Ezra-Nehemiah
Sermon Summary
On Sunday, Pastor Lance Terry continued through Ezra, covering chapters 7 and 8 and introducing us to Ezra himself—nearly sixty years after the events of chapter 6. Pastor Lance highlighted Ezra's credentials: his priestly lineage tracing back to Aaron, his role as "a scribe skilled in the law of Moses," and the repeated phrase that "the hand of the Lord his God was upon him." Most significantly, Pastor Lance focused on Ezra 7:10, which he called Ezra's "mission statement": "Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel." Pastor Lance challenged us to consider our own mission, noting that "few things are worse than feeling aimless in life." When Ezra faced a dangerous 900-mile journey with significant wealth and no military escort, he chose to fast and pray rather than request the king's protection—because "we've been telling the king that God's hand will be on those who seek Him." Pastor Lance concluded by urging us to identify our unique, God-given mission and to "set our hearts" on living it out.
Discussion Questions
- Pastor Lance opened with the interview question, "Tell us about yourself," and admitted he wasn't ready to answer it. How would you answer that question right now—not just with facts about your life, but with what you're truly about?
- Read Ezra 7:6 and 7:9. Pastor Lance highlighted the phrase "the hand of the Lord his God was upon him," which appears multiple times in these chapters. When you look back on your life, where can you identify moments when God's hand was clearly upon you—even if you didn't recognize it at the time?
- Read Ezra 7:10. Pastor Lance called this Ezra's "mission statement"—he "set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach" it. Notice the order: study, practice, then teach. Why does that sequence matter, and what happens when we get it out of order?
- Read Ezra 8:21-22. Ezra chose to fast and rely on God rather than request military protection because "we had said to the king, 'The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him.'" Pastor Lance said this was Ezra "practicing what he preached." Where in your life is there a gap between what you say you believe and how you actually live?
- Read Ezra 8:31-32. After 900 miles and five months, "the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us." Pastor Lance noted this was the fruit of Ezra's willingness to trust God publicly. What risk of faith might God be calling you to take that would become a visible witness to others?
- Read 2 Chronicles 12:14 and 2 Chronicles 19:3. Pastor Lance referenced these passages about kings who did or didn't "set their hearts" to seek the Lord. What do these contrasting examples reveal about the relationship between intentionality and spiritual faithfulness, and how does "setting your heart" differ from simply having good intentions?
- Read Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Pastor Lance challenged us to develop a personal mission statement based on how God has gifted us and where He has placed us. According to these passages, what is the purpose of your unique gifts and calling, and what might your mission statement be if you had to write one this week?
Extra Credit
Look up and read these passages about living with intentionality and purpose:
Proverbs 4:23 - "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."
Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."
Philippians 3:13-14 - "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
What do these passages teach about the connection between guarding your heart, living with purpose, and walking faithfully with God? How might these truths help you craft or refine your own personal mission?
Proverbs 4:23 - "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."
Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."
Philippians 3:13-14 - "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Micah 6:8 - "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
What do these passages teach about the connection between guarding your heart, living with purpose, and walking faithfully with God? How might these truths help you craft or refine your own personal mission?
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