Introduction

Good morning, beloved,

Isn't it a blessing to be gathered here today in the house of the Lord? We're here not just because we've chosen to be, but because the Lord in His infinite love and mercy has drawn us together. We're here to learn, to grow, to be challenged, and to be comforted. We're here to be molded into the image of Christ, to be built up in our faith, and to be encouraged in our walk with the Lord. We're here to be reminded of God's promises, to be strengthened in our resolve, and to be inspired to live out our faith in a world that desperately needs the hope we have in Christ.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Today, we're going to live in the book of Nehemiah, chapter 3, a chapter that tells a story of unity, cooperation, and dedication in the face of adversity. It's a story of God's people coming together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, not because it was easy, but because it was necessary. It's a story that has much to teach us about the importance of working together as the body of Christ.

Let's read Nehemiah 3 together:

[Read passage]

As we reflect on this passage, let's bow our heads in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We ask You to open our hearts and minds to the truths You want to reveal to us today. Help us to not just be hearers of Your Word, but doers also. Teach us, Lord, the lessons we need to learn and give us the courage to apply them in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Today, we will focus on three main points from this chapter: Building without Bickering, Bearing the Burden Together, and Bolstering the Body of Christ. As we consider these themes, may we be encouraged to work together in unity, to bear each other's burdens, and to build each other up in love.

Building without Bickering

As we look at the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, we see a group of people who were able to come together and accomplish a great task. They worked side by side, each contributing their own skills and resources, without letting disagreements or personal differences get in the way. This is a powerful example for us as believers.

In the church: We are called to work together for the advancement of God's kingdom. We each have unique gifts and talents that God has given us, and we are meant to use these in service to Him and to each other. But often, instead of working together in harmony, we let our differences divide us. We bicker and argue over minor issues, allowing them to distract us from the important work we are called to do.

The importance of focusing on the task at hand: They were faced with a huge challenge - rebuilding the walls of a city. This was not a small or easy task. It required hard work, dedication, and a lot of cooperation. They didn't have time to argue or bicker. They had a job to do, and they did it.

We as the church have a job to do: We are called to spread the gospel, to make disciples, to care for the poor and the oppressed. These are not small or easy tasks. They require hard work, dedication, and a lot of cooperation. We don't have time to argue or bicker. We have a job to do, and we need to do it.

The importance of valuing each other's contributions: In the rebuilding of the walls, everyone had a part to play. Some were builders, some were guards, some were suppliers. Each person's role was important and necessary for the completion of the task. No one's contribution was more or less important than anyone else's.

This is also true in the church: Each of us has a role to play in the body of Christ. Some of us are teachers, some are encouragers, some are givers, some are helpers. Each person's role is important and necessary for the functioning of the church. No one's contribution is more or less important than anyone else's.

The importance of perseverance: The rebuilding of the walls was not an easy task. It was hard, grueling work. There were obstacles and opposition. But the people did not give up. They kept working, day after day, until the task was completed. In our Christian walk, we will also face obstacles and opposition. There will be times when the work is hard and we are tempted to give up. But we must persevere. We must keep working, day after day, until the task is completed.

The power of unity: The people were able to rebuild the walls because they worked together. They were unified in their purpose and their effort. This unity gave them the strength and the motivation to complete the task. In the church, we too need to be unified. We need to be unified in our purpose - to glorify God and make Him known. We need to be unified in our effort - working together to use our gifts and talents for the benefit of the church and the advancement of God's kingdom. This unity will give us the strength and the motivation to do the work we are called to do.

Bearing the Burden Together

As we continue to reflect on the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, we find a powerful lesson in the way the people worked together ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO