Sermon Text: Nehemiah 12 (sel. vs)

Companion Text: Psalm 48

1. SACRIFICE OF POCKETS— “On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.” Nehemiah 12:44

2. SACRIFICE OF PRIDE— “And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem...” Nehemiah 12:27-28(a)

3. SACRIFICE OF PRAISE—“So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;” Nehemiah 12:40

4. SACRIFICE OF PLEASURE—“And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:43

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 12 (sel. vs)

Companion Text: Psalm 48

1. SACRIFICE OF POCKETS— “On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.” Nehemiah 12:44

2. SACRIFICE OF PRIDE— “And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem...” Nehemiah 12:27-28(a)

3. SACRIFICE OF PRAISE—“So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;” Nehemiah 12:40

4. SACRIFICE OF PLEASURE—“And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:43

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 10:28-39

Companion Text: Philippians 3:1-10

1. REALIGN THEIR FOCUS— “The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, 29 join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.”

Nehemiah 10:28-29

2. REDIRECT THEIR FAMILIES— “We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.” Nehemiah 10:30

3. RESTRUCTURE THEIR FINANCES—“And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.” Nehemiah 10:31

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 9:1-8, 32-38

Companion Text: II Chronicles 7:1-3

1. The TIMING— “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads.” Nehemiah 9:1

2. The TENOR— “And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.” Nehemiah 9:2-3

3. The TRIBUTE—“You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.” Nehemiah 9:7

4. The TRUTH—“‘Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. .’” Nehemiah 9:32

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 9:1-8, 32-38

Companion Text: II Chronicles 7:1-3

1. The TIMING— “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads.” Nehemiah 9:1

2. The TENOR— “And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.” Nehemiah 9:2-3

3. The TRIBUTE—“You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.” Nehemiah 9:7

4. The TRUTH—“‘Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. .’” Nehemiah 9:32

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 8

Companion Text: Acts 8:26-39

1. The PLACE— “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.” Nehemiah 8:1

2. The PRIEST— “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.” Nehemiah 8:2

3. The PRONOUNCEMENT—“And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:9

4. The PRAISE—“And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” Nehemiah 8:12

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 8

Companion Text: Acts 8:26-39

1. The PLACE— “And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.” Nehemiah 8:1

2. The PRIEST— “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.” Nehemiah 8:2

3. The PRONOUNCEMENT—“And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:9

4. The PRAISE—“And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” Nehemiah 8:12

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

Companion Text: Revelation 21:9-19

1. Completion— “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16

2. Compromise— “For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.” Nehemiah 6:18-19

3. Commissioning—“Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.” Nehemiah 7:1-2

4. Conservation—“And I said to them, ‘Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.’” Nehemiah 7:3

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 6:15-7:3

Companion Text: Revelation 21:9-19

1. Completion— “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” Nehemiah 6:15-16

2. Compromise— “For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.19 Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.” Nehemiah 6:18-19

3. Commissioning—“Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.” Nehemiah 7:1-2

4. Conservation—“And I said to them, ‘Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.’” Nehemiah 7:3