On July 30th, we turn to the book of Haggai - in the busyness of day to day life, it is tempting to prioritize the temporal over the eternal. We often think, “I need to get my own house in order, and then everything else will fall into place.” This view was as alive in the fifth century BC as it is today. In 536 BC, two years after God’s people had returned from exile, social and political pressures caused them to pause work on the reconstruction of the temple, leaving it unfinished for sixteen years; a mere foundation collecting dust as God’s people tried to satisfy themselves with the things of the dust, rather than the things of God.
Indeed, the people were continually saying “the time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built” (Hag. 1:2). Into this situation, the LORD addressed his people through his prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (Hag. 1:4). God’s people put God’s house on hiatus while they tried to get their own houses in order; but God had different plans. “Build the house” (1:8), declared the LORD, and “I will fill this house with glory” (Hag. 2:7).
In this five-week sermon series we will explore the essential elements of Haggai’s prophecy from the LORD, that although it may often look unimpressive and surely be filled with imperfect people, nevertheless “the glory of the present house”—the Church—will be “greater than the glory of the former house” (Hag. 2:9).
Sunday, July 30, 2023 the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. John Frederick
Sunday, August 6, 2023 The Rev. Steve Cannizzaro
the Rev. Steve Cannizzaro
Sunday, August 13, 2023 Brian Gurney
Brian Gurney
Sunday, August 20, 2023 the Rev. John Frederick
the Rev. John Frederick
Graedon Zorzi