The Passage: Nehemiah 4:10-14 The Point: We have to fight to believe. Any time you attempt something great, the naysayers will line up to discourage you ― your friends, your family, and even words in your own head. Entrepreneurs know this. There are dozens of books on mindset written for people starting new ventures, in …
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:7-9 The Point: Prayer must be accompanied by action. Do you remember how much fun it was to play hide and seek? I remember…since I just played the other day and almost pulled a muscle. One great way to keep from getting chased is to just sit still and stay hidden. However, …
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:6 The Point: We need people who are willing to work. In his first speech to Parliament after being appointed as Prime Minster of Great Britain in the thick of World War II, Winston Churchill gathered himself and said to the anxious nation, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, …
The Passage: Nehemiah 4:1-6 The Point: What to do with discouragement Have you ever been shot down when you have a great idea? A few examples from my life come readily to mind. Like the time I said, “Hey, honey we should buy a conversion van and drive across country with the kids.” Or this …
The Passage: Nehemiah 3. Additional reading: Nehemiah 2:17-18 The Point: Don’t settle for the status quo. What made Nehemiah the right man to lead the rebuilding efforts was a holy dissatisfaction with the status quo. “Status quo” is a Latin term meaning “existing state.” We never use that term in a completely positive way. We …
The Passage: Nehemiah 3. Additional reading: Nehemiah 2:20a; 4:6 The Point: God’s work requires faith and dedication. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem required people, supplies, planning, and leadership. Those items would be far less effective had Nehemiah lacked faith that God would empower them to complete the job. Nehemiah’s faith was infectious. The people saw …
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:6-32 The Point: God uses all kinds of people with all kinds of gifts.The 18th century hymnist, William Cowper, said “Variety’s the spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” Diversity brings different cultures together. You often hear that Family Church is multicultural — and we praise God that it is! …
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:5, 27 The Point: The motivation to work is obedience. Tekoa was south of Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 3:5 and 3:27, we read how the common Tekoans repair two sections of the wall. What stands out is the fact that Tekoa did not receive protection from the walls they helped rebuild. They were …
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:3 The Point: God cares about every detail of our lives. We discover this simple account in Nehemiah 3 that highlights the pains Nehemiah took to describe each part of the wall’s reconstruction. The description is repeated five times within the chapter and reminds us that God never misses a single detail …
The Passage: Nehemiah 3:1 The Point: God provides a way of restoration. Eliashib and his brothers were responding to Nehemiah’s exhortation to “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem…” (Neh. 2:17). They put their backs and hands to work, fully trusting in the success God alone would give them (Neh. 2:20). The rebuilding of …
