Ezra/Nehemiah (week 2)
Published on Jul 31, 2020
Session #2 of Bible study on Ezra/Nehemiah.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Do you miss life...before Corona?
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CHANGE
40 years!?
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'In early autumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled in Jerusalem with a unified purpose. Then Jeshua son of Jehozadak joined his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his family in rebuilding the altar of the God of Israel. They wanted to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as instructed in the Law of Moses, the man of God. '
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'Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old site. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening. They celebrated the Festival of Shelters as prescribed in the Law, sacrificing the number of burnt offerings specified for each day of the festival. '
Photo by Mick Haupt
'They also offered the regular burnt offerings and the offerings required for the new moon celebrations and the annual festivals as prescribed by the Lord. The people also gave voluntary offerings to the Lord. Fifteen days before the Festival of Shelters began, the priests had begun to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord . This was even before they had started to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple.'
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One of the functions of worship is to connect us to the larger community of faith, both physically and historically.
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What distractions get in the way of our worship and our mission?
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Do you think for most people prayer is a first stop or a last resort when the work gets difficult?
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The first job was the altar, the place for sacrifice and worship.
What influence do you think it might have if we built the altar of our church before the church building?
Timing of arrival in Jerusalem...three important religious observances.
How can remembering the past inform our present worship? How might it impede our worship?
How can remembering the past inform our present worship? How might it impede our worship?
'Then the people hired masons and carpenters and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre and Sidon, paying them with food, wine, and olive oil. The logs were brought down from the Lebanon mountains and floated along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa, for King Cyrus had given permission for this.'
Photo by Mick Haupt
'The construction of the Temple of God began in midspring, during the second year after they arrived in Jerusalem. The work force was made up of everyone who had returned from exile, including Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jehozadak and his fellow priests, and all the Levites. The Levites who were twenty years old or older were put in charge of rebuilding the Lord ’s Temple. '
Photo by Mick Haupt
'The workers at the Temple of God were supervised by Jeshua with his sons and relatives, and Kadmiel and his sons, all descendants of Hodaviah. They were helped in this task by the Levites of the family of Henadad.'
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How does worship influence a spirit of giving?
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How are worship and work related?
Photo by Bert Heymans
'When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord ’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord , just as King David had prescribed. With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord : “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord ’s Temple had been laid.'
Photo by Mick Haupt
What events or answers to prayer prompt you to sing praises to God?
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How can your worship today equip you for your week ahead?
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What concrete action can you take this week to demonstrate God's love and bring His kingdom to earth?
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