Rebuilding Priorities: God's Call to Community Faithfulness

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we continue our summer series through the Minor Prophets, focusing on the book of Haggai. This book addresses the question, "Where is God in the community?" Haggai, a prophet, speaks to the Jewish remnant returning to a destroyed Jerusalem after 70 years of Babylonian captivity. The people are tasked with rebuilding the temple, but they prioritize their own homes instead. Haggai delivers four messages over four months, urging them to prioritize God's house and reminding them of the consequences of their neglect.

The first message highlights the people's misplaced priorities. They live in luxurious homes while God's house lies in ruins, leading to poor harvests and economic hardship. Haggai calls them to rebuild the temple, and they respond positively, beginning the work. The second message addresses the disappointment of those who remember Solomon's grand temple. Haggai reassures them that their efforts are significant and that God is on a mission to reconcile people to Himself.

The third message uses a metaphor about holiness and defilement to illustrate the people's unfaithfulness. Haggai calls them to repent and live faithfully, emphasizing that their actions impact future generations. The final message points to a future day of the Lord, a time of ultimate salvation and restoration.

For us today, the book of Haggai challenges our individualistic mindset. It calls us to prioritize communal worship and active participation in God's mission. We are reminded that our obedience is crucial for advancing God's kingdom. The book encourages us to focus on the future glory and to remain resilient in difficult times, knowing that God is with us.

###

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Prioritize Spiritual Commitments: Haggai challenges us to place spiritual responsibilities above personal and material pursuits. Just as the Israelites were called to prioritize rebuilding the temple, we are called to prioritize our relationship with God and our involvement in the faith community. This means making time for worship, prayer, and service, even when it requires personal sacrifice. [15:33]
• 2. Obedience and Blessing: The book of Haggai illustrates the direct link between obedience to God and receiving His blessings. While this was specific to the Israelites under the Old Covenant, it reminds us that our faithfulness to God is crucial. We may not always see immediate material blessings, but our obedience brings spiritual growth and aligns us with God's will. [12:46]
• 3. Resilience and Hope: Haggai's messages offer encouragement during difficult times. God is with His people through hardships, and there is a promised future of restoration and glory. This hope sustains us, reminding us that our present struggles are temporary and that God is working towards a greater purpose. [16:46]
• 4. Communal Responsibility: The book emphasizes the importance of communal worship and collective responsibility. In a society that often values individualism, Haggai calls us to think communally, to support and uplift one another, and to work together for the betterment of the faith community. This collective effort strengthens our witness and impact. [30:10]
• 5. Active Participation in God's Mission: Haggai reminds us that God's work is accomplished through the obedience of His people. We are called to actively participate in His mission, whether it's alleviating poverty, feeding the hungry, or sharing the gospel. Our faith is not just a personal journey but a communal effort to bring God's kingdom on earth. [40:47]
  ### [40:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:33] - Introduction to Haggai
• [12:46] - Historical Context
• [14:10] - The Return from Exile
• [15:33] - First Message: Prioritize God's House
• [16:46] - Second Message: Encouragement in Building
• [18:14] - Third Message: Holiness and Defilement
• [19:38] - Fourth Message: Future Glory
• [20:50] - Application for Today
• [22:09] - Communal vs. Individualistic Societies
• [23:32] - Obedience and Future Generations
• [24:57] - The Ultimate Day of the Lord
• [26:14] - Questions for Reflection
• [27:26] - Individualism in Modern Faith
• [28:47] - Strong Link vs. Weak Link Sports
• [30:10] - Communal Responsibility in Faith
• [31:32] - Key Takeaways for the Israelites
• [32:50] - Application for Modern Christians
• [34:09] - The Role of the Church
• [35:22] - Sports Analogies and Faith
• [37:53] - The Importance of Community
• [39:29] - Active Participation in God's Mission
• [40:47] - Real Faith Works
• [41:42] - Extreme Example of Faith
• [42:23] - Being a Friendly and Generous Church
• [43:02] - Resilience and Hope
• [43:42] - God with Us in Hardships
• [44:21] - Simple Sermon: Prioritize God and His People
• [45:09] - Join God in Building His Promise
• [45:50] - Closing Prayer

### Bible Reading

1. Haggai 1:2-11 (NIV)

> This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

1. Haggai 2:3-9 (NIV)

> ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

1. Haggai 2:10-19 (NIV)

> 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: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: 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.” 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.” 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. 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. 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. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. ‘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: 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.’”

### Observation Questions

1. What were the people of Israel prioritizing over rebuilding the temple according to Haggai 1:2-11?
2. How does Haggai 2:3-9 address the feelings of those who remembered the former glory of Solomon's temple?
3. What metaphor does Haggai use in Haggai 2:10-19 to illustrate the people's unfaithfulness and its consequences?
4. What promises does God make about the future glory of the temple in Haggai 2:3-9?

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the people of Israel were more focused on their own homes rather than rebuilding the temple? How does this reflect on their spiritual priorities? [15:33]
2. How does the promise of future glory in Haggai 2:3-9 serve as an encouragement to the people despite their current struggles? [16:46]
3. What does the metaphor of holiness and defilement in Haggai 2:10-19 teach us about the impact of sin on communal worship and service? [18:14]
4. How does the communal responsibility emphasized in Haggai challenge our modern individualistic mindset? [30:10]

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where you are prioritizing personal comfort over your spiritual commitments? How can you realign these priorities to focus more on God and His mission? [15:33]
2. In what ways can you contribute to the communal worship and mission of your faith community? Are there specific actions you can take to support and uplift others in your church? [30:10]
3. How do you handle feelings of disappointment when your efforts seem insignificant compared to past achievements or expectations? How can Haggai's message of future glory encourage you in these moments? [16:46]
4. Consider the metaphor of holiness and defilement in Haggai 2:10-19. Are there areas of unfaithfulness in your life that might be affecting your spiritual growth and the community around you? What steps can you take to address these? [18:14]
5. How can you actively participate in God's mission in your daily life? Identify one specific way you can serve others or share the gospel this week. [40:47]
6. Think about a time when you faced a difficult situation. How did your faith sustain you during that period? How can the message of resilience and hope in Haggai help you in current or future struggles? [43:42]
7. How can you foster a sense of communal responsibility within your family, workplace, or church? What practical steps can you take to encourage a more collective mindset in these areas? [30:10]