February 9, 2025
The Story | Could God Still Love Me? | Chapter 19
Hope: The Return of the Exiles
The book of Ezra tells the story of the return of God’s people from exile. The account details the extra care that was taken by the returnees in doing their best to reproduce what they once had. Very quickly they got the old altar operational and began to rebuild the temple. Our story is about what they chose to do on the day the foundation of the new temple was in place. There was a party that didn’t feel like a party for everyone and that’s just honest!
Songs for this week: Spotify
Chapter 19: Ezra 3:10-13
- Share one picture on your phone and tell the story behind it.
- The people of God were already offering sacrifices, why did the Temple matter so much to them?
- Their song of choice was “God is good, his love endures forever.” Explain that. What might your life’s theme song be? Explain your choice.
- The story records that on that day some shouted for joy and others wept loudly. God welcomes both. How comfortable are you with your emotions? How comfortable are you when other people express their emotions?
- What do you think the greatest challenge is for St. Paul’s Leaskale right now?
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Recent Sermons
Mark 1:35 - Jesus modelled a life of restraint and rhythm, showing us how to live with peace and purpose even amid urgency through the practices he shared.
Luke 6:39-49 - Jesus reminds us that we all have teachers shaping us. Some lead us astray, but when we follow him, we learn to live as we were truly meant to.
Romans 12:1-2 - Jesus’ invitation is to follow him: to be with him, become like him, and do what he did. We surrender control to Jesus, resist the pattern of the world that shapes us, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for transformation.
Mark 1:16-18 -We begin our series on Practicing the Way—exploring how Jesus’ rhythms of prayer, fasting, solitude, and Sabbath invite ordinary people to grow in grace and intimacy with God
Acts 17:16-34 -Paul shares the hope of Jesus in everyday language, guiding seekers toward truth and showing where their search for God had gone astray.
Acts 13:1-5 -The first Christians had small groups! They knew, because Jesus modelled it, that we’re much better in groups than we are as individuals. The group that gathered in Antioch was diverse, zoned in on Jesus and figuring out how to be outward-facing. Your own group will want all that and more!
