Sermon Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11

Companion Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-20

1. We must look out with compassion— “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah 1:4

2. We must look upward with dependence—“And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.” Nehemiah 1:5-6

3. We must look forward with confidence— “They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.” Nehemiah 1:10

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11

Companion Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-20

1. We must look out with compassion— “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Nehemiah 1:4

2. We must look upward with dependence—“And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.” Nehemiah 1:5-6

3. We must look forward with confidence— “They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.” Nehemiah 1:10

Sermon Text: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Companion Text: Isaiah 40:21-31

1. A Broken Nation

2. A Broken People

3. One Ordinary Man and a Sovereign God – “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire. As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Sermon Text: Revelation 2:1-7

Companion Text: Mark 12:28-34

1. Jesus’ Commendation– “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” Revelation 2:2-3

2. Jesus’ Indictment – “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” Revelation 2:4

3. Jesus’ Call – “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2:5

Sermon Text: 1 Kings 8:12-30

Companion Text: 1 Peter 5:1-7

1. The POSITION– “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.” 1 Kings 8:22

2. The PREFACE – “and said, ‘O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.’ ” 1 Kings 8:23

3. The PLEA – “ ‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day.’ ” 1 Kings 8:27-28

4. The PROMISE– “Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ ” 1 Kings 8:25

Sermon Text: 1 Kings 8:12-30

Companion Text: Psalm 132

1. The POSITION– “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.” 1 Kings 8:22

2. The PREFACE – “and said, ‘O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.’ ” 1 Kings 8:23

3. The PLEA – “ ‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day.’ ” 1 Kings 8:27-28

4. The PROMISE– “Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ ” 1 Kings 8:25

Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 5:1-12

Companion Text: Psalm 76

1. The ENGAGEMENT– “Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.” 2 Samuel 5:1-2

2. The ELEVATION – “At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.” 2 Samuel 5:5

3. The ELIMINATION – “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 2 Samuel 5:6

4. The ENLARGEMENT– “ And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.” 2 Samuel 5:10

Sermon Text: 2 Samuel 5:1-12

Companion Text: Psalm 76

1. The ENGAGEMENT– “Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.” 2 Samuel 5:1-2

2. The ELEVATION – “At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.” 2 Samuel 5:5

3. The ELIMINATION – “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 2 Samuel 5:6

4. The ENLARGEMENT– “ And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.” 2 Samuel 5:10

Sermon Text: Genesis 22:1-14

Companion Text: Romans 8:31-39

1. HOW He provides – “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ 2 He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” Genesis 22:1-2

2. WHERE He provides – “He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” Genesis 22:2

3. WHAT He provides – “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I

am, my son.’ He said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ ” Genesis 22:7

4. WHEN He provides – “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” Genesis 22:9

5. WHY He provides – “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” Genesis 22:13

Sermon Text: Genesis 22:1-14

Companion Text: Romans 8:31-39

1. HOW He provides – “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ 2 He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” Genesis 22:1-2

2. WHERE He provides – “He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ ” Genesis 22:2

3. WHAT He provides – “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I

am, my son.’ He said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ ” Genesis 22:7

4. WHEN He provides – “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.” Genesis 22:9

5. WHY He provides – “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” Genesis 22:13