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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

Respond when God asks me to take a risk

Re read and Reflect on Ezra 3

Read Ezra 4-6

Say yes to Jesus - click here

Join this week's Bible reading plan

This Week's Message Recap:

In this week’s message, we see how God called the Israelites to take a major step of faith after 70 years of exile in Babylon. God opened the door for them to return to Jerusalem, but not everyone chose to go. Around 50,000 people were willing to leave the lives they had built and make the long journey home. We are reminded that God may stir our hearts and invite us into something new, but He does not force us to respond. Sometimes following Him requires us to leave what is familiar and comfortable without knowing exactly what will happen next.

The message highlights three things that can keep us from taking the risks God asks of us: fear, becoming too settled, and uncertainty about the future. Fear can cause us to focus on everything that could go wrong, while comfort can make us hesitant to leave a life that already feels good. Sometimes the biggest challenge is simply not knowing what the future will look like. The Israelites who returned to Jerusalem faced all three, yet they still stepped forward in faith. When they arrived, things did not necessarily look the way everyone imagined, but they began rebuilding and restoring their worship of God.

Ultimately, we are challenged to trust God even when we cannot see the entire picture. God may not show us exactly what tomorrow will look like; sometimes He simply asks us to be faithful with the next step. We cannot allow fear, comfort, or the unknown to keep us from responding when God stirs our hearts. He gives us the choice to respond, and sometimes the stories He wants to write through our lives begin with a step of faith into the unknown.

Questions to Consider:

What is something God may be stirring in your heart to do right now, and what has been holding you back from saying yes?
Which affects you most when taking a step of faith—fear, being comfortable where you are, or uncertainty about the future? Why?
Read Ezra 3:1–13. What can the Israelites’ willingness to rebuild and worship God teach you about remaining faithful when life does not look the way you expected?
Is there an area of your life where you have become “settled” or comfortable? How might God be calling you to trust Him beyond your comfort zone?
What is one practical step of faith you can take this week, even if God has not shown you the entire picture yet?