**DIGGING IN**

*a weekly MAKE ROOM devotional*

The video is a response to the sermon and devotional by Bethel member Melodee Dyrud. Toward the end of each week, a Bethel church leader will share their personal thoughts.

*WEEK THREE*

**Sermon Series Overview:**

“The temple wasn’t just a building. It was where God said he would meet with his people. It was his reach of love into the lives of people as well as a way to proclaim the glory of God and extend the reach of God to the nations. So when the temple was destroyed and God’s people were taken away as exiles, something had to be done. God orchestrated the release of his people from captivity so they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. They began the work as God commanded them to, but over time “life” happened, resistance arose, and the mission was set aside. Enter the prophet Haggai. He was sent by God to help the people refocus and make room for God’s mission in their generation. Haggai points ahead to Jesus – the ultimate temple – the ultimate meeting place between God and sinners. In this series, we’ll see that today the mission of Christ is extended through us, the Church; we are his temple. As we make room for others, Christ’s mission advances in our generation as well!”

**TEXT:** Haggai 2:1-9

**FOCUS:** Mission Perspective

Re-read the text and use the following DIGGING IN guide to reflect on the message from Sunday. Use this individually, as a couple, family or group.

**1.** Read **Haggai 2:1-9,** then read the account in **Ezra 3:7-13** of the same time period.

**2.** What was the concern of those who could remember Solomon’s temple?

**3.** How does this quote relate to the issue at hand:
“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy, for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another.” — Anatole France

**4.** Why is change so hard for most of us?

> Recall a time when God helped you through a season of change that was challenging to you.

> What changes have you been a part of and how did the encouragement or opposition from others factor in?

**5.** What specific encouragement did God give the people in Haggai 2:4? Why would this have been encouraging to them?

**6.** God said he was going to “shake” things up everywhere. What does he say would be the result? (see verses 6-9)

**7.** What support do you see in the storyline of scripture for the statement that “with God, the best is yet to come”?

**8.** How is God leading you to Make Room for him and his mission in your life and in our church?

**A closing thought:**

"If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got." — Henry Ford

---

**Please continue to pray for...**

**1.**...the mission of Christ to grow in our hearts so that we Make Room in our lives and make a difference in the lives of our “neighbors” who need Jesus.

**2.**...a gospel-motivated, mission-fueled generosity in each of us that funds the Make Room project in Battle Lake, Boudamasa, and Fergus Falls (creating space for our neighbors locally, regionally, and internationally).

**3.**...God’s protection of our church’s unity and mission commitment to advance the mission of Christ in our generation.