1. What project did you complete last year that you were especially excited about?
2. What area in your life are you hoping to build on with God’s help this year?
Ask two people to read aloud Ezra 6:13-22 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to paraphrase the passage in as much detail as possible.
3. How would you describe the teamwork of the different people and groups involved in the temple-rebuilding project?
4. How would you characterize the mood of the dedication?
5. The word joy is used three times in this passage. Look at all three instances and describe the kind of joy the Israelites had and their reason for it.
- What’s the difference between the joy the Israelites were experiencing (a joy that came from the Lord, v. 22) and the “happiness” people often seek in this world?
6. What do you learn about God from this passage?
7. What do you learn about yourself?
8. The Israelites obediently “finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel” and later they “celebrated with joy . . . because the Lord had filled them with joy.” How have you seen this connection between obedience and the joy of the Lord in your own life?
9. How can we, like the Israelites did (v. 21), separate ourselves from the ungodly practices of our non-Christian neighbors but still be a witness and ambassador for Christ?
10. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Ezra 4:12–5:2. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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