This discussion of the answers to the Message Based Discussion Questions (found at the end) is from the message presented on July 7, 2013. These are suggestions to the questions, in order to stimulate thinking and discussion. They are not meant to be the only answers.
God’s Message Overcomes Boredom!
Malachi 3:1-7
What is God’s message to His bored people?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1) <!–[endif]–>God will send His messenger to prepare the way 3:1
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Mal. 2:17; Ps. 46:10
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>John 1:22-23
<!–[if !supportLists]–>2) <!–[endif]–>God will send judgment to cleanse His people 3:2-3
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Mal. 4:1
<!–[if !supportLists]–>3) <!–[endif]–>God will purify His people for His sake 3:4-5
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Mal. 1:7-8
<!–[if !supportLists]–>4) <!–[endif]–>God will be faithful to His Word 3:6-7
How do you know when you’re bored with God?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t pursue God studying Scripture
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t confess your sins to God
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t consciously depend on the Holy Spirit
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You treat worship as just something people do
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You regularly come to church tired and exhausted
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t have goals for reading Scripture
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t want to be discipled or to disciple others
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t get together with other Christians
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t seek purity or holiness
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t see the wonder of your relationship with Jesus
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You don’t think there is enough to entertain you.
Overcome boredom by a choice
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You have God’s message to prepare you for His coming 1 John 1:5-6
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You have a choice to overcome boredom by intensified study with growing people 2 Tim. 2:22, 15
<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>You can welcome God’s purifying process to grow in holy dependence on Him 1 Pet. 5:10; 4: 12-17
God’s Message is here;
those who are purified overcome boredom and trust Him!
Message Based Discussion Questions
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1) <!–[endif]–>Have you ever received an unexpected message?
Digging Deeper:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>2) <!–[endif]–>Before the Bible was completed, did God communicate in different ways (Heb. 1:1-2)? _______________ What were some of the different ways God communicated to us?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>3) <!–[endif]–>What two things often cause boredom and therefore problems according to Proverbs 19:15? ______________ and ________________ Read the following passages. What often happens to bored people? ( Pro. 2:11-19; 26:13-16; Ecc. 2:1-11; Is. 6:8-13; Acts 19:32) ?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>4) <!–[endif]–>What are God’s purposes for purifying His people (Titus 2:11-15; James 4:8)?
Making application of the message to life:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>5) <!–[endif]–>How do you explain to a new person that God does not change, when it seems like He changed His mind (Mal. 3:6; Num. 23:19; Gen. 6:3-8)?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>6) <!–[endif]–>What can you do in your life to maintain a fire for learning God’s Word in your soul and not be bored (cf. Ecc. 9:10)?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>7) <!–[endif]–>What are ways you can encourage others to be fervent in their growth in Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9)?
Message Based Discussion Questions
<!–[if !supportLists]–>1) <!–[endif]–>Have you ever received an unexpected message?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>I remember in High School, when I did not make the Honor Society and I was disappointed, but I made the Honor Roll and that was a real lift.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>I remember when The Adjutant General, MG Umbarger, called me into his office to inform me I was selected for the Assistant Chief of Chaplains position. It was a surprise.
Digging Deeper:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>2) <!–[endif]–>Before the Bible was completed, did God communicate in different ways (Heb. 1:1-2)? _yes__ What were some of the different ways God communicated to us?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>Through His voice Gen. 14:18-20
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>Through the incarnation of Jesus John 1:1-14
<!–[if !supportLists]–>c) <!–[endif]–>Through miracles Matt. 11:2-6
<!–[if !supportLists]–>d) <!–[endif]–>Through dreams and visions Joel 2:28-31
<!–[if !supportLists]–>e) <!–[endif]–>Through the urim and thumim Num. 27:21
<!–[if !supportLists]–>f) <!–[endif]–>Through a donkey Num. 24:3-9
<!–[if !supportLists]–>g) <!–[endif]–>Through prophecy 2 Chron. 9:29
<!–[if !supportLists]–>h) <!–[endif]–>Through written revelation 2 Peter 1:21
<!–[if !supportLists]–>3) <!–[endif]–>What two things often cause boredom and therefore problems according to Proverbs 19:15? __laziness__ and _idleness___ Read the following passages. What often happens to bored people? ( Pro. 2:11-19; 26:13-16; Ecc. 2:1-11; Is. 6:8-13; Acts 19:32) ?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>They follow the flesh and fall down into immorality Pro. 2:11-19
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>They hunger and become foolish Pro. 26:13-16
<!–[if !supportLists]–>c) <!–[endif]–>They are never satisfied Ecc. 2:1-11
<!–[if !supportLists]–>d) <!–[endif]–>They become blinded to the truth and dull of hearing Is. 6:8-13
<!–[if !supportLists]–>e) <!–[endif]–>They become confused Acts 19:32
<!–[if !supportLists]–>4) <!–[endif]–>What are God’s purposes for purifying His people (Titus 2:11-15; James 4:8)?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>Titus 2:11-15 that they become zealous for good works
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>James 4:8 that they humbly become singly focused on the Lord
Making application of the message to life:
<!–[if !supportLists]–>5) <!–[endif]–>How do you explain to a new believer that God does not change, when it seems like He changed His mind (Mal. 3:6; Num. 23:19; Gen. 6:3-8)?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>God does not change Mal. 3:6 Any perceptions of change in Scripture must be harmonized with that truth.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>God does not repent, that is change His mind Num. 23:19. God’s thinking doesn’t change, like when a person gets new information and has to change his mind.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>c) <!–[endif]–>So in Genesis 6:6, when it says that God was sorry, it seems like God realized He made a mistake. The verse by itself seems to say that. But the verse must be harmonized with the rest of the Bible.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>i) <!–[endif]–>This is called language of accommodation. God accommodates how He wired us in our thinking and used language that we could understand. We can understand that He said, “Enough is enough.”
<!–[if !supportLists]–>ii) <!–[endif]–>The sorrow expresses the grief over man’s decision. God knew this would happen in eternity past. He was not caught off guard. He did not want to destroy the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). The appropriate emotion is sorrow and grief, so that is what is used to help us understand how we should feel when discipline or punishment should be imposed.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>6) <!–[endif]–>What can you do in your life to maintain a fire for learning God’s Word in your soul and not be bored (cf. Ecc. 9:10)?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>Seek God with all your heart (Jer. 29:13-14)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>c) <!–[endif]–>Pursue God with those who call out to Him (2 Tim. 2:22)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>d) <!–[endif]–>Accept that suffering in life will establish and settle you (1 Pet. 4:12-17; 5:10)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>e) <!–[endif]–>Ask God to please God in all things (2 Cor. 5:9)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>f) <!–[endif]–>Give thanks IN all things (1 Thes. 5:18)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>g) <!–[endif]–>Learn to be content in all situations (Phil. 4:11-12)
<!–[if !supportLists]–>7) <!–[endif]–>What are ways you can encourage others to be fervent in their growth in Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9)?
<!–[if !supportLists]–>a) <!–[endif]–>I need to wake up out of indifference, complacency and boredom.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>b) <!–[endif]–>I need to be on fire for Christ
<!–[if !supportLists]–>c) <!–[endif]–>I need to share what God is teaching me in my life.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>d) <!–[endif]–>I need to be excited about spiritual things and not so much earthly things
<!–[if !supportLists]–>e) <!–[endif]–>I need to see that what matters is eternal things like discipling others and multiplying
<!–[if !supportLists]–>f) <!–[endif]–>I need to talk about what great things God is doing in my life.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>g) <!–[endif]–>I need to be encouraging and serving others.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>h) <!–[endif]–>I need to hide God’s Word in my life.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>i) <!–[endif]–>I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
<!–[if !supportLists]–>j) <!–[endif]–>I need to assemble with other believers and stir them up to love and good deeds.
Shepherding Truth 