Three movements:

Returning | Rebuilding | Renewal

Ezra 1-6 | Ezra 7-10

Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua. lead the return and rebuilding of the Temple. Ezra leads a return and restoration of the people.

• Historical Timeline.

​

• What’s with the temple?

​

• Their town, our town.

​

​

• Ezra 1:1-2:70. God’s promise, His presence, and His people. A story of Faithfulness.

• Ezra 1:1-2:70. God’s promise, His presence, and His people. A story of Faithfulness.
• Ezra 3:1-13. Following God, as His people, starts with worship.

• Ezra 1:1-2:70. God’s promise, His presence, and His people. A story of Faithfulness.
• Ezra 3:1-13. Following God, as His people, starts with worship.
• Ezra 4:1-24. Following God, as His people, will lead to opposition.

• Ezra 1:1-2:70. God’s promise, His presence, and His people. A story of Faithfulness.
• Ezra 3:1-13. Following God, as His people, starts with worship.
• Ezra 4:1-24. Following God, as His people, will lead to opposition.
• Ezra 5:1-6:12. Following God, as His people, fosters repentance in the face of opposition. (desperate and dependent).

• Ezra 1:1-2:70. God’s promise, His presence, and His people. A story of Faithfulness.
• Ezra 3:1-13. Following God, as His people, starts with worship.
• Ezra 4:1-24. Following God, as His people, will lead to opposition.
• Ezra 5:1-6:12. Following God, as His people, fosters repentance in the face of opposition.
• Ezra 6:13-22. Following God, as His people, will overcome opposition, cultivating Happy/Holy people.

Ezra 1-6 | Ezra 7-10

Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel, and Jeshua. lead the return and rebuilding of the Temple. Ezra leads a return and restoration of the people.

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Big Idea: To experience God more fully, Ezra reveals three characteristics in the ongoing story of Faithfulness. We must have…

​

• A heart set to seek God in His Word.

​

​

• A dedication to practice and walk out God’s Word.

​

​

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

1^st return.�Zerrubabel�538BC

540

530

520

510

500

490

480

470

460

450

440

430

420

2^nd return.

Ezra

458BC

3^rd return.

Nehemiah

445BC

Temple

Rebuilt

516BC

538–530, reign of Cyrus

522–486, reign of Darius

485–464, reign of Xerxes

464–423, reign of Artaxerxes

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

GOD

GOD

GOD

INSPIRATION

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

Hi, I’m Moses!

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

Hi, I’m Moses!

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

ILLUMINATION

Hi, I’m Moses!

Hi, I’m Ezra!

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

ILLUMINATION

Hi, I’m Moses!

Hi, I was Ezra!

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

ILLUMINATION

Hi, I’m Moses!

Hi, I’m Ezra!

GOD

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

ILLUMINATION

Hi, I’m Ezra!

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Traditional Views of the Law:

Traditional Views of the Law:

• OT Jews are saved by keeping the Law.

Genesis 3:15

¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman,�    and between your offspring and her offspring;�he shall bruise your head,�    and you shall bruise his heel.”

Traditional Views of the Law:

• OT Jews are saved by keeping the Law.
• Law’s only purpose was to reveal everyone’s incapability to keep the Law.

Traditional Views of the Law:

• OT Jews are saved by keeping the Law.
• Law’s only purpose was to reveal everyone’s incapability to keep the Law.
• To keep me from having fun.

Traditional Views of the Law:

• OT Jews are saved by keeping the Law.
• Law’s only purpose was to reveal everyone’s incapability to keep the Law.
• To keep me from having fun.

Healthy View:

• Faith in God is the foundation that inevitably prompts His people to happily obey the Law as an inevitable expression of their adoration of Him; commands never given to earn God’s favor.

​

​

Healthy View:

• Faith in God is the foundation that inevitably prompts His people to happily obey the Law as an inevitable expression of their adoration of Him; commands never given to earn God’s favor.

​

​

Provide and Protect

Exodus 19:3-6

³ while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; ⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Ezra 7:1-10

Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, ² son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, ³ son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, ⁴ son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, ⁵ son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Giving in to opposition:

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids: Life sometimes feels consumed with making the best opportunities for the family.

​

​

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.

​

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.
• We start to look like/act like our culture:

​

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.
• We start to look like/act like our culture:
1. Consumers.

​

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.
• We start to look like/act like our culture:
1. Consumers.
2. Lonely: Want community but don’t have time for it.

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.
• We start to look like/act like our culture:
1. Consumers.
2. Lonely: Want community but don’t have time for it.

3. Shifting view on God’s design for men and women.

​

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.
• We start to look like/act like our culture:
1. Consumers.
2. Lonely: Want community but don’t have time for it.

3. Shifting view on God’s design for men and women.

4. Low view of sin, Hell, eternity (behaviors vs. heart)

​

Giving in to opposition:

• We worship our kids.
• We look for our spouse to fill our lives rather than God; instead of overflowing to seek to good of our spouse.
• We start to look like/act like our culture:
1. Consumers.
2. Lonely: Want community but don’t have time for it.

3. Shifting view on God’s design for men and women.

4. Low view of sin, Hell, eternity (behaviors vs. heart)

We have the perfect path to God made through the blood of Jesus to reconcile us. His BETTER is BETTER!

​

To experience God more fully, Ezra reveals three characteristics in the ongoing story of Faithfulness. We must have…

​

• A heart set to seek God in His Word.

​

​

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

John 4:23-24

²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Who

How

Thinking/Truth

Feeling/spirit

Who

How

Thinking/Truth

Feeling/spirit

HEAD

HEART

• A heart set to seek God in His Word.

​

​

​

If not God in His word, what are you studying and giving ultimate authority?

​

​

​

​

• A heart set to seek God in His Word.

​

​

• A dedication to practice and walk out God’s Word.

​

​

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Self Feeders | 1^st Handers.

Exegesis

Theology

Life

Self Feeders | 1^st Handers.

Exegesis

Theology

Life

Self Feeders | 1^st Handers.

Exegesis

Theology

Life

• A heart set to seek God in His Word.

​

​

• A dedication to practice and walk out God’s Word.

​

​

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

Romans 5:8 ^”but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

​

1 John 4:10"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

​

Ephesians 2:4-5"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Titus 3:4-5"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”

​

Colossians 1:21-22 "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him."

Thinking/Truth

Feeling/spirit

HEAD

HEART

True Worship

Ezra 7:1-10

⁷ And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. ⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

​

​

Blessed ______________!

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

​

​

Blessed to be a blessing!

​

​

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

​

​

Blessed to be a blessing!

​

- Do you see yourself as an everyday missionary and a relationship disciple-maker?

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

​

​

Blessed to be a blessing!

​

- Do you see yourself as an everyday missionary/relationship disciple-maker?

- Do you see the long obedience in the same direction of bringing the gospel to bear on the everyday lives of people?

​

• A devotion to equip others in God’s Word.

​

​

Blessed to be a blessing!

​

- Do you see yourself as an everyday missionary/relationship disciple-maker?

- Do you see the long obedience in the same direction of bringing the gospel to bear on the everyday lives of people?

- Are you desperate and dependent on Spirit & Word, not self?

​

MONDAY Matters: AND this AFTERNOON!

Which of these 3 areas are you want to grow in more?

​

​

Really Study it | Really Live it | Really Teach it

​