Tonight, I began a six-week class covering the Minor Prophets. I believe they’re called that because none of them could hit a curve ball and make it to the majors, like Isaiah and Jeremiah.

There’s a reason why you hear precious few sermons from these little books at the end of the Old Testament. They’re not easy reads. They can get brutal and brutally honest at times.

The reality is that sin and the consequences of sin are serious business. God doesn’t wink at our sin and brush it under the proverbial rug. As a pastor once said, sin always has a cost, and that cost always involves death. We die a little every time we give in to the choice of sin.

But underneath all the woes and warnings is grace. Even in the scary Old Testament, there’s grace. On the flip side of justice is mercy.

The Gospel isn’t “I’m okay, you’re okay. Let’s all just try a little harder to be nice to people.”

The Gospel is “I’m broken. You’re broken. We’re all messed up because sin entered the picture and messed everything up. Sin has a price, but Jesus paid that price by taking the punishment of that sin fully upon Himself on the cross.

Grace isn’t denying sin but declaring that you can be saved from it to an abundant life in God. Up until your last breath, there’s always a chance for grace.

I confess that these Minor Prophets aren’t something you pick up for a light summer read. There’s a lot that I don’t like in there, but if I’m honest, I know that says more about me than about the Bible. That means something in me needs to change.

So begins a fun quest to cover 14 little books of the Old Testament in 6 weeks. I think I’m up for the challenge.