The Minor Prophets
A series exploring what God's word says about work in the books of the twelve "minor" prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Please note: This is a work-in-progress, and will be a seven-session series upon completion.
Hosea Chapters 1-3, Micah Chapters 1-2: God Demands Change (23 minutes)
God deliberately put Hosea in a corrupt and difficult family situation. Could it be that God deliberately puts people in corrupt and difficult workplaces today?
Hosea Chapter 6, Amos Chapters 4 and 9, Joel Chapter 2: God Makes Change Possible (25 minutes)
God’s word to his people in times of economic and social hardship is that God’s intent is to restore peace, justice, and prosperity, if the people will live by the precepts of his covenant. The means he will use is the work of his people.
Micah 1, 3, 5, Amos 5: Individual & Societal Responsibility for Unjust Work
Despite God’s intentions, work is subjected to human sin. The most egregious case is work that is inherently sinful.
Jonah Chapters 1-4: The Purpose of God's Call (21 minutes)
The purpose of a call from God is to serve other people. When God calls Jonah, it is for the benefit of Nineveh. When Jonah rejects God’s guidance, not only do the people he was called to serve languish, but the people surrounding him suffer. If we accept that we are all called to serve God in our work, then we recognize that failing to serve God in our work also diminishes our communities. The more powerful our gifts and talents, the greater the harm we are apt to do if we reject God’s guidance.