1. Prophets & Prophesies

2. Opening Prayer Jeremiah 29:11-14
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the LORD.

3. Bible Ouiji
Hand a student the Bible and have them open to a random spot.
That student should hand it to the student on their right, who should read aloud the name of the book and the total number of chapters it has.
Handing again to the right, that student should pick a number within the total number of chapters.
Again to the right, the next student should open to that chapter and announce the total number of verses.
The student to their right should call out a number within the total number of verses.
Once more to the right, the last student should read out the selected verse.

4. The Organization of the Bible: (New Testament later in the year)
The Old Testament has 46 books divided into four sections:
The Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy)
The Historical Books (Joshua thru 2 Maccabees)
The Wisdom Books (Job through Sirach)
The Prophets (Isaiah through Malachi)
These books are the collected speeches and biographies of the Israelite prophets.

5. Prophets
In the Bible the Prophetic Books are classified as “major” and “minor” prophets. They are designated as such by Bible scholars according to the relative sizes of their books, not how important they are.
Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel,
Minor Prophets, whose works are briefer—Baruch, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
Other prophets in the Bible, who do not have entire books named after them, are still important figures… Deborah from the Book of Judges and Elijah and Elisha from 1 and 2 Kings; Anna is a prophet mentioned in the Gospel of Luke and John the Baptist is a prophet mentioned in all four Gospels.
A prophet will always seek to direct men to the Lord and bring them into right standing with God. The prophets speak about specific times and events, and are pointing to how Jesus will be the fulfillment of all of those things.

6. Five Major Oral Prophets:
Samuel (enthroned David, ~ 1000 BC)
Nathan (adviser to David)
Ahijah (adviser to Jeroboam, 1st king of Israel ~920 BC)
Elijah (led resistance against Baal cult, BC)
Elisha (led resistance against Baal cult, ~561 BC)

7. Literary Prophets (Latter Prophets):
Early (~721 BC, the fall of the kingdom of Israel):
Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Jonah
Pre-Exilic (to 587 BC):
Judah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Nahum
Babylonian Captivity (from 587 BC):
Ezekiel, Daniel
Post-Exilic Jewish Community (from 538 BC):
Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Obadiah, Joel

8. The Seven Women Prophets:
Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hulda, and Esther (O.T.)
Anna is the only New Testament prophetess named (Luke 2:36-38)

9. Prophets Purpose
The Bible shows us that God will make himself known to the prophet. The Office of Prophet is an office that God alone can call one to. This is not an office one chooses for himself.
When we consider God is a God of love and the heart of God is mercy, we must remember that even when God uses a prophet to bring correction, he does so in the Spirit of Love with the hope of turning a person or a church or nation back to the heart of God. Even a warning is given by a prophet with the hope that it will bring repentance and prevent judgment. God will send a prophet often as a last resort before judgment comes.

10. Role of the Prophets
The word prophet comes from the Greek word, "prophetes," which literally means, "forth-tell."  A prophet tells forth God's messages which may involve foretelling. Prophets are God's spokesmen and spokeswomen who speak to mankind on behalf of God. The role of a prophet is to look at the present with a memory of the past and a concern for the future.
There is no new public revelation. Everything we need to know for salvation, every Truth we have, has been already provided for us in the person of Jesus Christ.
Nothing new is going to be found that changes what the Truth is… but we receive personal revelations every day. Personal revelation is anything which helps us to understand God and his will for us individually.

11. Prophecies come in varied ways:
As spontaneous utterances--something revealed on the spot that is totally unpremeditated and comes bubbling up from the Holy Spirit within.  While nothing is actually seen or heard, strong impressions or thoughts flood from the spirit of the man or woman and fill his mind.  (I Corinthians 14:30; 2:9-16)  These thoughts are then spoken in the meeting in a timely & disciplined manner.
Through visions or trances.  (Ananias is an example in Acts 9:10-16.  This was a common experience for the Old Testament prophets: Isaiah 6; Revelation 1:11; Numbers 24:1-6)
Through dreams and night visions.  (Daniel 7:1-28; Genesis 37:5-9; Numbers 12:6; Joel 2:8)
Through angels.  (Revelation 1:1; Acts 10:22; 27:23-26)

12. Prophet Poster Create a poster of your assigned prophet. Include:
Name of prophet/Book
Author and when message was written
Period of historical time covered
Theme of their message
Creativity!

13. Prophet-able News
The ancient world was filled with figures who claimed to be able to predict the future/uncover the will of the gods.
One of the distinctive features of biblical prophets is that they do not possess any special power. It is not they who choose to speak for God; rather, God chooses to speak through them.
Furthermore, those God chooses would often prefer to run the other way! That’s because they know, then as now, that God’s prophetic message is not often received with enthusiasm, especially when it challenges our most cherished assumptions.
We like out prophets to flatter, not to challenge. Are you open to the prophetic challenges in your own life? Listen for it!
Today’s Reading, Luke 4:16-30 “ Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown”

14. Conclusion
The role of prophets has not died, only changed. In every age there are people who challenge us to be faithful to God, and remind us about God’s faithful love for us.
As Christians, we believe that through our Baptism, God calls us to be priests, prophets, and kings. Challenge others to live justly and remind them of God’s love.

15. Closing Prayer Forgiving God,
Help us to hear the prophets in today’s world who call us to own our sin.
The prophets who call us to end discrimination,
Who call us to care for the needy,
Who call us to care for the earth,
Who call us to end violence,
Who call us to healthy relationships,
Who call us to be people of integrity, avoiding sin in all its forms.
May we be humble enough to admit our faults and courageous enough to do something about them.

16. Act of Contrition (modern)
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin, Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen