Who is God? (What is his nature?)
What does God require of us in this particular place and time? (How then shall we live?)

The prophet identifies the gaps between God’s reality and our own. - Hirsch

The role of the prophet is to call people back to God, and forward to God’s preferred future.

Criticism is not a license for cynicism.

The most important qualifier for prophets is love.

Critical distance should not translate into permanent distance

Prophets are not infallible.

Core Bent:
- Guardian of the covenant
- Questioner of the status quo

Focus:
- Keeping the movement aligned with God and his ways

Character traits
- Has a strong intuition of what is right and wrong
- Emphasizes integrity, obedience and mystery

Leadership style:
- Motivational

Overriding decision making concern:
- Will this help us embody God’s concerns?

Metrics for success:
- Faithfulness to God’s values through visible and tangible actions
- Consciousness of God’s character and presence

Shortcomings:
- Ideological
- Demanding
- Short-sighted
- Legalistic
- Simplistic

Slogan:
- Repent, believe, and obey

Historical examples:
- Jesus
- Peter
- James
- Martin Luther
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Martin Luther King Jr.

Assessment questions:
- Do you have a passion to see people walk obediently with God?
- Do you intuitively see the gap between how things are and how God wants them to be?
- Do you seek to call people to live in God’s new social order?
- Do you have a passion for social justice and/or holiness?
- Are you obsessed with being a faithful follower and helping people know who God is and what he requires from us?

Homework:
- Re-read Ephesians
- Answer assessment questions