FIRST THINGS FIRST LifeWay

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1 FIRST THINGS FIRST 82

2 Where do we begin when everything seems important? Ever have those days when everything feels urgent? The sales pitch urges us to act now. The notifications of incoming text messages demand responses. The unplanned meeting or phone call insists on our presence. The relentless movement of the clock s second hand reminds us of all we need to do today. Some items on our to-do list can and should be labeled urgent, but others just try to convince us they re serious. We simply have to set some things aside for the moment to focus on more pressing matters. But when everything claims some level of urgency, how do we know where to start? We know we should make first things first but what s first? The short Book of Haggai answers this question. Here we ll see that one thing takes priority over everything else: loving obedience to God. When God becomes our focus, we are better equipped to handle all the other things vying for our attention. SAM RAINER Sam Rainer serves as senior pastor of West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida. He is the president of Rainer Research and co-founder/co-owner of Rainer Publishing. Sam is married to Erin, and they have two daughters. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 83

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4 SPECIAL FOCUS FIRST THINGS FIRST The Point Always put God first. The Passage Haggai 1:2-13 The Bible Meets Life A lot of things vie for our attention, and many of them offer a good sales pitch explaining why they should take priority. We also encounter the tyranny of the urgent, which screams for attention now! No doubt we have many things that are important, but only one thing takes priority over all these things: loving obedience to God. The Setting The Persian ruler Cyrus issued a decree in 538 B.C. allowing peoples exiled by Babylon to return to their homelands. Many Jews returned to Jerusalem and began rebuilding both the city and the temple. However, after the foundation of the temple was laid, progress faltered and then ceased. Temple reconstruction did not commence again until God called Haggai in 520 B.C. to encourage the Jewish leaders to rebuild the temple. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 85

5 What does the Bible say? Haggai 1:2-13 (CSB) Lord of Armies (v. 2) This title emphasizes God as a mighty warrior and leader of the heavenly armies. It also emphasizes His power and sovereignty over all creation. House of the Lord (v. 2) This phrase refers to the Jerusalem temple, God s chosen place to receive the Israelites worship, sacrifices, and offerings. In this sense, the temple was where God dwelt among His people. Paneled houses (v. 4) Wealthy people could afford to have wooden panels installed over the interior stone walls in their houses to provide a smooth texture and luxurious finish. Remnant (v. 12) This prophetic term referenced a small group of Israelites who survived God s judgment of the nation by repenting and trusting in God s mercy for their future. 2 The Lord of Armies says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt. 3 The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, the Lord of Armies says this: Think carefully about your ways: 6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it. 7 The Lord of Armies says this: Think carefully about your ways. 8 Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house; and I will be pleased with it and be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why? This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. Because my house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 So on your account, the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops. 11 I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills, on the grain, new wine, fresh oil, and whatever the ground yields, on man and animal, and on all that your hands produce. 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people obeyed the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord s messenger, delivered the Lord s message to the people: I am with you this is the Lord s declaration. 86 Special focus

6 THE POINT Always put God first. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question #1 on page 67 of the PSG (Personal Study Guide): What s the longest you ve waited in line? (Note: If group members answer with a one-word reply, ask follow-up questions to get them to share more about what they waited for and why.) Allow time for each person to respond. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 68): One way to tell what s important to somebody is to see how long he will stand in line for something. Think about a time when you stood in line for a long time. Was it to vote in an election? Buy a new product? Get coffee? You likely stood in that line because it was a high priority for you. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Divide your group into subgroups of two or three people each. Using their smartphones, ask them to briefly identify the main priorities of young adults as portrayed via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and so on. Ask, What earns the time, attention, effort, and finances of young adults? What can we learn about the priorities of young adults? Be sure to communicate that all of the responses aren t necessarily wrong or misplaced priorities. TIP: Occasionally, take time to identify specific things God has done recently in your church or small group and then praise Him for them. This habit reinforces the importance of prayer as well as God s faithfulness. Notes SAY: How can we get in line with what God wants for us? Haggai 1:2-13 helps us understand how to align our priorities with God s priorities. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 68 of the PSG: Always put God first. PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. As you do, ask God for wisdom as you study His Word and consider the priorities in place in the lives of your group members. LEADER PACK: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #7, Book of Haggai poster, to give a brief overview and context of the Book of Haggai. PACK POSTER: Pack Item #7 Book of Haggai poster PLAYLIST PICK: My Lighthouse By Rend Collective BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 87

7 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Haggai 1:2-8 (CSB) 2 The Lord of Armies says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt. 3 The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, the Lord of Armies says this: Think carefully about your ways: 6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it. 7 The Lord of Armies says this: Think carefully about your ways. 8 Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house; and I will be pleased with it and be glorified, says the Lord. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Haggai 1:2-8. SUMMARIZE THE COMMENTARY (VERSE 2): When the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile in 538 B.C., work was begun on rebuilding the temple. However, when opposition arose from the peoples of the surrounding region, work on the temple ceased (Ezra 4:1 5). Work on the temple would not begin again until God sent Haggai in 520 B.C. to spur them on to finish. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How would you summarize the illustrations in these verses? 88 Special focus SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGES 69-70): God sent the prophet Haggai to Jerusalem to urge the people to resume their work to rebuild the temple. In Haggai s address, we learn two key truths about making obedience to God our priority. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Since the people experienced disappointment and opposition, they kept repeating, The time has not come (v. 2). The people rationalized their apathy by claiming it was not yet God s will. Our priorities are always less satisfying than God s priorities. God pointed out how they were always dissatisfied, no matter what they did, because they only went after what was important to them. DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 69 of the PSG: What are some of the major priorities in our lives? DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 70 of the PSG: What excuses do we make to delay our obedience?

8 THE POINT Always put God first. Haggai 1:2-8 Commentary Obedience to God takes priority. Verse 2: When the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile in 538 B.C., work was begun on rebuilding the temple. However, when opposition arose from the peoples of the surrounding region, work on the temple ceased (Ezra 4:1 5). Work on the temple would not begin again until God sent Haggai in 520 B.C. to challenge the Jewish leaders and the people to resume the rebuilding of the temple. Haggai addressed his message to Zerubbabel, the appointed governor of the Persian province of Judah, and to Joshua, the high priest (v. 1). These leaders led both the civil and religious aspects of the Jews who had returned from the Babylonian captivity. However, Haggai was only the spokesperson ( prophet ) through whom the word of the Lord was coming (v. 1). The source of the message was the Lord of Armies, a title which emphasizes God s sovereignty and power. God s message concerned His temple, the house of the Lord. Haggai stated a common excuse given by the people for not resuming the work of rebuilding the temple. The people were saying that the time has not come to resume this work, implying that other priorities were more pressing. Verses 3-4: The message was from the Lord, Yahweh, the name that stresses God s eternal nature. This is the covenant name of God that He had revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:13-15). Haggai asked Zerubbabel and Joshua: Though the people were saying that it was not the right time to rebuild the temple, was it the right time for wealthy leaders like them to live in fine paneled houses while God s house was in ruins? Verse 5: Haggai again emphasized God s sovereignty and power by calling Him the Lord of Armies. He wanted the leaders of the people to see themselves in the light of God s sovereign authority and to respond with the humility God desires. Haggai urged them to consider their priorities. Verse 6: Though the people worked hard at planting their fields, they harvested little. Though they had enough food and drink to get by, they never had enough to be satisfied. No matter how hard the people worked, they never had enough even to satisfy their basic needs. Verses 7-8: Through Haggai s admonition, God was telling the people to seriously examine their lives and to change their ways. Instead of making the rebuilding of the temple their first priority, they had been focused on themselves. He told them to look at the results: all their efforts were failing to provide what they needed. Haggai challenged the leaders (and through them the people) to focus on what should have been their first priority rebuilding the temple. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 89

9 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Haggai 1:9-11 (CSB) 9 You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why? This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. Because my house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 So on your account, the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops. 11 I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills, on the grain, new wine, fresh oil, and whatever the ground yields, on man and animal, and on all that your hands produce. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Haggai 1:9-11. SAY: Rebuilding the temple was significant because God associated with His people through that structure. By disregarding the temple, they were ignoring God. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you felt like you just could not get ahead? SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 71): As we see in verses 9-11, we lose out when we place ourselves ahead of God. When we are first, we cannot know God s will. When the people stopped focusing on God s priorities, He did things to get their attention. The rain ceased, so that the land stopped producing crops. Many surely wondered, What s going on? We are working hard, yet God is not providing. Why? We cannot know God s will when we put ourselves first. The only way we can discern God s desires for our lives is to make Him our priority. When our priorities are misguided by selfishness, we can get trapped in the vicious cycle of working harder and being less satisfied. DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 71 of the PSG: How can we determine what priority we ve given God in our lives? DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 72 on their own. If time allows, invite volunteers to share their responses aloud. FIRST PRIORITY: What distracts you from keeping God first in your life? Draw a symbol that represents your response in the space below. Then, identify one way to overcome this distraction with God s help and note that next to your drawing. 90 Special focus

10 THE POINT Always put God first. Haggai 1:9-11 Commentary We lose out when we place ourselves ahead of God. Verse 9: God reminded the leaders of the people of the limited results of all their hard work (see v. 6). Though they had expected much, their expectations and their work had amounted to little because God had ruined their harvest. God had intervened in their work to limit the yield of their efforts. God then raised the obvious question: Why had He punished them in this way? Before he continued to announce God s message, Haggai proclaimed: This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. These were not Haggai s own words, but the very declaration of the Lord to His people. The title the Lord of Armies again emphasized God s sovereignty and power over all creation. Nothing that was happening to the Jews was a matter of merely unfortunate circumstances. God stated that the reason the people were suffering was Because my house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. The people s priorities were upside down. While they refused to make the effort to rebuild the Lord s temple, they were busily working on their own houses. They had put their own houses and welfare first instead of rebuilding the temple. The great irony was that by putting themselves first they had lost God s blessings. Verses 10-11: In order to help the people see what had happened and why, God spelled it out for them. He began by stating in no uncertain terms that the reason the people were suffering was on your account they were suffering because of their own actions. Because of their misplaced priorities and failure to rebuild His house, God had shut both the skies from giving its water and the land from yielding its produce. God had not only kept back the rain, but even the dew. Normally, rains came in Israel in the fall and spring. During the other seasons, the crops depended upon the morning dew for moisture; but, God had withheld even that form of watering. (Other examples of God s providing or withholding the dew are found in Deuteronomy 33:27-28 and 1 Kings 17:1.) Everything the people and their animals depended upon for food and drink the grain, the grapes, and the olive trees were affected by the lack of rain and dew. As a result, they did not have the basic necessities of their diet. The words of the Lord in these verses mirror the warnings given to the Israelites when they entered the promised land obedience to the Lord would bring blessings, while disobedience would bring punishment (Deuteronomy 11:13 17; see also Deuteronomy 28). Just as the Lord said in verse 9 that He had ruined their harvest, so in verse 11 He stated that He was the one who had summoned a drought on the fields and all the produce of the land, on the people and on the animals. What was happening to the people was not the cycles of nature alone. It was the judgment of God. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 91

11 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Haggai 1:12-13 (CSB) 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the entire remnant of the people obeyed the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. So the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord s messenger, delivered the Lord s message to the people: I am with you this is the Lord s declaration. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Haggai 1: SAY: God caused a drought that prevented the land from yielding crops, He allowed them to be completely dissatisfied with work, and He sent Haggai to speak firmly to them and show them their sin and failure. Finally, the people listened to God and responded with full obedience. SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 73): Their response was more than just outward obedience. Verse 12 says: the people obeyed the Lord their God. Notice that last part: their God. Previously in the passage, God called them these people, (v. 2), indicating they had broken their intimacy with God through their disobedience. But now the people came back to their God. They sought both obedience and a restored relationship. As a result of their obedience, God made a great promise: I am with you (v. 13). The Lord was quick to renew His fellowship with the people when they returned to Him. It s the same with His followers today. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What does it look like for God to be with us as individuals and as a group? DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 73 of the PSG: What steps can we take to make sure we have the right priorities in life? TRANSITION: Where is God in your list of priorities right now? Does He have top priority? If not, then what priorities are above Him? You will never be satisfied with your life until God has first place in it. 92 Special focus

12 THE POINT Always put God first. Haggai 1:12-13 Commentary God is with those who place Him first in their lives. Verse 12: So how did the people respond? They obeyed the Lord their God not only Zerubbabel and Joshua, but also the entire remnant of the people. The remnant was a common term among the prophets (Isaiah 10:20 22; Jeremiah 31:7 11; Amos 5:15) to refer to the people of Israel who survived the destruction of the nation, especially those who returned from Babylonian captivity. The term refers to a small group of Israelites who survived God s judgment of the nation by repenting and trusting in God s mercy for their future. Though God had judged the nation, He would purify those who remained and be merciful to them. The term reflects the people s covenant connection to God. The people responded to Haggai s message with obedience not merely because of his passion or eloquence but because they recognized that the Lord their God had sent him. They knew that hearing Haggai s word was the same as hearing the voice of the Lord their God. Though they respected Haggai, it was the Lord they feared and reverenced and obeyed. Verse 13: Apparently, the people responded quickly to Haggai s message. Though Haggai began by addressing only the leaders Zerubbabel and Joshua (v. 1), perhaps he was also speaking to a gathering of the people. Or perhaps he spoke first to Zerubbabel and Joshua, who then in turn conveyed his message to the rest of the people. Either way, all of the Jews in the land heard the Lord s message through Haggai, and they all responded with reverence and obedience. As soon as the people committed to start rebuilding the temple, God sent another message through Haggai. His message was simple: I am with you. God made the same promise to Jacob (Genesis 28:15), to Moses (Exodus 3:12), and to Joshua (Joshua 1:5). As David expressed his desire to build a temple, God reminded David how He had always been with him (2 Samuel 7:9). Haggai recorded that God kept His promise by working in the hearts and minds of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the remnant of the people to encourage them to get busy rebuilding the temple (Haggai 1:14). Less than four weeks after Haggai delivered his message (v. 1), the people had made the necessary preparations and began working on the rebuilding project. The construction of the temple that was begun on September 21, 520 B.C. was completed on March 12, 515 B.C Richard A. Taylor, Haggai in Haggai, Malachi, vol. 21A in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2004), 144; Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 10 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1993), 119. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93

13 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes SAY: How can you place God above everything else in your life? GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 74 of the PSG. Assess. On a scale of 1 to 10 ( with 1 being Low and 10 being High ), how would you rate your level of daily commitment toward God? What steps can you take to change your place on that scale? Begin each day with Him. Carve out minutes to read Scripture and pray. Be vigilant about protecting this time and reducing distractions. This act demonstrates the priority you place on God s Word and your relationship with Him. Pursue a lifestyle of devotion. Audit your daily and weekly routine. Does your calendar reflect devotion to God? Are you making time to seek Him and serve Him? Be ready to say yes the next time an opportunity arises to serve God by serving people in your church or community. Wrap It Up SAY: There will never be a shortage of distractions competing for your attention that rightly belongs to God. Be steadfast in your pursuit to put God first. God promises to provide what you need if He is your priority. Even better, God promises His presence to those who put Him first. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 94 Special focus

14 THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO A SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY SCHOOL BY BRUCE RALEY So what makes for a successful Sunday School? For more than 30 years, I have trained, spoken, and written on this topic. I have addressed the need for solid Bible study. I have trained leaders on the need for organization within the groups. I have written about the need for groups and leaders to reproduce. I still believe all of these are important even crucial. But perhaps there are a few secret ingredients to success. In fact, a group might do all of the actions above and still find that something is missing. Maybe there is a need to just lighten up. There I said it. Just smile. And laugh. Express joy. I have been in Sunday School groups that are just way too uptight. The leader is too serious. The members all have stern looks on their faces from the time they enter until the time they leave. In fact, they carry that seriousness straight into the worship service, and probably on to the restaurant afterwards. Wonder why guests might not come back a second time? Wonder why some people choose to join another group? Wonder why some just quit attending? Proverbs 15:13 says A joyful heart makes a face cheerful. We should come together with joyful hearts. And if we have joyful hearts, it shows on our faces and in our countenance. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 95

15 Certainly there are times when the group is solemn, addressing serious needs or topics. But there should also be abundant times when the group is laughing, smiling, and enjoying being together as they study God s Word. 1. It makes for an enjoyable experience. So much of life today is intense. Many people work in difficult environments. Family and financial stress are found among many. Pressures of life push from every direction at times. So couldn t your Sunday School group be a time when people enjoy being together and find encouragement and strength in God s Word? Even in studying difficult passages and discussing serious topics, we find our Lord Jesus and the hope found in the gospel. That should make us joyful! 2. It makes the session memorable. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to laugh. Let s be honest. How many of us can remember our study topic from two weeks ago? Even as a teacher, I have a difficult time remembering. But I do remember those present and whether we enjoyed the time together. I remember the session lasted longer than scheduled because we were all engaged. I do remember I enjoyed being there. 3. It brings people together. We want to be around people who are full of joy. We want to gather with those who encourage us. We want to join together with people who enjoy life. So loosen up. This Sunday... laugh, smile, and enjoy your time together! Bruce Raley serves as executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tenn. This article originally appeared at LifeWay. com/groupministry. Used by permission. 96 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

16 3 REASONS WHY SHARING STORIES IS IMPORTANT BY KEN BRADDY Bible study doesn t have to be a monologue. That s one lesson I ve learned since I first began teaching the Bible years ago (my first experience as a teacher was leading an 8th grade girls Sunday School class with my wife). In those early days, I talked a lot as the teacher. I thought that I was the star of the group and that the teenagers had come to hear my deep thoughts on the biblical text. Boy, was I wrong! Over the years I developed into a better teacher who finally learned a great lesson: It s better when your group members do the majority of the talking. As a friend of mine once said, He who talks is the one who learns. My best Bible study groups have been the ones where I led the people to have a groupalogue, a Bible study in which people were encouraged to speak up and share insights and stories. Bible study groups should not resemble pulpits, but should look more like coffee shops. Group Bible study should be interactive, engaging, and full of life and conversation. If you are not accustomed to letting your group members talk at least as much as you do, here are 3 reasons why you might want to consider encouraging them to talk, open up, and share their personal stories: People change their minds about themselves as they hear other people s stories. A group of adults who were involved in a study that sought to determine the kind of environment in which adult group members experienced community, vulnerability, and spiritual transformation reported that hearing people s stories was crucial. All acknowledged the value they experienced in hearing the life stories of others in the group and the closeness that developed as a result narrative pedagogy challenges us to share and listen to our own stories and the stories of others and allow God s story to powerfully shape and reshape the trajectory of our stories. Long-believed autobiographies of failure and shame can instead be newly understood as ones of resilience and God s providence. 1 People realize their struggles are not unique. As people open up and tell their stories, it becomes apparent that none of us have all the answers. In fact, it becomes apparent that most of us move from one crisis to the next! As one of my pastors was fond of saying, Very few of us are on calm seas. We are either coming out of a storm or moving into one. As adults tell their stories and ask questions of one another, they begin to realize that struggles are normal, and that depending on others for support is something that should, and must, take place in the context of Christian community. Many people are verbal and auditory learners. These two types of learners actually get energized when they are allowed to talk and when they have opportunities to listen to people talk. That s the majority of the people in your group, most likely! Encouraging discussion in your Bible study group helps people connect to the biblical truth and to each other that s a great combo. 1. Christian Education Journal, Series 3, Volume 12, No. 2. Fall 2015, p. 275). Ken Braddy is the manager of Adult Ongoing Bible Studies at LifeWay. He blogs weekly with great ideas for becoming a better Bible study leader. Follow his blog at kenbraddy.com. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 97