What Are The Minor Prophets?

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently delivered messages of judgment, calling God’s people to account for their sins. Today, those messages help believers see God’s character, call us to repentance, and offer us promises of hope and restoration. Christians often categorize the prophetic books of the Bible as “major” or minor.” The term minor refers not to the importance of these books but to their relatively short lengths as compared to the more significant length of the major prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel. Even dedicated Bible readers don’t spend a lot of time on the twelve books at the end of the Old Testament known as the “Minor Prophets”: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Yet, through these books, God continues to reveal his heart to us and encourage our faith. 

We invite you to delve into the books of the Minor Prophets with the Groundwork audio Bible study series listed below. The first, The Minor Prophets: God's Judgment and Hope, delves into nine of the twelve minor prophets through six episodes. The remaining three series dive deeper into the books of Hosea, Jonah, and Habakkuk. These series are great for personal or group study.

The Minor Prophets: God's Judgment and Hope. Many Christians are less familiar with the biblical books commonly known as the “Minor Prophets.” In this Groundwork series, we examine the accusations, judgments, and promises found in nine of the last twelve books of the Old Testament.

Hosea: A Prophetic Call to Return to Faithfulness. In the book of Hosea, God confronts Israel’s spiritual betrayal. In this series, we examine God’s scathing judgments of Israel’s idolatry and the grace he offers when he invites his people to “Return to me.” 

Jonah: A Story of God's Relentless Love and Abundant Mercy. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah from our childhoods. Yet it still captures our imagination and teaches us powerful truths about a God who reveals himself as a giver of second chances and is quick to extend mercy.

Habakkuk. In the book of Habakkuk, we find answers to our questions about how evil can exist even if we have a just God, how we should respond to unanswered prayers, and where we can find lasting hope.

Groundwork is a weekly, half-hour audio program for radio and podcast that digs deeply into Scripture as the foundation for our lives. Hosts Scott Hoezee and Darrell Delaney cultivate our understanding of God’s Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible in casual conversation and applying it with insight for today’s world.