Week 49 • Offer an Acceptable Sacrifice  (Malachi 1)

Memory Verse: Proverbs 6:16, 18b

In each reading assignment look for a . . .

Sin to Confess • Promise to Claim • Attitude to Change • Command to Obey • Example to Follow

Personal Study Notes:

Psalm 82

Psalm 83

Psalm 84

Psalm 85

Malachi 1

Accountability Question

  • Did everyone read all five assignments?

  • What application points did you find?

Group Participation

  • Where are we on our ministry project?

  • Have someone take requests and lead prayer.

  • Have someone tell the story or paraphrase.

  • Have someone read the Bible passage.

  • Have someone facilitate the Bible study using the weekly discussion questions.

Weekly Discussion Questions

Set in 430 BC, about 90 years after the temple was rebuilt. Malachi’s pattern is to issue a charge (God’s accusations and call to repentance), then give the objections / excuses that the people return, and then give God’s answer.  He does it 6 times in this prophetic book.

  • Do you have a personal story of sacrifice? Or a story from books or movies?

  • What was the Jews’ sin that God holds against them in this passage?

  • In modern times, what initial sacrifice does God demand of us? Psalm 34:18.

  • Throughout your Christian life, what practical sacrifices / offerings does He draw you to give?

  • Are those practical sacrifices, at heart, different from the blood of animals? I Samuel 15:22.

  • Does the sacrifice you offer ever have “blemishes?”  Is it ever not good enough?  Or not what God asked of you?  II Samuel 24:24.

  • Can you offer a sacrifice that is rejected by God? Matthew 6:5-6.

  • Discuss how we sacrifice in worship. II Samuel 6:12-15.

Prayer: Father, we pray for faithfulness and surrender in offering sacrifices of obedience and worship.