Message Outline
Nehemiah: Building a Church Together
Pastor Jonathan Stockstill
Sunday, Jun 12, 2016
1. The BURDEN
- Nehemiah 1:3-4 NIV84: 3 "They said to me, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.' 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."
- Psalm 132:1-5 NLT: 1 "Lord, remember David and all that he suffered. 2 He made a solemn promise to the Lord. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, 3 'I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. 4 I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber 5 until I find a place to build a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.' "
2. The KING
- Nehemiah 2:4-6 NLT: 4 "The king asked, 'Well, how can I help you?' With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, 'If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.' 6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, 'How long will you be gone? When will you return?' After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request."
- The king gives provision and protection.
3. The STRATEGY
- Nehemiah 2:15 NLT: "So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate."
4. The UNITY
- A great church is not built on the gifts of few, but on the sacrifice of many!
- Nehemiah 2:17-18 NASB: 17 "Then I said to them, 'You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.' 18 I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, 'Let us arise and build.' So they put their hands to the good work."
5. The BATTLE
- Nehemiah 4:1-3 NLT: 1 "Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, 'What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?' 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, 'That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!' "
6. How can we build together?