This is a recording of my message on Haggai & Zechariah for our Old Testament Survey series to the ABF Junior High Group.
Below is my outline for those who would like to follow along.
INTRO:
Remodel a house, renovate vs remodel
SPOKE: (BibleProject)
What are some dominant themes in Zechariah?
Watch: Book of Zechariah Summary: A Complete Animated Overview
HUB: Renovate or Remodel
Haggai and Zechariah are both the writings and stories of prophets who at the same time were calling Israel to reform. They called the people to rebuild the temple and rebuild their lives around Yahweh.
They were both successful to a point but they both pointed forward to the need for a remodel. Renovating the existing situation was not good enough. Something new was needed.
SPOKE: Renovated Place Needing a Remodel
Explanation/Exhortation/Exaltation:
Haggai 1:1-11 Imperfect Renovation
Haggai opens with the prophet coming with a word from Yahweh. He comes to the people and confronts them for rebuilding their own houses and neglecting the house of God.
You have to keep in mind that for this people the only way to interact with God was through the temple. It was their point of reference to God. So without a temple they had no way of connecting with their God.
Haggai calls them to put first things first. And they listen but the temple renovation sucks. Anyone who saw the first one thinks it’s lame
Who grew up building legos? I loveddddd legos.
I mostly bought the sets and played with them but sometimes sets fall apart, get broken, etc. and I have seen people later on want to rebuild the set and they kinda piece it together kind of like this:
When it is meant to look like this:
It was an attempt to renovate and the people did respond but it was just disappointing. The Glory didn’t return and there’s just this sense of longing for Messiah. For the Messianic kingdom to come and for the promises of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David to be fulfilled.
Do you have a place where you encounter God? Do prioritize setting aside time, and a physical space for that? Morning evening etc?
SPOKE: Renovated People Needing Remodel
Explanation/Exhortation/Exaltation:
Zechariah 1:1-6 Imperfect Return
Zechariah is around at the same time as Haggai and he also instructs the people to rebuild but he has a different priority. Haggai is handling the temple and he sees the need for the the people to rebuild their lives around Yahweh. They have gone off and the exile has not yet taught them to return. And they respond to a point. But it is just on the surface.
They change their behavior for a time but their hearts are unchanged.
Christianity is not about behavior modification. It is about inward heart transformation. - Joseph Prince
I couldn’t help thinking of the movie trope where someone remakes themself. They have entered a new setting and now they are becoming a “new person”.
Mean Girls.
The problem is that this is just a surface level change. It is not a heart level change.
They repent and yet there is this longing for a new heart like Jeremiah said.
Do we just modify our behavior? When we go to church or with certain people do we just modify? Have we experienced real heart change?
QUESTIONS?
Conclusion: Gospel & Jesus
Gospel of Grace
The Gospel is that
Jared Wilson: Only the gospel goes deep enough to effect real hard change. Everything else is just behavior modification
Our Savior
Haggai 2:1-9 A Re(New)ed Place
Zech 12:10-13:1 A Re(New)ed People
QUESTIONS?
Let’s pray!
Small group Questions:
What stuck out from the message & video? (Respond to, Affirm, and Develop Observations)
How much of a priority for you is it to encounter God? Weekly? Daily? How?
Has your heart really changed because of following Jesus or has your behavior just changed from being around church?
What shows us the gospel of grace in Haggai/Zechariah?
What points to Jesus in Haggai/Zechariah?
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