ChosenRebel's Blog

Tuesday is for Preaching

I was preparing a series of messages for radio broadcast on 94.1 FM WGFA in Watseka, IL and thought the outline of the series might be of some value to readers here. The title of the series was THE UNSATISFYING PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS and it was a four message exposition of the book of Haggai.

The series was originally recorded in 2005 at New Song Church in Bolingbrook, IL near Christmas time but the relevance of the book’s message is timeless in any season.

Here’s the outline of the series:

Haggai 1:1-15   The Unsatisfying Pursuit of
….                       Happiness

Haggai 2:1-9     Cheer Up Church;
  …                       You’re Worse off Than You
…..                      Think

Haggai 2:10-19  God’s Commitment to Bless

Haggai 2:20-23  Looking Toward the Manger

I recommend the book of Haggai to preachers who feel their congregation is in hot pursuit of anything other than the all-satisfying Christ. We need people who are intoxicated with Christ. People who live like Paul. “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). John Piper said it most clearly for our generation. “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.” 

Train your people to find their joy in the wonder of the Risen Christ. Nothing and no one are more worthy of pursuing in life and nothing and no one will satisfy both in this life and the next.

“Lord Jesus, help me to train my heart to find all its joy in you.
Help me to raise up men and women through my prayer, through my preaching,
through my counseling, through my life, who live passionately for and like you.”