“The Continuity of God’s People”
Nehemiah 7:1-73
I. PRACTICAL AND PRAGMATIC DECISIONS
II. THE CONTINUITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
“The Fear of Man Brings a Snare”
Nehemiah 6:1-19
I. SEDITIOUS SLANDER
II. CHARACTER ASSASSINATION
III. POLITICAL PRESSURE
“The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom”
Nehemiah 5:1-19
I. DISAPPOINTMENT WITH GOD’S PEOPLE
II. THE DECISIVENESS OF NEHEMIAH
III. AN EXAMPLE OF COMPASSION AND GENEROSITY
“Faith and Action”
Nehemiah 4:1-23
I. PRAYING WITH BOLDNESS
II. FAITH AND VIGILANCE
III. DISCIPLINE, DUTY, AND DETERMINATION
“Getting to Work”
Nehemiah 3:1-30
I. LEADING BY EXAMPLE
II. WORKING FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR HOME
III. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
IV. DOING WHAT YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
“Prayer and Providence: Part II”
Nehemiah 2:1-20
I. PRAYER, POSITION, & PETITION
II. PRACTICAL WISDOM AT WORK
III. DEALING WITH OPPOSITION
“Prayer and Providence”
Nehemiah 1:1-11
I. INTRODUCTIONS AND CONTEXT
II. PRAYING TO MOVE GOD
A. Nehemiah prays to the God he knows.
B. Nehemiah prays with consistency and clarity.
C. Nehemiah prays based on God’s promises to his people.
III. PRAYING FOR GOD TO MOVE ME
A. We need perseverance in our praying.
B. We need partners to join us in praying.
C. We need perspective in our praying
D. We need to trust God’s providence in our praying.
“Revival or Ruin: Part II”
Ezra 10:1-44
I. GODLY SORROW
II. HOPE FOR FORGIVENESS
III. COVENANT RENEWAL
IV. A SOLEMN SERIOUSNESS
V. THE NEED FOR DUE PROCESS
VI. A VERDICT RENDERED
“The Birth of Deacon Ministry”
Acts 6:1-7
I. CONFLICT WAS THREATENING THE INTERNAL UNITY OF THE CHURCH
A. Conversion doesn’t magically erase all of our prejudices
B. No church is safe from Satan’s attacks.
II. CONFLICT WAS ENDANGERING THE OUTWARD MISSION OF THE CHURCH
III. THE DEACON MINISTRY IS BORN
They were to choose men who were spiritually qualified
They were to choose men who were reputable in the community
They were to choose men who were competent to do the ministry
These men were appointed by the elders and the congregation for the task at hand
IV. THE RESULT: THE CHURCH ORGANIZED FOR EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MINISTRY
God’s Revealed Word
Psalm 19:7a
I. THE LAW OF THE LORD
II. IT IS PERFECT
III. IT REVIVES THE SOUL
“Revival or Ruin”
Ezra 9:1-15
I. SIN, SHAME, AND SORROW
II. EZRA PRAYS FOR ISRAEL
A. Mediation
B. Confession
C. Reflection on God’s Grace
D. Reciting of the Charges
“The Hand of the Lord: Part II”
Ezra 8:1-35
I. A GLIMMER OF HOPE
II. DEALING WITH MINISTRY HEADACHES
III. TRUSTING GOD ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S HARD
IV. FAITHFULNESS, DISCIPLINE, AND INTEGRITY
“The Hand of the LORD”
Ezra 7:1-28
I. THE HAND OF THE LORD ON EZRA.
A. Ezra’s Pedigree
B. Ezra’s Passion
C. Ezra’s Position
II. THE HAND OF THE LORD ON KING ARTAXERXES
“The Power of God”
Ezra 5:1-6:22
I. THE POWER OF THE GOD’S WORD
II. A PROHIBITING PROVIDENCE
III. A PROSPEROUS PROVIDENCE
IV. THE RESTORED WORSHIP OF A REDEEMED PEOPLE
“Obedience and Opposition”
Ezra 4:1-24
I. SYNCRETISM OR SEPARATISM
II. GROWING AND UNRELENTING OPPOSITION
“Small Beginnings”
Ezra 3:1-13
I. FAITHFULNESS IN THE MIDST OF FEAR
II. WORSHIP IN THE MIDST OF REJOICING AND WEEPING
“Records and Reasons to Hope”
Ezra 2:1-70
I. GOD KNOWS HIS PEOPLE BY NAME
II. THE SUPREMACY OF WORSHIP
III. THE SUPREMACY OF GOD’S WORD OVER HIS PEOPLE
“Promises, Providence, & Provision”
Ezra 1:1-11
I. GOD KEEPS EVERY PROMISE HE MAKES
II. GOD CAN USE WHOEVER HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL
III. GOD WILL PROVIDE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL
“Grace-Enabled, Joy-filled, Generosity”
2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:5-8
GTG Principles:
1. We are stewards of all that we have, but we are not owners.
2. Spiritual growth and generosity are inseparable in the life of the believer and the church.
3. Giving reveals our hearts and our priorities.
I. THE GRACE OF GOD AT WORK
1. Giving in light of God’s grace requires giving of oneself, not just giving money
2. Someone can give out of extreme poverty, and others can give out of abundant riches.
3. Jesus can have our money and not have our hearts. But, Jesus cannot have our hearts without also having everything else we have.
II. THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS
III. GRACE-ENABLED, JOY-FILLED GENEROSITY
1. Christians are to give voluntarily and willingly.
2. Christians are to give proportionately and fairly according to what you have.
3. Christians are to give reciprocally, cooperatively, and mutually with one another.
4. Christians are to give graciously, generously, and joyfully like Jesus.