Speaker: Austin Thomas

Nehemiah has revealed his plan and the people have responded to his call–everyone. How often do we hear the call in our lives and feel like the call is beneath us, whether it’s because of self-importance, or a work outside of our skillset? Nehemiah shows us that there is not work beneath anyone.

As Ezra came to a close, confession and repentance was on the lips of the people present and upon all the returnees as they turned away from their sin back to God. As Nehemiah opens another example of repentance is placed before us. What is the power of repentance in our lives?

Ezra arrives in Jerusalem to find a people that have 80 years after their return to the land have intermarried with the other people in the land. Why is intermarriage such a bad thing? and what does this sin mean for us today in our walk with Christ?

As Ezra is called to go to Jerusalem and sent by the king of Persia, he does not go alone. Ezra has many join him on his journey and seeks out those he feels are missing from it. In our own walk, who are those we journey with? who might be missing?

What have you set your heart upon? Is it your family? Your Job? Your garden? What if everything we could possibly want or need, and every answer we seek for our lives, and seeing favor from those around us had little to do with choosing to make those things happen?

When we think about our lives, we often think about ourselves as the main character. But, what if we are not the main character but just in the supporting role? And what if the supporting role is exactly the role that we are called to as followers of Jesus Christ?

When the Lord stirs the spirit of a people toward His purposes, the people will be joined together as one. Unity is an undeniable characteristic of the people of God, serving Him and His purposes. How are we upholding unity in the Body of Christ for the glory of God?

God has been at work throughout all history to the building and breaking of kings and kingdoms, but also His people. He has spoken and keeps His promises through His sovereign hand and can work through whoever He deems necessary to accomplish His ends.

As we come to the end our our series, The Word Still Stands, we circle back to a thread throughout, that as the Word still stands relevant today, spurring all of history forward, it is still a personal Word for you and for me that we should read for our own formation. Daniel is an example of a man who allowed the Scriptures to form him as he poured over them and was shaped by them during the Babylonian captivity.