Our Present Sermon Series

July-October 2013

Building God’s Building God’s CommunityCommunity

Nehemiah 7:4-73aNehemiah 7:4-73a

Introduction and Review:Introduction and Review:

Through many dangers, difficulties, and Through many dangers, difficulties, and discouragements, God has been utterly discouragements, God has been utterly faithful to empower the people to rebuild faithful to empower the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.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?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 Building God’s community requires your requires your presencepresence (4-5, 73a). (4-5, 73a).

The city is still emptyThe city is still empty

Building God’s community Building God’s community requires your requires your presencepresence (4-5, 73a). (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 They had returned but they had not yet established a unified community of God’s established a unified community of God’s people.people.

Building God’s community Building God’s community requires your requires your presencepresence (4-5, 73a). (4-5, 73a).

The Gift of Your TimeThe Gift of Your Time

Missionary Martyr Jim Elliot:Missionary Martyr Jim Elliot:

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

Some Food for Thought:Some Food for Thought:

Do you really believe that it’s God’s will Do you really believe that it’s God’s will to be a part of this community of faith?to be a part of this community of faith?

If so, how can you be more actively If so, how can you be more actively engaged in the life of this community?engaged in the life of this community?

Building God’s community Building God’s community requires your requires your presentspresents (6-72). (6-72). The Gift of Your Talents (6-69):The Gift of Your Talents (6-69):

Leaders: 7Leaders: 7 Families: 8-25Families: 8-25 Villagers: 26-38Villagers: 26-38 Priests: 39-42Priests: 39-42 Levites: 43Levites: 43 Singers: 44Singers: 44 Gatekeepers: 45Gatekeepers: 45 Temple Staff: 46-56Temple Staff: 46-56 Solomon’s Servants: 57-60Solomon’s Servants: 57-60 People with Unproven Genealogy: 61-65People with Unproven Genealogy: 61-65

Building God’s community Building God’s community requires your requires your presentspresents (6-72). (6-72). The Gift of Your Talents (6-69):The Gift of Your Talents (6-69):

Everyone matters (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)!Everyone matters (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)!

Some Food for Thought:Some Food for Thought:

Are you robbing God’s community by Are you robbing God’s community by not contributing your talents to the life not contributing your talents to the life of the church?of the church?

Are you willing to spend some of your Are you willing to spend some of your talents for the greater well being of this talents for the greater well being of this church?church?

Building God’s community Building God’s community requires your requires your presentspresents (6-72). (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 Building God’s community requires your requires your presentspresents (6-72). (6-72). We are called by God to give to His community We are called by God to give to His community

with joyful generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7).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 ManipulationNot by Manipulation Not by ForceNot by Force Not without CostNot without Cost

Some Food for Thought:Some Food for Thought:

Are you robbing God’s community by Are you robbing God’s community by not contributing your treasures to the not contributing your treasures to the life of the church?life of the church?

Are you willing to joyfully and Are you willing to joyfully and generously give for the greater well generously give for the greater well being of this church?being of this church?

Conclusion and ApplicationConclusion and Application You can have funds and no people, but with You can have funds and no people, but with

only funds you won’t be able to build a only funds you won’t be able to build a community, only a building.community, only a building.

You can have a group of people where only a You can have a group of people where only a few contribute, where only a few people matter, few contribute, where only a few people matter, but that is not an authentic community. It’s but that is not an authentic community. It’s more like an exclusive social club.more like an exclusive social club.

You can have a group of people with all the You can have a group of people with all the resources they need and no spirit of giving, and resources they need and no spirit of giving, and you will not have a community.you will not have a community.

Main Idea:Main Idea:

God’s community is built when His people God’s community is built when His people freely give of their freely give of their timetime, , talentstalents, and , and treasurestreasures..

Personal Application: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 Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory CoastYamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory CoastYamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory CoastYamoussoukro, Ivory Coast

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory CoastYamoussoukro, Ivory Coast