SERMON OUTLINE:

Themes in Ezra and Nehemiah:

• What we are experiencing is exile (Neh. 1:1-4).
• God is sovereign and faithful in leading history (Ez. 1:1-3). 
• YOU have a role to play in God’s sovereign plan (Ez. 2, 8, Neh. 3, 7, 10, 11, 12). 
• The people of God exist for the worship of God (Ez. 3:1-3). 
• God has chosen to use leaders, therefore our leaders must choose to be godly (Neh. 2). 
• God’s work is always done by God’s people (Neh. 3). 
• As we engage God’s work we will experience opposition (Ez. 4:4-5). 
• God’s Word does God’s work in God’s people (Neh. 8:1-3). 
• God’s kindness leads us to repentance and obedience (Ez. 9-10, Neh. 9). 
• God’s beauty leads us to give of ourselves for His glory (Neh. 11-13).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Which of the themes summarized today stands out as most helpful for you personally?
• Which of the themes summarized today do you think our church most needs to learn from? What does that American church as a whole most need to hear?