Thank you to Greg Engler and David Lynn for providing these discussion questions for us!
The reconstruction and refurbishing of the temple were the supreme passion of the prophet Haggai. He not only rebuked the people for their delay in rebuilding the temple, but he encouraged them and helped them in this endeavor.
“Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You have eaten but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as thought you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
Haggai 1:3-8
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber and rebuild my house.”
There were some good reason why the citizens of Jerusalem told themselves that it wasn’t yet time to work on the temple:
- The work was hard.
- They didn’t have a lot of money or manpower
- Hostile enemies resisted the work
- They remembered easier time in Babylon
Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses: The people said that it wasn’t time to rebuild the temple. In their actions, they said that it was time to live in nicely rebuilt houses. This was the problem – not that God’s people lived in paneled houses, but that they lived in such personal comfort and luxury while the temple was in ruins.
As we look “Back to the Future,” it was about three years ago we were looking to start building, but God shut that door. Hard. God’s plan was different than ours, because His ways are so much higher than ours. We had no idea that CoVID was about to strike, and everything would come to a screeching halt.
But that is the past. Right Now is the time for God’s people to start being concerned with pleasing Him instead of themselves. It is time to glorify the Lord. In addition, God was telling them to do it with a pure heart; a heart that wanted to please and glorify Him.
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY for your LIFE GROUP
Discussion:
- In what way spiritually have I neglected God and how can I personally do better to glorify God?
- In what way have I neglected the labor (physically) of serving and how can I do better to glorify God?
- What do I believe God would do if I submitted myself to Him and let Him be Lord of my life instead of myself?
- What have I sown and reaped that God didn’t want to see in my life but now walking through by the grace of God?
LOVE GOD
This week commit to:
- Praying that God will shield you from the enemies attacks of discouragement.
- Praying that God will take away any fear you may have.
- Praying that God will show you how to sacrificially give.
- Praying for help to be bold enough to allow your comfort and love into my heart. Help me to turn to you and pray unceasingly!
LOVE OTHERS
This week commit to:
- Praying that God will give you an opportunities and show you where to serve
- Praying to help out at Celebrate Recovery or Tower Road
MAKE DISCIPLES
This week commit to:
- Praying for God’s wisdom to lead a Life Group.
- Praying that God would make you an example for others.
- Consider taking an on-line Christian course to help in leading others.
