IBC Richmond

Application Questions: How did Ezra respond to the known sin of other? What did he do privately? What did he do publicly? Does this inform the way a Christian responds to sin within the church or within society? How does this story help you think about the seriousness of sin and the life-change of repentance? What factor does rain play in this story? Is it a sign of judgment or cleansing? What do...

A prayer, as we lament the injustice that shreds our families, communities, cities, and nations.

How did Israel break the Law by intermarriage? What this an ethnic issue or a spiritual issue? How does the Bible teach Christians to view interracial marriages? What type of prayer does Ezra pray? Is it a model for your prayer life? Where is the redemption in Ezra’s prayer? How should you exercise this in your own prayer life? Ezra’s prayer never asks God for anything. What point is a prayer with...

How did Israel break the Law by intermarriage? What this an ethnic issue or a spiritual issue? How does the Bible teach Christians to view interracial marriages? What type of prayer does Ezra pray? Is it a model for your prayer life? Where is the redemption in Ezra’s prayer? How should you exercise this in your own prayer life? Ezra’s prayer never asks God for anything. What point is a prayer with...

Application Questions: What is fasting? What was Ezra's purpose in fasting (Ezra 8:21-23)? How is fasting associated with prayer? What personal need compels you to schedule time for fasting and prayer? What danger did Ezra and his companions anticipate on their journey? Is God’s plan for you safe? How can risk-taking reveal the Christian faith to unbelievers? How did the journey end? What principl...

Application Questions: What is fasting? What was Ezra's purpose in fasting (Ezra 8:21-23)? How is fasting associated with prayer? What personal need compels you to schedule time for fasting and prayer? What danger did Ezra and his companions anticipate on their journey? Is God’s plan for you safe? How can risk-taking reveal the Christian faith to unbelievers? How did the journey end? What principl...

Application Questions: 1. Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like God had withdrawn from you? What do you think the cause of that feeling might have been? 2. When was the last time you were desperate for the Lord’s attention? Why do you think Jesus ignored the Canaanite mother at first? Ever felt like God was ignoring you? 3. How did the disciple’s attitude toward the mother’s p...

Application Questions: 1. Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like God had withdrawn from you? What do you think the cause of that feeling might have been? 2. When was the last time you were desperate for the Lord’s attention? Why do you think Jesus ignored the Canaanite mother at first? Ever felt like God was ignoring you? 3. How did the disciple’s attitude toward the mother’s p...

Application Questions: What do you learn about family relationships and friendships from Ezra 8:1-20? What relational values do you miss during the COVID-19 pandemic and long to see restored? What does God’s blessing look like to a Christian? Is it the same as God’s blessing on Ezra? How do you discern and enjoy God’s blessings in your life? Why did Levites matter to Ezra’s journey? What principle...

Application Questions: What do you learn about family relationships and friendships from Ezra 8:1-20? What relational values do you miss during the COVID-19 pandemic and long to see restored? What does God’s blessing look like to a Christian? Is it the same as God’s blessing on Ezra? How do you discern and enjoy God’s blessings in your life? Why did Levites matter to Ezra’s journey? What principle...

Read Artaxerxes’ entire letter (Ezra 7:12-26). What surprising ways does God work behind the scenes to accomplish his will? Why did King Artaxerxes act favorably toward Ezra and the Jews? What insight can you learn from this as a citizen of a secular government? Where does courage come from in the Christian life? Do you need courage? Where did Ezra find the courage to lead? What type of team minis...

Read Artaxerxes’ entire letter (Ezra 7:12-26). What surprising ways does God work behind the scenes to accomplish his will? Why did King Artaxerxes act favorably toward Ezra and the Jews? What insight can you learn from this as a citizen of a secular government? Where does courage come from in the Christian life? Do you need courage? Where did Ezra find the courage to lead? What type of team minis...

Application Questions: What credibility did Ezra have to lead? Where did his authority rest? How well do you know the Bible? What influence does the Bible have in your day-to-day living? Do you have a biblical mentor like Ezra? Does your biblical mentor know you personally? How often do you learn from them? What does it mean that “the good hand of his God was on him" (Ezra 7:6, 9)? How is God’s ha...

Application Questions: What credibility did Ezra have to lead? Where did his authority rest? How well do you know the Bible? What influence does the Bible have in your day-to-day living? Do you have a biblical mentor like Ezra? Does your biblical mentor know you personally? How often do you learn from them? What does it mean that “the good hand of his God was on him" (Ezra 7:6, 9)? How is God’s ha...

Application Questions: What difference does dying with Christ make to your sense of identity? Must Christians be 100% certain of their salvation to act on Romans 6:5-10? Is sin avoidable as a Christian? What repetitive sins have you tolerated for too long? If you are alive to God, what desires, goals, and convictions guide your new life in Christ?

Application Questions: What difference does dying with Christ make to your sense of identity? Must Christians be 100% certain of their salvation to act on Romans 6:5-10? Is sin avoidable as a Christian? What repetitive sins have you tolerated for too long? If you are alive to God, what desires, goals, and convictions guide your new life in Christ?

Was the temple necessary for the Passover celebration? Why wait? Who could participate in Passover? What two steps were required? Are these requirements represented in receiving the Gospel today? What did the renewed Passover celebration signify for the repatriated exiles? What gave people joy in the Passover? What should a Christian do if they don’t feel joyful in God’s work?

Was the temple necessary for the Passover celebration? Why wait? Who could participate in Passover? What two steps were required? Are these requirements represented in receiving the Gospel today? What did the renewed Passover celebration signify for the repatriated exiles? What gave people joy in the Passover? What should a Christian do if they don’t feel joyful in God’s work?

Application Questions: What were the similarities and differences between this temple (Ezra 6:13-18) and Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:62-66)? Why are the people full of joy at the temple’s dedication? What was restored that had been previously lost? What did the 12 sin offerings signify? Should Christians remember sin in public worship today? How can this be done? Where is God’s sovereign in the st...

Application Questions: What were the similarities and differences between this temple (Ezra 6:13-18) and Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:62-66)? Why are the people full of joy at the temple’s dedication? What was restored that had been previously lost? What did the 12 sin offerings signify? Should Christians remember sin in public worship today? How can this be done? Where is God’s sovereign in the st...

]Application Questions: What ordinary means did God use in Ezra 6 to provide for the construction of the temple in Jerusalem? Can man accomplish God’s plan without God’s providence? Why or why not? Learning from this story, what are the blessings of a properly functioning government? How does this inform submission to government? Providence is God working independently of you to accomplish his wil...

]Application Questions: What ordinary means did God use in Ezra 6 to provide for the construction of the temple in Jerusalem? Can man accomplish God’s plan without God’s providence? Why or why not? Learning from this story, what are the blessings of a properly functioning government? How does this inform submission to government? Providence is God working independently of you to accomplish his wil...

Application Questions: Was the letter and its requests legitimate? How accountable are God’s people to governing authorities? Is there a place for civil disobedience? Were the Jewish leaders honest about their past? What can be learned from their self-evaluation? How has your past and your family history shaped who you are? Did the Jews have a legal right to rebuild the Temple? One commentator wro...