The Prophets' Problems: Devotional Guide

This summer we are exploring a sermon series called The Prophets’ Problems. Each week we will discover the main theme of one of the 12 minor prophets (starting in Hosea and ending in Malachi). 


To help you engage with this series, we’ve put together a supplementary devotional guide. Each week consists of 5 days of devotional practices, which include scripture reading, watching videos, listening to music, journaling, spiritual exercises, and prayer. These devotional practices are designed to be completed anytime during the week leading up to the sermon.  

Haggai | July 22-27

Introduction: More than all of the other prophets, Haggai is rooted in a specific major historical event, the return of the exiles.  For the remnant that returned, what does it mean to follow God and hold to his priorities as they rebuild the kingdom?  

  • Read (13 min):  The Story of Return (2 Chronicles 36:15-23; Ezra 1-4) 

    • Read through these sections quickly.  

    • Try not to get stuck on the long lists of names or places or words you don’t understand.  

    • Follow the story of the return and the building of the temple.  


    Pray (2 min): Spend a few minutes speaking to God in your own words.  

    • Ask for God to guide and direct your time together this week.  

    • Ask to help you see the connection between the temple and your purpose.  

  • Read (5 min):  Building the Temple (Ezra 5:1-2; Haggai 1)

    • Follow the relationship between Jacob and Esau and pay particular attention to the way they treat each other.  


    Watch (6 min):  Book of Haggai Summary

    • Pay particular attention to the story of the exiles and the temple.  


    Prayer (4 min): Build Your Kingdom

    • Take some time in prayer and ask God these two questions:

    1. How do you want me to participate in building your kingdom?  

    2. What is preventing me from doing the work you’ve called me to do?  

  • Read (3 min):  The Former Glory (Ezra 3:12; Haggai 2:1-9) 

    • As you read, think about the experience of those who remembered Solomon’s Temple.  


    Reflect (3 min): The Former Glory

    • In prayer, think back on the way things have changed during your lifetime (especially faith practices and church liturgy).  

    • Take a moment to let go of the former things. 

    • As God to show you the greater of the things to come.  


    Read (3 min):  Defilement (Haggai 2:10-19) 

    • As you read, think about the hypocrisy of building the temple while committing the same acts that caused its destruction.  


    Reflect (3 min): Defilement

    • In prayer, think back on the ways that you serve God.  

    • Ask God to reveal any hypocrisy in you, anything that defiles your service. 


    Read (2 min):  God’s Authority (Haggai 2:20-23) 

    • As you read, think about the image of a signet ring, someone who is given authority on behalf of the king.  


    Reflect (2 min): God’s Authority

    • In prayer, think about the authority that God has given you as his image bearer.  

    • Ask God to reveal how he wants you to use this authority on his behalf. 

  • Read (7 min):  The Completion of the Temple (Ezra 5:3-6:22) 

    • Read through these sections quickly.  

    • Try not to get stuck on the long lists of names or places or words you don’t understand.  

    • Follow the story of the completion of the temple.  


    Journal (5 min): Complete Work

    • In prayer, think of all the things that God has accomplished during your lifetime (especially those you have been part of completing).  

    • Make a list of those things.  


    Pray (3 min): Spend some time in thanksgiving.  

    • Go back though your list and thank God for each item.  

  • Watch (5 min): The Temple

    • As you watch this video, think about the purpose of the temple.  


    Prayer (5 min): Temple

    • In prayer, think through these two questions:

    1. What does it mean for my neighbors that I am a temple? 

    2. How should my life be different because I am a temple?  


    Listen (3 min): Temple

    • As you listen, think about your purpose as a temple.  

Zephaniah | July 15-21

Introduction: This week explores the image of fire, which can be both destructive but also purifying.  Zephaniah is an invitation to see God’s heart in purifying his people.  Though the process may be painful, God delights to rescue, gather, and restore his people.  

  • Listen (12 min): The Book of Zephaniah

    • Listen to the entire book of Zephaniah.  

    • As you listen, try to envision the transformation of the people of God: a people turning to idols and false Gods, a people who are taken through the fires of destruction, a people who emerge purified by fire, and a people who are gathered and treasured by God.  


    Pray (3 min): Spend a few minutes speaking to God in your own words.  

    • Ask for God to guide and direct your time together this week.  

    • Ask God to purify you and draw you near.  

  • Watch (5 min):  Book of Zephaniah Summary

    • Pay particular attention to the image of fire.  


    Listen (4 min): The Place to Hide (Zeph​.​)

    • Click the link above and then click the play button.  

    • As you listen, reflect on the contrast between destruction and re-creation. 


    Prayer (6 min): Consuming and Purifying Fire

    • In prayer, think through the following questions: 

    • What does it look like when God brings judgment, punishment, or destruction?

    • When have you seen God’s judgment in your life?  

    • What does it look like when God brings purification, renewal, and re-creation?

    • When have you seen God’s purification in your life?  

  • Read (4 min): Zephaniah 1:1-6, 18

    • As you read these words, pay attention to the reasons God is bringing destruction and de-creation on the land.  


    Journal (8 min): Idols

    • In prayer, think through how idols look today. 

    • Think about the things we turn to for protection, security, control, power, and fulfillment.

    • Then write down you thoughts about these two questions:

    1. What idols are common to people in your community? 

    2. What idols tempt you?  


    Listen (3 min):  Idols

    • As you listen, picture giving your idols over to God.  

  • Read (5 min): Zephaniah 3:8-20

    • As you read these words, pay attention to the characteristics of those God purifies and gathers.  


    Journal (6 min): Purified Community

    • In prayer, imagine the community of people described by these verses. 

    • Take a moment to write down some characteristics of the community you envision.  


    Listen (4 min):  Zephaniah 3:17

    • As you listen, picture yourself in the community you imagined.  

  • Watch (8 min):  Spoken Gospel: Zephaniah

    • Pay particular attention to the image of fire.  


    Listen (4 min):  Establish Peace (Zephaniah 3:17)

    • As you listen, thank God for the peace you have in Jesus.  


    Pray (3 min): Thanksgiving

    • End this week by thanking God for the ways you experience peace through Jesus.  

Habakkuk | July 8-14

Introduction: This week, Habakkuk invites us to a shockingly honest conversation with God.  At the same time, Habakkuk invites us to trust God regardless of our circumstances.  When honesty and trust are combined together, they give us a model for approaching God with our most difficult and painful questions. 

  • Watch (7 min):  Book of Habakkuk Summary

    • Pay particular attention to the dialogue between Habakkuk and God.  


    Read (7 min): Read the Book of Habakkuk

    • Choose your favorite version, but preferably one that has paragraphs and headings.

    • Read through the book quickly.  

    • Try not to get stuck on names or places or words you don’t understand.  

    • Pay attention to who is speaking as the dialogue goes back and forth between Habakkuk and God.  


    Pray (1 min): Respond to God

    • Talk to God and express whatever is on your heart of mind in response to reading these words.  

  • Read (5 min):  Habakkuk 1:1-11

    • Pay attention to the questions Habakkuk asks and the answer God gives.  


    Listen (5 min): Habakkuk’s Call

    • As you listen, consider the pain in Habakkuk’s question and the pain in God’s response.  


    Journal (3 min): Seeing Injustice

    • Think about the injustice, violence, conflict, and strife that happens in our community here in Terre Haute.  

    • Jot down a quick list of the things that come to mind.  


    Pray (2 min): Listening to God (Centering Prayer)

    • In prayer, offer your list to God and listen in silence to how God responds.  

    • To help you listen, use a practice called Centering Prayer.  

    • Centering Prayer is a tool that has been used throughout church history to help focus a time of quiet listening.  

    • Select a word or a short phrase to help center your focus (for this exercise, consider using “How Long?” or “O Lord”).

    • When you notice your attention drifting, say your phrase (silently or out loud) to draw your attention back to God.  

    • You may need to say your phrase often, especially if you are new to this kind of prayer.  


    As you listen to God, many types of experiences are possible.  

    • You may spend this time with God in silence.

    • You may experience a feeling or emotion, such as calm, love, sorrow, or peace.  

    • You may notice a thought comes to your mind that doesn’t seem to be a distraction, like a verse or truth from Scripture.  

    • You may experience a sense that God has something to communicate to you directly.  

  • Read (5 min):  Habakkuk 1:12-2:5

    • Pay attention to the questions Habakkuk asks and the answer God gives.  


    Listen (3 min): The Accusation (Habakkuk 1:13)

    • As you listen, consider the pain in Habakkuk’s question and the pain in God’s response.  


    Journal (3 min): Seeing Injustice

    • Think about the injustice, evil, treachery, and destruction that happens around the world.  

    • Jot down a quick list of the things that come to mind.  


    Pray (4 min): Listening to God (Centering Prayer)

    • In prayer, offer your list to God and listen in silence to how God responds.  

    • To help you listen, use a practice called Centering Prayer.  

    • Centering Prayer is a tool that has been used throughout church history to help focus a time of quiet listening.  

    • Select a word or a short phrase to help center your focus (for this exercise, consider using “Why?” or “My God.”  

    • When you notice your attention drifting, say your phrase (silently or out loud) to draw your attention back to God.  

    • You may need to say your phrase often, especially if you are new to this kind of prayer.  


    As you listen to God, many types of experiences are possible.  

    • You may spend this time with God in silence

    • You may experience a feeling or emotion, such as calm, love, sorrow, or peace.  

    • You may notice a thought comes to your mind that doesn’t seem to be a distraction, like a verse or truth from Scripture.  

    • You may experience a sense that God has something to communicate to you directly.  

  • Read (5 min):  Habakkuk 2:6-20

    • Pay attention to the different kinds of evil that are called out in this section.  


    Listen (4 min): Habakkuk 2:18-20

    • As you listen, think about the things people idolize and those who promote these things as gods.  


    Pray (6 min): Lament for Injustice

    • In prayer, take some time to express sadness, frustration, anger, and despair to God.  

    • This time is not about asking God to step in and intervene, but to share in God’s sorrow over human evil.  

    • Spend some time in lament for each of these five groups:

    1. Those who acquire wealth by extortion–using fear and threats to take the wealth of others.  

    2. Those who build their houses by unjust gain–taking advantage of the disadvantage or loss of others.  

    3. Those who benefit from slavery or the inadequately compensated labor of others.  

    4. Those who take advantage of others by enticing them into substance abuse and sexual immorality. 

    5. Those who offer idols to people as a form of security and protection.  

  • Listen (4 min): Habakkuk's Song

    • As you listen to this song, think about how it expresses both honesty and trust.  


    Read (4 min):  Habakkuk 3

    • Pay attention to the tension between the way Habakkuk describes his situation and the way he responds to God.  


    Listen (4 min): Sovereign Lord (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

    • As you listen to this song, think about how it expresses trust in bad times.  


    Pray (3 min): Expressing Faith in All Circumstances

    • Think back through the events of your week, both the ordinary and the significant.  

    • Think about both the good things and the bad things.  

    • For each thing you think of, insert it into this sentence: “When ________________, Jesus, I trust you.”

Nahum | July 1-7

Introduction: This week returns to the story of Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrian Empire.  Over 100 years have passed since the time of  Jonah and the Assyrians have embraced war, violence, and oppression.  Nahum reminds us that God opposes violent empires everywhere, while bringing refuge and good news to those who trust in him.  

  • Listen (10 min): The Book of Nahum

    • Listen to the entire book of Nahum.  

    • As you listen, try to imagine the impact of these words on the people of Judah, who watched helplessly as the Assyrian Empire (whose capital was Nineveh) destroyed the Northern Kingdom and ravaged the Judean countryside.  


    Pray (2 min): Respond to God

    • Talk to God and express whatever is on your heart of mind in response to hearing these words.  

  • Pray (1 min): Invitation

    • Invite God to guide you as you read through and reflect on the history of Israel and Judah. 

    • Ask God to draw your attention to the story and the experiences of the people involved.  


    Read (14 min): The History of Israel, Judah, and Assyria (2 Kings 15:17-31; 16:5-18; 17:1-6, 24-33; 18:9-17; 19:9-19, 35-37)  

    • Read through these sections quickly.  

    • Try not to get stuck on names or places or words you don’t understand.  

    • Follow the relationship between Israel (Samaria), Judah (Jerusalem) and Assyria (Nineveh).  

  • Watch (5 min):  Book of Nahum Summary

    • Pay particular attention to the way the evil of Assyria repeats empires throughout history.  


    Reflect (3 min): Violent Empires

    • In prayer, invite God to help you reflect.  

    • Think through the ways that modern nations have used war, violence, and oppression to accomplish their goals.  

    • Think of ways that some nations have benefitted from the suffering of others.  


    Reflect (3 min): Our Violent Empire

    • In prayer, invite God to help you reflect.  

    • Think through the ways that our nation has used war, violence, and oppression to accomplish its goals.  

    • Think of ways that our nation has benefitted from the suffering of others.  


    Reflect (3 min): My Violent Empire

    • In prayer, invite God to help you reflect.  

    • Think through the ways that you personally used force, violence, intimidation, pressure, and power to accomplish your goals.  

    • Think of ways that you have benefitted from the disadvantage of others.  


  • Read (5 min):  Nahum Chapters 2 & 3

    • Read through these chapters quickly.  

    • Look for the reasons that God is against Nineveh.  


    Lament (7 min): Empire and the Fall of Empire

    • In prayer, take some time to express sadness, frustration, anger, and despair to God (what Scripture calls lament).  

    • Remember your reflections from the previous day regarding the violence of empires.  

    • Spend some time in lament for each of these two groups:

    1. Those who are suffering and oppressed by violent empires, who are crying out for help, refuge, and justice.  

    2. Those who are part of violent empires, who will see their violence turned back on them (like Nineveh).  


    Listen (3 min): Oh, Nineveh (Nahum)

    • Click the link above and then click the play button.  

    • As you listen, let this song be part of your lament. 

  • Read (5 min):  Nahum Chapter 1

    • Look for the reasons that God is against Nineveh.  


    Reflect (7 min): Good News

    • Read Nahum 1:15

    • In prayer, reflect on how the Gospel is more than an abstract theological truth, but is a message of hope to those who are suffering and oppressed.  

    • Read Nahum 1:7

    • In prayer, reflect on how God is more than a benefactor for the faithful, but is a refuge for those who are experiencing overwhelming trouble.  


    Listen (3 min):  Take Shelter

    • As you listen, think of the ways you need to find refuge in God.