Lesson 7 – Jeremy Thomas

1. God Uses Visions to Shape How We See Reality
   1. Zechariah’s reaction matches ours: “What is happening here?”
   2. God’s goal was not to give charts or tidy diagrams but to form spiritual imagination.
   3. Visions leave impressions and provoke questions, which is part of God’s intent.
   4. Of the eight visions, lesson 7 narrows in on vision 5.
2. The Setting of Vision 5: Zechariah 4
   1. The angel returns and rouses Zechariah as one awakened from sleep.
   2. This awakening mirrors Zechariah 2:13 where God rouses Himself to act.
   3. God awakens His prophet so that he will see what God is doing among His people.
3. What Zechariah Saw
   1. The golden lampstand/menorah with a bowl on top and seven lamps, each with seven spouts.
   2. Two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand.
   3. The angel presses Zechariah to admit his lack of understanding.
      1. Zechariah asks, “What are these, my lord?”
      2. The angel replies, “Do you not know what these are?” to make him feel his dependence on revelation.
      3. Zechariah humbly answers, “No, my lord.”
   4. Principle: Even God-given visions require God-given explanations.
      1. We cannot interpret reality rightly without God’s Word.
      2. Believers must practice “inquisitive humility.”
4. The Meaning of the Lampstand
   1. The lampstand in Scripture represents God’s people as a light to the nations.
   2. The light signifies God’s presence and wisdom among His people.
   3. Contrast with the tabernacle lampstand.
      1. In Exodus the lamp had to be supplied by priests with pure oil daily.
      2. In Zechariah 4 the oil is supernaturally and continuously supplied.
      3. There are no human attendants in the vision because God Himself sustains the light.
   4. Big idea: God ensures His own ongoing presence and power among His people.
      1. He does not depend on human refill.
      2. He supplies through His Spirit.
5. The Two Olive Trees
   1. Immediate identification.
      1. The two trees represent two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of all the earth (Zech. 4:14).
      2. In the historical setting these are Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor.
   2. Their line matters.
      1. Joshua stands in the priestly line of Aaron.
      2. Zerubbabel stands in the royal line of David.
      3. This shows that God’s covenant promises did not die in exile.
   3. Theological trajectory.
      1. Priest and king work side by side again, but not yet in their final form.
      2. This anticipates the coming of one Anointed One who unites both offices.
      3. Fulfillment is found ultimately in Jesus the priest king who pours out the Spirit.
6. The Central Word to Zerubbabel
   1. The key sentence: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
      1. This was God’s word to a discouraged leader.
      2. The work of rebuilding the temple had stalled.
   2. The mountain imagery.
      1. The “great mountain” represents the obstacles before Zerubbabel.
      2. Before God that mountain will become a plain.
      3. God promises divine assistance, not an easy path.
   3. The outcome.
      1. Zerubbabel will bring out the topstone and finish the temple.
      2. The people will shout, “Grace, grace to it.” The glory goes to God.
   4. Application threaded through the teaching.
      1. We distort Scripture when we make the Christian life about our strength for God rather than His strength in us.
      2. God looks for those who rely on His Spirit.
      3. Our greatest problem is not the mountain before us but the failure to see the mountain moving God above us.
7. Grace at the Finish
   1. God will complete His work through human hands empowered by His Spirit.
   2. No monument is built to Zerubbabel. The shout is to grace.
   3. New Testament echoes.
      1. Philippians 1:6 God finishes what He starts.
      2. Psalm 127:1 God must build or labor is vain.
      3. Philippians 2:12-13 We work out what God works in.
      4. Colossians 1:29 We toil with His energy.
      5. 1 Corinthians 15:10 We work hard, yet it is grace at work.
8. The Glove Illustration
   1. The gloves were made to be filled.
   2. They can “play” only when animated by a living person.
   3. Spiritual point.
      1. Believers were made to be filled with the Spirit.
      2. When the Spirit fills us, God’s music can be heard in our lives.
      3. A watching world needs to see Christians living not by might or power but by God’s Spirit.
9. Closing Prayer Emphasis
   1. Request for a Spirit filled, Spirit moved people.
   2. Confession that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).
   3. Recognition that the Spirit is the anointing oil pictured in Zechariah 4.

Lesson 6 — Brett Cushing

1. Introduction: God’s Guarantees Amid Guilt
   1. Contrast with human guarantees
      1. Worldly guarantees are conditional and contractual.
      2. God’s guarantees meet guilty people with mercy and help, not indifference or vengeance.
   2. Big idea of Zechariah 1–3
      1. In captivity and guilt, God guarantees His guy, His grit, His guard, His gift, and His grace.
      2. These guarantees move the story from despair to hope in God’s presence and plan.
2. Setting and Messenger
   1. Historical context
      1. Judah in exile and return era; about 70 years of captivity fulfilled.
      2. People fear God has forgotten them, yet God speaks again.
   2. Zechariah’s identity and names
      1. Zechariah born in Babylon, functions as priest and prophet.
      2. Names preach hope:
         1. Zechariah means the Lord remembers.
         2. Berechiah means the Lord blesses.
         3. Iddo means at the appointed time.
      3. Message summary: the Lord remembers and blesses at His appointed time.
   3. Canonical significance
      1. Heavily quoted in the New Testament and rich in first and second coming prophecy.
      2. Zechariah’s martyrdom noted in Matthew 23:35.
3. God’s Guy
   1. Immediate agent and ultimate fulfillment
      1. God raises Zechariah as His spokesman to a discouraged remnant.
      2. Zechariah foreshadows God’s ultimate Guy, Jesus the Messiah.
   2. Purpose of the messenger
      1. Announce that God has not forgotten His people.
      2. Call them to hear, hope, and return.
4. God’s Grit
   1. Divine initiative in chapter 1
      1. God comes to Zechariah, calls His people, and commands the hosts of heaven.
      2. Hope rests in God’s action for the helpless.
   2. Invitation and enablement
      1. Call to return to Me and repent from evil ways.
      2. Lessons from the fathers whose disobedience brought covenant curses.
      3. God enables the return they cannot effect by themselves.
         1. Shepherd imagery illustrates God doing the restoring work.
         2. Parallel language in Jeremiah 50:19 and Lamentations 5:21.
5. God’s Guard
   1. The heavenly army at work
      1. The Angel of the Lord appears as commander and Word of the Lord.
      2. Patrol report shows the earth at a coerced rest, not true shalom.
   2. Christ’s intercession and the Father’s response
      1. The Angel of the Lord pleads how long for mercy on Jerusalem.
      2. God’s jealous compassion is stirred and cruel nations are rebuked.
      3. God promises to return and for His house to be rebuilt.
6. God’s Gift
   1. Plan, presence, and protection in chapter 2
      1. Measuring line signals ownership and intentional rebuilding.
      2. God Himself a wall of fire around and the glory within.
      3. Promise to come and live among His people.
   2. Joyful summons
      1. Shout and be glad, for I am coming.
      2. Presence is the gift God gives to the guilty who return.
7. God’s Grace
   1. Courtroom scene in chapter 3
      1. Joshua the high priest stands in filthy garments representing the people’s guilt.
      2. Satan accuses; the Lord rebukes the accuser.
      3. God removes filth, clothes Joshua in clean garments, and restores his service.
   2. Promise of the Branch and the Stone
      1. My Servant, the Branch, foretells the Messiah.
      2. Stone with seven eyes and engraved inscription signifies God’s omniscience and the wounded cornerstone.
         1. God removes the land’s iniquity in a single day.
         2. Exchange motif points to Christ giving His righteousness for our guilt.
   3. Recommissioning
      1. Joshua charged to walk in God’s ways and keep His charge.
      2. Grace restores purpose after guilt is removed.
8. Reflection and Response
   1. Worship and trust
      1. What keeps you from worshiping this God who guarantees mercy in guilt.
      2. Believe Christ intercedes, guards, and gifts His presence to you.
   2. Ministry overflow
      1. Freely give to the guilty what you have freely received in Christ.
      2. Rely on God’s grit, not your own, as you serve others.

Lesson 5 – Scott Neubauer

1. Introduction and Context
   1. Overview of Lesson and Background
      1. Focus on Ezra 5:1 and the book of Haggai.
      2. Haggai is a short prophetic book but holds equal importance as all Scripture because it is the Word of God.
      3. Paul reminds believers that all Scripture is written for instruction, endurance, and encouragement (Romans 15:4).
   2. The Role and Character of Haggai
      1. Haggai appears suddenly with no recorded background.
      2. He is fully under God’s authority, serving as His messenger to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judah.
      3. He does not alter or reinterpret God’s message but delivers it faithfully.
   3. Connection to Previous Lesson
      1. Lesson 4 (Ezra 3–4) ended with construction halted for 16 years due to opposition.
      2. The people returned to normal life while God’s temple lay unfinished.
      3. Now, God raises up Haggai and Zechariah to reignite the work.
2. Structure and Characteristics of Haggai
   1. Literary Observations
      1. The book contains 1,144 words (ESV), with over 70% directly from God’s mouth through Haggai.
      2. Minimal human dialogue; nearly the entire book is one-way communication from God.
      3. The people respond with obedience rather than debate or resistance.
   2. Purpose and Audience
      1. Messages are directed to leaders Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people.
      2. Four main messages can be seen in the book, all calling the people to spiritual renewal and faithful obedience.
3. Think — The Call to Reflection (Haggai 1:1–11)
   1. God’s Confrontation
      1. The people claim it is not yet time to rebuild the temple.
      2. They prioritize their own homes while neglecting God’s house.
      3. Sixteen years of complacency lead to misplaced priorities and fading zeal.
   2. God’s Challenge
      1. “Consider your ways” — a call to self-examination and repentance.
      2. Every area of life (food, drink, clothing, income) shows frustration and lack of fulfillment.
      3. God causes their efforts to fail to expose their spiritual neglect.
   3. Personal Reflection
      1. God’s Word serves as a mirror revealing spiritual condition.
      2. Believers must confront selfish habits and misplaced affections.
4. Power — The Call to Obedience (Haggai 1:12–15)
   1. The People’s Response
      1. The leaders and people obey the Lord and fear Him.
      2. God’s reassuring promise follows: “I am with you.”
   2. God’s Empowering Presence
      1. God stirs the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant to rebuild.
      2. This divine stirring marks a transformation from apathy to action.
      3. The transformation occurs within 24 days — evidence of true repentance and renewal.
   3. Principle of Obedience
      1. Obedience precedes blessing and revival.
      2. Human wisdom cannot produce change like God’s power can.
5. Blessing — The Call to Hope (Haggai 2)
   1. Future Glory and Hope (2:3–9)
      1. The future temple’s glory will surpass the former.
      2. Strength comes from doing the Lord’s work with His presence.
      3. Peace arises from nearness to God despite uncertain times.
      4. Ultimate hope is in salvation and the coming kingdom.
   2. Purity and Restoration (2:10–19)
      1. Lessons of defilement highlight spiritual uncleanness.
      2. Despite impurity, God promises, “From this day on I will bless you.”
      3. Blessing follows obedience, even after failure.
   3. Messianic Blessing on Zerubbabel (2:20–23)
      1. Earthly kingdoms will fall, but God’s kingdom endures forever.
      2. Zerubbabel receives a personal promise — part of Christ’s lineage.
      3. Matthew 1 confirms Zerubbabel in Jesus’ genealogy, 12 generations before Christ.
6. Application and Closing Exhortation
   1. Three Responses for Today
      1. Think: Reflect on personal priorities and spiritual condition.
      2. Power: Respond in obedience and allow God’s Spirit to work through you.
      3. Blessing: Recognize and rejoice in God’s blessings in all forms, not just material ones.
   2. Encouragement to Community
      1. Stay connected in small groups for encouragement and accountability.
      2. Pray for one another and build each other up through God’s Word.
   3. Closing Prayer
      1. Thanksgiving for God’s Word and the lessons from Haggai.
      2. Request for transformation and a closer walk with Him.

Lesson 4 Outline — Ezra 3–4 – Mark Jensen

1. Context and Key Passage
   1. Setting and scope
      1. Series focus: Second Exodus; this session covers Ezra 3–4.
      2. Key verse: Ezra 3:11. “For He is good; for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.”
      3. Theme: God restores His people and they respond with worship amid opposition.
   2. Historical markers
      1. Altar rebuilt in 537 BC on Solomon’s altar site.
      2. Temple reconstruction begins in 536 BC.
      3. Work faces opposition and pauses; completion comes after 21 years in 515 BC.
2. Worship First, Work Second
   1. Principle established in Ezra 3
      1. The returned exiles build the altar before the temple to reestablish proper worship.
      2. They offer morning and evening burnt offerings and keep appointed feasts.
      3. They worship despite fear of surrounding peoples.
   2. Biblical precedents
      1. Abraham builds an altar upon entering the land (Genesis 12).
      2. Joshua builds an altar after the first exodus entry (Joshua 8).
   3. What worship is
      1. Spontaneous overflow of a grateful heart under divine favor.
         1. Illustrated by “my cup overflows” and a ready tongue to praise.
      2. Restful enjoyment of God’s acceptance.
         1. Picture of delight, shade, fruit, and banner of love.
      3. Distinct from prayer and praise.
         1. Not occupied with needs or gifts but with God Himself.
         2. David’s example in 2 Samuel 7:18–22 is adoration without requests.
      4. Spirit-enabled response.
         1. Only the regenerate can worship in spirit and truth.
   4. Result
      1. Foundation laid amid trumpets and cymbals, with the refrain of God’s covenant love (ḥesed).
      2. Mixed sounds of weeping and joy mark the moment.
3. The Unity of God’s People
   1. Unity in Ezra 3
      1. The people gather “as one man” in Jerusalem to obey God and build.
      2. Levitical oversight is appointed; roles align with Davidic directions.
   2. New Testament grounding for unity
      1. Jesus prays that believers “may all be one” to witness to the world’s belief.
      2. Exhortations to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
      3. Unity is spiritual and theological, not merely organizational.
   3. Implications
      1. Shared worship fuels shared work.
      2. Community unity strengthens resilience under pressure.
4. The Unity of God’s Enemies
   1. False partnership and faithful refusal
      1. Adversaries offer to help build while claiming to seek the same God.
      2. Leaders rightly refuse compromise and maintain covenant separation.
   2. Escalating opposition
      1. Discouragement and fear tactics.
      2. Frustration through hired counselors and political pressure.
      3. Letters to Persian kings that halt the work until Darius.
   3. Why the temple matters
      1. The temple is central to covenant life, feasts, and sacrificial worship.
      2. Completion enables the people to live in alignment with God’s law.
5. Reflection and Group Discussion
   1. Personal worship audit
      1. Is worship your first response in success, silence, suffering, and blessing
      2. Where do your time and resources reveal your true object of worth
   2. Guarding unity
      1. How shared worship fosters congregational unity.
      2. How lack of worship can contribute to disunity.
   3. Questions for the week
      1. What keeps you from worshiping God more often and more freely
      2. Why is it important to keep the unity of the faith
      3. What unifies us at Grace Church as a local body of Christ

Brett Cushing – Teacher

Israel’s Covenant Failure – Outline

1. Introduction and relevance
   1. Week two of “The Second Exodus” study
   2. Connection between ancient people and modern believers
      1. ancient people are “like our peeps” – our ancestors
      2. their situations mirror our own experiences
      3. times of crisis, confusion, and self-inflicted captivity
2. Main thesis: God’s covenants comfort us in times of crisis
   1. Central theme: God’s covenants provide comfort during crisis
   2. Three key points covenants reveal
      1. God desires to dwell with us
      2. we desire not to dwell with God
      3. God still desires to give us grace
3. Understanding covenants
   1. Definition: a binding promise between two people
   2. Historical context: often between king and subjects
   3. Two types of covenants
      1. conditional promises (require mutual agreement and fulfillment)
      2. unconditional promises (unilateral, God doing it for us)
   4. Purpose: disclose God’s overall salvation plan for the entire world
4. Major biblical covenants demonstrating God’s desire to dwell with us
   1. Noahic covenant (Genesis 9:11)
      1. unconditional covenant
      2. God’s promise never to flood the world again
      3. comfort: God’s redemptive purpose for entire world
      4. shows God doesn’t desire to destroy but to dwell with us
   2. Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12, ratified in Genesis 15)
      1. two promises to Abraham
         1. make him into a great nation
         2. all peoples blessed through his seed
      2. unique ratification ceremony
         1. Abraham cut animals in half
         2. only God walked through (Abraham was in deep sleep)
         3. God took penalty upon Himself for covenant failure
      3. modern relevance
         1. we are under same covenant (those with faith in Christ are Abraham’s children)
         2. foreshadows new covenant in Jesus Christ
   3. Mosaic covenant (Exodus 19-24)
      1. established 430 years after Abrahamic covenant
      2. God’s promises to Israel
         1. special nation with special role
         2. kingdom of priests (intercessors)
         3. God’s treasured possession if they obey
      3. people’s response: “We got this! We’re all in!”
      4. comfort for us: Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law
         1. didn’t come to abolish but fulfill
         2. we get credit for everything Jesus did perfectly
         3. we become His righteousness
   4. Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-17)
      1. given after repeated disobedience by God’s people
      2. God’s promise of David’s descendant (Jesus Christ)
      3. God would build house for His name
      4. kingdom will endure forever
      5. fulfillment in Jesus
         1. angel’s announcement to Mary
         2. Jesus’ favorite teaching theme: kingdom of God
         3. gives us God’s presence, peace, and purpose
   5. New covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
      1. prophesied during captivity and exile
      2. God’s promises
         1. put law within them, write on hearts
         2. “I will be their God, they shall be my people”
         3. all will know the Lord
         4. forgive iniquity, remember sins no more
      3. addresses essential problem: wrong desires
      4. fulfillment through Jesus and Holy Spirit
         1. Spirit guides, counsels, convicts
         2. sanctifies and makes us more like Jesus
         3. three aspects: justification (God’s present), sanctification (God’s process), glorification (God’s promise)
5. We don’t desire to dwell with God
   1. Illustration: Indonesian airliner pilots
      1. pilots didn’t trust instrument panel
      2. desired to trust themselves only
      3. landed at wrong location (military base)
      4. parallel: God’s people in exile asking “How did we get here?”
   2. Root of the problem: wrong desires leading to disobedience
      1. disobedience lurks behind loud declarations
      2. problem began with Mosaic covenant
         1. initiated by God’s grace
         2. people declared “We will do everything!”
         3. immediate disobedience followed
   3. Pattern of wrong desires throughout Scripture
      1. Adam and Eve: tree of knowledge vs. tree of life
      2. Eve desired the apple (looked good and pleasing)
      3. Cain: God warned “sin’s desire is for you”
      4. David’s desire for Bathsheba
      5. Israel’s desire for control
   4. Jesus’ teaching on desire vs. behavior
      1. sermon on the mount
      2. murder begins with anger
      3. adultery begins with lust
      4. disobedience is fundamentally about desire
6. Israel’s progressive rejection of God
   1. Initial enthusiasm but quick failure
      1. started strong in Exodus 19
      2. immediately made golden calf (God they could control)
   2. Downward spiral through Old Testament
      1. book of Joshua: started great, ended failing
      2. early Judges: God as less desirable option
      3. later Judges: God became obsolete
      4. end of Judges: God seen as enemy, everyone did what was right in own eyes
   3. Desire for worldly ways
      1. craved created things rather than creator
      2. rejected Samuel’s sons
      3. demanded a king like other nations
      4. replaced God with created things
      5. connection to Romans: worshiped created rather than creator
7. Personal application: our similar struggles
   1. Our desires fuel our disobedience
   2. Rooted in wrongful dependence
      1. “I will determine what’s right and wrong for me”
      2. tendency to decide first, then ask God to bless it
   3. God sees wrongful dependence as obstinance
   4. Disobedience results in experiencing God’s absence
8. God’s response: grace despite obstinance
   1. Isaiah 30 example
      1. context: Israel surrounded by enemies
      2. their desire: alliance with Egypt for strength and autonomy
      3. God’s invitation: salvation through quietness, waiting, repentance, rest
      4. opposite of “Nike slogan” – don’t just do something, wait on God
   2. God’s heart revealed
      1. God craves to give grace
      2. “I am waiting, I am yearning, I can’t wait to give you grace”
      3. God’s obstinate children don’t stop His grace
      4. God is not mad at us – He loves us through Jesus Christ
9. Conclusion: God’s covenants provide comfort
   1. All covenants based on God’s grace
   2. God does all the work in all covenants
   3. Even Mosaic covenant included sacrifices (God knew they would fail)
   4. Our part: simply depend upon and trust in God
10. Final application questions
    1. What keeps me from having comfort in crisis and confusion?
    2. What do I need to do?
    3. What will my life look like when I turn back to God?
    4. How can I embrace that His grace is available and He’s craving to give it?

Tom Ibach – Lesson Teacher

1. Introduction to the Study
   1. Greetings and context for study year
   2. Study focus: The Second Exodus – Trusting a Faithful God
   3. Transition from New Testament study to Old Testament study
   4. Importance of the Old Testament for Christians
2. The Importance and Composition of the Old Testament
   1. Old Testament as foundational to the New Testament
   2. Diverse authorship over about a thousand years
   3. Consistent message: God’s plan to redeem through the Messiah
   4. Challenge of knowing the Old Testament thoroughly
   5. Introduction to the Second Exodus within Old Testament narrative
3. The First and Second Exodus Compared
   1. The Great Exodus from Egypt led by Moses
   2. The Second Exodus from Babylonian captivity
   3. Differences between the first and second Exodus
   4. God’s providence as a key theme in the Second Exodus
   5. Timeframe and scope of the Second Exodus
   6. Resource availability for study and timeline
4. Books Covered in the Study
   1. Final three historical books: Ezra, Esther, Nehemiah
   2. Last three prophetic books: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
   3. Key events: rebuilding the temple, city, and national revival
   4. Inspirational characters and their qualities
5. Relating to the People of the Second Exodus
   1. Spiritual ancestry and connection through Abraham
   2. Shared human experiences and struggles
   3. Learning lessons from their faith and challenges
   4. Encouragement for those facing hard things today
6. Understanding Covenant in the Bible
   1. Definition and significance of covenant
   2. Two types: conditional and unconditional covenants
   3. God’s covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus
   4. Focus on Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants in this lesson
7. The Abrahamic Covenant
   1. Unconditional promises: land, descendants, blessing
   2. Significance of faith and righteousness (Genesis 15:6)
   3. Covenant-making ritual with blood sacrifice
   4. God’s oath symbolized by passing between animal pieces
   5. Covenant as a foundation of hope for Abraham’s descendants
8. The Mosaic Covenant
   1. Conditional covenant based on God’s law given to Moses
   2. Purpose: address sin and establish holy living
   3. Role of the Ten Commandments and sacrificial system
   4. Israel’s initial acceptance and subsequent rebellion
   5. Consequences of disobedience: wandering and curse/blessing principle
   6. Reissuing of the law in Deuteronomy
9. God’s Faithfulness and Covenant
   1. God always upholds his part of the covenant
   2. Israel’s failure contrasted with God’s unchanging faithfulness
   3. The fulfillment of the law and covenant in Jesus Christ
   4. New covenant through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection
   5. Reflection questions on personal trust in God’s faithfulness
10. Closing and Prayer
    1. Thankfulness for God’s faithfulness
    2. Prayer for strengthened faith and confidence in God’s promises
    3. Encouragement for a faithful walk with God