is ______________ Himself into our _________________ conversation inviting today. (Luke 24:13-17)
Is it common for you to invite Jesus to participate with you in everyday life? What does that look like on a good day?
Prophets 2. With the Law and all the _______________, Jesus weaves together the tapestry that allows us to see the Divine Big Picture Narrative or ____________ _____________ concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
3. Our new _____________ long to be with Jesus and know the hearts things of God—the _____________ of His love for us. (Luke story 24:28-32)
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#13 Explain
#14 Ask the group:
• In the original language, it could be expressed that the disciples “persuaded Jesus to stay with them by asserting themselves” (vv. 28-29). After hearing Jesus explain the Old Testament, they wanted to be with Him. • Also, once they recognized Jesus and He disappeared from their sight, this could be expressed that their “hearts, the inmost part of their hearts lit up” (v. 32). As a result of hearing Jesus’ explanation of the Old Testament prophets, these disciples came alive and realized that their hearts had been moved upon hearing Him.
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
Prophets 4. Studying the ________________ shows us how to live for loving others. (Matthew God—loving Him first and ____________ 22:37-40)
#15 Illustrate Say something like …
“Do you ever remember trying to find that ‘supersmart someone’ in school to study with before a test? How many of you bought Cliffs Notes® for English and Literature classes? Come on, be honest! You know you were carrying around those little black and yellow striped booklets!” Ask, “Why did we join
learning from the story Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
1. Your life is a small picture of what God is doing in this world. What picture or story is your life portraying for God? Do you see it as significant?
2. What is keeping you from loving God with everything you’ve got? What is keeping you from loving others as yourself? What is God teaching you from this story?
3. Is there any place or relationship where you are not fulfilling the second part of the Great Commandment?
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4. Describe a time when you’ve been “slow of heart” to sense God at work.
5. If Jesus were to sum up your life as a Cliffs Notes®, what one or two statements would He say?
those kinds of study groups?” (Answers could vary, maybe you didn’t have time, not disciplined enough to study by yourself, or really needed the help connecting the dots)
#16 Read aloud Matthew 22:37-40. • S ay something like … “This final point comes from a different passage of Scripture found in Matthew, and it is like the ultimate Cliffs Notes® for life. Jesus sums up all of life with one Great Commandment in two parts.” • S tate Point 4.
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#17 Explain • E verything that God has ever revealed and has been written down as inspired Scripture can be summed up into two commandments?!? It actually made so much sense that the simplicity of it all continued to persuade some of the religious elites in the New Testament. • R efer to Mark 12:34. Mark’s account of this has Jesus responding further to the scribe who asked the question.
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
Prophets 4. Studying the ________________ shows us how to live for God—loving Him first and ____________ others. (Matthew loving 22:37-40)
#18 Conclude • S tudying the Old Testament Prophets with Jesus making sense of it all is beneficial for spiritual growth. So the primary purpose of going back to the Minor Prophets and studying snapshots of their lives and ministries is this: to help us love God and love people.
learning from the story Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
1. Your life is a small picture of what God is doing in this world. What picture or story is your life portraying for God? Do you see it as significant?
2. What is keeping you from loving God with everything you’ve got? What is keeping you from loving others as yourself? What is God teaching you from this story?
3. Is there any place or relationship where you are not fulfilling the second part of the Great Commandment?
4. Describe a time when you’ve been “slow of heart” to sense God at work.
5. If Jesus were to sum up your life as a Cliffs Notes®, what one or two statements would He say?
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#19 Ask members to form horseshoe clusters and discuss the questions under Learning from the Story. • Group members will use the questions to apply the lessons of the text to their own lives. • As the groups discuss these questions, walk around, interact with them, and jot down some of their key thoughts.
How do you best express to Jesus that you want to spend time with Him? What is your heart really saying?
4. Studying the ________________ shows us how to live for Prophets loving others. (Matthew God—loving Him first and ____________ 22:37-40)
learning from the story Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
1. Your life is a small picture of what God is doing in this world. What picture or story is your life portraying for God? Do you see it as significant?
2. What is keeping you from loving God with everything you’ve got? What is keeping you from loving others as yourself? What is God teaching you from this story?
3. Is there any place or relationship where you are not fulfilling the second part of the Great Commandment?
4. Describe a time when you’ve been “slow of heart” to sense God at work.
5. If Jesus were to sum up your life as a Cliffs Notes®, what one or two statements would He say?
#20 Wrap After your allotted time, regain the large group’s attention and recap what you discussed during this session … 1. Studying the journey of the prophets paves the way to understanding the preeminence of Jesus. 2. There is a “Larger Story” going on here, and in the weeks to come, the Minor Prophets will help tell God’s story for us.
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#21 Pray • H and out the Prayer/Praise Report to the entire group. Ask each subgroup to participate in praying sentence prayers, allowing each person to pray aloud. • Encourage them to pray for the empty chair. Pray specifically for God to guide you to someone to bring next week to fill that chair. * Remember, if someone is uncomfortable with praying aloud, encourage him or her to pray silently and then say “Amen” so the next person will know when to start. • Close in a corporate prayer after allowing a sufficient amount of time for prayer in subgroups. Say, “Next week, we will begin with the prophet Hosea. See you then.”
R Caring Time
Remain in groups of 6-8 people, in a horseshoe configuration.
10 minutes
This is the time to develop and express your caring for each other. Begin by discussing this question: “How can I be more God-conscious in all I do—at work, at home, and at play?” Pray about the things you shared as well as the concerns on the Prayer/Praise Report. Include prayer for the empty chair. If you wish to pray silently, say “Amen” when you have finished your prayer so the next person will know when to start.
R Reference Notes
Use these notes to gain further understanding of the text as you study on your own:
Luke 24:13-32—two of them. These may not have been two of the remaining eleven apostles, but two followers of Jesus who lived in nearby Jerusalem. They were likely returning home after the Passover feast. Emmaus. The site of this village is uncertain. As Jesus came up to the two, they were prevented from recognizing Him. Later on, they were able to see who He was through the breaking of the bread together (vv. 30-31). Cleopas. While this man was probably a figure Luke’s readers would know, his identity remains uncertain today. Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem …? The events that occurred, Jesus’ betrayal, trials and crucifixion so dominated their minds that they could not comprehend anyone not having heard of them. Cleopas spoke of the confusion that filled the minds of all Jesus’ followers. How could Jesus, who was shown by miracle after miracle to be a powerful prophet undoubtedly anointed by God, have met with such a seemingly meaningless death? a Prophet. These men had respect for Jesus as a man of God, but after the crucifixion they seemed reluctant to call Him 13
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the Messiah. to redeem Israel. To free the Jewish nation from bondage to Rome and establish the kingdom of God (1:68; 2:38; 21:28,31; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18). the third day. This could refer to the Jewish belief that after the third day the soul left the body or to Jesus’ statement that He would be raised to life on the third day (9:22). How unwise and slow you are. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of understanding about the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah, and explained how these Scriptures foretold all that had taken place. Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer. The need for the Messiah to suffer was proclaimed in Isaiah 53. and enter into His glory? The messianic glory was a common expectation of the Jews, but His suffering was not. Moses and all the Prophets. This was a way of referring to all the Old Testament Scriptures (16:31). Jesus claims that all the Old Testament teachings about the Servant of the Lord, the Son of Man, the Son of David, and the Messiah apply to Him. It is these teachings taken collectively that explain who He is and what He came to do. He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. While this is a simple enough description of how a meal would begin, it is probably meant to carry overtones of the Lord’s Supper (22:19). He disappeared. The Gospels’ accounts of the appearances of the resurrected Jesus indicate that while He was in His earthly form (vv. 39,42-43; Matthew 28:9), He was not restricted by that body (John 20:19). Matthew 22:37-40—Love the Lord. This is part of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). This passage, recited by pious Jews each morning and evening, captures what was essential about the people’s relationship to God.
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#22 Remind participants of the daily Scripture readings for the week found on page 15 of their learner book.
R Reflecting
on the Truth
As you spend time with God this week use this as guide to reflect on the truth.
Monday
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REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS What was Jesus’ attitude toward the Law and the Prophets? Is it easier for you to keep the “letter” of the law or the “spirit” of the law?
Tuesday
Matthew 7:12
How do you think the “Golden Rule” is found in the Law?
Wednesday
Luke 10:23-24
Do you consider yourself more blessed than the Old Testament prophets? Why?
Luke 18:31
God revealed so much to Jesus through His study of the Prophets. Ask God to reveal new things to you as you begin your study.
Friday
John 1:45-46
Can anything good come out of the Prophets? What good are you expecting to see here?
Saturday
Acts 24: 14-16
How can you untangle the old from the new? How much of your faith in Jesus in rooted in the Old Testament prophets?
Sunday
Hebrews 1:1-3
How does God speak to you?
Thursday
20
READINGS Matthew 5:17-20
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