FOCUS TEXT: Nehemiah 9-13

On Sunday we concluded our {RE}BUILD, The Story of Nehemiah series. Most of this ten part series sprang from Nehemiah 1-6 which tells the story of Nehemiah building up the people of God and leading them to {RE}BUILD the wall around Jerusalem so that the worship of God might be restored.

The final two sermons sprang from the second half of the book. Chapters 7-12 show God’s people seeking spiritual renewal, restoration of covenantal relationship, and the return to temple worship. Our focus verse from Sunday shows the people committing to live as God’s covenant people. Nehemiah 9:38 says: “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”

Sunday we were reminded of 5 important truths about covenantal relationship with God: 1) it is established through the shedding of blood, 2) it requires repentance, 3) it should to lead to faithful obedience, 4) it requires committed relationship to God’s people, and 5) it means God’s people are accountable to one another. Each of these are not only important characteristics of God’s relationship with His Old Testament people, but also His relationship with the Church.

One of the most stunning characteristics of covenantal relationship with God is the responsibility He gives His people for one another.  In chapter 10 God’s people made an oath to keep God’s law, avoid intermarriage, keep the sabbath day, and support temple ministry. But then in chapter 13, when the people began to fail in their commitments, God used Nehemiah as an instrument of accountability.

Likewise the Lord commands members of His New Testament Church to “search for wandering sheep” (Matthew 18:12), to “speak truth in love” (Ephesians 4:14-15), and to “exhort one another every day” (Hebrews 3:13).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• In Nehemiah, renewal (chapter 8) led to deeper covenantal commitments (chapter 9). What might be the result if we made deeper commitments without Christ-centered spiritual renewal?

• How do you think walking closely with Jesus might change the way we walk with one another?

• How do you think accountability among the body would look differently if our hearts were humble, shaped by the Word, and led by the Holy Spirit?

PRAYER FOCUS

Take time to pray for the Church. Ask God to renew hearts and bring revival to the body of Christ. Ask Him to help you invest in the spiritual lives of others and in the renewal of Anchor Church.

MEMORY VERSE: Nehemiah 13:30-31