Opposition

Abigail

1 Samuel 25:28-35 Abigail was a hero in the OT that we don't hear that much about. She didn't get to choose her circumstances, but God used her in a powerful way. What can we learn from this heroine? What encouragement does her story give to us?

Temptation of Re-Ingestion

Nehemiah 13:4-9 All of this work is done. The culture is being built. Things are going well. And then some start to backslide. Some start to forget the promises they had made. Some start to undo the good work that has taken place. And that is true for our churches today. We will not perfectly live into God’s plan for us. We will even work AGAINST what God has called the church to be. In what was is the Spirit convicting us of this? In what ways do we need to repent?

Recreating Community

Nehemiah 11:1-2 The walls are built. People are returning. Relationships are being set right with the Lord. But Nehemiah needed people to live in the city walls. Many had moved outside and gotten comfortable, but now it was time to bring people in. It wasn’t as nice in the city. Some things were hard. Some were forced into the city. Some entered voluntarily. All were needed to help build the community that Jerusalem would need if she was going to survive.

Confession

Nehemiah 9:30-37 The people confess that their sins and offer praise to the Lord. Confession is therapeutic, true, but it is also biblical. Not one of us has lived into God’s call perfectly. We have not obeyed his commands perfectly. We have all, at times, worked against the work that God is doing in our hearts and the hearts of our neighbor. Let us confess. Let us praise. Let us take joy in the forgiveness that our God freely gives to us.

Revival

Nehemiah 8:1-8 The walls are finished and people are returning. And Nehemiah takes the time to intentionally remind them of who they are. In the grind of the day to day and the struggle to navigate the curveballs that life sends our way it can be a simple thing to forget who we are. Just like the people who had just finished so much work, were exhausted and tired, we too, need a reminder of who we are, and all that our God has done for us.