October 20 - Connect, Grow, Go!

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!