A Study of Malachi_ God's Holy Love
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Richard Sutton opened the class with a humorous EMT story before introducing the central theme: God’s holy love as revealed in Malachi. He provided a concise historical overview of the post‑exilic Israelites, describing how they returned from Babylonian captivity under Cyrus, rebuilt the Jerusalem temple, and faced opposition from neighboring peoples. Sutton explained that Malachi’s brief four‑chapter book confronted the Israelites’ spiritual complacency, especially their foreign marriages and profane worship, calling them back to holiness. He highlighted key verses such as Malachi 1:2‑3, where the Lord contrasts His love for Jacob with His hatred for Esau, and Malachi 3:1, which promises a messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah. The teacher emphasized that the prophet’s rebuke was rooted in God’s deep, enduring love, urging believers to respond with sincere devotion. The class then shifted to practical ministry updates, encouraging prayer for the McCormick family’s relocation, promoting the “Risen” movie outreach, and organizing a door‑hanger flyer effort. Sutton announced spring quarter classes on death and Christian character, reinforcing the ongoing call to live holy lives. Participants left motivated to embody God’s holy love in both personal devotion and community service.