Preaching from the Minor Prophets : Texts and Sermon Suggestions

by Achtemeier, Elizabeth Rice

• ISBN13: 9780802843708
• ISBN10: 0802843700
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-04-01
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Summary

This volume was written to help clergy preach with confidence and relevancy from the often neglected books of the Minor Prophets. For each of the twelve Minor Prophets, Elizabeth Achtemeier provides the background information necessary for writing a sermon -- historical context, theological context, and an outline of the prophet's thought. She also includes sections dealing with select texts that highlight the linguistic and rhetorical features in each of the books, and she suggests sermon titles designed to arouse the interest of a congregation.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(4)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF HOSEA	5	(23)
Recommended Commentaries	5	(1)
The Historical Context	5	(1)
The Theological Context	6	(5)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	11	(17)
Hosea 1:1-8: Immediate Obedience	11	(1)
God's Shocking Command	12	(1)
Will God Reject Us?	13	(1)
When God Is Absent	14	(3)
Hosea 2:14-23: The God Who Will Not Give Up on Us	17	(1)
God's Answer to Our Idolatry	18	(2)
Hosea 6:1-6: The Desire of God	20	(1)
False Theology	21	(2)
Hosea 11:1-11: Israel the Son, God the Father	23	(2)
The Walking Lesson	25	(1)
The God Who Must Be God	26	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF JOEL	28	(8)
Recommended Commentaries	28	(1)
The Historical Context	28	(1)
The Theological Context	29	(2)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	31	(5)
Joel 2:12-17: Yet, Even Now	31	(1)
Rend Your Hearts	32	(2)
Joel 2:28-32: The Gift of the Spirit	34	(1)
How Can We Be Saved in the Final Judgment?	35	(1)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF AMOS	36	(14)
Recommended Commentaries	36	(1)
The Historical Context	36	(1)
The Theological Context	37	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	38	(12)
Amos 3:1-2: The Story We Have in Common	38	(1)
The Uniqueness of God's People	39	(1)
Judgment on God's Elect	40	(2)
Amos 5:14-15: What Is Good?	42	(2)
Amos 5:21-24: The Inseparable Pair	44	(1)
Amos 7:1-6: Faith's Insight	45	(1)
The Efficacy of Prayer	46	(1)
History's Dialogue	46	(2)
Amos 8:11-14: The Famine of the Word	48	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF OBADIAH	50	(5)
Recommended Commentaries	50	(1)
The Historical Context	50	(1)
The Theological Context	51	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	52	(3)
Obadiah 1-4, 10-14, 15-17, 21: God's Guard over Human Relationships	52	(1)
Sin Returned	52	(1)
The Downfall of Pride	53	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF JONAH	55	(9)
Recommended Commentaries	55	(1)
The Historical Context	55	(1)
The Theological Context	56	(2)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	58	(6)
Jonah 1:1-16: Escaping God	58	(2)
Jonah 3-4: Slow to Anger	60	(1)
Jonah the Judge	61	(1)
Sovereign Grace	62	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF MICAH	64	(15)
Recommended Commentaries	64	(1)
The Historical Context	64	(1)
The Theological Context	65	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	66	(13)
Micah 3:9-12: The Result of Conformity	66	(1)
"God Be with You"?	67	(3)
Micah 5:1-4: Understanding the "But"	70	(1)
The Mysteries of God	71	(1)
Permanence	72	(2)
Micah 6:1-8: Our Instructions	74	(1)
The Importance of Remembering	75	(2)
Micah 7:18-20: What Makes God Incomparable?	77	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF NAHUM	79	(8)
Recommended Commentaries	79	(1)
The Historical Context	79	(1)
The Theological Context	80	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	81	(6)
Nahum 2:1-11: God the Slow Avenger	81	(2)
"Vengeance Is Mine"	83	(2)
Nahum 2:13, 3:5: The Determining Word	85	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK	87	(9)
Recommended Commentaries	87	(1)
The Historical Context	87	(1)
The Theological Context	88	(3)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	91	(5)
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4: What Is Faith?	91	(1)
The River of Time	92	(1)
The Puffed Up	93	(2)
Habakkuk 3:17-19: Faith's Carelessness	95	(1)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH	96	(8)
Recommended Commentaries	96	(1)
The Historical Context	96	(1)
The Theological Context	97	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	98	(6)
Zephaniah 1:10-13, 14-18: Worshiping a Useless God	98	(2)
The Day of the Lord	100	(2)
Zephaniah 3:14-17: Carnival	102	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF HAGGAI	104	(8)
Recommended Commentaries	104	(1)
The Historical Context	104	(1)
The Theological Context	105	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	6	(6)
Haggai 1:1-11: The Futility of Self-Interest	106	(1)
A Tit-for-Tat God?	107	(2)
Haggai 2:1-9: Tears for the Church	109	(1)
The Silver Thread	110	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH	112	(14)
Recommended Commentaries	112	(1)
The Historical Context	112	(1)
The Theological Context	113	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	114	(12)
Zechariah 1:1-7: "An Accursed Happiness"	114	(2)
Zechariah 2:1-5: The Dimensions of the Church	116	(3)
Zechariah 4:1-6, 10b-14: Not by Ourselves	119	(1)
Zechariah 6:9-15: The Once Empty Crown	120	(2)
Zechariah 8:1-8: The Playground of the Kingdom	122	(1)
Zechariah 9:9-10: Doing Right in Our Own Eyes	123	(1)
The Paradoxical King	124	(2)
PREACHING FROM THE BOOK OF MALACHI	126	(11)
Recommended Commentaries	126	(1)
The Historical Context	126	(1)
The Theological Context	127	(1)
Texts and Sermon Possibilities	128	(9)
Malachi 1:6-14: Wearisome Worship	128	(1)
Malachi 2:13-16: Marriage as Discipleship	129	(2)
Malachi 3:1-4; 4:4-6: The Loving Warning	131	(2)
Malachi 3:7-12: The Law of Tithing?	133	(1)
Robbing God	134	(1)
Open Windows	135	(2)
Index of Scripture References	137