Thursday, September 4
The Four Moves of Nehemiah…
This past Sunday we finished four weeks studying together in the book of Nehemiah.Honestly, I was so surprised at how well we entered into this story as a community…and I was so surprised at how it affected our community, and, specifically, how it affected me.
I’ve been taught, I’ve taught, I’ve read, etc. the book of Nehemiah throughout the years, but I think I always assumed it was about ‘building a wall’, and it is, to a point, but it’s about so much more.
More than the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, more than the incredible leadership qualities of Nehemiah, this book is about finding our way back to God. It’s a story within the BIG story of God putting His family back together…in the context of community and in the context of the city.
We called it “The Four Moves of Nehemiah”…it broke down this way:
#1 …the move to a broken heart (chapters 1-2)
#2 …the move to stay on the wall (ch. 2-6)
#3 …the move back to God (ch. 7-9)
#4 …the move to responsibility (ch. 10-13).
(If you’re interested, the podcasts are available on i-tunes)
We start Genesis this week…I can’t wait.
Mark Nelson at 3:51 PM 7comments
7 Comments
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at 4:48 PM
Rafael said... I feel sheepish admitting this, but I was surprised how this series affected me. Nehemiah isn't one of the more "spiritual" books, if I may. And I've always felt I wouldn't have liked a person like Ezra. But the last three weeks (we missed the first move) have been really challenging, as I've shared elsewhere.
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at 7:27 PM
Kevin said...
I used to attend a church in Orange County for a couple of months and the pastor did a pretty lengthy walk through Nehamiah. I think it was a chapter a week.
I'd have to say that series went down in history as one of the best for me. I'll always remember the feeling i felt tugging on my heart thinking he just preach a sermon to the wrong group of people.
I'm glad I was able to be a part of that church for what little time i was.-
at 8:30 PM
ragamuffinminister said...
R and R...1992...first full youth group event I ever went to...
Nehemiah was the book we studied every day. Monica did a great job. I haven't forgotten it.
It was also the first time anyone asked me to pray out loud...I chickened out. I later went back and wrote out a prayer on an index card just in case she were to ask me again...because I wanted to pray...but didn't know what words to use.
I just hijacked your comments...-
at 9:09 PM
Mark Nelson said...
Jeph...
R & R (remember what it endued up standing for? Runs and Regurgitation)
Wow, I didn't remember we studied that...
Great story about praying out loud...do you still carry a card around?
mark-
at 9:13 PM
Mark Nelson said...
Check out Rafael's thoughts that he referred to on his blog...August 31st...
http://thinkinginpublic.blogspot.com/-
at 12:27 PM
Rob said...
Looking forward to listening from a far.
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at 1:06 PM
The Anonymous Human said...
Mark,
I listen to your podcasts every week. The last two weeks of the Nehemiah series were the two best sermons I've heard you preach. I especially love the tirade telling parents that it is their responsibility to raise their children in the Lord. You could tell you were speaking from your Youth Ministry heart.
Seriously, keep preaching the truth in love. I'm excited to hear Genesis!!! It makes me jealous to live so far away from such a fantastic community of believers.