Sermon Application Questions

Haggai 2:1-9, from March 13, 2011 


Haggai 2:1-9 Tim led us to look at discouragement Sunday. God had called his people to the huge work of rebuilding His temple. The temple was not necessary for aesthetic purposes or because they did not have anything else to do with their time, it was necessary because it is where God dwells with His people, and God was passionate to reestablish this meeting place because He was passionate about His relationship with them.

The people seemed discouraged, whether from the overwhelming task or from comparing this temple to the one in Soloman’s day.  Who of us cannot relate?

Q: Do you get overwhelmed at how much you have going on, thinking God has given you too much? 

Q: Is it easy to compare your life with that of others or from the past and get discouraged?

We sometimes think God motivates us to do what He requires by threatening or with fear. Yet here God makes several promises to all whom He calls, guaranteeing that he will supply what we need to do what He requires.  Experiencing the glory of the God who fills the temple will far exceed the glory of its external beauty.

Q: How did God motivate His people to give themselves to His work?  What were God’s promises to His people?

TO PONDER: Jesus came to dwell with His people, but not in the temple.  Why? No more sacrifices were needed for sin, because He was the perfect sacrifice. No priest was needed to mediate, because He was God the Son who had come to us. The temple is no longer needed because the NT says we are now living temples, where God has taken up residence forever in Jesus. 

Q: How are God’s promises from Haggai even more glorious? 

Q: If you believe this, how does this reality help battle discouragement? 

Q: How does it motivate you to persevere?     


Haggai 1, from March 6, 2011 


Tim challenged us on Sunday from Haggai 1 to look at our priorities in life and just how we can orient them around God’s priorities.  He said that change begins with the living and active word of God.  Here are some application questions to look at from the sermon. 

 I.  The Word: Comes to Us 
 Q: Do you have avenues for the Scriptures to “come to you”?  Do you spend time in God’s word, reading and pondering it? Do you have friends that speak the word to you, whether to encourage or correct or rebuke?  Do you allow a pastor or elder to speak the word into your life?  Are there areas in which the word of God needs to come? 

 II.  The Word: Challenges Us 
Looking at your life & current priorities will give you insight into your heart and affections.  
Q: What brings you ultimate satisfaction?  What do you go to in those hard times?  Does God satisfy your longings, or are you dependant upon something else to satisfy you? 

God is sovereign and will often “challenge” our misplaced priorities by removing the satisfaction we might find in our idols (things we go to instead of Him).  But this is gracious of Him as we know that nothing will satisfy like our gracious God! 

III. The Word: Compels Us 
As we submit to God’s word, we should expect the Spirit of God to “compel” our spirit to fear God and actually want to obey… to change our priorities. 
Q: When was the last time the word of God compelled you to change something in your life?  Do you fear God day to day, desiring to honor/respect Him as God? 

GOSPEL:  Remember this. Jesus was the Word incarnate, meaning, God spoke most loud to us through His Son Jesus.  He “came to us” as a man, “challenged us” to repent from prioritizing other things and believe that He died for that very rebellion, which “compels” us from a new heart and His Spirit within us to live with God-centered priorities. Let us praise God for having prioritized us by sending His Son!