GOD MEETS US IN OUR BROKENNESS AND RESTORES US.

SCRIPTURE | Ezra 1:1-8; 3:1-6,10-13

CENTRAL TRUTH

The best way forward was to look inward, to deal with sin. Restoring the altar symbolized the people’s desire to be in right relationship to God. Repentance is our way forward too—the foundation for a right relationship with God. If we skip this step, our foundation will crumble.

KEY QUESTION

WHAT DID THE PEOPLE REBUILD FIRST? WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS SYMBOLIZED FOR THEM? FOR US?

KEEP IN MIND

Many students often experience a change in their identity based on who they’re around. Asking them to consider how much external factors affect their identity can help them discover who they are in Christ. God formed Israel for Himself. Israel’s identity was supposed to be in the Lord—in living distinctly from the rest of the world by following God’s law. Instead, the people often ignored their God-given identity and chose to imitate pagan nations surrounding them. After living for seventy years exiled in Babylon, many of them may have struggled with their identity. If they were born in Babylon, were they Israelites still? Were they also Babylonian? Who were they, really? Maybe your students ask this question too. Here’s the truth we must share: God created them. He delights in them. They are their truest selves when they live out their identity as God’s children—as followers of Jesus living by God’s Word. Circumstances change, but their identity never does when they root it in the Lord.

APPLICATION

THE PEOPLE DIDN’T JUST RETURN “HOME”; THEY RETURNED TO GOD. HOW CAN WE TAKE STEPS TO RETURN WHEN WE EXPERIENCE DISTANCE WITH GOD BECAUSE OF OUR SIN?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: Students return “home” by addressing their sin. They confess it and repent; they lay it down on the altar and commit to worship the Lord only. They read His Word and live by it. They draw near to Him, and in return, He draws near to them (James 4:8).

FOR THE LEADER: As leaders, many of us have experienced wandering away from the Lord and returning to Him. We can consider sharing (safely) about the times we’ve wandered and how we made our way back with the help of the Holy Spirit’s conviction and guidance.