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But Now Be Strong

Discussion Guide

Conversation Starters

  • What is something that you feel was better “in the good ol’ days” (e.g., types of music or bringing a physical Bible to church).
  • What type of planner are you? Are you the ten-year-out planner or the next-ten-minutes type of planner?
  • When you’re driving, what are your most common distractions?

Review

Ask your eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.

Make It Personal

  • This weekend we learned to praise God for the progress, not just the product. How good are you at recognizing your progress? What areas of your life are you less likely to recognize progress? Why?
  • Read Ezra 3:10-13. There were two groups of people: those who had seen the previous temple and those who had only seen the foundation of the new temple. Their view of the foundation was setting their faith for what was ahead. How has your experience (or lack of experience) impacted your faith in certain situations?
  • Those same elders in Ezra 3 were crying when the new temple’s foundation was laid because they were comparing it to the first temple. Can you identify an area in your life where comparison is causing disappointment? How can you reframe that situation to begin to wipe your tears and blow your trumpet?
  • (Re)Frame Your Point of Reference: What’s one situation that has gotten better over time, and you simply didn’t recognize it? How can we be better at keeping a frame of reference so we recognize God’s provision?
  • Go deeper: Read Haggai 2:6-9. What were God’s promises to them? Take special notice of His timing. What’s one aspect of your life where you expected things to be different than they are? (e.g., a dream, a career, a marriage, finances, recovery from a past hurt or experience). Are you letting this disappointment distract you from the “better” God wants to do in your life now?

Act On It

Pastor challenged us with the question: “Can you make peace with your present?” Is there anything keeping you from being at peace with your present situation? If so, what are some practical steps you can take to have that peace?
Memorize Haggai 2:9 and begin to declare it over your life, reflect on how God has come through for you previously, etc.

Prayer Requests And Prayer

Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week.
God, thank you for the reminder that our frame of reference wins over our circumstances. That when we re-frame how we see our circumstances, tears yield to praise, devastation gives way to celebration, and disappointment is replaced with expectation. We commit this day to stop crying, dry our tears, and blow our trumpet of praise and gratitude to you.