In the conclusion of Haggai, God addressed a message of hope to Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, who was acting as governor of the people in Jerusalem. Studying God's predictions of the end-times is certainly the most challenging part of Bible study. We understand that part of this is intentional as "It is God's glory to conceal a matter," and "the secret things belong to God." At the same time, we understand that a believer's hope is based on the promises God has made to his people. Today, we consider how the fulfillment of promises to God's people in the past gives us, not only assurance for the fulfillment of his other promises, but also a basis for understanding how those promises will be fulfilled. We hope you are blessed and encouraged by this episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

How do you diagnose difficult circumstances in your life? While Jesus told us we could expect trouble every day in this world, can you be honest with yourself when you are actually the one who caused the trouble? In this study from the book of Haggai, we look at God's exhortation to the Israelites to consider why all of their labor kept being frustrated. In this example, it was because Israel was failing to obey God, and so he was actually working against their labors and plans. From this passage, we'll seek to apply the principle from scripture of "reaping what we've sown" and learn to "consider" our own ways. We hope you are blessed and challenged by another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

Can gifts offered to God be unacceptable and even offensive to him? That's exactly what we find in Haggai chapter 2. The Israelites were going through many of the motions of lawful worship, but there was a key feature they were missing: true obedience. Throughout scripture, God consistently tells people he desires obedience and not sacrifice. What implications does this have for us, and how might we be deceiving ourselves into thinking some compromises in ourselves don't matter because of other things we do for God? This is the focus of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

For most of us, the Christian life will be a marathon, not a sprint. In Haggai chapter 2, God gave the Israelites' an encouragement that though they felt like the temple structure they were rebuilding was small and less glorious than Solomon's, there was coming a greater and final glory for God and his people. The implication of that encouragement, and how believers today still foreshadow God and his people's coming glory, are the focus of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

How do you measure successful Christian ministry and living? Many times, we might become discouraged and disheartened over what we hoped might happen but hasn't, or by comparing ourselves with others who, at least appear, to have accomplished more than we have. In this lesson, we consider God's statements to the people of Israel when they were feeling this way about the rebuilding of the temple. From God's word, we'll see that he exhorts us not to have perspective based on human understanding of accomplishment, but to be satisfied and strengthened by God's Spirit being with us in his labor. That's the focus of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

How do you respond when God confronts you about sinful behavior? Do you consider your circumstances might be God speaking to you about an area of unfaithfulness in your life? Those questions are the focus of today's study in Haggai where we'll see how the people of Israel responded when God confronted them about their failure to rebuild his temple. We hope you are blessed and encouraged by another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

What does it take for a person to be saved, and what qualities are displayed in the unrepentant heart of a person who hardens themselves against the mercies of God? In today's study, we consider how God uses Jacob and Esau (and their descendants) to illustrate his undeserved mercy in salvation, and man's responsibility for failing to consider his own sin and his need of repentance and forgiveness from God. We hope you are blessed and challenged by another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

Recorded for Impact Radio broadcast week of August 26, 2026.

Are you waiting for "the right situation and circumstance" before you think it's time to serve the Lord? Through the prophet Haggai, God confronted the people of Israel for failing to put him first and then looking after their own interests. This is a common issue any believer can and does struggle with at times. What then can we learn from God's words to these Israelites and the situation they were facing? That's our focus in today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

Recorded for Impact Radio broadcast week of Wednesday August 19th, 2026.