Our Present Sermon Series July-October 2013

Building God’s Community Nehemiah 7:4-73a

Introduction and Review: Through many dangers, difficulties, and discouragements, God has been utterly faithful to empower the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Through many dangers, difficulties, and discouragements, God has been utterly faithful to empower the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The wall has been rebuilt in just 52 days! The wall has been rebuilt in just 52 days!

What was Nehemiah’s real goal? To have a vacation from work? To have a vacation from work? To rebuild the wall? To rebuild the wall? To build the community of God! To build the community of God!

Building God’s community requires your presence (4-5, 73a). The city is still empty The city is still empty

Building God’s community requires your presence (4-5, 73a). Ninety years had passed since their return. Ninety years had passed since their return. They had returned but they had not yet established a unified community of God’s people. They had returned but they had not yet established a unified community of God’s people.

Building God’s community requires your presence (4-5, 73a). The Gift of Your Time The Gift of Your Time

Missionary Martyr Jim Elliot: “Wherever you are, be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

Some Food for Thought: Do you really believe that it’s God’s will to be a part of this community of faith? Do you really believe that it’s God’s will to be a part of this community of faith? If so, how can you be more actively engaged in the life of this community? If so, how can you be more actively engaged in the life of this community?

Building God’s community requires your presents (6-72). The Gift of Your Talents (6-69): The Gift of Your Talents (6-69): Leaders: 7 Leaders: 7 Families: 8-25 Families: 8-25 Villagers: Villagers: Priests: Priests: Levites: 43 Levites: 43 Singers: 44 Singers: 44 Gatekeepers: 45 Gatekeepers: 45 Temple Staff: Temple Staff: Solomon’s Servants: Solomon’s Servants: People with Unproven Genealogy: People with Unproven Genealogy: 61-65

Building God’s community requires your presents (6-72). The Gift of Your Talents (6-69): The Gift of Your Talents (6-69): Everyone matters (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)!

Some Food for Thought: Are you robbing God’s community by not contributing your talents to the life of the church? Are you robbing God’s community by not contributing your talents to the life of the church? Are you willing to spend some of your talents for the greater well being of this church? Are you willing to spend some of your talents for the greater well being of this church?

Building God’s community requires your presents (6-72). The Gift of Your Treasures (70-72): The Gift of Your Treasures (70-72): The governor set the example. The governor set the example. The leaders set the example. The leaders set the example. The people generously followed. The people generously followed.

Building God’s community requires your presents (6-72). We are called by God to give to His community with joyful generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7). We are called by God to give to His community with joyful generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7). God Himself is an extravagant and joyful giver! God Himself is an extravagant and joyful giver! Not by Manipulation Not by Manipulation Not by Force Not by Force Not without Cost Not without Cost

Some Food for Thought: Are you robbing God’s community by not contributing your treasures to the life of the church? Are you robbing God’s community by not contributing your treasures to the life of the church? Are you willing to joyfully and generously give for the greater well being of this church? Are you willing to joyfully and generously give for the greater well being of this church?

Conclusion and Application You can have funds and no people, but with only funds you won’t be able to build a community, only a building. You can have funds and no people, but with only funds you won’t be able to build a community, only a building. You can have a group of people where only a few contribute, where only a few people matter, but that is not an authentic community. It’s more like an exclusive social club. You can have a group of people where only a few contribute, where only a few people matter, but that is not an authentic community. It’s more like an exclusive social club. You can have a group of people with all the resources they need and no spirit of giving, and you will not have a community. You can have a group of people with all the resources they need and no spirit of giving, and you will not have a community.

Main Idea: God’s community is built when His people freely give of their time, talents, and treasures.

Personal Application: Are you giving faithfully your time, talents, and treasures, trusting God to use you to help build and strengthen this community of believers? If so, how? If not, why not, and how can you begin making changes so that God can more powerfully use you to help this community grow?

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast