NEHEMIAH

Together for the Work Ahead

Ezra and Nehemiah invite us into a story of return, repair, and reformation. The people of God are back in the land, but they are still learning how to live as God’s people after generations of exile, compromise, grief, and fear. Nehemiah’s calling starts with a broken heart, not with a construction plan. He hears the pain of his people and he uses his access to the power of the King to advocate on behalf of the suffering of his people. And he turns lament into prayerful action. But the book also warns us that visible success is not the same as spiritual faithfulness. A wall can be rebuilt while injustice remains unaddressed and a project can be completed while hearts remain unchanged.

This fall, as we make our way through this series, we are asking God to make us a people who are able to bring our grief to Him and to move forward with courage. We are asking for God to open our eyes to our sin and disobedience so that we can return to Him. And we are praying for a renewed commitment to working with God to transform our own hearts and for the flourishing of our neighbors. The deeper question for us in this series is, “Who is God forming us to become?”

Missed a sermon? Catch up on the series now!