SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE

A Day of Distinction
Malachi 3:13-18

(Rev. Erik Veerman)

How do you respond when it seems God is slow to deal with evil in the world? The returned exiles were experiencing despondency due to their lack of faith in the midst of their circumstances. This led many to think little of God and to live as if serving Him was a waste of time and effort. There was, however, a remnant, a small minority who feared the Lord and continued to serve Him anyways. They encouraged one another in faithfulness and looked forward to the day when God would make things right. God encouraged this remnant by telling them their names were written in His book and that they would be His treasured possession in the day of redemption. He would one day draw a clear line between the righteous and the wicked through the judgement of Christ, a judgment received by Jesus and then given to Him. Application Questions: Who are the two groups in this passage? What are they saying and why? How do you think the original audience felt hearing about God’s book of remembrance (v. 16)? How does their memory of the Exodus impact their understanding of versed 17-18 (see Exodus 19:5)? How does God sparing His son point forward to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the sparing of His people who fear and serve Him? If we know that God will one day judge the world, how does this passage shape the way we live before God and others?  Scriptures for Further Study: Luke 1:46-50; Romans 8:31-34; Exodus 19:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Colossians 1:15-20