CONNECT, GROW, GO!
Scripture: Hosea 1 & 3
INTRODUCTION: THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE – WHAT COULD HAPPEN?
BACKGROUND:
· HOSEA’S NAME MEANS “SALVATION” OR “THE LORD SAVES”
· HE PROPHESIED UNDER THE RULE OF FOUR KINGS
· HE PROPHESIED FOR FOURTY YEARS
· HE PROPHESIED AT THE SAME TIME AS ISAIAH
· HOSEA’S MARRIAGE WAS AN ALLEGORY OF GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
· MAJOR TRUTHS OF THE BOOK:
o GOD SUFFERS WHEN HIS PEOPLE SIN
o GOD HATES SIN
o GOD LOVES HIS PEOPLE SO MUCH, THAT HE SEEKS TO SAVE THEM
o GOD’S LOYAL LOVE TO HIS COVENANT PEOPLE DESPITE IDOLATRY
A) HOSEA 1: CONNECT TO THE CALL THROUGH OBEDIENCE
· GOD CALLS HOSEA: HE INVOLVES HIM IN HIS MISSION
· GOD CALLS HOSEA TO A DIFFICULT TASK
· GOD CALLS HOSEA TO A DIFFICULT LIFE
· HOSEA’S KIDS ALL REPRESENT THE SIN OF ISRAEL
o JEZREEL: ISRAEL WILL BE MASSACRED
o LO-RUHAMA: “NOT PITIED” GOD WOULD REMOVE HIS PROTECTION
o LO-AMMI: “NOT MY PEOPLE” GOD RESPOND TO REBELLION WITH REJECTION
· GOD CALLS TO SEE THE FUTURE GOOD TO COME FROM THE PRESENT EVIL.
· WHAT DOES GOD CALL US TO DO?
o CONNECT HIS CALL TO FOLLOW HIM DAILY
o CONNECT THE HIS CHURCH AND SERVE
o CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY AS HIS HANDS AND FEET
· STORY: WHEN I RAN FROM GOD
B) HOSEA 1: GROW IN OBEDIENCE
· HOSEA IMMEDIATELY OBEYS GOD. ISAIAH OBEYS GOD. JONAH RUNS.
· WATCH SWITCHFOOT VIDEO: DARE YOU TO MOVE
· HOSEA CARES MORE ABOUT OBEYING GOD THAN WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK
· HOSEA FOLLOWED GOD RATHER THAN THE CULTURE
· HOSEA GREW IN HIS UNDERSTANDING OF WHY ISRAEL HAD TO BE PUNISHED
· HOSEA GREW IN HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAY OFF OF OBEDIENCE
· HOSEA NEVER STOPPED GROWING: H3: HE BOUGHT BACK HIS WIFE
· HOW CAN WE GROW?
o GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH BIBLE STUDY & PRAYER
o GROW IN OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDS
o GROW IN OUR SERVICE TO GOD’S MISSION
· STORY: HOW HAVE I GROWN?
C) HOSEA 1: GO & SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS THROUGH LOVE
· ULTIMATELY, LOVE FROM GOD WINS IN THE END
· ULTIMATELY, LOVE FROM GOD ALLOWS US TO LOVE THE HARD TO LOVE
· ULTIMATELY, LOVE FROM GOD IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO CONNECT, GROW, AND GO
· HOSEA 1:2 – HOSEA IS CALLED TO LOVE A WOMAN HE KNOWS WILL LEAVE HIM
· HOSEA 1:10 – GOD’S PEOPLE WILL BE REUNITED TO GOD’S LOVE AGAIN
· HOSEA 3:1-2: HOSEA BUYS HIS WIFE OUT OF SEXUAL SLAVERY
· HOW CAN WE GO ON MISSION WITH GOD?
o GO AND SERVE OUR FAMILIES
o GO AND SERVE OUR FRIENDS @ SCHOOL
o GO AND SERVE THE POOR AND BROKEN PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY
FINAL CHALLENGE: CONNECT, GROW, GO!
