Building The City

In the final chapters of Nehemiah, we read that the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s physical walls had been completed, but were there other walls that needed building? Personal walls and that of the church? Did any of them need repair? Were there things that needed to be knocked down so that holiness could be exalted? Nehemiah went back to Persia, reporting to King Artaxerxes, and had left his brother Hanani in charge over the city. While he was away the people became sloppy in their spiritual lives; they were no longer watchful as they previously had been, and had dramatically neglected all of the promises and vows that they had made in the earlier chapters. Nehemiah then returned and confronted the situation. Preacher: Frank Ganku. cityhillglobal.com

What we see in Nehemiah 12, is an incredible picture of what will take place at the end of the age when all of our building comes to an end, a great outpouring of worship to God. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do, why we build missional churches, why we love our cities, and why we’re a missional people. It’s all about worship. Preacher: Joel Mason. cityhillglobal.com

At this point in the book of Nehemiah, the city’s building project has been completed and we are now seeing the people of God starting to rebuild their spiritual life. It’s worth noting that not much is said about Nehemiah in the second part of the book, even though he used to be center-stage in the project, and there seems to be a united sense of responsibility. Chapter 11 highlights two aspects of the book that require our focus, these are “leadership” and “worship”. We see that it’s no longer just one man leading but there’s now a leadership group, and more worship leaders from the Levitical tribe, as well as others, are being raised up. The people of God are beginning to look and feel more like a nation! Preacher: Fusi Mokoena. cityhillglobal.com

Marriage is such an important decision in life and God wants us to choose wisely so that we can grow spiritually and raise godly families. Make a wrong choice and the heartache never seems to end - for some couples it can even seem like hell on earth! As we explore Nehemiah chapter 10, we will look at some of the principles in scripture that can guide and shape our thinking on marriage, we will also look at giving and how to support the local church. Preacher: Harold Hart. cityhillglobal.com

Last time we heard how eagerly and joyfully the people of Israel received the word of God, and that the word that entered their hearts transformed their lives. Nehemiah chapters 8 and 9 reveal an interesting pattern that is still relevant today, as the word of God continues to transform lives around the globe. Preacher: Lijo Johnson. cityhillglobal.com

Having completed the building of the physical protective walls of the city, Nehemiah now shifts his focus to building the spiritual walls of the people. One such wall is the authority of the Word of God in the lives of the people. Nehemiah wants to rebuild this in their hearts and minds, as slavery in Babylon had made them lose the voice of the Lord and his Word. The emphasis is now on building the wall of the Word, to clear away the rubble of wrong thinking and their old ways of living, by replacing them with obedience to the law of the Lord - the Bible. Preacher: Frank Ganku. cityhillglobal.com

From chapter 7, we begin to see more of the spiritual aspect of building, rather than the physical. Priests are mentioned and the book of law gets to play a key role in establishing them as a spiritual nation. God is just as concerned about the spiritual aspects of our life as He is our physical state. Preacher: Fusi Mokoena. cityhillglobal.com

Many start well but don’t always make it to the finish line. We've seen how Nehemiah had been entrusted with a great project. Let's look at how Nehemiah stood his ground, despite all the challenges and distraction that came his way and how he triumphantly fulfilled his God-given mission! Preacher: Lijo Johnson. cityhillglobal.com

Having dealt with external conflict in the previous chapter, Nehemiah must now deal with internal conflict from his own community in chapter 5. We all face conflict from time to time, and these conflicts can come from any area of life, whether that’s the workplace, the home, the church or the city. Preacher: Harold Hart. cityhillglobal.com

Anytime you step out to do anything for God, be it serving in a particular capacity, no matter how small, you may find yourself facing opposition and destructive criticism. Such was the story of Nehemiah when he led the children of Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Let's look at how Nehemiah dealt with this opposition during the rebuilding of the walls and how we, as Christians, can deal with opposition today. Preacher: Frank Ganku. cityhillglobal.com

Walls are a powerful symbol of protection and security. The city of Jerusalem was in ruins and the walls and gates were destroyed by fire. People were in reproach and distress and lacking a leader to guide and motivate them. In Nehemiah chapter 3, we read of how Nehemiah skillfully rallies the people to build the wall and complete the task. Preacher: Harold Hart. cityhillglobal.com

Chapter 2 shows us what a prayer-centered life looks like. Nehemiah knows the only way for the king to release him to go to Judah, is if he prays and asks God for breakthrough. In fact, because he has sought God, he comes to the king with confidence to make his requests known. He quickly encounters opposition in Judah. His response to opposition also shows you how in tune he is with God. Preacher: Fusi Mokoena. cityhillglobal.com

Meet Nehemiah, a great man of God and a great city builder! Chapter one reveals three aspects of Nehemiah’s character that are essential for anyone who would build the kingdom of God. Preacher: Joel Mason. cityhillglobal.com