Watermark Fort Worth

This sermon explores Nehemiah chapter 2, teaching how prayerful dependence on God leads to faithful action. The message addresses the common struggle of knowing what to do when God seems to be moving slowly, warning against two spiritual ditches: giving up in passivity or taking control through manipulation. Instead, the sermon presents a third way—waiting on the Lord while remaining actively obedient. Using Nehemiah's example, the message shows how to step forward with courage, ground ourselves in humility and preparation, and stand firm against opposition and self-righteousness. The central teaching emphasizes that true faith involves both deep dependence on God and diligent action, summarized as "step, ground, stand."Main Points:Faith Steps Forward (2:1–8) Obedience in “waiting for the Lord” transitions to obedience in courageous and diligent action as the Lord leads.Vision Gets Grounded (2:9–16)Faithful leaders don't need fanfare; they humbly gather facts to help them discern faithful action.Leadership Stands Firm (2:17–20)God's servant puts to death any self-righteousness and invites God's people to move in unity toward God's promises.Scripture Referenced:Nehemiah 2:1-20 (main passage); Nehemiah 1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 27:14; Lamentations 3:25; Isaiah 40:31; Proverbs 18:13; Proverbs 19:2; Proverbs 14:15; Proverbs 31; Job 29 and 31; Ecclesiastes 3:1-5; Proverbs 28:1; Esther 4; Daniel 6; Genesis 16; Matthew 22:21Community Group Guide:Begin with Prayer - Begin by asking God to help your group share authentically and honestly in a way that encourages one another and pushes your group toward Christ.Discussion Questions:Part 1: The Two Ditches (Introduction)Which "ditch" do you tend to fall into when facing difficult circumstances?Giving up and becoming passive ("If God wants to fix it, He'll fix it")Taking control and moving ahead without God ("God helps those who help themselves")Part 2: Stepping Forward (Read Nehemiah 2:1-8)Nehemiah waited four months before acting. How do you distinguish between God's timing and your own procrastination or fear?Nehemiah's instinct to pray in the moment (v. 4) reveals a heart shaped by faithful waiting on the Lord. Often, when we wait on God seeking answers, He deepens relationship instead. Has there been a season where God Himself became more precious to you than the outcome you were hoping for?Part 3: Grounding in Humility (Read Nehemiah 2:9-16)Nehemiah gathered facts before announcing his plan. How does the principle "facts are our friends" apply to a decision you're currently facing?Nehemiah chose discretion over fanfare.Where in your life might you be tempted to seek recognition or justification rather than quietly trusting God with your faithfulness?Part 4: Standing Firm (Read Nehemiah 2:17-20)When opposition came, Nehemiah stood firm because he knew 'what time it is' - how does closeness with God help you define reality and discern when to stand against criticism?Practical Application:If you are waiting on the Lord in a particular area, take note of how many times this week you're tempted to either give up or take control.Journal about those instances and confess this to God, asking the Spirit to help you depend on His leadership as you faithfully wait.Share with someone in your Community Group if there is a tendency one way or another and ask them to join you in praying against it.Read Nehemiah 3 in preparation for Sunday's sermon.Personal Reflection:What am I waiting on God for right now?What faithful action can I take while I wait?Where do I need to ground myself in humility and preparation?Are there any facts I need to gather before I am ready to act?Are there any areas where I am looking for fanfare that I need to confess to God?Worship Setlist: Life Defined; Agnus Dei; All Hail King Jesus; Shout to the Lord; Build My Life; Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

As we continue to make our way through the Minor Prophets, we arrive at the smallest book of prophecy, the book of Obadiah. In just 21 verses, we see God's determination to restore His people through judgment on display in the destruction of Edom. We also learn four important lessons for our lives today about the destructive nature of pride and the trustworthy sovereignty of God, our good and just Judge.Main PointsThrough judgment, God will restore His people. Lesson #1: Obadiah reminds us of the destruction of pride. Lesson #2: Obadiah reminds us that God's people are saved through judgment.Lesson #3: Obadiah reminds us that God is just and will judge; this is good news.Lesson #4: Obadiah reminds us that the eternal kingdom is the Lord's.Key TakeawaysNapoleon is known for his pride. His pride led to his destruction. Similarly, the book of Obadiah tells about the pride and fall of the Edomites. Yet it also contains a message of hope that through judgment God will restore His people.God's indictment against Edom (vv. 1-2) is sent among the nations as a warning against pride. Verses 3-4 describe the Edomites' problem: their arrogance. God promised to oppose Edom for their pride.The Lord declares total devastation will come to Edom (vv. 5-9).Verses 10-14 demonstrate how this pride from Edom has manifested toward the Israelites, their blood relatives. They should have allied with Israel but instead, they were violent toward them because of their pride. In doing so, they opposed both God and God's people.Verse 15 is a key verse. It describes a reversal of fortune. Essentially, in colloquial terms, “what goes around comes around.” God promises the Edomites will drink a cup of judgment, bringing about their own demise by their destructive actions even as God Himself judges them for rejecting Him. Thus we see the balance between human responsibility and divine sovereignty. Obadiah's prophecy was fulfilled, and quickly. The Nabateans overthrew Edom. This was the prophecy's immediate fulfillment.But the ultimate fulfillment will be Jesus' second coming when God judges all the nations—the righteous unto salvation and unrighteous unto judgment.Verses 17-21 transitions from a message of destruction to a message of hope and restoration. Though God judged His people (see the book of Amos), a remnant remains and God will restore them.God's ultimate objective is the realization of His eternal kingdom to bless His people forever.Lesson #1: Obadiah reminds us of the destruction of pride. The Noah Webster Dictionary of 1828 defines pride this way: “Pride is inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.”The ultimate expression of pride is living without an understanding and declaration of our desperate need for God.The most severe manifestation is the willful rejection of the triune God and His Word. All pride leads to destruction.Yet it's inherent in our fallen nature. Even as believers, our flesh wrestles with our new self in Christ. But God in His love allows the destructive consequences of pride to humble us and bring us to repentance.Lesson #2: Obadiah reminds us that God's people are saved through judgment.We have all acted in the sin of pride in opposition to God. And we are saved through judgment—God's judgment of sin poured out on Christ in our stead.Lesson #3: Obadiah reminds us that God is just and will judge; this is good news.God will right all wrongs. And He is a better Judge than we are. Vengeance is His (Romans 12:19-21). Lesson #4: Obadiah reminds us that the eternal kingdom is the Lord's.Justice is coming. This world is not our treasure. As we sing, “Though the nations rage and kingdoms rise and fall, there is still one King reigning over all; and I shall not fear, for this truth remains—that my God is the Ancient of Days.”The greatest declaration of pride is, “Lord, I don't need You.” May our humble declaration be, “Lord, I need You.”Discussion Questions/ApplicationPersonal application:Spend some time asking the Spirit to help you identify pride in your heart. How do you see pride show up in your life on a weekly/daily basis? How do you live as though you don't need God? How do you see apathy toward God show up in your life? If you have trouble, think through a recent conflict. How did your pride play a role? Are you experiencing any destructive consequences of pride right now?Consider: Do you see a holy hatred of pride growing in your life? How? If not, how can you begin—through the Holy Spirit's power—to cultivate it more?Discuss with your community group:What wrongs are you struggling with right now, desiring to see justice prevail? How can you more fully embrace God as our Judge and trust His timing and plan in this? Share about a time when pride led to destruction in your life. What happened? How did God use the consequences of your sin to lovingly discipline you and draw you to Him? How did you see James 4:4-10 at work?Passages ReferencedJames 4:4-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 12:19-21Worship Set List: The Passion, Firm Foundation (He Won't), Nothing Else, Death Was Arrested, Lord I Need You

This week, we continue our study of the minor prophets in the book of Joel. The book of Joel shows us that our Creator and Redeemer God is a God of judgment but also a God of mercy who stands ready to restore His people when they come before Him in repentance. This book also points to a time when the Spirit of God would be present in all God's people.Main Points:1. The Day of the Lord is a Day of JudgmentJoel 1–2:11A locust plague devastates the land.This is a covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:38).It is a foreshadowing of an even greater judgment (Babylonian invasion).Israel is being treated like Egypt for covenant unfaithfulness.

Last week, we talked about our Spirit empowered witness. This week, we continue in Acts by looking at Acts 2:41-43, exploring what it means to be a Spirit empowered church.