Preparing for Sunday - Ezra: Part 1

June 2, 2016 by Sam Walker Preparing for Sunday

Prepare your heart for Sunday by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and tangibly putting scripture to action in your personal life, and in our corporate body.

Carefully Think

Read Ezra, it has only 10 chapters so try and read it in one setting. If not possible, read it in as few chunks as possible.
When does the book state it starts? Look for other date references in the book as well, not just amount of time, but also who is referenced in relation to the time periods. What is significant about the timeframe in which this happens? Is there a promise of God being fulfilled?
Where are the people traveling from? What is there destination? What is their goal in returning to their land?
In chapter 3, how long have they been in the land? How long before the temple foundation begins? How well does the re-building go? What are some of the problems that are run into? How do they proceed?
How is God working in these events that are taking place? How would you view God’s work in all of this?
When does Ezra actually first get mentioned in the book? What is his main role? Does he accomplish it?
What are some of the main teaching points that Ezra focuses on for these people returning and rebuilding the temple? Why would he focus on those?
What is the response of the people in the last chapter to the teaching of God’s Word? What does this say about the power of God’s Word when it is correctly heralded and explained?

Prayerfully Meditate

If you were part of the Israelites returning from exile, would you see any of the events that happened as not coming from His hand?
Pray that we would see the events of our own time in the hands of God much as they were in the time of the Israelites returning to their land. Many rulers and enemies were against them, but God was faithful. How easily do we think that God is not in control if something does not seem “good” to us?
God’s word brings conviction to the heart, repentance to the sinful, and restitution to those who believe. Pray for the preaching and teaching of God’s word to always pierce the heart and separate us from our sin and bring us more into fellowship with God.
Pray for our response to also be one of obedience especially in the face of adversity or trials. Trusting God and acting in obedience to that trust, instead of acting in disbelief.

Intentionally Act

Trust God’s hand is at work in all events in history, with believers and unbelievers, and that it all works together for His glory for the good of those who believe.
Pray with others and encourage them with these Scriptures to the faithfulness of God in his promises.
Pray for our elders that they would be faithful to guard the sheep against doctrinal error and they would continue to be faithful to preach and teach the word of God for the edification of the body.
Pray for those who will be leading our gathering this week: Dawson Bryant, music; Brett Harris, Elders' prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
Prepare for our gathering on Sunday by reading through the lyrics of the songs and reflect on them, so that you can focus on edifying one another through song and give praise to the King.

Songs for Sunday

Lyrics

Lyrics Morning Gathering - June 5, 2016