God Sustains Us Through Adversity

Transcription

1 SESSION 6 God Sustains Us Through Adversity Summary and Goal The exiles had returned to their homeland, but this was only the beginning of the rebuilding process. As they obeyed God in restoring the temple, they faced opposition and adversity. By choosing to listen to God s Word and not the opposition, they were able to complete the work God called them to and celebrate His work through them. As God s people today, we are called to remain faithful to the task God has laid before us and to trust Him to transform hearts and lives, no matter what adversity we encounter. Main Passages Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:13-22 Session Outline 1. Expect opposition when obeying God (Ezra 4:1-7). 2. Listen to God s Word, not opposing voices (Ezra 5:1-5). 3. Celebrate God s transforming work in others (Ezra 6:13-22). Theological Theme God will sustain His people through adversity and is able to change the attitude of His opponents so His will can be accomplished. Christ Connection Just as God s people faced opposition as they sought to worship God with their obedience, Jesus faced temptation and opposition as He obeyed His Father in all things. Through Jesus endurance in ministry, we are empowered to obey God no matter what circumstances or trials we face. Missional Application God calls us to continue in obedience, despite the words of our opponents, and to trust Him to change the hearts and minds of those who oppose our faith. Date of My Bible Study: LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Session Plan God Sustains Us Through Adversity Introduction Option Prior to meeting, try to find someone from your group (or larger church body) who has been involved with the construction of his or her own house. Ask this person to describe for the group the building process in 1-2 minutes. Then ask this person the following questions: Did you face any adversity or unforeseen challenges in the construction of your home? How did overcoming this adversity deepen your sense of ownership and identity with the home? For Further Discussion Why is the Christian claim that salvation comes exclusively through conscious faith in Jesus Christ broadly understood in today s society as arrogant and harmful? How can we be ambassadors of peace when our faith is viewed with hostility? Introduction Use the report about the Big Dig project in Boston to orient people to the setbacks typically involved with building something of value (leader p. 82; PSG p. 64). When have you been involved in building or constructing something either literally (a building, car, etc.) or metaphorically (a company, a ministry, etc.)? What problems did you encounter in the process? Summarize this session about the opposition God s people faced when attempting to restore the Jerusalem temple (leader p. 83; PSG p. 65). 1. Expect opposition when obeying God (Ezra 4:1-7). Read Ezra 4:1-7. Explain how the opposition to restoring the temple began and the likely reason the Jews rejected the surrounding peoples offer to help. Highlight the relevance of exclusive worship for the society we live in today (leader pp ; PSG pp ). What kind of opposition or adversity comes against obedient Christians today? What should we learn from the Jews response to their opposition? Call attention to the ripple effect of the Israelites stand for the purity of their religion. Discuss the two ideas God s people must hold in tension when facing trials of various kinds (leader pp ; PSG p. 66): 1) This world in its present state is not our ultimate home 2) We are ambassadors of peace in this world What kind of opposition or adversity do you think is most likely to cause Christians to waver in their beliefs today? 80 Leader Guide

3 2. Listen to God s Word, not opposing voices (Ezra 5:1-5). Ask a volunteer to read Ezra 5:1-5. Speak to how God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to exhort His people in need of encouragement. Note that one criticism from the two prophets concerned the people s priorities (leader pp ; PSG pp ). What are the signs of spiritual apathy? What role does Scripture play in awakening us to God s call on our lives? To reorienting our priorities? Establish the importance of cultivating disciplines that place our focus on God s Word in view of possible discouragement. Show how God remained faithful, continuing to work by watching over the Jewish elders (leader p. 86; PSG p. 68). Point 3 Option Read aloud the Voices from the Church quote by Ed Stetzer (leader p. 88; PSG p. 70). Then ask groups of 3-4 and discuss the following questions (consider writing them on a board or sheet of paper for groups to have; also available on the DVD in The Gospel Project for Adults: Leader Pack): What things in life do you celebrate most expressively? What do the things we celebrate reveal about ourselves and our priorities? What are some common forms of opposition to Christians in other parts of the world? What does opposition look like in our culture? How does Scripture strengthen us to face opposition? 3. Celebrate God s transforming work in others (Ezra 6:13-22). Read Ezra 6: Highlight the celebrations that followed the construction of the temple, and tell why these sort of occasions are vital for God s people as a community (leader pp ; PSG pp ). How have you sought to integrate your Christian faith into life s celebrations? What have you set up as a visible witness to God s goodness in your life? Emphasize that the apex of the chapter is the reinstitution of the Passover. The Jews faithful worship resulted in more people coming back to worship the one true God of Israel (leader pp ; PSG p. 70). What role does celebration have in our evangelism? Conclusion Encourage the group with the truth that God always sees His plans through to fruition and that God did not exclude Himself from facing opposition Christ Himself faced opposition (leader p. 89; PSG p. 71). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 72). Christ Connection: Just as God s people faced opposition as they sought to worship God with their obedience, Jesus faced temptation and opposition as He obeyed His Father in all things. Through Jesus endurance in ministry, we are empowered to obey God no matter what circumstances or trials we face.... Missional Application: God calls us to continue in obedience, despite the words of our opponents, and to trust Him to change the hearts and minds of those who oppose our faith. 81

4 Expanded Session Content God Sustains Us Through Adversity Voices from Church History A good man is neither puffed up by fleeting success nor broken by adversity The tide of trouble will test, purify, and improve the good, but beat, crush, and wash away the wicked. 1 Augustine ( ) Introduction Established in 1630, Boston, Massachusetts, was not designed for the automobile. Due to the traffic congestion in Boston s tangled streets, the Massachusetts Department of Public Works proposed an expressway system that would run through and around the city to alleviate the congestion on Boston s overcrowded freeways. After the initial demolition to clear space for the highway in Boston s historic districts, city planners faced opposition from residents, and the building project was suspended in With the problem of Boston s overtaxed freeway system unresolved, planning for the construction of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (more commonly known as the Big Dig ) began in The Big Dig was the most costly freeway project in United States history. Its construction was hindered by a number of setbacks, including rising costs, leaks in tunnels, design flaws, poor project execution, indictments for using substandard materials, criminal arrests, and most tragically, a death. In the end, despite the political, social, and economic difficulties that surrounded the project, the officials kept the goal of unclogging Boston s roadways as their chief objective, and at great cost, the project was completed. The traffic crisis in metropolitan Boston shows us just how hard it is to work through various avenues to construct something of value. Problems and setbacks occur regularly in this kind of work. When have you been involved in building or constructing something either literally (a building, car, etc.) or metaphorically (a company, a ministry, etc.)? What problems did you encounter in the process? 82 Leader Guide

5 Session Summary The exiles had returned to their homeland, but this was only the beginning of the rebuilding process. As they obeyed God in restoring the temple, they faced opposition and adversity. By choosing to listen to God s Word and not the opposition, they were able to complete the work God called them to and celebrate His work through them. As God s people today, we are called to remain faithful to the task God has laid before us and to trust Him to transform hearts and lives, no matter what adversity we encounter. 1. Expect opposition when obeying God (Ezra 4:1-7). The Jews had permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple of God, but they still faced opposition, and this opposition took on two forms: a subtle undermining of the project and then outright opposition. 1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers houses and said to them, Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here. 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers houses in Israel said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us. 4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated. The adversaries of the Jews in verse 1 were the surrounding peoples mentioned in Ezra 3:3; 4:4, where they are said to have caused fear and discouragement for the Jews. The enemies banded together to oppose the people and prevent them from building the temple. Further Commentary It is easy to overlook or play down the description of this deputation as the adversaries and so to form an impression of the encounter as a rude rebuff to a sincere and friendly gesture. Instead, we are meant to see it as the opening of a battle of wits: the first round in an assault on the integrity of the nation-church, an attempt which would be pressed home with every kind of tactic, disarming or menacing, defamatory or obstructive, but always geared to the one objective The mention of the king of Assyria who brought us here provides a pointer to the story of 2 Kings 17:24ff., and another angle on the speakers and their religion. That story, in brief, tells of foreign communities who were forced to settle in the depopulated land of Israel after the fall of Samaria. To teach them the law of the god of the land an Israelite priest was eventually sent to them, but the outcome was only a mixture of religions: they feared the Lord but also served their own gods. The passage sums up bluntly what that really meant: To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the Lord (2 Kings 17:34). Such, then, is the uncompromising verdict of Scripture on the claim we worship your God as you do, when it is put forward as a multifaith proposition. It was clearly the underlying reason for the Jews reply, though they left it unsaid, contenting themselves with a flat refusal and a reference to the emperor s instructions. 2 Derek Kidner 83

6 Voices from Church History Our motto must continue to be perseverance ; and ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success. 3 William Wilberforce ( ) Voices from Church History God takes a safe course with His children, that they may not be condemned with the world, He permits the world to condemn them, that they may not love the world; the world hates them, that they may not love the world. 4 Richard Sibbes ( ) How did this opposition start? It is important to note that these adversaries may have first offered their help with good intentions. Their statement for we worship your God as you do was true, but their worship was in addition to the false gods in their pantheon. In other words, they claimed to worship God alongside all the false gods of the region. The stern rejection of help from the Israelite leaders was likely due to their history of being drawn away from God. From the early days of living in the promised land (Judg. 3:6) and throughout their history (2 Kings 17:7-17), alliances with foreigners led the Israelites into idolatry, syncretism, and ultimately to exile from the land (2 Kings 17:18-23). As students of the Law (the first five books of the Old Testament), the Shema rang powerfully in their ears, saying, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deut. 6:4). The Jews exclusive claim to constructing the temple was a declaration that the Lord alone was God and no other god would be worshiped within this new structure (Ezra 4:3). This is the same exclusive claim that Christians make when we declare, Christ is Lord! (Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11). In a society where tolerance and openness are seen as absolute values, Christians face the ever-present danger of compromise. We are pressured to minimize the differences between Christianity and other faiths, as if all religious beliefs are basically the same. But this jumbled thinking within society provides an opportunity for us Christians to do two things simultaneously: 1) uphold clear, biblical teaching, and 2) demonstrate our love for those we believe to be in error. What kind of opposition or adversity comes against obedient Christians today? What should we learn from the Jews response to their opposition? When the Israelites stood for the purity of their religion, they provoked outright opposition from their adversaries (Ezra 4:4-7). Notice the ripple effect as the personal discouragement and fear escalated to systemic oppression community leaders were bribed into frustrating the work on the temple. When enduring trials of various kinds, God s people must hold two ideas in tension: 1) this world in its present state is not our ultimate home (1 Pet. 2:11), and 2) we are ambassadors of peace in this world. The brokenness that characterizes this world is not God s original intent, and this assures us that our troubles will pass. However, the guarantee that Christ will ultimately reverse the brokenness of the fall (Gen. 3; Rev. 21:1-2) is not a green light to disengage from the world. As Christ s ambassadors, we must faithfully bear witness to God s kingdom. 84 Leader Guide

7 How do we bear witness faithfully? By speaking truth in love. On the one hand, if God s people say they love others but have no desire to see people become holy, there is no motivation to bring the message of salvation. On the other hand, a passion for holiness that seeks to correct the thoughts and behaviors of another without showing love may cause the message of truth to fall upon deaf ears. The task of God s people is to issue a loving call to righteousness a righteous life available only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. What kind of opposition or adversity do you think is most likely to cause Christians to waver in their beliefs today? 2. Listen to God s Word, not opposing voices (Ezra 5:1-5). As we pick up the story, we fast forward through history and discover that the rebuilding of the temple had been impeded and stopped for about 16 years. But as one Old Testament scholar notes, There is always an effective answer to discouragement in the bold proclamation of the word of God. 5 Much like other moves of God from the time of Abraham to the Book of Acts, revitalizing the temple was jump-started with a word from the Lord through the prophets. Take a look: 1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. 3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure? 4 They also asked them this: What are the names of the men who are building this building? 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it. Further Commentary In the name of the God of Israel, Haggai reprimanded the people for neglecting God s house, the temple. The people had used the opposition as an excuse and turned their attention to their own houses. They had given in to their fear (3:3) and discouragement (4:4-5) and had concerned themselves with trying to meet their own physical needs. The spiritual needs of the community and the work God had called them to had been set aside The eye of God refers to God s watchful providence. Kings had their spies, which the Persians called the King s Eye or the King s Ear. But God s people could take assurance in their conviction that God s intelligence system is not only more efficient than any king s espionage network but is omniscient (cf. 2 Chron. 16:9; Ps. 33:18-19; 34:15; Zech. 4:10). Ezra-Nehemiah constantly reiterates God s providence in the life of his people. The reestablishment of the covenant community was the result of a continuing series of God s providential acts. 6 Mervin Breneman Voices from the Church No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. 7 Donald Whitney 85

8 In the U. S. and other places where the standard of living is relatively high, the question How much stuff is too much? is often posed when trying to determine a Godhonoring standard of living, recognizing that we all have the temptation to overindulge with our earnings. Some desire to have specifics, for example, Thou shalt not spend more than $20,000 on a car. Yet the Bible does not offer numeric detail on these issues. Although there is no foolproof litmus test to diagnose greed, a simple question to ask is Am I being driven by the mission of materialism or by the mission of God? Seeking the counsel of Christians from a variety of socio-economic levels will be helpful in answering this question for yourself. 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 4. Inerrancy of Scripture Inerrancy refers to the belief that the Scripture is completely truthful, without any mixture of error, in all its teachings, no matter what subject it addresses. Believing the Scriptures to be inerrant does not preclude the biblical authors inclusion of observations from a human observer, the use of round numbers, unusual grammatical constructions, or varying perspectives on a particular event. It does mean, however, that Scripture is an infallible guide to salvation and that it is truthful in all that it affirms (Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18). God used two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to rebuke and exhort God s people who were in desperate need of encouragement. The prophets mission was to bring about spiritual renewal and to motivate the people to restore proper worship of the Lord. 8 (The teaching ministries of both prophets are recorded in the prophetic books that bear their names.) In a nutshell, the prophetic message was clear: When God and His work are neglected, He removes His blessing and the people and community become spiritually impoverished. 9 The result is spiritual apathy, a failure to meditate on Scripture and benefit from its power. This leads to forsaking the gathering of God s people and abandoning the power of prayer. One stern criticism of the prophets concerned the people s priorities. Haggai admonished the people for their neglect of God s house because their attention had shifted away from the things of God to their own personal well-being. In essence, Haggai lamented that the people lived in fine homes while the temple lay in ruins (Hag. 1:3-6). When spiritual apathy sets in, the pendulum can easily swing from making a Godhonoring home to an unhealthy pursuit of acquiring creature comforts that consume God s people more than a passion for His mission. What are the signs of spiritual apathy? What role does Scripture play in awakening us to God s call on our lives? To reorienting our priorities? As we see the opposition to the Jews recorded in Ezra 5:3-5, we learn how important it is to be attuned to God s Word when we encounter words of discouragement. We must cultivate disciplines that focus God s people upon His words and not the words of the opposition. True to His word, God continued to work, even in spite of the danger of sending the builders names to Darius (v. 5). God even worked through a communication delay to fulfill His purposes (a simple report would have taken 4-5 months to reach King Darius). Although Tattenai could have stopped the work during the correspondence with the king, Ezra highlighted God s intervention that allowed the work to continue. What are some common forms of opposition to Christians in other parts of the world? What does opposition look like in our culture? How does Scripture strengthen us to face opposition? 86 Leader Guide

9 3. Celebrate God s transforming work in others (Ezra 6:13-22). Ezra 6 culminates in celebration. To begin, King Darius ordered the governor not to stop Israel from rebuilding the temple. He also ordered him to pay for the construction expenses out of the royal treasury. The king demanded that those who opposed their work be sanctioned. God utilized the proclamation of the prophets, the king s decrees, and the willing hearts of the people to bring about His will. 13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. 19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. 21 It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. On March 12, 515 b.c., the celebration began 4 years after the work was renewed (Hag. 1:15), and 20 years after the rebuilding efforts began (Ezra 3:8). The completion of the second temple occurred just over 70 years after Solomon s temple was destroyed in 586 b.c. Further Commentary Tattenai and his Persian colleagues knew how dangerous it was to disobey the king of Persia. The construction of the temple was done according to the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia In the OT law, the people were commanded to worship and celebrate their festivals with joy (Deut. 12:7,12,18; 16:11,14). Just as the dedication of the first temple filled the people with joy (1 Kings 8:66), and as the rededication of the temple and the restoration of Passover in Hezekiah s day brought joy (2 Chron. 30:21), so now with the second temple the people responded with great joy The new temple allowed the full implementation of the sacrificial system that existed before the disaster of 586 b.c. when the first temple was destroyed. This celebration of Passover (Heb. pesach) probably April 21, 515 b.c. would have been a momentous occasion for God s people to remember their forefathers deliverance from Egypt as well as their own deliverance from exile The OT law allowed even foreigners to celebrate Passover (Ex. 12:48-49) as long as they were circumcised. Those who had separated themselves at least included proselytes. Likely it also included Israelites who had never been exiled but had remained in the land and continued to worship the God of Israel. 10 Carl R. Anderson, HCSB Study Bible 87

10 Voices from the Church What you celebrate, you become People are drawn to organizations and events that are focused on something that they see as essential. 13 Ed Stetzer The celebrations that followed the construction of the temple were a vital part of living as the people of God; they were occasions of fellowship, worship, and of glorifying God. These events bound the community together and enabled them to understand the purpose and history of their community. 11 In essence, these days of celebration helped God s people remember His saving acts from generation to generation. God, our Maker, knows how short human memories are. That s why He instituted celebrations and other tangible reminders of how He was present with Israel. For example, shortly after the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River, through Joshua, the Lord instructed a man from each of the 12 tribes to take a stone from the riverbed and erect a place of remembrance of their crossing the river on dry ground. Scripture records in Joshua 4:21-24: When your children ask their fathers in times to come, What do these stones mean? then you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever. How have you sought to integrate your Christian faith into life s celebrations? What have you set up as a visible witness to God s goodness in your life? After the temple was finished, it was dedicated (Ezra 6:16-18). In contrast with the dedication of the first temple, where 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats were sacrificed (1 Kings 8:63), this celebration was relatively small (100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 male lambs, and 12 male goats). In the Lord s eyes, the celebration was just as grand as the first. Why? Because the number of exiles that returned to the land was much smaller, so the number of sacrifices collected was a large undertaking for a smaller group. 12 In the end, God is less concerned about the sacrifice itself than He is about His people having hearts of contrition for sin and celebration for His goodness. 88 Leader Guide

11 The apex of this chapter is the reinstitution of the Passover (Ezra 6:19). One effect of properly worshiping the Lord is that the celebration draws onlookers who may also become worshipers. Verse 21 demonstrates that there were Jews living in Judah who were not exiled. These Jewish people had assimilated into the godless, non-jewish culture around them. The celebration and the excitement of the returned exiles, however, drew them back to worship the one true God of Israel. These native Jewish people separated [themselves] from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land and began seeking the Lord (v. 21). The returned exiles were able to celebrate not only the completion of the temple but also the divinely instituted change in King Darius and the return of wayward Israelites to the proper worship of God. What role does celebration have in our evangelism? Conclusion Believers can rest on the truth that God will see His plan come to fruition. He will sustain His people during times of adversity. What s more, we know we have a God who did not exclude Himself from facing opposition and adversity. Christ faced temptation and opposition as He obeyed the Father in all things. Now, through Christ s example and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to obey God no matter what circumstances or trials we face. God calls believers to continue in obedience despite the words of our opponents and to trust Him to change the hearts and minds of those who oppose Him and our faith. Voices from Church History Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion. There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them that they should kindly stand back, open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him. And the best apology for the gospel is to let the gospel out. 14 Charles Spurgeon ( ) CHRIST CONNECTION: Just as God s people faced opposition as they sought to worship God with their obedience, Jesus faced temptation and opposition as He obeyed His Father in all things. Through Jesus endurance in ministry, we are empowered to obey God no matter what circumstances or trials we face. 89

12 Additional Resources God Sustains Us Through Adversity References 1. Saint Augustine, City of God, 1.8, quoted in The City of God: Books I-VII, trans. Demetrius B. Zema and Gerald G. Walsh, in The Fathers of the Church (Washington D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2008), Derek Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah, vol. 12 in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove: IVP, 2015) [WORDsearch]. 3. William Wilberforce, quoted in The Life of William Wilberforce, by Robert I. Wilberforce and Samuel Wilberforce, vol. 5 (London: John Murray, 1838), Richard Sibbes, Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations (London: J. Buckland, 1775), J. G. McConville, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1985), Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 10 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2003) [WORDsearch]. 7. Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 10 in The New American Commentary [WORDsearch]. 9. Peter Williams, Opening Up Ezra (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006) [Logos]. 10. Carl R. Anderson, in HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), , n. 6:13-15; n. 6:16; n. 6:19-20; n. 6: Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 10 in The New American Commentary [WORDsearch]. 12. Ibid. 13. Ed Stetzer, What You Celebrate, You Become, Christianity Today [online], 2 June 2015 [cited 5 May 2016]. Available from the Internet: Charles Spurgeon, in 2,200 Quotations from the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon, comp. Tom Carter (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996), Bob Mayfield, Excels in Hands-on Missions, in Sunday School That Really Excels, ed. Steve R. Parr (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013), Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- The Return from Exile and the Rebuilding of the Temple Episode 7, Act 3 from Telling God s Story by Preben Vang and Terry G. Carter -- In the World You Will Have Trouble Pages from Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Ezra and Nehemiah by James M. Hamilton Jr. --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including People Who Built the Temple, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon Podcast Ken Fentress: Ministry in the Tradition of Ezra Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week Five Essential Group Connections 1. Connect people to other people. 2. Connect people to a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. 3. Connect people to God s community, the church. 4. Connect people to God s truth, the Bible. 5. Connect people to God s mission in the community and the world Leader Guide

13 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide ESV Volume 5, Number 2 Winter Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide ESV (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unit 1: Daniel Akin (sessions 1-4) is the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also a professor of preaching and theology. He received a PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington. He and his wife, Charlotte, have four grown children. Walter R. Strickland II (sessions 5-6) serves as Special Advisor to the President for Diversity and Instructor of Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a PhD from the University of Aberdeen. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three daughters, Hope, Kendra, and Kaiya. Unit 2: Jimmy Scroggins (session 7) is the Lead Pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. He earned his MDiv and PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Kristin, have eight children, James, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaac, Stephen, Anna Kate, Mary Claire, and Caleb. Matt Capps (sessions 8-10) is Senior Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, North Carolina. He is working toward a DMin in pastoral ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Matt and his wife, Laura, have three children, Solomon, Ruby, and Abby. D. A. Horton (session 11) currently serves as a pastor at Reach Fellowship, a church plant in Los Angeles, California. He is also working toward his PhD in Applied Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Elicia, have three children, Izabelle, Lola, and D. A. Jr. Robby Gallaty (session 12) serves as the Senior Pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church and President of Replicate Ministries. Robby holds a PhD, has written several books, and provides discipleship resources through Replicate Ministries. He and his wife, Kandi, have two young sons, Rig and Ryder. Special Session Christmas: Rey De Armas serves as one of the campus pastors at Christ Fellowship in Miami, leading the Coral Gables campus. He received an MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Lauren, and they have two daughters, Zoe and Lexi. WRITERS