Message Notes
March 8, 2026
City of Ruins: Jerusalem
by Scott Ancarrow
Jerusalem
2 Samuel 7:8-16, 1 Kings 8:22-30, 1 Kings 9:1-9, Jeremiah 7:1-15, 2 Kings 24:18-20, 2 Kings 25:8-12
5 Day Reading Plan Studying the Rise and Fall of Ancient Jerusalem
Day 1 -2 Samuel 5:1-12, Psalm 107:1-9
Day 2 - 2 Samuel 7:8-16, Psalm 48:1–3, 9–14, Psalm 122
Day 3 -1 Kings, 8:22/27–30, 41–43, 9:1-9
Day 4 -Jeremiah 7:1-15, 2 Kings 24:18–20; 25:1-27
Day 5 - Psalm 46:10 , Samuel 7:8-13, Matthew 2:13-18 - Luke 21:5-36, Zechariah 2:4-5
Ancient Jerusalem
Chosen for God’s presence,
Shaped by and dedicated to God's mercy & justice.
Judged and brought to ruin when it becomes like the cities it was meant to redeem.
Applying the Refuge and Ruin of Ancient Jerusalem
The ruin lies in mistaking proximity to God for the pursuit of God's presence.
The ruin of using God as a mascot for an unsurrendered life.
"Jesus highlights the dangers of fasting and other ceremonies that surround repentance. Before we begin this season, we must remember who it is for. The potential for self-deception is high. Any season of fasting or charity can turn into 'religion as performance' instead of a service offered to God."
- Esau McCaulley Lent
The Refuge of healthy community pursuing truth, justice, mercy, and repentance.
For Additional Study:
Cities in the Bible. - The Bible Project
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They envision thriving, welcoming communities where families flourish, and people experience restorative relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves, and all of creation.
This Lent, you can follow along with a devotional World Relief has created. Sign up to receive a weekly email to guide you through prayers, advocacy, and action steps to support refugees and immigrants in our community and across the U.S.
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