Exploring Ezra —
A Bible Study Guide to the Book of Ezra
Your group gathers around the Bible, but are they being shaped by it?
Built for group discussion, not lectures
No prior study experience required
Includes Free teaching notesfor leaders
Chapter-by-chapter study through the book of Ezra
I didn't create this study for publication —
I created it for my brothers.
Then I did it alongside them.
Exploring Ezra is a 10-lesson printed Bible study guide available in paperback, designed for individuals and small groups who want to understand what Scripture says, what it means, and how to live it.
Few books of the Bible show God’s faithfulness as plainly, or speak as honestly to the human condition, as the book of Ezra.
"I have been a pastor for almost thirty years and have attended and led countless Bible studies. But never have I experienced the Holy Spirit working as powerfully as in Tony Smith's Exploring Ezra. Not only was the study itself inspired, but the small group breakout discussions led to the movement of the Holy Spirit week after week. I pray that this Bible study will bless your church for generations to come."
— L. Edwin Lacy, Presbyterian Pastor
Who This Study Serves Best
This study is accessible to anyone—but it’s built specifically for:
Individuals who want to study Scripture carefully and understand it better
Small groups built around discussion and shared discovery, not lectures
Leaders who want to guide their group deeper into the biblical text
Pastors seeking a church-wide study their congregation can walk through together
Anyone who has done Bible studies before but left wanting more
What’s Inside
Exploring Ezra is a complete Bible study guide to the book of Ezra — every chapter, nothing skipped.
Lesson 1 — Ezra 1–2: God's Faithfulness to His Word
Lesson 2 — Ezra 3: Restoration and Unity
Lesson 3 — Ezra 4: Resistance
Lesson 4 — Ezra 5: Sustained Faithfulness
Lesson 5 — Haggai & Zechariah: The Major Minors
Lesson 6 — Ezra 6: Faithful to the Faithless
Lesson 7 — Ezra 7: Honoring Scripture
Lesson 8 — Ezra 8: Champion for the Lord's Cause
Lesson 9 — Ezra 9: Broken
Lesson 10 — Ezra 10: Restoration
Each lesson is built for personal study and small-group discussion, walking through the text to see what Scripture says, what it means, and how to live it.
Leading a group is hard enough. The preparation shouldn't be. Every lesson includes free teaching notes that give you the historical context, key interpretive questions, and a clear application path — so you're not building the lesson from scratch. You step in ready to lead.
"Exploring Ezra is an excellent resource for any church discipling men in the serious examination of God's Word... the men at Calvary Chapel Ellicott City were inspired and challenged to approach the Word of God like Ezra who 'set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules.”
— Pastor Dave Eckley, Calvary Chapel Ellicott City
Begin Your Journey Through Ezra
The book of Ezra tells the story of God's faithfulness to His people — how He kept His promises, brought them home, and restored what was broken. That same faithful God is at work in your life today. If you're ready to dig into His Word and let Him teach you through this book, Exploring Ezra is waiting.
Exploring Ezra Was Built for Groups
Exploring Ezra can be worked through individually, but it was designed for discussion. In Acts 2:42, the early church devoted itself to the apostles' teaching together. That pattern shapes how this study is built.
The questions are designed to help a group observe the text carefully, discuss it together, and consider how to live it out.
Free teaching notes are available for every lesson. If you'd like help preparing and facilitating discussion, we've also created a complete guide.
The Apostles Had a Pattern.
So Can Your Group.
Free Guide For Bible Study Leaders
The early church had four marks of transformational fellowship drawn from Acts 2:42. This free guide unpacks them and shows you how to foster them in your own group.
Free. Immediate. No Strings.