In these verses, we see that things didn’t go well for God’s people whenever they chose to walk in disobedience to the LORD. Have you ever walked through a season of prolonged disobedience as a Christian? How did you fare during this season?
What do verses 10-19 teach us about God’s grace?
God’s people ought to be a gracious people because they belong to a gracious God. How can we practically live graciously as Christians?
How would you summarize the point being made in verse 14?
Why is it important for us to understand that “good works” cannot cleanse us from sin?
Read 1 John 1:8-9 and James 4:8. How can one become cleansed of their sin?
One of the deepest fears of mankind is to be fully known and not fully loved. How does 1 John and James 4 speak to this fear?
Read Ephesians 2. Why is it so important to see how the promises made here in Haggai are fulfilled in Jesus?
Read Hebrews 12:26-29. How do these verses give us hope for the future?
Haggai 2:8 tells us that the “silver” and “gold” of the nations ultimately belongs to the LORD. Why is so important for us to remember that our God never lacks anything?
In verse 5, God reminded his people of the covenant he made with them coming out of Egypt. Why is God’s past faithfulness so important for his people to remember?
What are some practical ways that we can remember God’s faithfulness in our day to day lives
God promised to be with his people as they work. Why is it important for us to understand that “we don’t obey to get God; we obey because God’s got us?”
What does it mean to “fear the LORD?” Why do you think God’s people feared the LORD? What is the correlation between the fear of the LORD and obedience to the LORD?
Whenever God’s people began to obey the LORD, he made a point to tell them that he was with them. Why do you think he did this?
Do you ever find obedience to God to be scary? If so, why?
Have you ever walked in obedience to the LORD and experienced the comforting presence of God? If so, would you be willing to share with the group?
It seems that Israel had become indifferent toward rebuilding the temple of God. Why is an apathetic heart toward God so dangerous?
Where do you find yourself currently? Do you feel that you’ve become indifferent toward God? Or do you feel that you’re in a season where you’re serving the Lord well?
What are some practical ways that we can guard our hearts/lives from becoming apathetic toward the Lord?
We see in these verses that the instrument God chose to use to resuscitate the hearts of his apathetic people was economic difficulties. What is a healthy way to view suffering as Christians?
Why do you think Haggai is so specific with the timing of this prophecy in verse 1?
What excuses do we often give for not serving the Lord right now?
What does working on the temple of God look like today for us as believers?
Paul in writing to Timothy, says that the Lord’s servant “must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness (2 Tim. 2:24).” Why is it so important for Christians to be gentle and not quarrelsome?
What are some practical ways that we as Christians can better use our social media?
What are some practical ways that we as the church can be salt and light in our community since the overturning of Roe v. Wade?
What was the importance of Tychicus?
Paul wasn’t ashamed of others knowing about his struggles. In fact, he wanted the church to know about the suffering he was enduring so that “their hearts might be encouraged.” Why is honesty about our struggles important to the health of the church?
What is the significance of the titles “beloved brother” and “faithful minister?”
In verse 4, John tells us that Passover was at hand. Why is that an important detail about this story? How does this miracle point to the cross?
If “usefulness in the kingdom of God doesn’t rest on the shoulders of our age,” how can we as a church do a better job at incorporating our young people into the life of the church?
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Yet, only John mentions the young boy. Why is it important for us to know that a lack of recognition doesn’t equal a lack of importance?
Bonus: Jesus knew that he was going to feed the 5,000 with the young boys food long before it actually happened? How should the truth that God has “good works prepared for us to walk in (Eph. 2:10” shape the way we live?
1. What do you find most encouraging about Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well?
2. When do you find it difficult to give the gospel to others?
3. How do you know if you are a true worshipper?
4. How can we encourage one another to have the same joy the woman had in inviting her neighbors to “come and see”?
What did you find interesting and/or encouraging about the life of Bezalel and Oholiab?
Why was the significance of the tabernacle?
Both Bezalel and Oholiab came from different places in society, yet they were both called to the same task. How does it impact us today?
God told Moses that he called and equipped Bezalel and Oholiab with craftsmanship and ability to construct the tabernacle. How does that impact the way we view and use our skills and abilities?
What did you find interesting and/or encouraging about the life of Abraham’s servant?
What role did this servant play in the overarching story of redemption? Why is that important for us to see and understand?
In a world that lives for fame and recognition, why is it important for Christians to see that one can make a lasting impact for the Kingdom of God while living in the shadows?
Is there anything still unclear in your understand of the biblical role of a deacon?
What does it mean to be “full of wisdom and of the Holy Spirit?”
Read 1 Timothy 3. Why do you think the qualifications of a deacon are primarily character driven?
Spend some time praying for those who will serve as our deacons in the future.
How would you biblically define a deacon?
What does it mean that deacons help the church “serve the lowly” and “act justly?”
Why is it important for the health of the church to appoint deacons?
How would you summarize Paul’s argument in Galatians? In a similar manner, what has been your biggest takeaway from Galatians?
Who do you think Paul is referring to when he says “the Israel of God” in verse 16? Why?
Paul validates his message and allegiance to Jesus by pointing to his scars from persecution. Why?
What did Paul close out his letter in the same way he began it (by extending grace and peace to the church)?
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Paul writes these final words in his own hands (v.11)?
The false teachers preached circumcision in order to (1) “make a good showing in the flesh” and (2) “avoid persecution.” How is a life centered around maintaining a good reputation dangerous?
What does it mean to boast in the cross?
Why is it important that our relationships with our church isn’t just transactional?
What does it mean that “God is not mocked?” (Verse 7)
Why is sowing and reaping so important in our lives?
In what season do you find yourself? And how can we help each other “not grow weary of doing good.” (Verse 9)
Bonus Question: How in the book of Galatians has Paul helped the Galatian church “not be deceived?” (Verse 7)
What is the significance that Mary Magdalene (along with other women) was/were the first eye witness to the empty tomb?
John believed before he fully understood what the Scriptures said about the resurrection. Why is it important to know that we don’t have to all the answers before we believe? How does that shape our evangelism?
What does it mean that the Scriptures said that Jesus “must rise” from the dead? What does that tell us about God?
How does our view of self impact the way we treat others?
Why must we restore someone caught in sin in a “spirit of gentleness?”
How can we better live out the call to carry one another’s burdens?
Why is it important to understand that we will only answer for “our own load, and not how we lived compared to others?”