March 16, 2025

Results of Rebuilding – Haggai 2:1-9

Ice Breaker

1. Read Haggai 2:1-9 as a group.
2. Discuss as a group. What promises did God make in these verses? What reasons did the people have for believing these promises?

Loving God Unreservedly

1. Read about the splendor of the original temple in 1 Kings 6:1–38. Which feature of that temple feels most impressive to you?
2. Consider how Jesus is described as the radiance of God’s glory and the glory of His kingdom. (Hebrews 1:3)

Loving People Sacrificially

1. Discuss the good reasons for looking back to the past. Why is it at times negative and unproductive?
2. What’s important about the imperative, “be strong,” in understanding encouragement? (2:4)
3.  Read verse 5 again. Does God stand behind his covenant word? What links God’s Spirit with fear not? 
4. “Fear not,” is an imperative, in other words, there is a divine mandate to be fearless. Why? (see Is. 63:11-14) 
5. How does the previous question help us love people sacrificially, even when it’s hard to love them? How does the Holy Spirit assist us in doing this?

Making Disciples Purposefully

1. How does the shaking caused by Yahweh, his ownership of all silver and gold ultimately bring glory to him in the proclamation of his good news? (2:6-9)
2. Ask the Lord how you could be a peacemaker of the gospel to those who live in the darkness of sin? (vs. 9; cf. Jn. 14:27)

Dig Deeper (optional/personal study) 

1. Research: King Solomon’s temple was the symbol of divine kingship as described in in the Bible. (The Lexham Bible Dictionary, 2016)

• (1 Kgs 5:1–18) the building preparations
• (1 Kgs 6:37) the building of the temple
• (1 Kgs 7:13–51) the furnishing of the temple
• (1 Kgs 8:1–11) the placement of the ark of the covenant
• (1 Kgs 8:12–53) Solomon’s blessing and prayer to the Lord
• (1 Kgs 8:54–66) Solomon’s benediction to the assembly
• (1 Kgs 9:1–9) the Lord’s response to Solomon