There’s something deeply moving about a fresh start. After years in exile, God’s people finally returned home to Jerusalem with high hopes and big dreams. They began rebuilding the Temple—a visible sign that God’s presence was once again among them. But as time passed, life’s distractions set in. The excitement faded. The foundation of the Temple stood unfinished, and the people turned their attention to their own houses and ambitions.

Into this moment, God sent the prophet Haggai with a simple but piercing message:

“Consider your ways.” – Haggai 1:5 (ESV)

Haggai’s words cut through excuses and complacency, calling God’s people to realign their hearts and priorities. The problem wasn’t that they stopped working—it’s that they stopped working for the right reasons. They had settled into comfort while neglecting what mattered most: the glory of God.

A Call to Rebuild

The book of Haggai may be short—just two chapters—but its message echoes across the centuries. God still desires to dwell among His people. He still calls His church to put His glory first. And He still blesses obedience.

Through Haggai, God stirred His people to rebuild—not just walls and altars, but their devotion, worship, and faith. When they responded in obedience, God responded with His presence:

“I am with you, declares the Lord.” – Haggai 1:13 (ESV)

That same promise stands today. When the church reorders its priorities and returns to God’s purposes, His presence returns in power. Revival begins when we stop making excuses and start building again—for His pleasure, His glory, and His name.

A Message for the Modern Church

Our series, Consider Your Ways, takes us through the timeless truths of Haggai—truths that speak directly to the heart of the church today. Just as God’s people once faced the temptation to focus on their own comfort rather than His calling, we too must pause and ask:

• Are we more focused on building our own lives than building God’s Kingdom?

• Have we allowed discouragement or distraction to stall what God began in us?

• What might God want to rebuild in our church, our families, or our hearts?

Haggai reminds us that obedience always precedes blessing, and that God’s greatest desire is not our success but our surrender.

It’s Time to Build Again

At Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship, we believe God is calling His people to renewal—to rebuild what’s been neglected and to trust Him once more with all our hearts. The story of Haggai isn’t just about bricks and beams—it’s about hearts returning home to God.

Join us for this sermon series as we rediscover what it means to put God’s glory first, to walk in obedience, and to experience His presence in fresh, powerful ways.

When God’s people return to His purposes, His presence returns in power.