Rebuilding Our Identity: A Call to Worship and Community
Summary
In today's gathering, we reflected on the importance of remembering who we are and who God is, drawing inspiration from the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah's journey to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was not just a physical restoration but a spiritual revival aimed at rekindling worship and remembrance of God among His people. This narrative parallels our current vision for our church community, where we aim to rebuild and renovate our spaces to foster a flourishing environment for worship and community engagement.
We explored the significance of Ezra's role alongside Nehemiah, emphasizing the power of God's Word in transforming lives. Ezra's reading of the law to the people of Jerusalem was a pivotal moment that led to a revival, as the people remembered their identity and God's faithfulness. This act of remembrance brought about a deep sense of repentance, but it was also a call to joy, as the priests reminded the people that the joy of the Lord is their strength.
Our church is embarking on a bold vision to renovate and expand our facilities, a vision that has been in prayerful consideration since 2007. This vision is not just about physical structures but about creating spaces where worship can thrive and where people can encounter the living God. We are called to be a church that reaches out to the 80% of our community who do not have a church home, inviting them to experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
As we commit to this vision, we are reminded of the importance of aligning our story with God's story, investing our time, talent, and treasure in His kingdom work. This is a collective effort, requiring the participation and sacrifice of each member of our community. We are inspired by stories of faithfulness and generosity, from those who give sacrificially to those who contribute from their abundance, all united in the desire for God to remember us for good.
In this season of commitment, we are invited to bring our pledges as an act of worship, trusting that God will multiply our gifts for His glory. Our prayer is that through this endeavor, we will see a revival that cannot be contained, reaching thousands with the gospel and transforming lives for eternity.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Remembrance: Remembering who we are and who God is can transform our spiritual journey. Nehemiah's story teaches us that forgetting our identity in God leads to spiritual danger, but remembering brings revival and flourishing worship. [39:38]
2. Joy in Repentance: True repentance is not just about mourning our sins but finding joy in God's forgiveness. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and it empowers us to live in the freedom and grace of God. [48:33]
3. Collective Vision and Sacrifice: Our church's vision to rebuild is a collective effort that requires the participation and sacrifice of each member. This vision is not just about physical structures but about creating spaces for worship and community. [42:26]
4. Aligning with God's Story: We are called to align our story with God's story, investing our time, talent, and treasure in His kingdom work. This alignment creates a legacy that outlives us and impacts future generations. [57:26]
5. Revival Through Worship: Worship is the ultimate goal of our vision, as it leads to revival and transformation. As we commit to this vision, we pray for a movement of God that reaches thousands and brings them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. [01:00:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Invitation to Worship
- [01:15] - Nehemiah's Burden for Worship
- [02:45] - The Challenge of Forgetting
- [03:30] - Rebuilding for Revival
- [04:50] - Ezra's Role in Revival
- [06:00] - The Power of God's Word
- [07:15] - Joy in Repentance
- [08:30] - Vision for Our Church
- [09:45] - Collective Sacrifice
- [11:00] - Aligning with God's Story
- [12:15] - Revival Through Worship
- [13:30] - Invitation to Commitment
- [14:45] - Prayer for God's Blessing
- [16:00] - Closing and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Nehemiah 8:5-12
- Nehemiah 13:14, 22, 31
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of Ezra reading the law to the people in Nehemiah 8, and how did the people respond? [45:11]
2. How did the people of Jerusalem react when they heard the words of the law, and what did the priests instruct them to do instead? [48:33]
3. What was Nehemiah's repeated request to God in Nehemiah 13, and why was it significant? [54:32]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between Nehemiah and Ezra in the context of the revival in Jerusalem? [45:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the act of remembering who we are and who God is be crucial for our spiritual journey, as highlighted in Nehemiah's story? [39:38]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true repentance involves both mourning and joy? How does this duality impact one's spiritual life? [48:33]
3. How does the sermon connect the church's vision for physical renovation with spiritual revival, and what role does community participation play in this vision? [42:26]
4. What does it mean to align our story with God's story, and how can this alignment create a lasting legacy according to the sermon? [57:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you forgot your identity in God. How did it affect your spiritual life, and what steps can you take to remember who you are in Christ? [39:38]
2. The sermon emphasizes joy in repentance. How can you find joy in God's forgiveness, and what practical steps can you take to live in that joy daily? [48:33]
3. The church is embarking on a vision to renovate and expand. How can you personally contribute to this vision, whether through time, talent, or treasure? [42:26]
4. Consider the idea of aligning your story with God's story. What specific areas of your life need realignment, and how can you begin this process? [57:26]
5. The sermon calls for a collective effort in the church's vision. How can you encourage others in your community to participate in this vision, and what role can you play in fostering a spirit of unity and sacrifice? [42:26]
6. Nehemiah's burden for worship led to action. What burdens has God placed on your heart, and how can you move from burden to action in your own life? [01:00:08]
7. The sermon highlights the importance of creating spaces for worship and community. How can you create an environment in your home or workplace that fosters spiritual growth and community engagement? [42:26]
Devotional
Day 1: Remembering Our Identity in God
In the story of Nehemiah, the act of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was not just a physical task but a profound spiritual journey. It was a call to remember who they were as God's people and to realign their lives with His purposes. Forgetting our identity in God can lead us into spiritual danger, as we lose sight of His faithfulness and our calling. However, when we remember who we are in Him, it brings about revival and flourishing worship. This remembrance is not just a mental exercise but a transformative experience that shapes our actions and attitudes. As we reflect on our identity in God, we are invited to live out our faith with renewed passion and purpose. [39:38]
Nehemiah 1:8-9 (ESV): "Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’"
Reflection: In what ways have you forgotten your identity in God? How can you actively remind yourself of who you are in Him today?
Day 2: Joy in Repentance
True repentance is a journey that leads us from mourning over our sins to experiencing the joy of God's forgiveness. In the narrative of Nehemiah and Ezra, the people of Jerusalem were reminded that the joy of the Lord is their strength. This joy is not a superficial emotion but a deep-seated assurance of God's grace and mercy. It empowers us to live in the freedom and grace of God, transforming our sorrow into celebration. As we repent, we are invited to embrace this joy, knowing that God's forgiveness is complete and His love is unending. [48:33]
Psalm 51:12 (ESV): "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."
Reflection: Is there a sin or burden you need to bring before God in repentance? How can you embrace the joy of His forgiveness today?
Day 3: Collective Vision and Sacrifice
The vision to rebuild and renovate our church facilities is a collective effort that requires the participation and sacrifice of each member. This vision is not just about physical structures but about creating spaces where worship and community can thrive. It is a call to invest our time, talent, and treasure in God's kingdom work, aligning our story with His. As we commit to this vision, we are reminded of the power of unity and the impact of our collective efforts. Together, we can create a legacy that outlives us and impacts future generations. [42:26]
1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the collective vision of your church community? What sacrifices are you willing to make for the sake of this vision?
Day 4: Aligning with God's Story
We are called to align our story with God's story, investing our time, talent, and treasure in His kingdom work. This alignment is not just about personal fulfillment but about participating in God's redemptive plan for the world. It requires us to see beyond our immediate circumstances and to invest in what truly matters. As we align our lives with God's story, we create a legacy that impacts future generations and brings glory to His name. This is a call to live with intentionality and purpose, knowing that our lives are part of a greater narrative. [57:26]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: In what ways can you align your personal story with God's story today? What steps can you take to invest in His kingdom work?
Day 5: Revival Through Worship
Worship is the ultimate goal of our vision, as it leads to revival and transformation. As we commit to creating spaces for worship, we pray for a movement of God that reaches thousands and brings them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Worship is not just an activity but a lifestyle that reflects our love and devotion to God. It is through worship that we experience His presence and are transformed by His Spirit. As we engage in worship, we are invited to participate in God's redemptive work and to be agents of His love and grace in the world. [01:00:08]
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a lifestyle of worship in your daily life? What changes can you make to prioritize worship and experience God's transformative power?
Quotes
And yet, if we don't remember who we are, if we don't remember who God is, we can come to a place of grave danger in our walk with God. That's where Nehemiah found God's people. They had forgotten who they were, their identity, and they had forgotten who God was. [00:40:14] (20 seconds)
And his desire was that worship would flourish, that people would begin to remember who God was. Last week, we saw that the walls were built, that Nehemiah finished the project. And we talked about our vision as a church to reach the city, the 80 % of people in Spartanburg County that do not have a church home. [00:40:48] (20 seconds)
We said we want to see worship flourish in our city, in our community. We want people to remember that there's a God in heaven that knows their name and loves them and gave himself for them. And we said we want to do that. And one of the ways we're going to do that is by rebuilding these walls. [00:41:08] (17 seconds)
A focused vision of $32 million that will renovate most of our existing spaces, give us a new children's building, give us new entrances and areas that we can congregate, new life group space. And we've been praying about this vision for a long time. In fact, it's not my vision. It's your vision. [00:41:43] (17 seconds)
Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, Amen, Amen. Then they knelt low and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akub, Shebathai, Hodiah, Messiah, Kelita, Azariah, Josabad, Hanan, and Paliah, which I'm so glad I don't have to read those names again. [00:44:12] (30 seconds)
They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. Now we're going to stop right there and just give a little bit of background because there's a lot going on here. We kind of need to do a little bit of a history lesson to understand what just happened. [00:44:51] (19 seconds)
And as a result, the people begin to worship. They bow down on their faces and worship before a holy God. But it's not all that they do. They begin to mourn. Look with me in verse 9. It continues. It says, Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe and the Levites were instructing all the people said to them, this day is holy to the Lord your God. [00:48:33] (26 seconds)
Do not mourn or weep. For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. And then he said to them, go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve because the joy of the Lord is your strength. [00:48:59] (23 seconds)
And this is a picture of the way that God looks at anybody when they come home. He says, don't weep. Because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Isn't that an incredible verse? See, our strength is not found in us. It's found in the Lord and in the joy, the rejoicing of the way that he feels over one sinner who repents. [00:51:05] (27 seconds)
And this idea of remembering God is something that you find throughout the entire book of Nehemiah. You know, at the end of Nehemiah, Nehemiah is consumed with this idea of remembering, remembering, that we need to remember, and that he wants God to remember him. [00:54:50] (21 seconds)
He says it three times, in fact. And every time you see somebody repeat something like this, you need to pay attention because you see it in verse 14. So Nehemiah 13 verse 14. Nehemiah says, remember me for this, my God, and don't erase the deeds of faithful love I've done for the house of my God and for its services. [00:55:57] (19 seconds)
And that's my hope as a church, that we would be the people that would invest our time, our talent, and our treasure so that God would remember us, that we would align our story with his, and we could create a legacy that lives all of us. [00:57:40] (17 seconds)
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