Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community. The Big ”So What?”

Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Big “So What?”

Nehemiah Recap

Prayerful & Thankful

• Throughout Nehemiah there is a focus on prayer
  • Direction (1:4, 11)
  • Wisdom (2:4; 5:7)
  • Protection (4:9)
  • Remembrance (5:19; 6:14; 13:14, 22b, 29, 31b)
  • Praise (9:5b; 11:17; 12:8, 24, 27, 31, 38, 40, 46)

 

Centered in the Word

• The Israelites under Nehemiah were continually returning to God’s word for instruction (8:1-3, 7-9, 13-14, 18; 9:3; 10:28, 34, 36; 12:44; 13:3)
• Their response was immediate obedience (5:12; 9:38; 13:3)
  • Even sacrificially (5:14-18; 10:32)
• Thus their work and lives were constantly being informed by God’s truth
  • Not mere human opinion

 

Need Driven

• Nehemiah and the people saw needs and desired to be a part of meeting them
• God gave one person a vision that was cast and shared with the faith community
• The end result was to turn the whole community to God in worship (12:43)

 

Partnered with the Community

• Everyone got involved
  • Not divided by background, age, or geography (3:22; 12:28)
• Did not differentiate between secular & sacred
  • The wall was as integral as the Temple
• Awareness of temptation to compromise
  • Not conformity
    • Sabbath-keeping, intermarriage, etc.
  • Set apart, but not live apart

 

The Big ‘So What?’

• Questions this raises for us
• Are we being prayerful?
  • Both individually and corporately
  • How can we make pray and thanksgiving more central to who we are as a church?
• Are we staying centered in the Word?
  • Are we testing everything against Scripture?
  • Are we going deeper together?
• Are we looking to meet needs in our community?
  • It shows Christ-like love, and thus fulfills the Great Commandment (Luke 10:27)
  • It gives us the right to be heard by our neighbors
    • Thus helping us fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20)
    • “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” –Teddy Roosevelt
  • Are we partnering with our community?
    • Collaborating where we can
    • While not compromising who we are called to be

 

Meditation Verse: Matthew 5:16