{"id":1493,"date":"2011-03-02T11:49:37","date_gmt":"2011-03-02T17:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1493"},"modified":"2011-03-08T17:15:47","modified_gmt":"2011-03-08T23:15:47","slug":"sermon-follow-up-malachi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2011\/03\/sermon-follow-up-malachi\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon Follow-up: “Malachi”"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Sunday’s message, Malachi<\/a>, Ron Giese expounded the book of Malachi, which serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. Malachi speaks about a messenger to come named Elijah, whom God says “will prepare the way before me” (3:1; 4:5). Speaking about John the Baptist, Jesus said, “if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come” (Matthew 11:14). In fulfillment of God’s promise through the book of Malachi, John boldly and humbly announced Jesus’ coming: “he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” … “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”\u00c2\u00a0(Matthew 2:11; John 1:29).<\/p>\n

Though we are not the promised messenger of the book of Malachi, we are “ambassadors for Christ,” witnessing to His glory in our time (2 Corinthians 5:20). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we announce the same good news that John carried to the hearers of his day, albeit on this side of the resurrection of Christ.<\/p>\n

To help equip the body for faithful ambassadorship in the world, DSC offers an Ambassador Training<\/a> series each year. Traditionally, DSC’s Ambassador Training has been offered as a single course. Starting this Spring, it is offered in three parts. The first session, which begins this Sunday, March 6, focuses on the ambassador’s character. The subsequent classes, offered this Summer and next Fall, will focus on the ambassador’s knowledge and \u00c2\u00a0wisdom. Here’s a brief description of the new format:<\/p>\n

Ambassador 1 (Fall) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Knowledege: An Accurately Informed Mind.<\/strong>
\nAn Ambassador (Messenger, Herald) has to know what to proclaim. He or she needs to know who and what it is that he\u00c2\u00a0represents. If we are to represent God, we must know Him as He is. This also means knowing the message of the sovereign, which is the gospel. What is the gospel and what isn’t the gospel?<\/p>\n

Ambassador 2 (Winter) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Wisdom: A Discerning and Artful Approach.<\/strong>
\nAn Ambassador (messenger, herald) has to know something about the delivery of the message.\u00c2\u00a0What is wisdom? What is it for? What is an unhealthy substitute for wisdom in our Christian\u00c2\u00a0culture? How can we wisely engage our friends and family and neighbors in conversation about our God and His message?<\/p>\n

Ambassador 3 (Spring) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Character: A Faithful and Attractive Manner.<\/strong>
\nFor the priests in Malachi, God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s messengers of the Old Testament \u00e2\u20ac\u201c their message was being\u00c2\u00a0discredited because of their character. The character of God’s messenger is a big part of the book of\u00c2\u00a0Malachi.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following three books will be recommended and referenced throughout the series and are available at the Resource Center beginning this Sunday:<\/p>\n