life together - discovering christian community the community that follows god’s lead

Life Together - Discovering Christian Community

The Community That Follows God’s Lead



Wisconsin Judah

Green Bay Jerusalem

Lambeau Field The Jewish Temple

Minnesota Babylonian Empire

Minneapolis Babylon

Leader of Minnesota Nebuchadnezzar

Detroit Mesopotamia

Canada The Media-Persian Empire

Leader of Canada Cyrus

Mayor of Green Bay Zerubbabel

Packer’s Head Coach Joshua

Ghost of Vince Lombardi Prophet Haggai

Ghost of Mike Holmgren Prophet Zechariah



Fall of Jerusalem 586 BC

(Jews Moved to Babylon)



Cyrus Gives Permission for Jews to Return

538 BC



Temple is Rebuilt

520 BC to 516 BC



With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

-Acts 2:40-41



...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

-Acts 2:47



Sovereignty Free Will


The Community That Follows God’s LeadIn him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

-Ephesians 1:11-13


The Community That Follows God’s Lead…the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…

-Ephesians 1:11

I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand,” and “I will accomplish all my purpose.”

-Isaiah 46:9-10



And there has been a wonderful alteration in my mind, in respect to the doctrine of God's sovereignty, from that day to this; so that I scare ever have found so much as the rising of an objection against it....I have often since had not only a conviction but a delightful conviction. The doctrine has very often appeared exceeding pleasant, bright, and sweet. Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God. But my first conviction was not so.

Jonathan Edwards,Personal Narrative



The Vision of Zechariah 4



[I am the LORD] who says of Cyrus, "He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, 'Let it be rebuilt,' and of the temple, 'Let its foundations be laid.'"

-Isaiah 44:28



In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation to rebuild the temple.

-Ezra 1:1



So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God.

-Haggai 2:14



So he answered me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.'"

-Zechariah 4:6

(1) By the Power of God’s Spirit



What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will be a plain. Then Zerubbabel will bring out the capstone with shouts of “Grace! Grace!” because of it.

-Zechariah 4:7

(2) By God’s Grace



Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, "The hands of Zerubbabel laid the foundation of this temple and his hands will complete it."

-Zechariah 4:8-9

(3) By God’s Promise



For who despises the day of small things? These seven will rejoice when they see the stone of tin in the hand of Zerubbabel. (These are the eyes of the LORD that range throughout all the earth.)

-Zechariah 4:10

(4) By God’s Sovereign Control



So he said, "These are the two sons of the anointing oil who serve the Lord of all the earth."

-Zechariah 4:14

(5) By Means of Human Help



[the church is] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

-Ephesians 2:20-22



Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

-1 Corinthians 3:16

...I will build my church.... -Matthew 16:18



Practical Applications for Christian Community:

1. Encouragement in our Work




1. Encouragement in our Work2. The Importance of Prayer for

Discerning God’s Will




1. Encouragement in our Work2. The Importance of Prayer for

Discerning God’s Will3. Two Questions to Ask:

• What is God doing in your life?• How can I help?



“In every visit, every meeting I attend, every appointment I keep, I have been anticipated. The risen Christ got there ahead of me. The risen Christ is in that room already. What is he doing? What is he saying? What is going on?....When I arrive and enter the room I am not so much wondering what I am going to do or say that will be pastoral as I am alert and observant for what the risen Christ has been doing or saying that is making a gospel story out of this life.”

Eugene Peterson,Under the Unpredictable Plant

life together - discovering christian community the community that follows god’s lead

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