Family Worship Guide
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:7
Scripture: Ezra 1:1-4: In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
Quick Commentary: The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that the Jews would be in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. It looked like that prophecy wouldn’t happen, but then God did something extraordinary to fulfill this prophecy. He worked in the heart of a Persian king named Cyrus! Cyrus sent Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem, thus fulfilling this prophecy.
Main Thoughts: God simply put a desire into the heart of a foreign king to accomplish His purpose and fulfill His word! This teaches us something very important. God always keeps His promises and God is always in control!
Questions To Discuss: How have you seen the faithfulness of God in your life? Are there any areas of your life that you need to ask God to deepen your trust in Him?
Main Things To Pray For Each Other: Pray that verses like these will turn our hearts to God to worship Him for His knowledge and power! Pray for God’s Spirit to stir in each of our hearts to accomplish His will in our lives. Pray for those you know who don’t know God. Pray that God will stir their hearts.
Suggested Prayer Items: God, we praise You for Your incredible power and knowledge. We ask that You would stir in our hearts to be faithful vessels for You. We pray for those in our lives and in our world that don’t know You. Please help them to hear Your message and believe. Thank you for You love and activity in our lives.
