JESUS - LORD AND SAVIOR - Jesus is Coming Again

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “As He was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones? What magnificent buildings!’ ‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ Replied Jesus, ‘Not one stone here will be left on another. Every one will be thrown down.’ ” (Mark 13:1-2)
      Passage: Psalm 31:1-3

The temple that stood in Jerusalem in Jesus’ time was the second temple built in Jerusalem. The first one, built during Solomon’s reign was completed in 960 B.C. It is estimated to have cost up to 2 billion dollars in today’s money. Yet, God allowed it to be destroyed in 586 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The second one was built after the Persians took over Babylon in 589 B.C. and it was completed in 516 B.C. It was originally not as ornate as the first one, but King Herod had tried to restore it to the glory of the first one and it was a point of pride for the Jews. However, Jesus said it would be reduced to rubble, and that prediction was fulfilled in 70 A.D.

The fact that God allowed both temples to be destroyed shows His attitude about church buildings. The buildings are not the church. The people are the church. God doesn’t care about the buildings if they are not used according to His purposes for His people. Church buildings are tools to be used for God’s Kingdom. They are to be homes for local groups of God’s family to gather to worship, learn, fellowship and do ministry. Thank God for the blessing of church facilities and pray that they will always be used to glorify Him and be a place for His Kingdom’s work          

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)