The Book of Nehemiah: Building the Walls and the Community - A Survey of the Bible
The Book of Nehemiah: Building the Walls and the Community - A Survey of the Bible
For the bulletin in PDF form click here.
Nehemiah Chart - Wilson
Ezra and Nehemiah as Leaders? - Tim Mackie
Ancient Cities - Boyd Severs
Nehemiah 3: A List of Names? - David Rough
Ezra The Man - David Howard
Context: Who, When, Where, and Why?
• Who composed Nehemiah?
• When did he write?
• Where were he and his audience?
• Why was he writing?
Content: How and What?
• How is Ezra-Nehemiah and Nehemiah organized?
Ezra-Nehemiah:
A Zerubbabel’s return and list of returnees (Ezra 1-2)
B. Building of the temple and opposition (Ezra 3-6)
C. Return of Ezra (Ezra 7-8)
D. Purification of the people (Ezra 9-10)
C. Return of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-2)
B. Building of the walls and opposition (Nehemiah 3:1-7:3)
A. Zerubbabel’s return and list of returnees; final reforms (Nehemiah 7:4- 13:31)
Nehemiah:
• Rebuilding the Walls (1:1-7:3)
- The Third Return (1:1-2:20)
- Rebuilding the Walls (3:1-7:3)
• Rebuilding the Community (7:4-13:31)
- Revival (7:4-10:38)
- Reforms (11:1-13:31)
• What is the message of Nehemiah?
Conviction: So What?
• What should we believe?
- If God is in it, it will happen.
- Prayer is a priority.
- Confession, real heartfelt confession, is normal.
- Our only hope is Jesus, not a building, a wall, or even good (or not so good) leaders.
• How should we behave?
- Pray more.
- Confess often and deeply.
- Trust God in the midst of opposition from within and without.
• Where does this fit?
- A continuation of the story of God’s faithfulness during his people’s failure.
- A narrative that acknowledges the reality of opposition to God’s work and plan for our lives.
- An example of the central place of timely confession and acknowledgment of sin.
- A cautionary tale about supposed good leaders and the limits of the best ones.
Next Steps
• Remember that even if God is in your calling/task, it may not be easy or simple.
• Trust God and work hard and then trust God some more.
• Keep your eyes on Jesus not your safety (walls) or even your church (temple), or even your church leaders (Ezra and Nehemiah = Ken, staff, elders).
This Week’s Growth Guide
God’s Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.
• Monday - Nehemiah 1
•. Tuesday - Nehemiah 9:1-6
•. Wednesday - Nehemiah 9:7-18
•. Thursday - Nehemiah 9:19-25
• Friday - Nehemiah 9:26-37
Home Church
Our Home Churches meet weekly to facilitate quicker relational depth, study the same passage taught
Sunday to help apply Scripture in the context of community, and pray with one another. Home Church helps our body seek God’s best for one another.
Home Church Questions
• Read Nehemiah 9:1-37. Yes, it is long, but a fantastic summary of Old Testament History.
• Was there anything new or insightful in this message?
• Was there anything you know you can or should immediately apply?
• What did you struggle with in this message? What did not make sense or cause you to evaluate your own life more deeply?
• How would your life personally, or the life of your family be different if you fully live out the truths in this message?
• When have you known you were doing what God wanted you to do but faced either opposition or ridicule? (Read Nehemiah 4:3)
• Often, God’s work requires us to work together. This is what happens in chapter 3. When have you been on a project where you have seen God’s people serving together with a variety of giving, all advancing God’s purposes?
• Read the two confessions in the book and make some observations about them (1:5-7; 9:2-3).
• Nehemiah prayed for four months (1:1 = Winter of 445 and 2:1 = Spring of 444). Then the actual construction of the wall took 52 days (6:15). The reforms of the people took 12 years. The reforms lasted less than a year (chapter 13). Does this teach us anything?
• Read Nehemiah 5:19; 6:14; 13:14; 13:22; 13:31. What do you make of this.
• How does this book again point us to Christ as our only real hope?
Get Connected in a Home Church - Fellowship’s desire is for everyone to be relationally connected.
The primary way we do this is in Home Churches – small groups that meet in living rooms to apply God’s Word, pray, and to serve together. Go to fellowshipconway.org/home church for more information.
New to Fellowship?
We are so glad that you joined the Fellowship Family to worship this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift.
Men’s Muster
Men, April 21-23 is the date for this year’s Men’s Muster, at Shepherd of the Ozarks. We encourage those in a Home Church to use Muster as an opportunity to deepen their community by taking the weekend together. Those in Home Church together will be placed in small groups to foster more depth in existing
relationships and meet some new faces. Whether you are in a Home Church or not, Muster is a great place to meet others and connect at Fellowship. For pricing and registration go to fellowshipconway.org/register.
Crucifixion Dinner | April 7 | 6:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars to join us on Good Friday as we remember together what Christ did on the cross through the Crucifixion Dinner. Child care for ages 6 and under by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332.
Grill Out and Silent Auction | April 12 | 5:30 -8:00 p.m.
Fellowship Student and College Ministries would like to invite you and your entire family to our youth and college mission trip fundraiser, Wednesday, April 12, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Free dinner (grilled hamburgers and hotdogs), child care provided (birth thru pre-school by RSVP, text Shanna at 501-336-0332), games, and great opportunities to support our 70 youth and college missionaries this summer. Plan now to join us!
Fellowship 101
We invite you to join us Sunday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship. This is a great opportunity to learn about our mission, values, and ministries. If you’re new to Fellowship, join us in the conference room (first floor) to hear what God is doing and where He is taking us. You will meet some of our ministry leaders and ask questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register.
Prayer During Service
Our prayer team will have people under the “Hope” and “Love” signs ready to pray for you after the message. We love to pray for one another. Please feel free to walk up to them for prayer or encouragement during the first worship song after the message.
Finances
Weekly budget 31,390
Giving For 03/05 34,361
Giving For 03/12 49,433
YTD Budget 1,161,420
YTD Giving 1,225,504
OVER/(UNDER) 64,084