SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE

A Day of Deliverance
Malachi4:1-6

(Rev. Erik Veerman)

What happens when Christ returns? How should we prepare? The Day of the Lord refers to God's decisive action to destroy those who rebel against Him and bring life, peace, and joy to those who fear Him. Malachi wrote about the day of Lord to encourage and produce repentance in God's people. The Day of the Lord began with Christ's first coming when He suffered the wrath of God on behalf of those who fear Him and gave them His life changing Spirit. It will be fully realized when He returns to judge the world. In the meantime, God's people are to look back at Christ's first coming and forward to His second to be encouraged to live lives of righteousness and holiness by the Holy Spirit. Application Questions According to the imagery of this passage, what happens in the Day of the Lord (see also Mal. 3:2-5)? According to verse 5, when is the Day of the Lord? In what ways has it already begun?  What effect does this passage intend to produce in the people (think also about the issues throughout Malachi)? What about for us? Scriptures for Further Study Isaiah 60:1-3; Joel 2:1-14; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Joel 2:30-32; Luke 1:67-80