Series: “From Ashes to Glory — Christ’s Redemption in the Minor Prophets”

— Ok, you may be wondering why we are looking at the Minor Prophets?

— It is a FREQUENTLY… passed over portion of scripture.

— Why… Most people want the “GOOD STUFF”

== The Grace, Mercy and God’s Love that we see in the New Testament

== My aim during this series is to fill in the gaps that we all have in the Old Testament

== I aim to show you how God's grace, mercy, and love shine powerfully even through these small prophetic books.

Message #1 “Unfailing Love: Grace in the Midst of Brokenness”

== This summer we are looking at those “little slim” books at the end of the Old Testament.

== I’ll give some history and context each week and then I’ll emphasize a “Christ-centered, Grace-driven” message even in the depths of the Old Testament.

== Every message stands alone, so if you miss a week, you won’t fall behind.

== Before we get to the text this morning, I want to pick up on our catechism questions…

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 16: What Is Sin?

What is sin? Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.

== Listen to this this verse

The New City Catechism: 52 Questions & Answers for Our Hearts & Minds Question 16: What Is Sin?

1 John 3:4

== OK, let’s get to our primary text this morning.

== Hosea 1.1-11. It is found on page 751 in the bibles in front of you, in your own bible or app

== Hosea 1:1-11. We’ll examine historical context and key themes.

Our Theme: “God calls His people back to Himself with redeeming Love.

== God’s covenantal love, his promised love, remains steadfast, even when His people are unfaithful

== This relentless love is fulfilled and magnified in Jesus Christ, who redeems us from our spiritual adultery.

== What IS…

What Spiritual Adultery?

Idolatry - Worshipping other Gods

Divided Loyalty - Dependence on ANYTHING above God

What Spiritual Adultery?

Compromise - Adapting to world’s values

Trusting “The World” - Seeking fulfillment apart from God

== This is where Israel found itself, and honestly, where we find ourselves today.

== Yet even in judgment, God's purpose is revelation, redemption, and reconciliation, and renewal through Jesus Christ

This passage ends with hope—a dramatic reversal!

== The scattered will be gathered, mercy will return, and those who were not God’s people will once again be called His children.

This is the Gospel!! Christ, comes to redeem His unfaithful bride — the Church

== That needs to be our story, Jesus is our only Hope.

== Our UNFAITHFULNESS is met with Grace, Mercy, Reconciliation and redemption for those willing to be FAITHFUL

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= O course, I have three really “meaty” points to give you this morning.

1. God’s Call to Hosea (vv. 1-2)

2. The Children’s Prophetic Names (vv. 3-9)

3. The Promise of Restoration (v. 10-11)

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Introduction:

== Have you ever felt your life was too messy, too broken, or too complicated for God to use?

== Hosea’s story vividly reminds us God’s grace doesn’t flee our brokenness—it runs toward it.

== Israel’s condition then mirrors ours today—idolatry, moral decay, spiritual indifference.

== Yet, through Hosea, God shows His relentless, redeeming love.

== That same love is available to us through a relationship with Jesus.

1. God’s Call to Hosea (vv. 1-2)

Hosea 1:2 NLT

2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.”

A. It was a Strange Command

B. It’s a Picture of God’s Heartache

C. Healed by Christ

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== A. It was a Strange Command — God asked Hosea to do something deeply uncomfortable—marry an unfaithful woman as a vivid illustration of Israel’s spiritual betrayal.

== B. A Picture of God’s Heartache —Hosea’s painful disobedience pictured God's anguish over Israel’s rebellion.

== C. Christ-centered Grace-driven Application: Jesus healed us, He is mending us, molding us into exactly what He want from us. He entered our broken world, embracing our pain, our shame and and suffering.

2. The Children’s Prophetic Names

== God gave Hosea’s children symbolic names conveying difficult messages:

Hosea 1:4 “… Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel…”

Hosea 1:6 “… Call her name No Mercy, for I will NO MORE MERCY on the house of Israel…”

Hosea 1:8–9 “… Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”

These names were harsh warnings of the consequences of unrepentant sin.

Jezreel (“God scatters”)

Lo-Ruhamah (“No mercy”)

Lo-Ammi (“Not my people”)

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A. Jezreel: A Warning of Judgment == The first child, Jezreel, symbolized coming judgment.

== God allowed them to divide kingdoms, draw lines, compromise their faith

== His response is “Scattering”

B. Lo-Ruhamah: A Message of Withdrawal == The second child’s name declared a startling message: “No mercy.”

== They will see and we will experience what the world will be like when God withdrew His Mercy on His people

C. Lo-Ammi: A Fractured Relationship Finally, the third child’s name signified the breaking of relationship: “Not my people.” God, turns His back to us… After we have done the same.

3. The Promise of Restoration

== Despite intense judgment, God promises restoration—a reversal of the pain and judgment Israel faced.

== DID GOD CHANGE HIS MIND… I SAY NO HE DIDN’T… THIS WAS ALWAYS HIS PLAN!

Hosea 1:10 ESV

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”

A. Grace Overcomes Judgment == God’s heart always leans toward restoration and redemption, offering hope beyond rebellion.

B. Fulfilled in Christ Paul echoes Hosea in Romans 9:25-26, listen carefully..

Romans 9:25–26 “25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons [and daughters] of the living God.’ ””

== Declaring this promise fulfilled through Christ and through us, sons and daughters of the Living God, Jesus Christ

Conclusion:

== Hosea’s story points clearly to Jesus, showcasing the radical Grace found in Him.

== God’s relentless love meets us precisely in our deepest brokenness.

== Through Hosea’s painful obedience, prophetic naming, and promised restoration, we grasp God’s heart—mercy triumphing over judgment.

== Today, Jesus invites us from shame into grace. If you feel distant, discouraged, or disqualified, remember Hosea’s powerful message:

A. God pursues us relentlessly, loving us beyond your mess, offering complete restoration through faithful obedience to Jesus

B. May we as individuals and as a church reflect this incredible grace, living boldly as people transformed by God’s unfailing love.

Applications:

Application #1 Reflect on your spiritual “Gomer” moments: when have you wandered from God’s love and faithfulness?

==Don’t have to let those “moments”those past failures define you

== Acknowledge that you have wandered and ask God to bring you back to Him, confess your sin and move forward

== Acknowledge wandering, confess openly, and embrace God’s forgiveness.

== Remember these promises from Scripture.

Isaiah 43:25 “25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”

== And then in…

Hebrews 8:12 “12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.””

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Application #2. Where do you need to receive God's mercy again today instead of living in shame?

== God does not want you to dwell in shame.

== Receive His grace fully, accepting forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewal.

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Application #3. Look into that proverbial mirror… are you still living as if you're “not His people”?

== If you’ve trusted Christ, you are forever His child.

== Reject Satan’s lies of worthlessness.

== Embrace your identity in Christ as loved, redeemed, and forgiven.

Prayer/Communion - [Elders & Servers please come forward]

== Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching us through your Word.

== We rejoice in Your grace, mercy, restoration, and redemption found in Jesus.

== Today we remember Christ’s willing sacrifice, His body broken and blood poured out for us.

Our Communion Scripture for this morning… Listen carefully to these words!

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”