2025
Discouraged, Afraid, and Frustrated
Passage: Ezra 4:1-5; 24; Matthew 5:10-12, 43-44
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure;
For lo! his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.
— Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What are some ways our culture values purity? In what situations, items, or processes, do people generally see purity as good?
Read Ezra 4; Matthew 5:10-12, 43-44. What do these passages show you about God’s character and about being his follower? What challenges, encourages, or sparks questions for you in these passages?
Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, said, “If Church is to practice the teachings of Christ, it must be “an unreliable ally” to every social, political, cultural order of this world.” What might it mean to be an “unreliable ally”? In what ways is this reflected in God’s people during Ezra’s time? How is it reflected today?
What does faithfulness look and feel like in Ezra 4? What are the results? How does this reality shape our perspective or understanding of faithful living today?
How have you experienced conflict for allegiance to Jesus?
How are Christians equipped and expected to receive conflict for allegiance to Jesus?
How did Jesus show us the application of his teaching in Matthew 5?
PRAYER
Share with your group how they can be praying for you: what is weighing on you from this past week? What are you praising God for from this past week?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 2:9