Rebuild "God's wisdom for building" week 6

What does it truly mean to rebuild our lives in a way that glorifies God? This powerful message takes us on a journey through the book of Ezra, revealing profound parallels between how the Israelites rebuilt the temple after captivity and how God is building His church today. We discover that before any physical reconstruction could begin, the returning exiles first built an altar—they restored worship. This mirrors the gospel message perfectly: the cross became God's altar, Jesus the ultimate sacrifice, and we are the sweet-smelling offering that rises from it. The foundation they laid points us directly to Christ as our chief cornerstone, the rejected stone that became the most essential piece of our salvation. What's striking is how the Israelites constantly referred back to the books of Moses, to the patterns established by David and Solomon—they had a blueprint. Similarly, Jesus is our pattern, our blueprint for every aspect of life. When we face decisions about marriage, career, relationships, or ministry, we're called to look at Christ and ask: What would He do? How did He respond? The resistance the builders faced reminds us that opposition doesn't mean we're off track—it often confirms we're building something that matters. The key insight? We cannot build anything of eternal value without first allowing God to build us. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. This isn't just ancient history—it's a roadmap for how we construct lives that bring Him praise.