Good Trouble + Building The Right Thing: Bible in a Year Recap (Pt. 3)

Jan 19

In this third episode of our "Bible in a Year" recap series, we move into the season of reconstruction and mission. As we journey through Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Epistles, we tackle a question that hits home for every believer: Are we building our own brands, or are we building the Kingdom of God?

From Nehemiah’s "good trouble" to the "Haman trap" of chronic discontentment, this episode explores what it looks like to live as a light in a crooked generation. We discuss how to find purpose in displacement, why we must stop crying over "what once was," and the call for every believer to become a minister of reconciliation in a divided world.

In this episode, we cover:

Grieving vs. Praising: Lessons from Ezra 3 on how to stop letting your tears for the past drown out your praise for the new thing God is doing.
Good Trouble: Why the rooms you never thought you'd be in (like Nehemiah’s position in Susa) are actually your greatest platforms for change.
The Haman Trap: How it’s possible to have everything—power, wealth, and status—and still have nothing if you are fueled by bitterness.
Rapid-Fire Psalms: Why it is not God’s voice reminding you of sins He has already forgiven.
Brand Builders vs. Church Builders: A convicting look at 1 Corinthians 14 and whether we are seeking spiritual gifts to be "special" or to build the Body of Christ.
Reconcilers vs. Dividers: Moving away from the "need to be right" and toward the ministry of reconciliation.
Holding Fast and Shining Bright: How to live as "lights in the world" in a twisted generation by anchoring ourselves in the Word

Scripture References Mentioned:

Ezra 3:11-13: The rebuilding of the temple and the mixed sounds of joy and grief.
Nehemiah 1-4: Finding favor in exile and fighting for the wall.
Esther 5:9-13: Haman’s discontentment despite his riches.
The Psalms: Remembering God’s faithfulness and the power of praise.
1 Corinthians 14:12: Striving to build up the church.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19: The ministry of reconciliation.
Philippians 2:14-16: Shining as lights and holding fast to the Word.