(Re)Build: Despite the Opposition - Ezra 4-6

There is something sad about an unfinished building. So much promise and hard work that will never reach its full potential. Does God feel the same way looking at our lives? What gets in the way of our efforts to build a relationship with God? What can we do to overcome these obstacles? And why are they there in the first place?

• Opposition
• Comes looking for us - Ezra 4:1-4
• Can hinder us, but not stop us - Ezra 4:5, 24
• Building Despite Opposition
• God's Word and God's People - Ezra 5:1-2
• Always Do the Right Thing - Ezra 5:8-10
• Opposition Becomes Opportunity - Ezra 6:8-10
• James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds...
  

Trail of Surrender - 1 Peter 2:13-3:7

We can all be stubborn at times. No one likes to give up our freedoms or relinquish our right to make decisions about certain things. Yet, as Christians we are called to do so in certain situations. In 1 Peter 2 and 3, the word submit is used. This is one of those words that can make us bristle with disgust before we even know what we are being called to submit to. But, Peter explains that we are called to submit for a reason - submission is not the end goal. Our goal is Christ, the things we submit to are simply markers along the trail that leads to Him.

• Know your Markers
• Submit to the Government
• Submit to One Another
• Submit to God
• Endure the Hike
• He must become greater; I must become less. - John 3:30
• Trust your Guide