Oftentimes, the commands of God come to us as a complete mystery. The book of Hosea details one such time in the history of Israel as God commands his prophet to marry a prostitute. What on earth could he have in mind with such a command? What could he be up to?
As it turns out, God’s message to (spiritually) adulterous Israel—on the threshold of invasion from the growing superpower of Assyria—was one that Hosea would not only have to proclaim with his words, but also with his life. Through his experience of loving the unlovable and being faithful to the unfaithful, the love and faithfulness of Yahweh would be enfleshed and put on full display. He is the faithful husband who pursues his faithless bride, a powerful truth that reveals the heart of the Holy One and prepares the way for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Unrequited Love.” is a sermon series devoted to the examination of the message of Hosea with the goal of provoking the church today to be faithful amidst a wicked and adulterous generation.
Series Playlist
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A Scandalous Love | Pastor Sean Scribner
Jan 26, 2025 • 42:43
The story of Hosea is not just Israel’s story, it is humanity’s story. All of us have sinned and turned our backs on God. Yet to every one of us is given a message of warning and of wooing, that we might turn back to God in faith and experience…
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Of Raisin Cakes and Men
Feb 2, 2025 • 37:29
Through Hosea, God not only reveals his willingness to do whatever it takes to buy back his errant bride, but also whatever it takes to break the pattern of sin that keeps leading her astray. He heals his beloved’s past and makes possible new beginnings that the marriage might last…
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Desperate Times. Desperate Measures.
Feb 9, 2025 • 42:18
God wants to be known by you; to give life that lasts forever to you; to forgive your every sin; to heal everything that is broken; and to reconcile you to himself. The desperate times of our sinfulness called for the desperate measures of the cross. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Unrequited…
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A People Divided
Feb 16, 2025 • 41:53
What is the hope for a people who are like a half-baked cake, an old man past his prime, a silly, witless dove, or a crooked bow? A shepherd who can lead them out of their faithlessness, giving them a heart undivided. Speaker: Sean Scribner Series: Unrequited Love. Scripture: Hosea 7:8-16
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father.” (James 1:17, NLT)
The life God envisions for his people is not one of isolation or extraction. The work of Jesus is not intended to pull his followers out of society, to have no part in civic life. Instead, he calls those who belong to him to embody his presence in the world, before the world, as we pass through the world as witnesses, salt, and light.
In this sermon series, we will explore the profound impact of personal relationships in bringing others to Jesus. Each week, we’ll dive into scriptures that reveal the importance of being a neighbor in the biblical sense—reaching out to others with intentionality and love, and guiding them toward a life-changing encounter with Christ.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus famously taught the lessons of his kingdom through the use of parables. In fact, Mark 4:34 states that “in his public ministry he never taught without using parables” (NLT). The Synoptic Gospels record at least 35 of them, which have been cherished by the church and used for millennia to help her understand the things of God.
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