1. Leaders Call People to Thanksgiving 2. Christians are to Celebrate God's Faithfulness 3. The Ongoing Life of Worship

Pastor Nathan Francis' sermon on Nehemiah chapters 11 and 12 emphasizes the significance behind the names listed in the Bible and the people's willingness to return to Jerusalem due to its status as the holy city. He highlights God's love for common people and the priesthood of all believers, drawing a parallel between the exclusive priesthood of the Old Testament and the royal priesthood of believers in the New Testament through Jesus Christ. The congregation is challenged to shift their focus from earthly success to eternal significance and to actively participate in building God's kingdom, ultimately embracing their identity as children of God and ambassadors of His kingdom.

Pastor Nathan Francis preaches about genuine repentance in Nehemiah 9 and 10. The sermon stresses the importance of heartfelt commitment over mere actions to earn favor. Points covered include choosing godly relationships, dedicating a day to rest and worship, and honoring God with financial generosity through tithing. The overarching message underscores the need for sincere repentance and gratitude towards God, with a call to seek His forgiveness and embrace salvation through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Nathan Francis's sermon "Repentance and Worship" focuses on Nehemiah 9, emphasizing the power of God's word to impact listeners. The sermon delves into worship, confession, repentance, and God's mercy, highlighting the importance of personal repentance and confessing sins for revival. By emphasizing the pattern of acknowledging God's greatness leading to worship and repentance, Pastor Francis urges the congregation to seek God's forgiveness and mercy through personal repentance and confession.

Pastor Nathan Francis preaches on the turning of "Sorrow to Joy" in Nehemiah 8, emphasizing genuine repentance leading to joy in the Lord, forgiveness, and new obedience. He highlights the emotional response of the people to the words of the law, encouraging them to not be grieved but to find joy in the Lord. Drawing parallels with B movies, he stresses the importance of genuine emotions in apologies and forgiveness. He challenges the congregation to embrace sorrow and joy, finding true repentance, forgiveness, and obedience through the forgiveness and love of God.

Pastor Nathan Francis' sermon "Expository Preaching" delves into Nehemiah 8, where Ezra reads the book of the law to a united Israel, leading to transformation and worship. Divided into explaining, transforming, and emphasizing the power of the Bible, the sermon praises expository preaching for focusing on biblical texts and their impact on listeners. It highlights the Bible's ability to unify, transform, and convict, stressing the necessity of understanding and responding to God's Word in worship and personal growth.

In Pastor Francis' sermon "God Knows Your Name," he delves into the challenging passage of Nehemiah 7, urging the congregation to invest extra effort in understanding it. He summarizes the previous chapters, focusing on the transition to rebuilding the people spiritually in Jerusalem. Pastor Francis highlights the importance of the genealogy in identifying God's covenant people and emphasizes the significance of marrying fellow believers. He reassures the congregation of God's personal care, encourages certainty in salvation through Jesus Christ, and promotes continued generosity in supporting the church.

Why did Jesus not reveal himself to the two on the road to Emmaus, but rather walked 7 miles without revealing his identity? We might expect a dramatic show like the Apostle Paul received. Jesus knew that Cleopas needed to first encounter Christ in the Old Testament and understand how the whole Old Testament pointed to his suffering, sacrifice for sins and resurrection. Then he was ready to have a personal encounter with Christ. Some people are holding out for a dramatic spiritual experience, but the reality is that most people who follow Christ have very ordinary experiences just like Cleopas on the road Emmaus 1. Sad Present Circumstances 2. Hopeful Past Prophecies 3. Joyous Personal Encounter