Nehemiah 6:16 – 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. Curiously, the completion of the wall is mentioned in passing with little reflection on Nehemiah’s … Read more
Nehemiah 6:15 – So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. Nehemiah’s final response to the attempts to divert, disgrace, and deceive are exemplary. First, he did not lose courage or stop pressing forward. Second, he was discerning and not dissuaded by threats, lies, or manipulation. Third, … Read more
In Nehemiah 7, Pastor Mark preaches that policies, leadership, governance and safe buildings are needed before people can arrive at church and encounter Jesus in a safe, enjoyable way. This chapter also shows that everyone is important and that both people and things need to be stewarded.
Nehemiah 6:12 – And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Despite the failed efforts to divert and disgrace Nehemiah, his enemies persisted in attacking, trying to deceive the people supporting him (Nehemiah 6:10-14). They weaponized his … Read more
Nehemiah 6:3 – And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” Critics opposed to Nehemiah’s ministry since he first arrived at the city are again united to divert from the mission … Read more
Nehemiah 6:2 – Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. In any competitive sporting event, the last few minutes are the most intense and exciting. As one team is pressing toward their victory, their opponent … Read more
Nehemiah 5:19 – Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people. Upon hearing of this great injustice of what people would do to get money or position themselves to have more wealth in ungodly ways, Nehemiah was angry. Some commentators have wrongly criticized Nehemiah for his anger. God … Read more
Nehemiah 5:15 – The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. In Nehemiah’s day, it was not unlawful … Read more
In this sermon from Act Like a Man: Real Men 101, Pastor Mark preaches on how we can be good stewards if we handle the money God has entrusted to us in a godly way.
In Nehemiah 6, Pastor Mark preaches that a “beating” from a critic oftentimes comes right before a blessing, that all those who say they’re “believers” shouldn’t necessarily be believed, and that fake news is nothing new.
Nehemiah 5:14 – Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The problem in western culture is that our thinking … Read more
Nehemiah 5:15 – The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. The crisis in Nehemiah 5 is internal … Read more