When we announced a series of sermons on the Minor Prophets for Gateway Chapel this spring, it may have seemed like a stereotypical seminary effort to focus on academic obscurity. Far from it. The message of these ancient prophets—mislabeled “minor” because of the length (not the content) of their messages—pulsates with meaning and application for today.
When preaching on any of the Minor Prophets, the outline is generally the same for each message. Sin abounds. Judgment is real. Repentance is necessary. Restoration is possible. Too many people think the focus of this overall message is the first half—sin and judgment. And make no mistake, that message is catastrophically real. But the major emphases of these messages is the latter half—repentance and restoration. Those words are the primary message so many in our world need to hear right now.
Repentance means turn around. It means go a different direction. It rests on the understanding some attitudes and actions are sin—not just alternative choices, unfortunate circumstances, or accidents of nature. Sin labels some thoughts and behaviors as wrong—morally and ethically wrong—with negative, even fearsome consequences. Those consequences, in the form of immediate negative results or impending future doom, are called judgment. That’s the bad news.
The good news is repentance leads to forgiveness and makes restoration possible. Acknowledging the reality of sin and the horror of judgment stands in contrast to the good news offered in the gospel. God loves people, “even while they are yet sinners” (Rom. 5:8). God wants people to repent, desiring “all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). He takes no delight, and neither should his people, in condemning sinners or calling out sinful behavior. We do so, but only in the context of offering hope through repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.
If you need a weekly dose of hope, tune into this chapel series on the Minor Prophets. And if you are preaching and teaching today, whether you use the Minor Prophets or not, find a way to communicate hope. People are emotionally frayed by the pandemic and its frustrations. They are worn down by daily reports of political infighting, social injustice, and rumors of wars. We have a message of hope and now is the time to declare it.
Watch the Minor Prophets chapel series
Read More
A Perfect Opportunity
Dr. Iorg expresses why he loves living in the West and in particular Southern California. The need for the gospel is great and Dr. Iorg encourages others to do more work in areas that may not be so comfortable for Christians.
The Lord’s Dinner
The first-century churches, when they met, ordinarily ate a proper meal together, a meal including the bread and the cup, and this meal was at the heart of their common life and worship.
Listen
Ruben Reyes III
Ruben Reyes III joins this episode of Ten Questions with Ten Pastors to discuss church planting, developing leaders in the church and preaching. Reyes planted Solid Rock in Claremont, California, then transitioned from
Making Ministry Marriage Work with Ann Iorg – Part 2
In this second part of this two part podcast, Dr. Iorg talks with his wife, Ann Iorg, about some important lessons they have learned about making ministry marriage work.
Watch
Spirituality of Jonathan Edwards | JEC at Gateway Seminary
Dr. Chris Chun hosted a digital symposium with Dr. Michael Haykin and Dr. Robert Caldwell to discuss Edwards’ spirituality, devotional life and theological impact in American Christianity.
Faculty Dialogues: Dispensationalism or Not
In this episode of Faculty Dialogues, Dr. David Rathel and Dr. Paul Wegner held a live discussion on their views on dispensationalism.
