Weekly Wednesdays: CALLED Men’s Group | Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Meeting# 2 | This Week’s Leader: David Goodno

Introduction: Welcome everyone, this is the second meeting of the winter 2025 semester of the Men’s “Called” Growth Group. We will continue to meet weekly on Wednesdays through 03/26/2025; 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. There is no formal “membership” or special requirements to attend; you can be a new-believer, or someone who has been walking in their faith for a lifetime, everyone is welcome to join, and you do not have to have been at a previous meeting (or prior semester) to attend this week, or at any meeting in the future.

Friendly reminder that we all come from various backgrounds and points of view and are at different points in our individual faith journey. The goal for tonight is to have a friendly discussion and if there are differing points of view, we should not feel attacked or be hostile to one another. We came together as friends and brothers in Christ; we should depart tonight the same (as friends and brothers in Christ). Often there is no right or wrong answer; there is just interpretation of scripture from varying points of view– Ultimately JESUS IS THE ANSWER.

This semester, the Called Men’s Group is conducting Bible study using the SOAP-Q (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer – and Questions) method, of the Book of Haggai, and Zechariah. Last week we read Haggai, and tonight we will begin reading the book of Zachariah.

Last week we learned that the Persian ruler Cyrus the Great captured Babylon and permitted the return of the Jews to Jerusalem and allowed them to rebuild the temple. the specific mention of the “second year of Darius” places the book firmly in the year 520 B.C. and Darius’ support was vital for the completion of the temple.

The Jews began rebuilding the temple (Ezra 1:2-4; 3:8-10; 4:1-5; 6:3-5), but neighboring Samaritans (and others) mounted an aggressive campaign to stop construction of the temple- and it worked. Haggai provided messages to motivate the leaders and the people of God to get back to building the temple.

The Prophet Zecharia is the eleventh of the “Minor-Prophets” like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zechariah was a priest as well as a prophet. This book focuses on concerns of the temple, priesthood and purification of the people. Zechariah’s grandfather Iddo was a priest who returned from exile with Zerubbabel (See Nehemiah 12) making it likely that Zechariah was Haggai’s younger colleague. Whereas Haggai’s focus was on rebuilding the temple, Zechariah’s was on the people’s spiritual transformation.

Chapters 1-8 deal with the rebuilding of the temple, the priesthood and the future of Jerusalem. Chapters 9-14 deal mostly with the distant future and the coming Messianic kingdom.

Zechariah stressed the presence of the Lord with His people and also the necessity to obey the Lord, especially in matters of justice, mercy, compassion and truthfulness he was concerned that the returned exiles not repeat the mistakes of their forefathers whose disobedience had brought upon them the Lord’s judgement. Zechariah like Haggai addresses not only the present condition of the people and Jerusalem, but their future. The Lord abides among His people and desires to bless them, but they continue to disobey Him and go their own way. Zecharia’s book is helpful to direct our thoughts to the Lord’s plan for blessing and cleansing.

This Week’s Prayer: Father God, we thank you for allowing us to come together and study your word tonight. We ask for your forgiveness whenever our thoughts and actions have drifted from you. Lord help us to return to you and remain in faithful relationship with you. Thank you for forgiving us, thank you for forgiving me, time and time again. Help us commit to you and lean into you for understanding. – Amen

Scripture, Read: Zechariah Chapter 1: 1 – 21 (21 Verses)

Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)

Where do you get your encouragement? Who fires you up? Who inspires you to dig down deep and find that extra push that often means the difference between success and failure? For some of us it’s a coach or trainer. For others it’s a mentor, boss or family member. For others it’s a parent or friend or a famous role model or athlete.

Zechariah encouraged the Israelites to complete the enormous task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.

What makes someone a good encourager; someone who has enthusiasm for developing other people?

  • Discuss among the group, and try to identify 3-5 things.

  • Do you see yourself as a leader who encourages others? Do you have a desire to see others succeed? - Are you willing to help others and give them encouragement, even if it seems silly or embarrassing?

  • We often think that we don’t have what it takes, or there’s no way someone would listen to our ideas. But the truth is, we all have a circle of friends or people we can influence with our ideas. God wants us to show love to one another, and giving someone encouragement is one of the most loving things we can do. – Agree / Disagree, discuss among the group.

  • Encouragement is more than just saying things like, “way to go bro” or “Nice Job.” Encouragement is a way of helping others understand what they’re capable of. How do we define encouragement? - Discuss among the group.

  • The world is full of people who’d goal is to keep us down or prevent us from succeeding. What are somethings we can do to be the kind of person who counteracts those influences? - Discuss among the group.

God gave Zechariah the task of preparing the Jews for proper worship in the Temple once the building project was completed. His primary message to those returning from exile is found in his opening appeal: “Return to me, and I will return to you” (1:3). God wanted His people to learn from their past mistakes and to renew their covenant commitment to Him.

We all have a tendency (or at least could have at some point, had a temptation) to drift away from God. Worldly priorities can take place of our complete commitment to the Lord. When we return to God, we shift our focus from self and sin, to close loyalty to God and obeying His will for our lives.

  • God patiently awaits our return and rejoices when we repent and turn back to Him. It is God’s desire for us to maintain a close and faithful relationship with Him. Agree / Disagree, discuss.

  • Has there ever been a time when you drifted away from God? What helped you return to faith? If you are willing, share with the group and discuss.

Key verses for discussion:

Zechariah is talking to people who have come home. But home is not proving all they had hoped it would be.

  •  Have you ever felt homesick? If yes, what did you miss? - if you are willing, share with the group.

(In verse 1) Zechariah sets the scene. Darius, who is not an Israelite king, but the ruler of the Persian Empire. In 587 B.C. God’s people were taken into exile in Babylon. Seventy years later, when Babylon fell to Persian, they were able to return. A few years after their return, things are not going well. The Jews face opposition and hardship. The rebuilding work has stalled, hopes are fading, and spirits are low. Zechariah’s task is to bring comforting words to struggling people.

  •  Imagine you were a citizen of Babylon. How would you feel knowing that you’ve returned, but unable to rebuild the temple?

  • What does Zechariah tell those who had returned from exile to do?

    • In what way were they still in exile?

(The real problem of the exile was the sin of the people, resulting in God’s judgement. These underlying issues remained unresolved. The people had still not “come home” to God. The exile in Babylon is a picture of mankind’s plight. We are away from God because of sin. We need to hear Zechariah’s word just as much as the Jews did. – Agree/Disagree?

Zechariah tells us about a series of visions that describe a great building project that God is undertaking. These visions are full of rich imagery. The first involves a man with horses. They are God’s “scouts”, who God sends to report to the world.

  • What do God’s “scouts” find throughout the earth? - Discuss.

  • Look at verses 12 and 15. All seems well with the world, but what is the reality? - Discuss.

  • What is God’s response in verse 16 and 17? - Discuss

How can we use the ideas in Zechariah’s visions to help you communicate the gospel to someone who feels “restless” in their life?

  • What do God’s words for Israel in verses 2-4 mean for us today?

    • See Mark 1:14-15

      • 14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.

      • 15 The time promised by God has come at last! He announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Other key takeaways to explore:

  • Learn from other people’s mistakes. Don’t make the same poor choices you see others make (1:2-6).

  • “Like father, like son” implies that children turn out like their parents. But here in verse 1:2-6, God warned Israel the consequences – His punishment. We are responsible before God for our actions.

  • Scholars do not know the full meaning of the colors of the horses (1:8-10). Although a red horse is often associated with war, while a white horse represents victory. What do we think the colors mean?

  • Biblical scholars believe the man among the myrtle trees to be the angel of the Lord (1:11).

    • Who is the angel of the Lord? - do a google search on your phones, discuss your findings among the group. https://www.gotquestions.org/angel-of-the-Lord.html

  • Seventy Years (1:12) was the time that God had decree for Israel to remain in captivity (Jerimiah 25:11- 14 and 29:10-14) This time was over, and the angel asked God to act swiftly to complete the promised return of his people to Jerusalem.

  • Scholars believe that the horns (1:18-21) are the four world powers that oppressed Israel – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Medo-Persia. And the four blacksmiths (1:20) were the nations used to overthrow Israel’s enemies. God raised them up to judge the oppressors of His people.

Other questions to explore:

  • What was the context? What was going on at the time this was written?

  • What and where is this happening?

    • What makes what was happening meaningful?

    • Is there anything special about the location (or locations)?

  • Who is involved?

    • How do they respond to God?

    • What character traits do you notice about them?

    • What is the significance of their involvement?

  • What do you think is the key message?

  • Did anything surprise you? What was it?

  • Were there any repetitive words or themes that stood out to you? What were they?

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  • Is there anything that stood out to you? Share with the group and discuss.

  • Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss, and research.

  • Biggest takeaway?

References/Acknowledgements:

Elements of today’s Bible study were referenced from:

1. NLT Courage for Life Men’s Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2023 Tyndale House Ministries Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation https://www.tyndale.com/sites/courageforlifebible/

2. NIV Study Bible, Revolution, copyright 2011. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV); copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://www.zondervan.com/p/niv-bibles-for-teens- true-images-revolution/

3. NLT Parallel Study Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2011 Tyndale House Ministries Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation

4. Knowing the Bible, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, by Steven M. Coleman, J. L. Packer, Dane C. Ortlund; copyright 2018 by Crossway, Wheaton, Illinois.

5. The Good Book Guide to Zechariah, God’s big plan for struggling Christians, by Tim Chester, copyright 2005 by the Good Book Company. https://www.thegoodbook.com

Schedule: Month, Meeting Number, Date, Book/Chapters/Verse/ (Total Verses)

January 2025:

_x_ 001, 01/22 Haggai 1:1 – 2:23. (38 Verses)

_x_ 002, 01/29 Zechariah 1:1-21. (21 Verses)

February 2025:

__ 003, 02/05 Zechariah 2:1 – 3:10. (23 Verses)

__ 004, 02/12 Zechariah 4:1 – 5:11. (25 Verses)

__ 005, 02/19 Zechariah 6:1 – 7:14. (29 Verses)

__ 006, 02/26 Zechariah 8:1-23. (23 Verses)

March 2025:

__ 007, 03/05 Zechariah 9:1-17. (17 Verses)

__ 008, 03/12 Zechariah 10:1 – 11:17. (29 Verses)

__ 009, 03/19 Zechariah 12:1 – 13:9. (23 Verses)

__ 010, 03/26 Zechariah 14:1-21. (21 Verses) *

*Please monitor FV.church/events for more information about the next semester.

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