Spotlight! Session #9 Week of 2/23/20 Prophets
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Spotlight! Session #9 Week of 2/23/20 Prophets Opening Prayer The Nicene Creed I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Icebreaker Discussion: Here you will find a current top 40 song. The subject of the song may/may not reflect the topic of the lesson. PLEASE PLAY THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE SONG! Music videos are the work of artists and video producers and associate an image with the song that may or may not represent the lyrical value of the song. The goal of the icebreaker song is to have a song that both students and parents have heard or is currently charting. We want to use these songs to get parents and students talking so when we get to the core of the lesson, both parties are warmed up and ready to share. Parents should view the video and lyrics prior to the lesson to see if it is something that you want to view during the lesson. One Call Away – Charlie Puth Values: Positive Pace: Medium Clarity: Clear Issues: “and when you’re weak I’ll be strong, I’m gonna keep holding on, Now don’t you worry, it won’t be long, Darling, and when you feel like hope is gone, just run into my arms.” Here is a song that could come from one of the prophets of the old testament telling you to put your faith in God. Jesus wants you to run into his arms when times are tough. Questions: Who is one person that you call on for encouragement or help when you need it? Actions: Pray for people who are far from God right now. Mass Readings for Sunday 2/23/20 If you would like to preview the Gospel and the reading for the week you can find them here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022320.cfm TRIVIA ZONE (know these facts as they will be part of our Kahoot! Trivia for large group) 1. Prophet – a messenger from God who speaks the truth and calls the people to follow the laws of God’s covenant and act with justice. 2. The Major Prophets are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel 3. The Minor Prophets are: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephania, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi Featured Scripture for Discussion For this lesson we will look at the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament and the questions will be on those prophets and not related to a certain scripture. Take time to read and review all the prophets. This make take extra time. The word "prophet" comes from the Hebrew word for "mouth." The prophets hold a prominent place in the Old Testament, in fact, nearly one-third of the Bible consists of the writings of the prophets. So, if you don't understand the prophets—who they were or what they said—you are effectively missing out on about thirty percent of the Scriptures. The prophets spanned a long period of time during some of Israel's darkest days. That is not to say there have not been prophets at other times in history. God still calls prophets, even today. But the prophets listed here are a little different. They point toward and unpack God's revelation. Modern-day prophets point back and explain revelation. The prophets were not magicians or fortune tellers. They were ordinary people who were called to share extraordinary things. With the exception of Isaiah, almost all the prophets were reluctant. The messages God gave them were not comfortable, and the sufferings they endured were not pleasant. You might be called to live a prophet's life, and as a result, die a prophet's death. Like Jeremiah, God might want to use you to preach his truth to a generation and culture that has lost all recognition of sin. Once you take an active role in your faith, you are going to find yourself in some tough situations from time to time. Sometimes, it is better not to say anything at all and to preach by a holy example. And we cannot forget the fact that actions speak louder than words." On the other hand, if you do not speak up in certain situations because you would be uncomfortable or think it is not your job and that "someone else should ... someone older or more knowledgeable," then God's truth will go unspoken. God might be calling you the same way he called the prophets. Don't assume God's call is for someone else. What set these prophets apart was not their holiness but their openness to God. God does not call the equipped; he equips the called. There were prophets like Moses and Samuel whose narrative books (the Pentateuch and First and Second Samuel) you have studied. The following is a list of both the "major" and "minor" prophets with a brief explanation about things to look for in their writings or messages, Hopefully, it will help you in your ongoing study of God's "mouthpieces," the prophets. The Major Prophets Isaiah means "Yahweh is Salvation” The most famous of the prophets, Isaiah, prophesied more about Christ than all the other prophets combined, His language and message are simple, just like God's love. The first half of Isaiah (Chapters 1-39) speaks mostly about judgment and repentance; the second half (Chapters 40-66) speaks mostly about salvation and mercy. Isaiah's message is challenging and hopeful. Jeremiah means “Yahweh has uplifted” Jeremiah was a kind young man God called to deliver a not-so-kind message. Jeremiah is called out of his comfort zone and sent to talk to people far "older, wiser, and more powerful" than himself. He teaches the need to obey God, to trust him, and to abandon ourselves to him. He suffers many hardships, including hatred, false conviction, and a life filled with threats of harm. Still, he never stops proclaiming God's truth to a people who have lost their consciousness of sin. Jeremiah is a hero among the prophets and for young believers. His life is a testament to how difficult but fulfilling it can be to follow God's vocation for your life. Ezekiel means “God Strengthens” Ezekiel lived among the exiles at the time of the Babylonian captivity (the Exile time period). He was not only a prophet but also a priest, and he ministered to the Israelites while they were imprisoned. He calls them to choose salvation over sin actively, not just in their words. He urges them to be open to the Spirit of God so they might attain the freedom and salvation they so earnestly desire. Daniel means "God is my judge " Daniel was a prophet, but his book contains visions and writings known as apocalyptic (similar to the book of Revelation). While the book contains truths that were timely to the period in which it was written, it also contains plans and visions of things to come. Daniel reminds the people that God is still at work and in control, and that the Messiah is coming. The book of Daniel demonstrates that those who hold worldly power are not more powerful than God. His chosen ones should not fear, because the LORD is with them. The Minor Prophets Hosea means “Salvation” Hosea's main message is to show the nature of God's infinite love and how love is strengthened through suffering. God uses Hosea's relationship with an unfaithful wife to show how Israel has been an unfaithful bride to God. Joel means “Strong Willed or Yahweh is God” Suffering is a reality, but so is God's mercy. Joel speaks about God's merciful judgment of sin and his authority, reassuring us that both suffering and sin will be set straight on the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. Amos means “To carry the burden” Those who are lustful, selfish, prideful, and greedy are the targets of God's words through the prophet Amos. He is forceful and unapologetic in the way he speaks out about sin and the need for people to make drastic changes in their lives. Amos leaves little doubt that hypocrisy and sin lead to death. Obadiah means "Servant of Yahweh. " Obadiah has a very simple message: "Do the crime and you're gonna do the time." He speaks to the Edomites (descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob), They are a godless people who do not believe their sin has consequences.