Introduction

Marriage is an institution of God. It accords with the dictates of nature and the laws of divine inspiration. It was an integral ingredient in the happiness of Eden, and so is an integral part of society. It heightened, it perfected, the pure, fresh, and serene joys of that Garden, the scene of every beauty and the temple of God; and so it has been perpetuated to this present hour as asocial blessing to soothe and sustain us amidst the depressing and difficulty circumstances of our fallen condition.

Introduction

Malachi had to deal with a variety of sins among the clergy and the people. In the last section he had to deal with their “cheap” worship and contempt for the ritual; and in the next section he will address the problem of divorce and marriage to pagans. Whenever there are such violations out of control in the people--people who claim to be followers of the LORD--it is almost always due to bad teaching. Somehow the people had the idea that these things were not sins, or that they could do them and get away with them.

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Scripture

When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy. He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

Reading (Lectio)

• Slowly read the Scripture passage several times.

The trustworthiness of Scripture is essential to a well-grounded Christian worldview, since it provides a foundation for authority that transcends the limitations of human reason and experience.

Introduction

Worship is supposed to be a celebration of being in covenant fellowship with the living God. It is a time set aside for the members of the covenant, the believers, to demonstrate their faith with genuine praise and thanksgiving. And God arranged the worship of Israel in a way that praise and thanksgiving would be most natural for the people--he arranged it for the three great harvest festivals ion the land, barley in the spring, wheat in the summer, and summer fruits in the fall.

Introduction: Author and Date (1:1)

The Book of Malachi begins with: “A burden, the Word of Yahweh to Israel by the hand of Malachi.” And that is all the information we have on this prophet. Other prophetic books often tell when the prophet wrote, that is, during the reigns of certain kings. As we shall see, though, there were no kings in Israel when Malachi delivered his messages--they were a thing of the past. So how can we date this book? What are the clues that we have?

And I look for the resurrection of the dead,

Scripture

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11)

Reading (Lectio)

• Slowly read the Scripture passage several times.

Meditation (Meditatio)

• Reflect and ruminate on the words and phrases in the text.
• Which words, phrases, or images speak most to you?

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

Scripture

There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called in one hope of our calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Reading (Lectio)

• Slowly read the Scripture passage several times.

Meditation (Meditatio)

• Reflect and ruminate on the words and phrases in the text.
• Which words, phrases, or images speak most to you?

Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code,{1} has generated a huge amount of interest from the reading public.