How did God’s people come to forget who he is and begin offering him only part of their hearts?
Stephen walks us through the biblical story—from creation through Abraham, rescue, kings, exile, and return—to show that God has always revealed himself as faithful and powerful, yet his people repeatedly forget. By the time of Malachi, the issue is not lack of knowledge but spiritual amnesia: God’s people still worship, but half-heartedly, treating him as one among many rather than their one and only.

At this service, Malachi 1:11 is launched as our verse for the year, calling God’s people to remember the true purpose of their worship and their calling: “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

The challenge today is the same as then: not to forget who God is, but to return to him wholeheartedly, consecrating our hearts, minds, and lives so that his name is made great everywhere.