Pastor Derrill preached on “Consider Your Ways” from Haggai 1:2–9. After sixteen years of the temple sitting unfinished, God challenged His people to look at their priorities. They had focused on building comfortable lives for themselves while God’s house remained in ruins. The issue was not a lack of resources, but what they had chosen to put first.

Pastor Derrill reminded us that what we prioritize reveals what matters most to us. Sometimes “the time has not yet come” can become an excuse to stay comfortable instead of obeying what God has called us to do. The restart begins when we honestly examine our lives, reorder our priorities, and put God back at the center.

Pastor Jon Jon preached on “Winning the Battle Within” from Ephesians 6:10–18, focusing on how spiritual warfare often begins in the mind. Our thoughts shape our beliefs, emotions, decisions, and actions, which is why the enemy often attacks through lies, fear, condemnation, accusation, and doubt. The battle can be won or lost in our thinking before it ever shows up in our behavior.

Pastor Jon Jon reminded us that the helmet of salvation protects our minds by grounding us in what Christ has already done for us. Because of Jesus, we can remember that we are forgiven, redeemed, belong to Christ, and have a secure future. We do not have to accept the thoughts the enemy tries to place on us; instead, we can put on what Christ has given us and stand in the victory of our salvation.

Pastor Asim preached on “Joy and Tears at the Foundation” from Ezra 3:8–13, where the Israelites gathered to celebrate the laying of the temple’s foundation. For many, it was a moment of incredible joy because rebuilding had finally begun. But for those who remembered the former temple, the same moment brought tears. The passage shows us that joy and grief can exist at the same time, and neither emotion has to cancel out the other.

Pastor Asim reminded us that beginnings are worth celebrating, even when they seem small compared to what came before. It can be easy to become so focused on the past that we miss what God is doing in the present. Instead of allowing the memory of “what was” to poison the promise of “what’s next,” we can honor the past while still trusting God with the new thing He is building.