後來的榮耀 The Glory will be Greater（哈該書）
這殿後來的榮耀，必大過先前的榮耀（哈該書 2：9）
By Cathy Chen, 10/1/2025
一、前言：歷史背景
公元前 586 年，耶路撒冷聖殿被毀，猶大人被擄到巴比倫（王下 25:8-12）。
公元前 539 年，波斯王古列頒布詔令，允許被擄的百姓回歸（拉 1:1-4）。
公元前 536 年，所羅巴伯率領首批五萬人回歸，築壇獻祭，並立下聖殿根基（拉 3:10-13）。
因仇敵阻撓與百姓灰心，重建停工十五年（拉 4:4-5）。
公元前 520 年，神興起哈該與撒迦利亞呼召百姓重建（拉 5:1-2）。
公元前 516 年，聖殿完工（拉 6:15-16）。
哈該的信息提醒百姓「不要只顧自己的房屋，卻忽略神的家」（哈 1:4-9）。神應許「我與你們同在」（1:13），並宣告「這殿後來的榮耀，必大過先前的榮耀，在這地方我必賜平安。這是萬軍之耶和華說的」（哈 2:9）
二、現今北美教會的時局
1. 全球與北美現況
Pew (2025)：美國成年人自稱基督徒比例 62%，2007 為 78%。雖然過去將近二十年來自稱基督徒的人數下滑許多，但近五年下降趨勢趨於穩定。另外僅 30–35% 自稱基督徒者每週參與聚會，這反映出「名義信徒」（非真信徒）的比例很高。
Lifeway (2020)：一年約 4,500 間教會關閉，COVID 時期受衝擊尤大。雖然如此，2022 年有針對北美植堂者的調查（樣本整理後約 2,700 位回應）與多項趨勢發現，顯示植堂活動仍在進行，且多採多點化（multisite）/加盟/網路策略成長。
Barna (2025)：年輕世代（Gen Z、年輕家庭）「對耶穌的個人信仰承諾」有上升跡象；另外有研究指出超過一半青少年想繼續認識耶穌（52% 表示「非常想繼續了解耶穌」）。
Springtide（2023–2024）：發現 Gen Z 仍在靈性實踐上有參與（雖然形式多元），願意嘗試靈修實踐，但對傳統教會形式（單向講道、權威式教導）較挑剔。
約 70% 對「耶穌是真實的」持正面看法。
數字顯示「廣度下降，深度上升」：留下的信徒，尤其年輕一代，更渴慕真實與屬靈深度。
2. 年輕人屬靈渴慕（Barna, Lifeway 2023–2025）
追求「真實性」：拒絕表面化宗教，渴望透明誠實的榜樣。
渴望「屬靈群體」：安全感、被接納的屬靈家庭。
強調「信仰實踐」：要看見信仰如何影響生活、公義與人際。
尋求「屬靈深度」：不只是活動，而是與神親近的生命。
思考「使命與呼召」：想知道「我的信仰能如何改變世界？」
三、哈該書的啟發
書中百姓：
原本熱心 → 被攔阻 → 冷淡 → 轉而專注於自己房屋（哈 1:4）。
神透過先知呼召他們「重新建造神的殿」，並應許祂的同在（1:13）。
今日光景：
教會成長在數字上呈現停滯甚至衰退，及整體大環境對基督教的負評和不友善，許多基督徒轉向「個人生活的建造」。
神在呼召我們回到祂的家，參與屬靈重建。
年輕一代的渴慕，正如當年回歸的新一代，他們沒有見過所羅門聖殿的輝煌，但我們能陪著他們，甚至帶領人與神重新立約，經歷「後來更大的榮耀」。
四、應用與呼召（個人與群體）
察查行為（哈 1:7）：
我是否正如猶大人，只顧自己的「房屋」，而忽略神的家？
回應神的呼召（哈 1:13）
神說「我與你們同在」，即便在灰心和困難中，神仍與我們同行。
盼望榮耀（哈 2:9）
後來的榮耀，不再只是建築，而是教會生命的復興、靈魂得救、門徒成熟，在社區中作鹽發光。
五、禱告
親愛的父神，
過去這些年，每當我看到基督徒人數的數字下滑，內心不免感到挫折憂心。但既然這些數字裡面也摻雜許多名義信徒，代表原先那些更高的數字或許也是虛假數據，那麼我的心便不該因數字受到那麼大的攪擾。
感謝主，這幾年看見年輕世代的渴慕與回應，真的很開心！相信還有許多人渴望真實的信仰，希望得著有使命的生命！願祢在我們周邊興起可以同工的肢體，一同領受祢的呼召。求主使我們不再只顧自己的房屋，而忽略祢的殿（哈1:4-9）。
主啊，祢已經用耶穌基督立為根基，讓我們在其上建造神的家。
求祢激勵我們的心，使我們剛強壯膽，加入復興的浪潮。
願我們成為社區的光和鹽，活出吸引人的生命，讓人看見耶穌的榮美。
我們不願再看見神家的荒涼，求祢按著祢的應許：「我與你們同在」（哈 1:13），賜給我們智慧和創意，讓我們經歷「這殿後來的榮耀，必大過先前的榮耀」（哈 2:9）。奉主耶穌基督的名，阿們。
👉 小組討論問題：
在當前信仰環境下，你覺得「神的殿荒涼」表現在什麼方面？
神可能在呼召你參與「重建」的哪一個角落？（社區、門徒、福音、服事）
你希望我們這個小組如何成為「吸引人看見耶穌美善」的群體？
Devotional on Haggai
By Cathy Chen, 10/1/2025
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house” (Haggai 2:9).
I. Introduction: Historical Background
586 BC: Jerusalem’s temple was destroyed, and Judah was taken into exile in Babylon (2 Kings 25:8–12).
539 BC: King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing the exiles to return (Ezra 1:1–4).
536 BC: Zerubbabel led about 50,000 people back, built the altar, offered sacrifices, and laid the temple foundation (Ezra 3:10–13).
Opposition and discouragement stopped the rebuilding for 15 years (Ezra 4:4–5).
520 BC: God raised up Haggai and Zechariah to call the people to rebuild (Ezra 5:1–2).
516 BC: The temple was completed (Ezra 6:15–16).
Haggai’s message reminded the people: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (Haggai 1:4–9). God promised, “I am with you” (1:13), and declared: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house … and in this place I will grant peace” (2:9).
II. The Current Landscape of the North American Church
1. Global and North American Trends
Pew (2025): 62% of American adults identify as Christians (down from 78% in 2007). The sharp decline over the past 20 years has leveled off in recent years. However, only 30–35% of self-identified Christians attend worship weekly, reflecting a high percentage of “nominal Christians.”
Lifeway (2020): Around 4,500 churches close annually, with COVID accelerating the trend. Yet by 2022, surveys of ~2,700 church planters revealed continued church-planting activity, especially through multisite, network, and online strategies.
Barna (2025): Young generations (Gen Z, young families) show renewed signs of personal commitment to Jesus. Over half of teenagers (52%) say they “very much want to keep learning about Jesus.”
Springtide (2023–2024): Found that Gen Z engages in spiritual practices (though in diverse forms) and is open to spiritual disciplines, yet they are more critical of traditional church formats (lecture-style preaching, top-down authority).
About 70% hold a positive view of Jesus as real.
Trend summary: “Breadth is declining, but depth is increasing.” Those who remain—especially young believers—are hungrier for authenticity and spiritual depth.
2. The Spiritual Longings of Young People (Barna & Lifeway 2023–2025):
Authenticity: Rejecting superficial religion; longing for honest, transparent examples.
Spiritual community: A safe, accepting spiritual family.
Faith in practice: Seeing faith lived out in daily life, justice, and relationships.
Spiritual depth: Beyond activities—desiring intimacy with God.
Mission and calling: Asking, “How can my faith change the world?”
III. Insights from Haggai
The people in Haggai’s time:
Once zealous → hindered → discouraged → turned inward, focusing on their own houses (Haggai 1:4).
God, through the prophet, called them to rebuild His house and promised His presence (1:13).
Our situation today:
Church growth in numbers has plateaued or declined, with society increasingly negative or hostile toward Christianity. Many believers focus instead on building their “personal houses.”
Yet God calls us back to His house, to join the work of spiritual rebuilding.
The younger generation, like the post-exilic community, never saw Solomon’s temple—but with them, we can re-covenant with God and experience “a greater glory yet to come.”
IV. Application and Calling (Personal & Communal)
Examine our ways (Haggai 1:7):
Am I focusing only on my own “house” while neglecting God’s house?
Respond to God’s call (Haggai 1:13):
God says, “I am with you.” Even in discouragement and hardship, He is present with us.
Hope in the greater glory (Haggai 2:9):
The greater glory is not in buildings, but in revived church life, souls saved, disciples maturing, and shining as salt and light in our communities.
V. Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
In recent years, when I see statistics showing a decline in Christians, I cannot help but feel discouraged. Yet if many of those numbers once included nominal believers, then perhaps the higher figures of the past were not as solid as they seemed. Help me not be shaken by numbers alone.
Thank You, Lord, that in these years we have also seen the hunger and response of the younger generation—it brings joy and hope! I believe there are many more longing for authentic faith and a life of mission. Raise up co-laborers around us to share in Your call. Keep us from being absorbed only in our own houses while neglecting Yours (Haggai 1:4–9).
Lord, You have laid the foundation through Jesus Christ. On Him, we build Your house. Stir our hearts to be strong and courageous, joining the wave of revival. Make us salt and light in our community, living in such a way that people see the beauty of Jesus.
We do not want to see Your house in ruins. According to Your promise—“I am with you” (Haggai 1:13)—grant us wisdom and creativity, that we may experience: “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house” (Haggai 2:9).
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
👉 Small Group Discussion Questions:
In today’s spiritual climate, how do you see “God’s house lying in ruins”?
Where might God be calling you to participate in the rebuilding? (community, discipleship, evangelism, service)
How can our small group become a community that helps others “see the beauty of Jesus”?
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