Key Text: Hosea 1:2—2:1
Even as the first chapter of this gospel rich book unfolds it doesn’t take long to confront the heartbreak, but as we approach the second chapter, already the hope of the gospel is shining through the cracks.
Key Text: Hosea 1:2—2:1
Even as the first chapter of this gospel rich book unfolds it doesn’t take long to confront the heartbreak, but as we approach the second chapter, already the hope of the gospel is shining through the cracks.
Key Text: Hosea 1:1
This prophetic book sobers us and fills us with renewed hope. As ugly as Israel’s adulterous faithlessness has been, it cannot extinguish God’s resilient redemptive love that defies human calculation or annulment.**
**Taken from the Introduction to Hosea in the Gospel Transformation Bible (ESV)
This week serves as an introduction to the whole series by looking at its major themes, outlining the structure of the book, and setting it in its redemptive context.
This prophetic book sobers us and fills us with renewed hope. As ugly as Israel’s adulterous faithlessness has been, it cannot extinguish God’s resilient redemptive love that defies human calculation or annulment.
Chapters 1–3 use Hosea’s own marriage as a parable for the relationship between God and Israel. The dominant image is of Israel as an unfaithful wife. Chapters 4–14 detail the comparison, with its series of accusations, warnings, appeals, and motivations for God’s people to return.
Biographical: Hosea’s Family (1:1–3:5)
Accusations, Warnings, and Promises for Israel (4:1–14:9)
An unfaithful wife and the children of her prostitution are a reason for great sorrow, but God gives reason to hope even here.
Unfaithfulness to God has devastating consequences, yet God does not treat us how we deserve, but instead makes a way of reconciliation.
Rubbish is usually thrown away, but God redeems and restores the broken.
This remainder of the series now goes back and deals with the accusations, warnings, and promises for Israel (and us)
God has good reason to give up on his relationship with Israel. What can we learn from these disastrous traits?
The unfaithful heart of mankind has no natural cure.
We do not have it within us to ‘turn our life around’—we need transformation.
A confused identity, foolish relationships, and religious desperation to achieve results, conditions our hearts to abandon God.
When God is ignored, we make kings and gods to replace him, with disastrous results.
Our hearts are prone to prostitution. We ‘sell-out’ to other desires and passions apart from God. What are the warning signs?
The relationship between prosperity and idolatry have a history that is meant to warn us.
How has God loved us? And how have we responded?
God’s love is shaped by his relenting heart.
To adequately deal with the problems of the present, we need rot understand how we got here in the first place. This is about how our past shapes our present.
God doesn’t deal with our ‘projected images’, he deals with who we really are.
Despite our unfaithful hearts, God has committed himself to us in a relationship of grace. Restoration is assured, not because we have changed our ways, but because God has chosen to love.
Key Text: Luke 22:31-34, 54-62
You, like most of us, probably feel like a failure. All the Social Media psychology has let you down—just trying harder has left you exhausted. So what now?
We’ve got good news for you.
Key Text: John 11:1-40
Marty takes on his first ever sermon here at RTCC with a fantastic take on a well known passage.
Key Text: Revelation 22:6-21
He is the God who requests all to come to Him.
For more in depth reading on this series, I highly recommend Danny Akin’s book on Revelation which is a part of the Christ-Centred Exposition Series. You can find out more here. This resource helped shape the outline of our teaching series, and was a useful resource in helping to make this often confusing book accessible.
Another good resource on this book is Revelation For You, by Tim Chester.
Key Text: Revelation 21:9—22:5
He is the God who reigns for all eternity.
Key Text: Revelation 17:1 — 21:8
He is the God who repays the ungodly for their sin.
Key Text: Revelation 4:1 — 16:21
He is the God who reclaims the earth for His kingdom.
Key Text: Revelation 1:9—3:22
He is the God who rebukes and refreshes His churches.
Key Text: Revelation 1:1-8
Key Theme: He is the God who reveals His will to His people.
Join us for our introductory week to our new series on Revelation.
#SpoilerAlert #JesusWins
All stories have a beginning, and almost all have an end. Redemption’s Story is one of the few that will continue into eternity. This study of Revelation closes out our 8 year series by pointing forward to the end of this age and the beginning of the next. It is a celebration of the victory of the Lamb, a highlight of eternity that encompasses the great story of redemption and sees it complete, as sin and death are ultimately done away with—and not content with the bruising they received at the Cross, God will crush with finality his enemies. Redemption’s Story consummates with the eternal worship of the redeeming love of God, shown in perfection through Jesus Christ, at the foot of throne.
For those wanting to meet with others to study this book in partnership with the preaching schedule, a ‘suggested study passage’ is included below. A number of good study methods are out there, but a great one can be found at the RANSOM site here (a printable version can be downloaded at the bottom of the linked page).
The following outline is taken from the Holman Reference series, ‘Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Revelation’, by Daniel L. Akin
Key Passage: 1:1-8
Key Theme: He is the God who reveals his will to his people
Suggested Study Passage: Revelation 1:1-8
Key Passage: 1:9—3:22
Key Theme: He is the God who rebukes and refreshes his churches
Suggested Study Passage: Revelation 1:9-20
Key Passage: 4:1—16:21
Key Theme: He is the God who reclaims the earth for his kingdom
Suggested Study Passage: Revelation 4:1—5:14
Key Passage: 17:1—21:8
Key Theme: He is the God who repays the ungodly for their sin
Suggested Study Passage: Revelation 19:1-21
Key Passage: 21:9—22:5
Key Theme: He is the God who reigns for all eternity
Suggested Study Passage: Revelation 21:9-27
Key Passage: 22:6-21
Key Theme: He is the God who requests all to come to him
Suggested Study Passage: Revelation 22:6-21