Prioritizing God's Kingdom: Building Our Spiritual House
Summary
In today's Vision Sunday, we reflect on the journey of our church and the direction God is leading us. We celebrate the progress we've made since our inception, but more importantly, we focus on the future and God's vision for us. As we delve into the book of Haggai, we are reminded of the Israelites who returned from exile with a mission to rebuild the temple. They started with enthusiasm, but soon faced opposition and became distracted, prioritizing their own comfort over God's work.
God, through the prophet Haggai, challenged the Israelites to consider their ways and the consequences of neglecting His house. They were investing in their own homes while God's temple lay in ruins. This is a powerful reminder for us today. We often find excuses to avoid our spiritual responsibilities, prioritizing personal comfort or distractions over our relationship with God. We claim we don't have time for community or we're too tired to engage with Scripture, yet we spend hours on entertainment or social media.
The Israelites responded to Haggai's message with repentance, a turning of the heart that led to a turning of behavior. God promised His presence, His glory, and His blessing to those who put Him first. When we prioritize God, He energizes us for His work, and we experience His manifest presence in our lives.
Building God's house today is not about physical construction but about building a spiritual house. We are called to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Christ's commands. When we commit to this mission, God promises to be with us always.
As we move forward, we must ask ourselves what we have been putting before God. It could be comfort, work, money, or even our children. Whatever it is, it must not take precedence over our relationship with God. We are encouraged to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, trusting that all other things will be added to us as well.
Let us take a moment to reflect on what may be holding us back from putting God first. As we symbolically discard these distractions, we commit to seeking God's kingdom above all else, knowing that His blessing and presence will follow.
Key Takeaways:
- When we prioritize our own comfort and distractions over our relationship with God, we block His blessings in our lives. It's essential to examine our priorities and align them with God's will to experience His fullness and provision. [08:58]
- True repentance involves a change of heart that leads to a change in behavior. When we turn to God and put Him first, we unlock His promises of presence, glory, and blessing in our lives. This transformation is not just personal but communal as we build His spiritual house together. [15:09]
- The work of building God's spiritual house requires commitment and sometimes hard work, akin to chopping wood. It's not always glamorous, but it's fulfilling and energized by God's Spirit when we serve with the right priorities. [24:21]
- Making disciples is at the heart of building God's spiritual house. As we obey Christ's command to go and teach all nations, we are assured of His constant presence, which is the greatest reward of our obedience and service. [25:01]
- Our daily choices reflect what we value most. By choosing to seek God's kingdom first, we set a course for a life that is blessed and aligned with His purposes. This choice impacts not only our lives but also the lives of those around us as we lead by example. [13:21]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Haggai 1:2-11
2. Matthew 6:33
3. Matthew 28:19-20
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the Israelites prioritizing over rebuilding the temple according to Haggai 1:2-4? How did God respond to their actions? [07:11]
2. In Haggai 1:6, what were the consequences faced by the Israelites for neglecting God's house? [09:40]
3. According to Matthew 6:33, what are we instructed to seek first, and what is promised to us if we do so? [13:21]
4. What command does Jesus give in Matthew 28:19-20, and what promise accompanies this command? [25:01]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the Israelites became distracted and stopped rebuilding the temple? How does this reflect our own tendencies today? [06:30]
2. How does the concept of "consider your ways" in Haggai 1:5-7 apply to modern-day believers? What does it mean to thoughtfully reflect on our conduct? [09:40]
3. What does it mean to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first in our lives? How might this look practically? [13:21]
4. How does the promise of God's presence in Matthew 28:20 encourage believers in their mission to make disciples? [25:01]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. Are there specific activities or habits that you prioritize over your relationship with God? How can you realign your priorities to put God first? [08:58]
2. The Israelites faced opposition and distractions that hindered their work on the temple. What are some common distractions or oppositions you face in your spiritual journey? How can you overcome them? [06:30]
3. Consider the areas in your life where you feel like you're "planting much but harvesting little" (Haggai 1:6). How might putting God first change these outcomes? [09:40]
4. Jesus commands us to make disciples and promises to be with us always. Identify one person in your life who you can disciple or share your faith with. What steps will you take this week to engage with them? [25:01]
5. Think about a time when you felt God's presence strongly in your life. What were you doing differently during that period? How can you cultivate that same sense of God's presence now? [15:51]
6. What are some practical ways you can "seek first the kingdom of God" in your work, family, and personal life? Share specific actions you can take this week. [13:21]
7. Reflect on the symbolic act of discarding distractions mentioned in the sermon. What is one distraction you can commit to minimizing or eliminating this week to focus more on your relationship with God? [27:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Prioritizing God Unlocks Blessings
When personal comfort and distractions take precedence in our lives, we inadvertently create barriers to the blessings God has in store for us. It's crucial to conduct a self-examination of our priorities, ensuring they are in line with God's will. This alignment is not merely about avoiding negative consequences; it's about positioning ourselves to receive the fullness of God's provision and grace. When we intentionally place God at the center of our lives, we open the door to His blessings and guidance, which far surpass any temporary satisfaction we might find in worldly comforts. [08:58]
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord." - Haggai 1:7-8 ESV
Reflection: What is one comfort or distraction you can sacrifice this week to create more space for God in your life?
Day 2: Repentance Leads to Transformation
True repentance is more than feeling remorse; it's a transformative process that involves a change of heart and subsequent change in behavior. When we genuinely turn to God and prioritize Him above all else, we unlock His promises of presence, glory, and blessing. This transformation is not an isolated event but one that has ripple effects throughout our community as we collectively work on building God's spiritual house. It's a journey of continuous growth, where each step taken in obedience to God's will strengthens not only our faith but also the faith of those around us. [15:09]
"And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king." - Haggai 1:14b ESV
Reflection: How can your repentance today lead to a positive change in your behavior that will affect those around you?
Day 3: Commitment to God's Work Energizes
The work of building God's kingdom is not always glamorous and can sometimes feel like hard labor, akin to chopping wood. However, when we serve with the right priorities, God's Spirit energizes us, making even the most challenging tasks fulfilling. This commitment to God's work requires a steadfast spirit and a willingness to put in the effort, knowing that the ultimate reward is not of this world but of a spiritual nature that brings deep satisfaction and joy. [24:21]
"Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts." - Haggai 2:4b ESV
Reflection: What is one area of service in which you can invest more energy this week, trusting that God will provide the strength you need?
Day 4: Making Disciples is Our Mission
At the heart of our calling is the mission to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded. This task is not a solitary endeavor but a collective one, where we work together to spread the gospel and nurture new believers in their faith. As we commit to this mission, we are reassured of Jesus' promise to be with us always, which is the greatest reward for our obedience and service. This assurance empowers us to step out in faith, knowing that we are never alone in our efforts to build God's spiritual house. [25:01]
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'" - Matthew 28:18-19 ESV
Reflection: Who is one person you can begin to disciple or mentor, and what is the first step you can take this week to initiate that relationship?
Day 5: Seeking God's Kingdom Shapes Our Lives
Our daily choices are a reflection of what we value most. By choosing to seek God's kingdom first, we set a course for a life that is blessed and aligned with His purposes. This decision not only affects our own lives but also has a profound impact on those around us, as we lead by example and influence our community for the better. When we prioritize God's kingdom, we trust that He will take care of our needs and guide us in the path that leads to eternal fulfillment. [13:21]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33 ESV
Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek God's kingdom first in your daily routine starting today?
Quotes
1) "When you put anything other than God first in your life, you block the blessing of God. It's like trying to walk up an escalator that's on its way down." [11:27] (Download) 2) "God is looking for people who will put him first... if you and I put God first, all of those other things will be given to you as well." [13:21] (Download) 3) "If we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, we will get all of those other things as well, but it starts by putting God first." [14:31] (Download) 4) "God is doing something right now and you and I will miss out on the miracle of what God is doing right now if we're comparing it to something else." [22:21] (Download) 5) "God is looking for a people who will put him first so that he can accelerate and bless what he can do in them and through them." [23:43] (Download) 6) "Building the house of God is not always sexy, sometimes it's hard work... but we are building a spiritual house with people, with you and with me." [24:21] (Download) 7) "If you and I give ourselves to building God's house, to making disciples, to pouring our life into people, God will be with you." [25:39] (Download) 8) "What have you been putting first before God?... if you and I will seek God first, his kingdom and his righteousness, all of those other things will be blessed as well." [26:17] (Download)
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