1 Chronicles provides instruction for rebuilding the temple and encouraging repentance and devotion to God. It details the command from King Cyrus to rebuild the temple in 538 BC, and the prophet Haggai's message in 520 BC urging the people to complete the rebuilding despite difficulties. Key passages encourage seeking God wholeheartedly in rebuilding the temple and doing so courageously with God's help and the support of priests, Levites and officials. The book highlights important differences from Samuel and Kings, such as details around David's rise and rule.

1. What Should I Learn from 1 Chronicles?

2. "I invite you to delight in your distress."

3. Only distress provides the groundwork to engage strongly and joyfully into life on the basis of God’s promises alone: the promises of His Presence now and His satisfaction forever.

4. 1 and 2 Chronicles1 and 2 Samuel1 and 2 KingsMoral FailureExiled CommunityEntitled CommunityDiscouraged; DefeatedRestored CommunityRepentant Community

5. You are not entitled to the good life.

6. Priority: rebuild the temple. Temptation: Rebuild their lives.

7. 538 B.C. Ezra 1:2 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: "'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.

8. 3Anyone of his people among you--may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.

9. 4And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.'"

10. 520 B.C. Haggai 1:2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.'"

11. 3Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" 5Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways.

12. 6You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

13. 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD."

14. 1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.

15. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

16. 10 Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

17. 1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.

18. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

19. 1 Chronicles 28:21 "The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command."

20. Five Important differences in ChroniclesDavid waited seven years to become king of Israel.

21. Five Important differences in Chronicles1 Chronicles 11:3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.

22. Five Important differences in ChroniclesDavid’s adultery.

23. Five Important differences in Chronicles1 Chronicles 22:7 David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God…"

24. Five Important differences in ChroniclesConsequences of David’s adultery.

25. Five Important differences in ChroniclesTransporting the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.

26. Five Important differences in Chronicles1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever."

27. Five Important differences in ChroniclesDavid punished for counting his soldiers.

28. Five Important differences in Chronicles1 Chronicles 22:1 Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel."

29. Duh!I’m the temple!1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?