Audio Sermons

Building Up the Church of Christ:

Return to Me!

Life B-P Church Worship Service, 4^th February 2024

Text: Zechariah 1:1-6

• As a result of Haggai’s ministry, the people were motivated to return to the task of building God’s House. 

• But their more important need was to be motivated to return to building their relationship with God. This was the purpose of Zechariah’s first message.

There are at least two motivations for us to return to our relationship with God:

1. The Consequences of Refusing to Return to God (vv.2-6a) 

a. The Sins of the Fathers

• They had turned away from the Lord. (v.2)
• They had turned to evil ways and evil doings.

b. Their Disappointing Response

• The Lord sent prophets to urge them to return. (v.4a)
• But they refused to listen. (v.4b; cf. 2 Chronicles 36:15,16; Jeremiah 7:4,9-11)

c. The Outcome of Their Failure

• They suffered God’s judgment and died. (v.5a)
• They missed their opportunity to obey God’s Word. (v.5b)
• God’s Word eventually caught up with them. (v.6a) 

2. The Blessings of Choosing to Return to God (v.3,6b)

a. Seeking after God Himself

• “Turn ye unto Me…” (v.3a)

b. The Promise of God

• “… and I will turn unto you.” (v.3b; cf. Jeremiah 29:12-14) 

c. The Faithfulness of God

• “Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us.” (v.6b)

Application:

• Learn from the past and do not repeat mistakes. (v.4a, cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11,12)
• Listen to God’s call to repent of your sins. (v.3, cf. John 6:37)
• Look forward to the joy of walking in God’s ways. (cf. Luke 15:20-24) 

Questions for Reflection:

1. How can you have a closer walk with God?
2. Has God been convicting you about certain sins in your life?
3. How seriously should you regard God’s call to repent of those sins?