NBC Sunday School Manual For March 6, 2022 : Topic – THE RESOURCES TO BUILD
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NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday, March 06,2022
TOPIC:THE RESOURCES TO BUILD
Lesson Scripture reading: Ezra 1:1-8, 11
Golden Text: When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. Ezrd 2:68
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
1. Examine the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem through the help of King Cyrus;
2. Discuss ungodly ways some Christian leaders raise fund for God’s project in our contemporary time;
3. Have confidence that God will provide the resources they need to carry out His project.
4. Explain what Job meant by repentance in dust and ashes;
5. Express their resolve to depend solely on God in times of suffering rather than blame God.
Introduction
Pastor John Hassan got a call to pastor one of the oldest churches in his hometown, immediately after his graduation from the seminary. Having prayed and sought for God’s direction, the young pastor shared his proposed plan to reconstruct the church building. Although the plan seemed good, but members of the church expressed fear due to their low financial state. They asked one another, “Where will the money come from for such a massive project?” However, the pastor was confident of God’s approval and so he asked them to pray and suggest different ways fund can be raised for the building. Of course, there were diverse opinions. While the elders suggested that members should be encouraged to give freewill donations, the youths recommended that some wealthy people in the community should be invited for launching. If you were a member of the church, what would have been your
counsel?
To encourage freewill donations by members of the church or to invite people Christians, Muslims, politicians and other businessmen whose sources of income may be questionable? It is no longer news that some churches do not mind how they raise fund for church projects, provided their needs are met, projects are completed at the scheduled time for dedication to the glory of God. Some even give the example of King Cyrus who supported the rebuilding of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem, without the understanding that it was God who prompted him to do so. In 2 Chronicles chapter 29, King David encouraged the people to give their freewill offerings to build the Lord’s house with an excellent example of giving his resources. Interestingly, in verses 6-9, the people responded and gave willingly for the rebuilding of the house of God. The focus of todays lesson is how God moved the heart of King Cyrus of Persia to support the reconstruction of the Lord’s temple, which was destroyed when King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. King Cyrus’ Proclamation: Ezra 1:1-8
King Cyrus of Persia occupied the city of Babylon and began to reign as the emperor. Though a pagan King, he was known for his liberality. He tolerated the exiles and permitted them to continue with their customs and traditions in his domain. In the first year of his reign, God prompted him to make a decree in writing and proclaim it throughout his empire. He said, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.”(v. 2). Consequently, he commanded the exiles to go to Jerusalem in Judah and rebuild the temple for the Lord. The proclamation was with the promise of receiving help (in form of silver and gold, supplies and livestock as well as offerings) from their neighbours (vv.3-4). The aftermath of the decree was that the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites, and everyone whose heart God had moved got prepared to go and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Remarkably, they received help from their neighbours, according the Cyrus’ order in verse 4, in addition to the freewill offerings. Furthermore, King Cyrus, through Mithredath the treasurer, voluntarily returned the items, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple to decorate his god, when he conquered the people. Jeremiah had earlier prophesied that the exile of the Jews would last for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12).
Therefore, Cyrus’ rise to power was not accidental but a providential act of God so that the destroyed temple will be rebuilt and true worship restored. Although a pagan king, yet he was used as an instrument to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He was magnanimous to the point that the articles which Nebuchadnezzar looted when God punished Israel were returned for the purpose of decoration. He also encouraged the pagans to support Israel to rebuild the temple. However, it should be noted that King Cyrus’ action was the handiwork of God; therefore, it is not a standard for asking pagans and peOple of questionable characters to raise fund for church projects. When God gives a vision to build, He will also provide the means of financing the project without necessarily looking for help from unbelievers. Christians should be reminded that the resources with which to build and carry out God’s projects are within the reach of God. So, we should trust Him to always supply what is needed to complete His work.
Discussion Time
1. Should Christians invite unbelievers to finance church projects? If yes, why?
2. Discuss the best ways to raise money for church projects.
B. The People’s Freewill Offering: Ezra 2:64-70
The first group of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem at the order of King Cyrus, after about fifty years (v.1). From verses l to 61 of Ezra 2 has a list of the returnees and their leaders. The whole company numbered about 42,360, with the following analysis:
• 7,337 male and female servants
• 200 male and female singers
• 736 horses
• 24’5 mules
• 435 camels
• 6,720 donkeys
When they finally arrived in Jerusalem, they were moved to give freewill offering in support of the reconstruction of the temple work. Ultimately, they gave according to their ability. Eventually, everything amounted to a total of 61,100 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments. While the priests, Levites and some of the people settled near Jerusalem, the musicians, the temple guards and workmen settled in the neighbouring towns, where their ancestors had lived. Unlike other tribes, the Levites were not granted a specific territory in the Promised Land thus the other tribes gave them land for their use (Numbers 35:2-8).
In all of God’s dealings with the people of Israel, their return from the Babylonian captivity was the peak. During the reign of King Cyrus, they returned with the intention to rebuild the temple, which was destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. The passage has explained that one of the best ways to finance God’s project is through freewill offering/ donations, which some people call “Seed of Faith.” Rather than coerce people or invite unbelievers to finance God’s work. We should embark on God-given projects with faith that He is able to move the hearts of people to give, according to their ability. Except in exceptional cases like King Cyrus who was given the responsibility of building a temple for the Lord in Jerusalem and Judah (v.2), the idea of asking some rich individuals, especially unbelievers to support church projects should be discouraged.
Discussion Time
1. Discuss the advantages of adopting the method of freewill giving in carrying out massive church projects.
2. What are some ungodly ways churches raise money for major projects today? Does it have any implication, based on today’s lesson?
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
List some essential needs of the church and ask class members to suggest ways fund can be raised
Take Home
Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson
Prayer
1. Pray that God will use you as an instrument to contribute to the funding of kingdom projects.
2. Pray that the Lord will always move your heart to give willingly to support church projects, whenever the need arises.
Commitment
Based on today’s lesson, morke on commitment to your Church to always be part of making resources available to build ne house of God.