Podcast appearances and mentions of ezra nehemiah

In this difficult but important conversation, we explore biblical texts that illustrate how violence against women correlates with a morally decaying society. This episode directly responds to the world's horrifying silence in the face of rape and mutilazation on October 7th and candidly explores why this is such a hard topic to face head on. Yael Leibowitz is a senior lecturer at Matan and other Torah study institutions and has a forthcoming book with Koren Press on Ezra-Nehemiah called Retrograde Revolution. This is a special podcast miniseries produced by Matan and hosted by Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble which will drop each week of the Omer counting between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot. In each episode, a Bible scholar explores an iconic biblical text in light of the changing Israeli, Jewish, and world realities.

Compass Classroom is a ministry of Compass Bible Church Treasure Valley.For more information about Compass Bible Church go to https://www.compassbible.tv/To follow our daily Bible reading plan and podcast go to https://www.revivalfromthebible.com/

The book of Ezra-Nehemiah reveals a simple truth to us: Whenever we set out to do a work God has called us to, we should not be surprised at opposition or challenge associated with it. The opposition can be trials and tribulations, it can be spiritual opposition, and it is even often ourselves—our own tendency to get in way and mess things up. This is exactly what happens in the midst of the revival or renewal that God was working for the community in Ezra-Nehemiah, and it will happen to us as we seek to take Jesus seriously and build our lives only on the rock of his teaching and gospel. In this message, Pastor Joel shares the opportunities different kinds of opposition can present to us.

The first thing we see the returned exiles in Ezra-Nehemiah do is restore their patterns of worship, in time and place. In this message, Pastor Joel explains why, and how establishing patterns of worship will help us to love Jesus better, for as St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “Love is born of an earnest consideration of the object loved.”

The final history books of the OT, lead us to think about the hard work of building God's temple and kingdom. Clearly the old temple's glory would not be restored, but God's glory is worth our efforts because we look forward to a better temple. The book of Esther too teaches us about the limitations of man. Yet, we are responsible to do what we can, and God may use our works if he pleases. God will build a dwelling place for himself and we must look forward to that one day when people from all nations will worship the Sovereign God of earth and time together. 

We look at today through an Ezra and Nehemiah lens We review Benchmark Full Proof.   Reach out to us at Manhood.neat@gmail.com  Instagram and X: @Manhoodneat   Show Notes: Topic: What are these times? Ezra - Nehemiah (one book in earlier copies) Summary - Cyrus (king of Persia) allows Jews to return to Jerusulum to rebuild the temple ZERUBBABEL - rebuilds alter  - begins temple Ezra - Rebuilds the faith Nehemiah - Rebuilds the defenses, corrects false teaching and actions of the Jews The current leadership - A Cyrus type king? Coalition around tearing down  Multiple worldviews at play Wont stand. Do we need a Zerubbabel, an Ezra or a Nehemiah? All of them? Bad theology Improper ecclesiastical leadership? Church leaders in error? Corrosion, misuse of the church? What does this look like in the Church? Confrontation in love Yourself Your influence Your leaders Humility What steps do men need to make? Home Neighborhood Culture What changes the heart of the Country - The Gospel!  

Luke Watts finishes up our series on Ezra-Nehemiah with a focus on Nehemiah 8:1-12. We are prone to drifting off course, it is God's Word that can realign us and bring us joy. 

This track is an overview of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in Dr. DeRouchie's Old Testament Survey class.

Luke Watts shares from Nehemiah 4, looking at how if we are to build things that last, we must build on something that will last, with people of the same mind, and with active prayer. 

Peter Budimir shares from Nehemiah's life and prayer about the kind of life and approach to God necessary to grow and build anything of value in life. 

Join us as Luke Watts talk about Ezra 7:1-28 and discover how humility before God leads to a life of obedience and purpose. Learn from Ezra's example of trusting God's sovereignty and seeking His guidance in all things. Be encouraged to live humbly, knowing that God's hand is at work in your life.

Peter Budimir begins our new series on Ezra-Nehemiah, overviewing chapters 1-3 of Ezra and giving us the history of God's people that had lead them to be in the position they are the city and temple being in the condition they were. God is moving the hearts of kings to do his purposes, and his people can have hope that even in the worst of situations, God is worthy of our trust and obedience. 

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, as well as Psalms 120 to 131.The story of how Jerusalem and the temple began to rebuilt was a major cause for celebration for God's exiled people. Much in this story - formerly a single book - points people to God and the benefits of gathering together, faithfully observing his law and making the best possible effort to avoid the mistakes of the past.But is there more to this story? Had people really taken onboard the fresh perspectives given by God through the prophets about what he really wanted from them, and what he was promising to do next?Looking at how people were proceeding by their own best efforts, doubling down on some traditional ideas but skewing the law in the process, could this really be more of a warning against certain kinds of leadership instead of an encouragement to emulate the leaders described here? And can we see parallels which should give us caution and encouragement today?The “Psalms of ascent” also give encouragement and cause for reflection to people gathering for festivals and worship. When gathering people put their hope in God, was this only to expect good life in the gatherings, or was God going to do something to transform life afterwards too? What are our hopes about this?In the next part of our boxset, we finish the Old Testament by listening to the minor prophets Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, as well the rest of the Psalms, 132 to 150. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Pastor Brady DeBoer continues our Advent Series “In The Fullness of Time” with the third message entitled “Exile: Ezra-Nehemiah”. He will be looking at the book of various passage from books of Ezra-Nehemiah (passages will be shown on screen they come up through the message).We will walk through a retelling of the (conjoined) story of Ezra-Nehemiah as the Exile comes to an end. Will this new era of Israelites learn from their ancestors' mistakes?

In this recurring series, we are walking in the story of scripture, noticing the intricate way God's story is woven together and shines a light on our own stories. In the last two years, we have walked in the beginning (Genesis 1-11), the blessing(Genesis 12-50), the exodus, the wilderness, the Promised Land, and with the kings.  Now we will continue walking in this era of the kings of Israel and Judah, but we will do so from the perspective of the prophets. We will consider the indictments, judgments, and instruction delivered through the prophets. What do we learn about God and how should we hear these accusations and calls for repentance? We'll pause with them in the messy middle, and then we will consider the messages of hope. How can we understand God in these messages and lean more deeply into the One who offers us a new heart?  This week, we considered the Israelite's messy return from exile. They are back in Jerusalem, but the prophetic expectations are not fully met. How do we see ourselves in this story of partially met expectations? How does it show our need for God's Spirit to move, and how does this reveal our longing in the season of Advent? For additional resources, please visit our website. If The Practice Church is your home community, please join the Core Team. If The Practice Church has been meaningful to your journey, would you consider a tax-deductible gift? You can give at https://thepracticechurch.com/give/ 

Nehemiah 12:1-43 Gregory Goswell (Academic Dean at Christ College in New Zealand) writes in A Study Commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah,  (EP, 2013), 380.  "There is little prospect of Nehemiah 11 becoming one of the Old Testament's most famous or best loved chapters.  The modern reader does not find long lists of difficult Hebrew names very interesting.  The chapter is not, however, without its value or purpose..  Coming as it does after chapters 8-10 that have described the reformation of the people and the revival of spiritual life among them, it makes the point that only now are the people in a fit state to inhabit the holy city [Jerusalem]."  In other words, the developing theme and theology contained in Ezra-Nehemiah is that in spite of all their recent hardships,  Israel are still the LORD's chosen people.  Further, the LORD's purposes of redemption, His rule and reign, are inseparably tied to Jerusalem ("the holy city") -- and these Israelites' actions believe that.

The remarkable letters that were found by archaeologists. What were Jews doing in the Persian army, anyway?

In this episode of Sermon Notes, host Jay Strother and guest Brian Ball delve into the themes of restoration and reformation as illustrated in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The discussion centers on God's faithfulness in bringing His people back from exile and their subsequent efforts to rebuild the temple and reform their spiritual practices. By highlighting Ezra's dedication to God's law, Nehemiah's leadership in reconstructing Jerusalem's walls, and Esther's courageous stand, Jay and Brian underscore the importance of community, leadership, and faithfulness in achieving spiritual renewal. They draw parallels between historical events and current practices, emphasizing the ongoing need for immersion in God's word and communal worship. The episode concludes the Old Testament journey, setting the stage for upcoming New Testament studies and inviting listeners to reflect on the profound lessons learned.

This week BibleWorm continues our summer series on the Forgotten Books of the Bible, with a look at the book of Ruth 2:1-20 and 4:9-17. We look at the way the book of Ruth challenges anti-immigrant sentiment in the time of Ezra-Nehemiah and in our own day. We discuss how the book lifts up the foundational contributions of Ruth the Moabite, whose persistence saves the family line of King David, without whom ancient Israel would never have been great in the first place. We think about how the book tries to counter anti-immigrant sentiment by depicting Ruth as hardworking, culturally astute, and dedicated to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi. We also wonder what damage such rhetoric might do to Ruth—but that's a conversation for next week.

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Reformed Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Ezra 10:1-17 - Radical Repentance Subtitle: Ezra_Nehemiah Speaker: Jeff Oliver Broadcaster: Grace Reformed Baptist Church Event: Sunday - PM Date: 8/4/2024 Bible: Ezra 10:1-17 Length: 44 min.

Life is never happily ever after, but that doesn't change who God is. The story of Nehemiah doesn't end how we think it should, but we can learn from this “non happily ever after” story. www.impactchurchmd.com

God loves to celebrate, and we should too. How do we celebrate in a way that helps us grow closer to God? www.impactchurchmd.com

This week is a solo episode with only Evan. Tune in as he goes over the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Revelation.

Confession is confidence that God will provide a way out. For the Isrealites in Nehemiah 9, they confessed their sins corporately among a trusted circle of other believers. It's in this prayer from the Levites that we learn the power of humble confession and a righteous response to our sin. www.impactchurchmd.com

Nehemiah is a great example of a godly leader. When the opposition tries to distract him, he chooses the good work God had given him. What if we responded the same way as Nehemiah? www.impactchurchmd.com

The unit of Ezra/Nehemiah tells of three returns from the exile. What does it say? Let's find out together as we read Ezra 1-4.

Nehemiah felt a calling from God: to rebuild the wall. Walls are there to protect what is important. How does Nehemiah's calling help us create boundaries in our lives today? www.impactchurchmd.com

In Ezra 7-10, we see Ezra return and rebuild the Torah and the community, but at the end of Ezra we see a decision that we aren't sure is the best decision. What do we do to make the best decisions possible? www.impactchurchmd.com

www.impactchurchmd.com

Ezra and Nehemiah show us that God is in control even when things don't go as planned. How do the Israelites returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple apply to us? www.impactchurchmd.com

An Orthodox Presbyterian Church is coming to Central Orange County! Click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OPC in the OC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please help support the show on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Find Danny's info ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, his upcoming Greystone class ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and information about Oceanside URC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.   SEASON 7 EPISODE 24 Join Nick, Peter, and Danny of the Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast as they continue Season 7, "Jesus in the Whole Bible" as they continue with Episode 24, looking into how the return from exile, the rebuilding of the temple, and the exposition of the Law, point us to Christ! Resource(s) mentioned: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Unfolding Mystery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Edmund Clowney ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Preaching Christ in All of Scripture⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Edmund Clowney ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Creation to the Cross⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Albert Baylis ⁠⁠⁠NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible⁠⁠⁠ A Commentary on Ezra & Nehemiah by Matthew Levering A Commentary on Ezra & Nehemiah by Derek Kidner A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament ed. Miles V. Van Pelt Exalting Jesus in Ezra-Nehemiah by James Hamilton A Commentary on Ezra & Nehemiah by Iain Duguid A Commentary on Ezra & Nehemiah by David J. Shepherd & Christopher J.H. Wright Interested in diving deeper? Listen to Danny's sermon series here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Creation to Christ to Consummation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to Dannys sermon series through the book of Daniel here: ⁠Opening Up Daniel⁠   Have Feedback or Questions? Email us at: guiltgracepod@gmail.com Find us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@guiltgracepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@guiltgracepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please rate and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use! Looking for a Reformed Church? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠North American Presbyterian & Reformed Churches --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gggpodcast/support

YouTube Podcast Channel Thanks to everyone who supports TMBH at patreon.com/thetmbhpodcast You're the reason we can all do this together! Discuss the episode here Music by Jeff Foote

Ezra–Nehemiah–EstherMain Point: After the return from exile in Babylon, the Israelite people faced a number of struggles including rebuilding the Temple, living out the demands of Torah, and finding unity in moving forward as a nation. Main Point (Esther): Texts to Consider Ezra 1:1–4How does this paragraph compare to the last paragraph of 2 Chronicles?What does Jeremiah 29:10 have to do with this? Ezra 3:8–13A couple of key characters are introduced and highlighted, what are their names?What does Isaiah 44:28 have to do with this?Ezra 4:1–3, 23–5:2Rebuild or not?Ezra 7:1–10Another key character is introduced. What is his name and his primary interest?Ezra 10:1–5Nehemiah 1:1–3Nehemiah 8:1–8Nehemiah 13:1–31

Ezra returns to Jerusalem to rebuild the people around God's Law. Nehemiah engages in rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. These efforts involve opposition and mourning, but also an invitation to celebrate in God's presence.

Ezra 1-6 tells the story of a remnant of Israel returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple.

Outline: 1. History 2. This story 5 sections Ezra 1-6 Ezra 7-10 Neh 1-7 Neh 9-12a Neh 12b-13 3. His story a. God's faithfulness b. God's rule c. God's plans

Sermon 9 of 9 in Series through Ezra/Nehemiah _________________________________________ Small Group Questions 1. How have you seen sin grow and spread in your own life? Are there some steps you want to take to cut off sin in your life? 2. Have you ever been confronted about your sin or had to confront another about his/her sin? If so, how did it go? Were there insights you can give from that on how to confront a brother or sister well? 3. What can we do to make sure that we're seeking to please God and not man? 4. Were there any other points of comfort or conviction that came from the text or sermon or Ezra-Nehemiah series as a whole?

Sermon 8/9 in Series through Ezra/Nehemiah

How do we make sense of Ezekiel? Our guest, Dr. Donna Petter, answers a number of questions about this important book. How do we make sense of graphic and violent sections in the book? What is the big picture structure of the book? Donna gives great insights into the intentionality of the design of the book between its two halves as well as a progression of restoration. You can find a link to her new commentary (which has been made completely free and online) below. Dr. Donna Petter is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Director of the Hebrew Language Program at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She has a PhD from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations where she wrote her dissertation on the relationship between Sumerian City Laments and the Book of Ezekiel. She has written publications on Ezra-Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Ruth and more. To learn more about the range of her publications and research, check out the link in the description below. Today we are discussing the book of Ezekiel, a conversation that was spurred on by her commentary on the book of Ezekiel which is available online for free through the Gospel Coalition. Chapters00:26-01:53 Intro01:54-03:33 Donna's Story with Ezekiel03:34-05:35 Elevator Pitch for Ezekiel05:36-10:53 Ezekiel Vision of God10:54-16:19 Sin and Why is Ezekiel “R” Rated?16:20-21:26 Levels and Progression of Restoration in Ezekiel21:27-26:34 Restoration that isn't from “Works”26:35-33:19 Ezekiel 37 and the Valley of Dry Bones33:20-43:32 The New Temple and Distribution of the Land43:33-52:41 Sumerian City Laments and Ezekiel52:42-57:10 Pitfalls When Interpreting Ezekiel57:11-01:01:59 The Church Needs EzekielDonna Petter's Ezekiel Commentary (Free and available online): https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/ezekiel/Join the Hebrew Bible Book Club ⁠https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights WHERE TO FIND US Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA⁠ Podcast Platforms: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2268028/share Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_hebrewbibleinsights/⁠ TikTok: ⁠www.tiktok.com/@hebrewbibleinsights⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HebrewBibleInsights⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@_hebrewbibleinsights⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Writings of the Hebrew Bible, book 3 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes Robert Alter The Writings – Psalms, Proverbs, Job, The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles The Hebrew Bible: A Translation & Commentary by Robert Alter Support the Podcast –... The post The Writings (Hebrew Bible Book 3) appeared first on Books of Titans.

In this episode we explore how the Old Testament portrays the Holy Spirit's presence. It seems confusing to reconcile how the OT describes the Spirit's activity as opposed to what we see in the NT. Dr. Monje joins to discuss the fundamental questions Christians have when reading the Holy Spirit of the OT. Q.What was the Jewish understanding of the Spirit? Definition of ruach? Uses of ruach? Q. Is the “Spirit" in the OT also “holy”? Q.How is the Holy Spirit present in creation? Q.What does it mean when the Spirit came upon various characters throughout the OT? Senses of Ruach? Empowerment? Q. What happened with the elders of Israel? Q. What happened with Saul? Q. What about Saul's evil spirit? Q. Is this the spirit of God or something else? Q. What does this say about Saul? Q. What are some OT prophecies regarding the Spirit that are fulfilled throughout the NT? Q. Do the Dead Sea Scrolls have something to say on the Spirit? Rolan Monje (BD, MMin, DMin) serves as an evangelist and teacher. He is Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Rocky Mountain School of Ministry and Theology in Colorado, and also directs the Asia-Pacific Leadership Academy in Manila. Dr. Monje travels extensively (over 100 cities across 6 continents) and has spoken in countries as varied as Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Greece, UAE (Dubai), Ecuador, Canada, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Australia. He and his wife, Weng, oversee a region of churches in the Philippines and have been on staff over 20 years. They have two daughters, Yana and Stefi. Dr. Monje's Bachelor of Divinity is in Biblical Languages from the University of London; his Master of Ministry is from the American Bible College in Florida, USA; his Doctor of Ministry is in Pastoral Theology. Personal website: rolanmonje.com Published books: www.ipibooks.com “Into the Psalms” (2010), “Exodus: Making Israel's Journey Your Own” (2013), “After the Storm: Hope and Healing from Ezra-Nehemiah” (2014), “Finish Strong: The Message of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi” (2016) Podcasts: Ten podcasts on Interpreting the Psalms (download at douglasjacoby.com)

This week we continued our sermon series "The Whole Story" by diving into the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After seventy years in exile, the Israelites are finally allowed to come back into the Promised Land. But the people of God find that a change of scenery doesn't fix the real problem--the problem of their hearts.

In Pastor Michael Whitlock's sermon on Nehemiah chapter one, he delves into the historical context of Ezra-Nehemiah, which unfolds after the Babylonians devastate Jerusalem and its temple, leading to the exile of its people. The book captures the return of Israelites to Jerusalem 50 years later and their efforts to rebuild their lives. Whitlock outlines the roles of three leaders: Zerubbabel, who leads the temple's reconstruction; Ezra, focusing on spiritual renewal and community building; and Nehemiah, leading the charge in rebuilding the city walls. Despite the initial success in each story, there is a common theme of disappointment and downheartedness. Whitlock emphasizes the need for heart change, asserting that physical changes, such as rebuilding, are insufficient without a transformed heart. The sermon then transitions to Nehemiah's concern for Jerusalem, his prayer, and the sermon's title, "A Change of Heart." Whitlock identifies three indications of a heart changed by Christ: a burden for what is broken, foundational prayer in one's life, and a God-sized dream in the heart. The sermon concludes with stories illustrating these principles, emphasizing that genuine heart change is essential for those who claim to follow Christ. Life Change Through Christ. This is the vision of Focus Church, led by Pastor Mike Santiago and based in Raleigh, NC with multiple locations through out the state.

By Rick Shabi in Home Office - January 24, 2024 - The books of Ezra and Nehemiah chronicle the return of the Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and walls of Jerusalem, which were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Fulfilling a prophecy from Isaiah, they return and face physical and spiritual challenges from which we can learn valuable lessons for the times we live in, as we are building the spiritual temple Christ will return to. This Study contains the questions from participants during and after the Bible Study.