Are you deceived by irreverent, silly myths? Pastor Paul decries this tragedy and commands young Pastor Timothy to train himself for godliness so that as he feeds and protects the flock, he would "put these things before the brothers [and] be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that [he has] followed."

What does this mean for you? You must listen, receive, and obey God's word, while your pastor "puts these things before [you]."

Pastor Todd explains four categories of Christian training to help you grow in godliness.

1. PRIORITIZE - Determine and Develop Your Priorities

2. PERSONALIZE - Create Your Own Personal Schedule

3. PARTNER - Examine Your Enjoyment of the Lord with Help

4. PRAISE - Develop Your Personal Devotional Time

After rapidly rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in fifty-two days, Nehemiah prepared the way for Ezra to proclaim God's word to Israel, "and all the people gathered as one man" to receive and understand God's message to them. This is unity!

Why the long genealogies in the Bible? Believe it or not, they really are important. Why? Because people matter. God's eternal plan of redemption includes His people. So, throughout history, He calls men to lead with administration and He calls the people to contribute to the work of the ministry. And the people in His genealogy contribute generously and joyously.

Is your life characterized by a spirit of discretion and completion? Listen to this message with the hope that Nehemiah's trust in the God of compassion will strengthen you to persevere for God's glory and the good of His church.

How do you help the weak and the wayward? By forced compliance? No. With compassion. Nehemiah models the grace of our compassionate, generous God when he demands repentance and restitution from the Jews who kept their brothers and sisters in slavery and poverty. We should learn from this!

When the LORD does a great work in His people, angry opposition will arise against it, further nurturing the cooperative unity necessary to see it through. That requires some unified separation. Listen as Pastor Todd explains from Nehemiah 4 how faithful people of God remain united, while separated for the work, in preparing to receive God's word.

In chapter three, Nehemiah tells a remarkable story of  the faithful, sacrificial willingness of priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, daughters, and more, to build, and where necessary, to repair the walls and gates of their beloved city. The hand of God upon these people should compel us to serve Christ and His church with a similar spirit of mutual cooperation and completion.

If God's hand is on you, you can trust Him in the face of ridicule and opposition, just as Nehemiah said to the enemy, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

Look closely at these three attributes of God, so that you many better glorify the One who is truly worthy of glory.