"The Glory will be Greater" | Haggai Chapter 1 | Malcolm Cox

1. It is a blessing to have people point us back to God
    1. Do we have the right priority? v2-4
        - Roof
        - Psalm 27:4
    2. Have we been paying attention to the way God is trying to get our attention? vv5-6, 9-11
        - Brexit; COVID; War; Energy crisis; inflation
        - Personal life: health; kids; ageing parents; jobs; 
    3. Do it for God, v8
        - His Pleasure & Honour
        - My spiritual retreat
    - Question: Who do you have in your life that points you back to God? 
     
2. It is a joy to build for God’s pleasure and honour, v7-8, 12-14
    1. Mountains - costly
    2. All involved: 
        - Are you willing to work for the LORD in this congregation?
        - Do you know what that means?
        - One of our aspirations: ‘Toiling to build the church well’
    3. God’s strength - ‘the LORD stirred’
        - Psalm 27:4. Spiritual disciplines open us up to the work of the Spirit in our lives. 
        - What spiritual disciplines are you aware of?
            - Solitude; silence; celebration; fellowship; slow Scripture reading; praying through Scripture; fasting; 
        - The spiritual disciplines are wisdom, not righteousness. But they are wise practices that train and transform our hearts. James Bryan Smith, “Good and beautiful God”
    - Question: What spiritual disciplines are you employing to enable God to give you the strength to labour for Him?

Conclusion
- “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” (John 2:19–22 NIV11)

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org). 

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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm