Transforming Communities Through Faith and Service
Summary
In today's gathering, I shared a journey of faith and mission, drawing inspiration from the story of Nehemiah and the work of Global Mission Partners. My own journey began at 18 when a trip to Africa and the Middle East opened my eyes to the power of serving others through God's mission. This passion has guided my life, leading me to work with Global Mission Partners, the overseas mission and aid arm of the Churches of Christ in Australia. Our mission, rooted in the legacy of Mary Thompson, the first Churches of Christ missionary, has evolved to support local indigenous leaders in their vision and mission since 2007.
The story of Nehemiah serves as a powerful example of community transformation. Nehemiah, heartbroken by the state of Jerusalem, took on the monumental task of rebuilding its walls. Despite facing opposition, threats, and internal challenges, Nehemiah's unwavering faith and leadership led to the successful completion of the project in just 52 days. This story illustrates the importance of perseverance, faith, and community in achieving transformation.
Our work at Global Mission Partners mirrors this narrative. We support evangelistic projects, relief and development initiatives, and emergency humanitarian work across the globe. In Indonesia, for example, our partners have transformed communities through acts of service, leading to spiritual renewal and newfound respect from local communities. These efforts demonstrate that social projects can lead to spiritual revival, as seen in the story of Nehemiah.
As we reflect on these stories, we are reminded of the need for soft hearts, sharp minds, and strong hands in our own community transformation projects. We must align our hearts with God's concerns, prioritize our efforts, and seek God's strength to overcome challenges. Our service to others is a powerful witness, opening doors for the gospel and leading to spiritual renewal.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of a Soft Heart: Nehemiah's story begins with a heartbroken response to the news of Jerusalem's disrepair. His compassion led him to fast and pray, demonstrating the importance of aligning our hearts with God's concerns. When was the last time our hearts were so moved by a need that we were driven to prayer and action? [48:36]
- Prioritizing Our Great Project: Nehemiah faced numerous distractions and opposition, yet he remained focused on his mission. He recognized the importance of his work and refused to be sidetracked. We must identify our own "great project" and prioritize it, resisting distractions that pull us away from God's calling. [55:42]
- Strength in Adversity: Nehemiah's journey was fraught with challenges, from threats of violence to internal strife. Yet, he continually turned to God for strength, praying, "Now strengthen my hands." In our own lives, we must seek God's strength to persevere through difficulties and remain faithful to our mission. [01:11:23]
- Community Transformation Leading to Spiritual Renewal: The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls led to a spiritual revival, as the people rediscovered their faith and traditions. Our community transformation efforts should similarly aim to foster spiritual renewal, demonstrating that social action and evangelism are intertwined. [01:01:28]
- Service as a Witness: The work of our partners in Indonesia exemplifies how acts of service can open doors for the gospel. By addressing physical and social needs, we build trust and create opportunities for spiritual conversations, leading others to faith in Jesus. [01:04:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:00] - Introduction and Personal Journey
- [00:05:00] - Global Mission Partners Overview
- [00:10:00] - Mary Thompson's Legacy
- [00:15:00] - Nehemiah's Story: A Call to Action
- [00:20:00] - Nehemiah's Challenges and Faith
- [00:25:00] - Community Transformation in Scripture
- [00:30:00] - Global Mission Partners' Work Worldwide
- [00:35:00] - Indonesia: A Case Study in Transformation
- [00:40:00] - The Role of Service in Evangelism
- [00:45:00] - Lessons from Nehemiah for Today
- [00:50:00] - Soft Hearts, Sharp Minds, Strong Hands
- [00:55:00] - Encouraging Stories from the Field
- [01:00:00] - Jesus' Mission: Word and Deed
- [01:05:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Nehemiah 1:1-4
2. Nehemiah 6:15-16
3. Nehemiah 8:5-12
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Nehemiah's initial reaction upon hearing about the state of Jerusalem, and how did it reflect his heart for God's concerns? [48:36]
2. How did Nehemiah respond to the opposition and threats he faced while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem? [55:42]
3. What role did community play in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, and how did the people organize themselves to accomplish this task? [50:39]
4. What was the outcome of the community transformation project led by Nehemiah, and how did it lead to spiritual renewal among the people? [57:59]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Nehemiah's response to the news of Jerusalem's disrepair demonstrate the importance of aligning our hearts with God's concerns? [48:36]
2. In what ways did Nehemiah's leadership and faith inspire the people to persevere through adversity and complete the rebuilding project? [55:42]
3. How does the story of Nehemiah illustrate the connection between social action and spiritual renewal? [01:01:28]
4. What lessons can be learned from Nehemiah's approach to handling opposition and distractions while staying focused on his mission? [55:42]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your heart was moved by a need in your community. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to align your heart more closely with God's concerns? [48:36]
2. Identify a "great project" in your life that aligns with God's calling. What distractions or opposition are you facing, and how can you prioritize this mission in your daily life? [55:42]
3. Nehemiah prayed for strength in the face of adversity. What challenges are you currently facing, and how can you seek God's strength to persevere through them? [01:11:23]
4. Consider the role of community in your own life. How can you work together with others to achieve a common goal that leads to transformation and renewal? [50:39]
5. Reflect on the story of community transformation in Indonesia. How can acts of service in your own community open doors for spiritual conversations and renewal? [01:04:26]
6. Nehemiah's story shows the power of a soft heart, sharp mind, and strong hands. Which of these areas do you feel needs the most growth in your life, and what steps can you take to develop it? [01:08:42]
7. How can you use your resources and influence, like Nehemiah, to bless others and contribute to community transformation? [53:15]
Devotional
Day 1: The Heart that Moves to Action
Nehemiah's story begins with a profound emotional response to the news of Jerusalem's disrepair. His heart was so moved that it led him to fast and pray, aligning his concerns with God's. This soft heart is essential for anyone seeking to make a difference in the world. It challenges us to ask ourselves when was the last time our hearts were so moved by a need that we were driven to prayer and action. A soft heart is not a sign of weakness but a powerful catalyst for change, as it opens us to God's guidance and the needs of others. [48:36]
Nehemiah 1:4-5 (ESV): "As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, 'O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.'"
Reflection: When was the last time your heart was so moved by a need that it drove you to prayer and action? How can you cultivate a heart that is sensitive to God's concerns today?
Day 2: Staying Focused on Your Great Project
Nehemiah faced numerous distractions and opposition, yet he remained focused on his mission. He recognized the importance of his work and refused to be sidetracked. This teaches us the importance of identifying our own "great project" and prioritizing it, resisting distractions that pull us away from God's calling. In a world full of noise and competing demands, staying focused on what truly matters requires intentionality and discipline. [55:42]
Nehemiah 6:3 (ESV): "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?'"
Reflection: What is your "great project" that God is calling you to focus on? What distractions do you need to resist to stay true to this calling?
Day 3: Seeking Strength in Adversity
Nehemiah's journey was fraught with challenges, from threats of violence to internal strife. Yet, he continually turned to God for strength, praying, "Now strengthen my hands." This teaches us the importance of seeking God's strength to persevere through difficulties and remain faithful to our mission. In times of adversity, our reliance on God becomes our greatest asset, enabling us to overcome obstacles and continue the work He has set before us. [01:11:23]
Nehemiah 6:9 (ESV): "For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.' But now, O God, strengthen my hands."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek God's strength to persevere through challenges? How can you make seeking His strength a daily practice?
Day 4: Community Transformation Leading to Spiritual Renewal
The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls led to a spiritual revival, as the people rediscovered their faith and traditions. This illustrates that our community transformation efforts should aim to foster spiritual renewal, demonstrating that social action and evangelism are intertwined. When we engage in acts of service and community building, we create opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal, both for ourselves and those we serve. [01:01:28]
Nehemiah 8:8-9 (ESV): "They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 'This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.' For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law."
Reflection: How can your efforts in community service lead to spiritual renewal for yourself and others? What specific actions can you take to intertwine social action and evangelism in your life?
Day 5: Service as a Witness
The work of partners in Indonesia exemplifies how acts of service can open doors for the gospel. By addressing physical and social needs, we build trust and create opportunities for spiritual conversations, leading others to faith in Jesus. Service is not just about meeting immediate needs but also about being a witness to God's love and opening hearts to the gospel. [01:04:26]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: How can your acts of service be a witness to God's love and open doors for spiritual conversations? What specific needs can you address in your community to build trust and share the gospel?
Quotes
"Nehemiah is heartbroken at the report because Jerusalem was the home city to so many. It was a city of hope. It was a city on a hill. And it meant so much to hear of it in disrepair broke his heart. And he carried this sadness about him. And the king at Xerxes notices he's sad at the report. And he kind of says, what's wrong? And Nehemiah explains that he's heard bad things in Jerusalem. And the king graciously says, well, what would you like to do? And Nehemiah says, well, I'd like to go back and fix it." [00:48:36] (45 seconds)
"And kind of says, there's no way you're going to actually accomplish this. And Nehemiah responds beautifully. And with great faith, he says, the God of heaven will give us success. The God of heaven will help us succeed. So they leave him be. And what they do is they organize themselves into families. And each family takes up a section of the wall. They work as a team to kind of work at the building of the wall. And they chip in. And they get to work." [00:50:17] (39 seconds)
"But the Jewish people persevere. And Nehemiah 4 .6 reads that they worked with all their heart. They worked at this community transformation project. Despite the opposition, they worked at it with all their heart. But the tension increases because the local tribal groups then dial up the tension. And they threaten them with violence. And fear spreads throughout those left in Jerusalem. But Nehemiah responds again. He says to the people, he keeps his eyes on God. He says, don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome." [00:51:11] (46 seconds)
"And Nehemiah goes to the authorities and says, this is, we've got to deal with this. And he says, in the midst of this, this community transformation project, this reconstruction of Jerusalem, he says, we've got to release them from their poverty. We've got, we can't hold them to their debts. And so they clear the debts. They give the land back and they give their children back. They clear the debts. So Nehemiah, as you can see, is facing all these challenges." [00:54:32] (32 seconds)
"He denies the accusations and he turns to God and he says a four -word prayer that I think we can all take heart from. He says, now strengthen my hands. He's gone through all this challenge, challenge after challenge while he's trying to do this community transformation project. People, even his friends take bribes to try and dissuade him from completing the work. He doesn't know who to trust. And his enemies are against him. Famine comes. He navigates all these challenges. And then he says this prayer. Now, God, strengthen my hands." [01:11:23] (39 seconds)
"This story is of hard work delivering a challenging transformation project with multiple setbacks but ends with spiritual revival and an outbreak of great joy at the restoration of relationship with God. It highlights that social projects can lead to spiritual renewal. Our service to others is a witness. And when people see our love in action and we address physical and social needs, people trust and open themselves to God. And this is what many of our partners around the world are doing." [01:14:34] (34 seconds)
"Because clean water was such an issue and they'd lost all their food, all their livelihood, he worked with the local churches and the students of CCTSI and they laid six kilometres of piping from the next mountain across the mountain range to their villages. Six kilometres of piping all by hand. And because of this, Pak Siliban is famous in this part of Indonesia. So much so that the president at the time flew in by helicopter to thank him. He landed on that soccer ground and came and thanked him." [01:16:06] (41 seconds)
"Nehemiah experienced mocking, deception, famine, slavery, intimidation, threats of violence. All these things, but he stayed true to God. At one point he said, the God of heaven will give us success. At another he said, don't be afraid. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome. And then he says that prayer, now strengthen my hands. Our partners in Indonesia and other parts of the world are leading community transformation projects. In fact, they're leading with community transformation projects as an expression of their commitment to God's mission and love in the world." [01:19:21] (44 seconds)
"And we pray, like the story of Nehemiah, that our community transformation work, our efforts there would lead to spiritual renewal. In fact, I've heard stories recently, I got some reports that might encourage you, but in Thailand we had 12 people come to faith just in the last month. People have migrated into a particular community who are struggling. We had 109 people baptised in Papua New Guinea, remote villages there. We had 23 people baptised in a river in South Sudan, despite the conflict. They still want to follow Jesus." [01:20:14] (45 seconds)
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