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WHAT COMES AFTER SUNDAY?

Use the next steps, Bible plan, message recap, questions & resources below to go deeper.

this week's next steps

Give my discouragement to God

Maturity obeys in spite of opposition: I will obey God

Read Haggai 1 &2 for next week

Say yes to Jesus - click here

Join this week's Bible reading plan

This Week's Message Recap:

In this week’s message, Pastor Morgan continued our From Ruins to Revival series by looking at the Israelites’ journey to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. After returning from exile, the people began rebuilding with excitement and hope, but things didn’t go like they expected. As discouragement, fear, and frustration grew, the work eventually came to a standstill. Their story reminds us that just because we face challenges doesn’t mean we’re heading in the wrong direction. Sometimes, the hardest part of following God isn’t getting started, but continuing to obey when things don’t go as planned.

In Ezra 5, God spoke through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, encouraging the people to begin building again. Even when opposition returned, the Israelites continued working while God handled what they couldn’t control. Ultimately, God used the very circumstances that threatened the project to protect it and provide for its completion. This week we were challenged to remember what God has already called us to do: remain faithful when we feel discouraged and trust Him with the outcome. Faithfulness isn’t proven only by what we start, but often by what we refuse to quit. Whatever we may be facing, don’t quit in the ruins when God is still writing the revival.

Questions to Consider:

1. The Israelites were willing to leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem, but continuing the work proved difficult. Why can it be easier to take the first step of faith than to remain faithful over time?
2. Read Ezra 5:1-2. What stands out to you about their response, and what can we learn from it about returning to something we’ve walked away from?
3. The Israelites continued building even when they couldn’t control how things would turn out. What does trusting God with the outcome look like in our everyday lives, especially when we want answers or certainty?
4. The message challenged us to consider what we’ve stopped building. What are some things that can cause us to lose momentum in our walk with Jesus, and what helps us return to Him?