Read this…Nehemiah 12; James 1:17; Revelation 5:9-14 Ponder This… Every day we are called to worship. Not just on Sunday mornings or at youth worship gatherings… every day. If we were to be brutally honest over a cup of coffee, what would you say you worshipped this week? Was it really something of value? I mean real value. Worship is a way of life, and what you worship inwardly will reflect outwardly. Worship is not just music. Worship is not hearing a sermon. Worship is not just praying. Worship is not just reading your Bible. Worship is not just being around other Christians. However, when we worship Christ, all those things should be acts of worship. Worship is an outward response from an inner devotion for what God has done and is still doing today. Have you ever thought of it that way? The natural response to our affection for Christ should be worship, and it should invade every part of our lives. Pray this… That your eyes would be opened to what you are really worshipping today? If it is the Lord, keep it up. If it is something else, examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5), repent, and be forgiven.

Read thisNehemiah 11; 1 Cor. 3:16 & 6:19; John 8:47; Ephesians 4:16Ponder thisThe church needs every person to fulfill its goal of reaching our city, Laurens County, and the other parts of the world. Ephesians 4:16 draws a direct connection to the Body of Christ to work in partnership with one another to serve and love others. Paul Tillich once was quoted as saying, “The first duty of love is to listen.” Do you find this to be true? Why or why not? Have you listened to what the Lord might be saying to you? Have you listened to what he may be saying about a part you are supposed to play in the vision here @ DBC? Is it difficult for you to listen and not do all the speaking? A growing relationship with Christ is built of communication, and with that, we must yield to the direction he gives, and be available and willing to follow through with his unique plan for us. Are you a listener or a talker when it comes to your prayer life? Pray thisThat you would be a person who is willing to listen to the commands of the Lord and follow through with that direction to accomplish his dream for you and Dublin Bible Church.

Read this…Nehemiah 9; Exodus 34:6; 1 John 1:8-9; Luke 5:31-31; James 5:16Ponder this…Have you ever thought that prayer was a gift? What gets in the way of your prayer life? Choices, Schedules, sins, etc.Is there someone who could hold you accountable in that area? Who?God wants you to be free of burdens, worries, doubts and fears. The amazing thing about prayer is that the Holiest of Holiness wants to commune with you. Prayer is a most valuable tool in your life because you are allowed a communication with the only one that can heal all wounds and can empower you to overcome any obstacle. This talk is to help you live a guilt free, vision filled, and Christ centered life. Be open to confession. Be intentional in your repentance. Be free of those things that hold you back. Pray this…That you will open up to him more today than yesterday. Repeat daily.

Read this…Nehemiah 8; Proverbs 30:5; Isaiah 55:9-11Ponder this…As Nehemiah and Ezra tag team the ministry efforts in Jerusalem, the people seem to respond to the message of Ezra with open arms and open hearts. The people listened, sought better understanding, and then applied the truths while connected in community. How do you view the Bible? What is your study time like? Do you value the time you spend in the Word on your own or better yet, do you crave it? Are you connected to a group of Christ believers that can help encourage and equip you in the faith? Consider a small group environment to help you in your journey. Pray this…That God will challenge your heart and that you will be open like the exiles in Jerusalem during the ministry of Ezra and Nehemiah. Life change happens when people are open to the correction of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, and they are courageous enough to apply those truths. Biblical community is a great environment to be encouraged to live a life of purpose.

Read this…Nehemiah 7Ponder this…Nehemiah’s purpose is change people’s eternal destinations and shape futures. And he would not do it alone. It took many, many people committed to building each other up, encouraging them to change, and equipping them to serve. As a good leader, Nehemiah knew the value of the vision work.He was a watchman for his people. Have you ever thought that we are watchmen of the Gospel today? From the first century until today, there have been people who have wanted to change the Message. Distort it. Mold it to fit. Shave off the rough edges of truth. Several of the New Testament books were written to counter this. Theologians have long debated this, and many have died to protect it. Do you think that the modern church today has confused the content of the message with methods? Methods will always change to fit it’s culture, but the purity of the Message should never change. Pray this…That you can be a person who will stand for truth even in the face of adversity in the home, workplace, and your neighborhood. The Gospel message is a message to lived out by our thoughts & actions, and sometimes even with words.

Read this…Nehemiah 6:15-7:4Ponder this…Nehemiah’s vision is done. Well… not actually! Yes, the walls, doors, and gates are in place, but the people are not where Nehemiah wants them to be. His vision for them is bigger than a building or a building project; it’s about the people. Nehemiah’s dream of what could be, what should be and what had to be is still in motion. Nehemiah is finding out that when a group of people gathered for one purpose work together, they can do amazing things for the Lord. We are chasing a God sized vision here @ DBC. I welcome you to partner with our vision of creating a church that is relevant and gives direction to the lives of the people here in Middle Georgia. Simple statement. Difficult commitment. Perfect God. Pray this…Continue to pray for the person or people you have committed to praying for, investing in, and hopefully, inviting them to a growing relationship with Christ. Together Everyone Accomplishes Ministry

Read this…Nehemiah 6:1-14Ponder this…While the city of Jerusalem was starting to take shape, the work could have been derailed, but it took Nehemiah to recognize the threat and say, “No thanks! I am doing something worthwhile here and I can’t really stop right now.”Life is full of these “opportunities”. Some good, some bad, and some just a waste of our most precious commodity… time. Doing some things and not all things will usually turn out to be better things. You simply can’t do everything well. You can’t raise kids, build a spiritual legacy, work all the overtime you want, or spend all your time doing a hobby. You may be good, but you’re not that good. No one is! Something has got to give, and saying, “No!” is that chance to keep focused on what really matters. What are your priorities today? Make a list of what your priorities are today, and bounce them off of this priority list. God, spouse, kids, work, extended family, and your personal ministry. If it is out of whack, make strides to redirect your list to reflect the list above. Pray this…For the Lord to give you the courage and determination to make the necessary changes to say, “No!” to something you know you need to.

Read this…Nehemiah 5:14-19; Genesis 3; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2Ponder this…As we read the book of Nehemiah, it is clear that he didn’t think to highly of himself. He had prestige, and it didn’t matter. He had personal wealth, and he didn’t take a salary for 12 years. His wealth was a tool for good, not a tool to promote himself politically. He simply saw that there was a problem and wanted to be a part of the restoration of the city and its people.He didn’t feel entitled to anything, and it begs the question, “Why do we?” Have we done something to deserve something greater than another? No. Genesis 3 places all men (and women) on a level playing field. We all can expect certain things, and in that text, we see that is not favorable expectation. So the next time you feel the urge to feel worthy of a greater standard, remember this text from 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”It’s an honor to receive, and it’s a greater honor to most to give back. Live like what you have been given is a gift, and you will understand the importance of it.Pray thisPray a prayer of thanksgiving for the many blessings you can remember, and the many ones that we all too often forget.

Read this…Nehemiah 5; Proverbs 31:9; Zechariah 7:9-10; Micah 6:8Ponder this…The outcry of social injustice is deafening to some, but why is it silent to others? Turning a blind eye to it will not change it. Judging them by our standards will not change it, so what are we to do then?First, recognize that it is the church’s place to stand and speak for them. The Bible is full of messages to us that tell us to think of the orphan, widow, oppressed, etc. The fuel for this is anger, a holy anger. An anger that understands that the world is fallen, and subsequently, we need to speak for the hurting and oppressed as Christ did. Nehemiah saw the oppression of his people, and knew the way that things should have been and was bound to make them history. As Christ frees us from sin and social injustice, we are to use those victories to help people find a way out. God is glorified by the redemption of his people. Pray this…Pray that you can find a worthwhile ministry team or local mercy mission that you can serve out of and serve into. Be confident in this truth. If God has brought you to something, He will bring you through it.

Read this…Nehemiah 4:15-23; Matthew 16:18; Acts 2Ponder this…The people in the rebuilding project of Jerusalem were immovable and unstoppable in their efforts to rebuild, but why? What was so compelling that they decided they would abandon comfort and safety to do this much needed work? What would require you to do the same thing? If you read the book of Acts, you can see some of the same qualities in the early believers. They believed in what was happening, and they knew that they were making a difference as Christ turned lives around. Eternal destinies changed. Lives radically changed by the grace of God. What if you could be a part of a similar movement? What if God would have you partner with a faith community to change lives and shape futures? We exist to help people become fully developing followers of Christ, and we welcome you to continue to track through our journey as an immovable and unstoppable force of good in Middle Georgia. Thanks for sojourning with us! Pray this…That we, unified as a church, would be faithful to the Lord as we seek to give people direction one life at a time.