Haggai: Build My House. Part 2

Read Haggai 2:1-2:9

• What do you notice?
• What stands out to you?
• What observations or questions does this passage raise?

Discuss:

Much in the same way that God identifies what the Israelites were saying in Haggai 1:2, the critique of the size and splendour of the new temple in verses 2:2-3 is God identifying what the people are already saying and thinking.

• How much do you think God already knows about what we are thinking and feeling? Is there any point trying to hide things from God?
• Why do we need to pray then? [might it be about what we choose to reveal, and an invitation to be involved – God honouring our privacy and working with what we choose to bring to Him?]

God doesn’t ask the people to build bigger or fancier or promise to alter the size of the temple.

• What change in perspective does God invite the people to make here (v.4-5)?
• These verses might remind you of other places where God encourages His people – do any come to mind?
• What does God offer to do with the temple the people are building?
• What change in perspective might we need to make when we look at the churches of NZ, the way Christianity is represented, or our own witness to the kingdom of God that others see?

God’s future promises in v. 6-9 focus a lot around his glory.

• What does God’s glory mean to you?
• God’s glory is described as something that God has, but also something that He can achieve or that we can bring Him – how do we glorify an already glorious God?
• If someone is not glorifying God, they are giving their allegiance to and ‘glorifying’ something else – what do you see others glorifying?
• How do we guard ourselves from getting distracted by these oher things?

Pray: invite God into your internal world and give Him freedom to work in the things that concern you, but also ask Him to show you the things that concern Him and how we can be involved.