Nehemiah 3:1 - 32
Key words in this chapter (different translations)
BUILT – 30 times REBUILT – 29 times
REPAIRED – 31 times WORKED – 24 times
- Divide the dream into smaller goals and tasks.
Key Phrase: "SECTION" is used 26 times (CEV) – "a smaller part of the whole."
The next section was built by … Nehemiah 3:2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, etc.
- Let others share ownership of the dream.
Key Phrase: "By his OWN house" is used 6 times.
Jedaiah repaired the wall beside his own house … Nehemiah 3:10
Hashabiah built the wall in his own district. Nehemiah 3:17
Each priest made repairs near his own house. Nehemiah 3:28
Benjamin and Azariah repaired the wall by their own homes. Nehemiah 3:23
- Organize around natural relationships.
Nehemiah: "I posted them by families …" Nehemiah 4:13
Eliashib and his fellow priests rebuilt the Sheep Gate. Nehemiah 3:1
The men of Jericho built the next section … Nehemiah 3:2
The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate … Nehemiah 3:3
Shallum and his daughters built the next section. Nehemiah 3:12
The goldsmiths and the merchants built another section. Nehemiah 3:32
ACTION PLAN: To investigate and join a small group, email smallgroup@saddleback.com, text SMALLGROUP to 83000 or visit our website at www.saddleback.com/joingroup,
- Develop a team spirit.
Key Phrase: "NEXT to them" is used twenty-one times in Nehemiah chapter 3. Eighteen different teams are mentioned.
We are partners working together for God … 1 Corinthians 3:9 (TEV)
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; because they get more done by working together. Also if one falls down, the other can help him up … And two can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. Three people is even better. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT/TEV)
Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ … I want to know that you are working together and striving side by side to get others to believe the good news.Philippians 1:27 (CEV)
- Love everyone but invest in the willing.
The next section of the wall was rebuilt by the men of Tekoa but the nobles of that town refused to work or help. Nehemiah 3:5
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- Waste no time judging others.
Why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ? And why do you think you're better than they are? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. … Then each of us has to give a personal account to God. So stop judging each other! Romans 14:10, 12-13a
- Waste no time judging others.
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- Remember God will reward what I do.
The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, but good people will be rewarded. Proverbs 14:14
People who are generous will themselves be blessed. … Proverbs 22:9
- Remember God will reward what I do.
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Never stop saying, "Thank you."
Paul: "I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in all my prayers." Ephesians 1:16 (CEV)
- Recognize individuals by name.
- Recognize specific work.
They laid beams and put the doors, and bolts, and bars in place. Nehemiah 3:6b - Recognize great attitude.
… Baruch zealously repaired another section … Nehemiah 3:20 - Recognize extra effort.
Meremoth repaired the section by the Fish Gate … then he also repaired another section by the high priest's home. Nehemiah 3:4, 21
ACTION PLAN: Write a note of appreciation each day this week using these four factors of appreciation.
No work … Some work … Enthusiastic work
ACTION PLAN: Take time this week to assess your involvement in God's work on Earth. Ask yourself the question posed in this week's sermon – "What section of the wall am I building at Saddleback?" To see ministry opportunities, visit www.saddleback.com/ministry.
Brothers and sisters … Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work for the Lord is never wasted! 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NCV)