Dealing with Disobedience
How do you react to disobedience to God? Does it shock you, grieve you, or not bother you? This is the big question the book of Ezra ends with. It shows us the weight of disobedience, the betrayal it is, and finally points us to the only remedy for disobedience.
God’s Word & Hand
How can God’s people survive and thrive in a world where we possess little power or influence in society? It seems like the odds are stacked against the church. Ezra 7-8 provides two profound answers: by having the word of God dwell in us, and the hand of God on us.
Restored Again
Have you ever felt stuck, lacking the energy or excitement to move forward? Perhaps you've even given up on something worthwhile. That's where God's people found themselves in Ezra. However, Ezra 5-6 records a crucial turning point. Discover how God reignites His work, empowers perseverance in the face of opposition, and leads to a celebration of restoration.
Opposition
God's people encountered unrelenting opposition as they went about rebuilding the temple of God. It points to a deeper struggle that arises whenever God's work goes forward in the world. How serious is this threat today? How can we recognise it to best be on guard?
Restored to God
Strained relationships can create challenges in life, making it difficult to work well with others and celebrate victories. This also applies to our relationship with God. Ezra 3 shows the importance of being in good standing with God before we can effectively work together and celebrate the victories.
The God Who Restores
In 539BC the people of Judah are released from exile in Babylon and allowed to return home to rebuild the temple. But this is not just a story about going home. It's a story about God restoring a people to himself. We'll see how it points to the restoration we all need, and how God sovereignly works to bring it about.