Share Life
Events are only a small part of our evangelism. The conversations before and after events are where progress is often made.
What conversations are you having and hoping to have in the coming month during Share Life Sundays? What outcomes are you praying for?
One of the most exciting outcomes is when your guest is open to exploring Jesus in a deliberate and structured way. Very rarely will they ask for it, so it’s something we initiate. Maybe that means joining the Share Life course in October. For others, perhaps it means reading the bible with them one-to-one.
For ideas on what you could read, check out the final chapter in our training series. If you haven’t already, head to our website to register.
Discussion
What outcomes are you praying for during Share Life Sundays? What conversations will help you get there?
Pray
For each other and the conversations we are having (or hoping to have), and for today’s study in Haggai 2.
To Start
If you had the power to appoint any non-politician as Prime Minister of Australia, who would you choose?
Read
Haggai 2:10-23
Blessings for a Defiled People
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: 12 If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’”
The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”
“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”
14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
15 “‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. 16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
“‘From this day on I will bless you.’”
Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring
20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What has stuck with you from the passage or the sermon on Sunday?
Discuss
For the second time in Haggai the Exodus is specifically referenced.
What do you think is the connection with the teaching of Haggai?
What do v.20-23 teach us about the character and power of God?
Sermon Extra
Are you living with the future in mind or are you living to establish or maintain your own secure middle class existence?
To Close
The prophecy about Zerubbabel never came to pass and indeed he drops out of historical sight and there is no explanation of what happened to him.
But Haggai was not wrong, for his words were not about Zerubbabel but about the Messiah to come. With the coming of Christ, Haggai’s hopes for the temple and for Zerubbabel were fulfilled.
Of course, God’s Kingdom is yet to come in all its fullness, but the outcome of history is sure.
All worldly kingdoms, powers and efforts will be destroyed and Jesus will be all in all.
Pray
That we may truly believe that Jesus will be all in all for eternity.
That we may build the Kingdom of God and not the Kingdom of middle class security.
That many people will see the way we live in the world, turn to Christ and be saved.