If We Don't Build God's House, Who Will? Sermon Notes

FBI Sermon Notes

TEXT: Ezra 2:68-69

TOPIC: IF WE DON'T BUILD THE CHURCH, WHO WILL?

Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church – Icard, June 23, 2002

BIBLE SURVIVOR SERIES – Message 32

"I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Matthew 16:18

Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to erect it in its place:

69 According to their ability,

Ezra 2:68-69a

I. THOUGHTFULNESS

They "...offered freely for the house of God, to erect it in its place"

(Ezra 2:68b).

* They offered promptly without delay.

* They offered spontaneously without restraint.

* They offered proportionately and liberally.

If there is genuine CONSIDERATION of what we have RECEIVED from God, there will be a genuine CALCULATION of what we RETURN to God.

II. TOGETHERNESS

"Let us build with you...We ourselves together will build"

(Ezra 4:2-3).

Our RESPONSIBILITY is simply our RESPONSE to God's ABILITY.

"Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose..."

Ezra 4:4-5a

III. THOROUGHNESS

"With the free-will offering of the people...offered willingly for the house of their God" Ezra 7:16

“According to their ability…”

Ezra 2:69a

* They wanted to profess their love for their God.

* They were AMBITIOUS to sacrifice to show gratitude.

* They DESIRED to help establish His name.

* They HOPED to glorify His name.

* They wanted to TESTIFY by assembling to worship.

IV. THANKFULNESS

"Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven"

Ezra 7:23

BIBLE SURVIVORS READING ASSIGNMENT – NEHEMIAH 1 - 4