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Matthew 27

Psalm 145

Sunday Sermon

The sermon on Sunday, June 1, is on Ezra 1-2. To prepare your heart and mind for the worship gathering, read this passage beforehand.

PRAY

For the month of June in our Daily Worship, we will be praying through our Five Loves during the week and our Mission and Vision statements on the weekend.  

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:39 

The gospel reminds us that we were once lost and helpless and God showed us mercy through his Son Jesus Christ. The gospel frees us from our self-centeredness and turns us into servants who joyfully and willingly bless others. It humbles us. It reminds us that we had nothing. We were lost, dead, at enmity with God, rebels against him, and he rescued us and showed us mercy. We remember that “...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). Everything we have we owe to him. Understanding his love, we are enabled by his grace to truly love our neighbors and those in our community.  

• Thank God for loving you first and saving you. 
• Confess to God where you haven’t loved your neighbors as you should have.  
• Trust God’s promises of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. 
• Pray for your neighbors, especially those who are lost and need God to change their hearts. 
• Ask God to give you wisdom, open doors, and boldness, to share the gospel with your neighbors. 
• Ask God to show you ways you can serve your neighbors and your community.

Faith Groups

• What is the book of Ezra about?
• What does the king’s decree in Ezra 1 reveal about God’s sovereignty over rulers and nations and his faithfulness to his people?
• Why is the return of the temple articles significant, and what does it mean for the returning exiles?
• How does the willingness of some to give offerings for the temple’s reconstruction reflect their priorities and faith?

Sing

First Things First - Consumed By Fire