The Christian life is meant to be lived out in community, but often times pride and independence get in the way of God’s people coming together. The result of division is that the Christian struggles and the Church suffers. Only when God’s people set aside personal differences, and preferences can the Church be the hands and feet of Christ in this world, and the embodiment of grace in each others lives. In this new series, we are studying the book of Nehemiah to learn from the example of the Israelites who came together through adversity in order to accomplish the call that God had given them.The Church united is the entity that not even the gates of hell can withstand, and the image of genuine community. Divided we fall, but United we Stand.
A Community of His Name
By: Ian Opiniano
This series on community focuses on how to be the people of God and do life together in a world that is contrary to the ways of God. By way of a guideline, we began a study in the book of Nehemiah, a book that illustrates a community where God’s name dwelt. We learned that for us to come together and be united, it starts at an individual level where we must personally be humble, vulnerable, teachable and favorable demonstrating the grace of God to those around us. What separates the Church and communities of this world, is that we are marked by His name. Nehemiah 1:9b “…there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.”
A Community of His Favor
By: Ian Opiniano
As we continued our series on Community, and our study in the book of Nehemiah, we learned that a community shaped by God requires favor from both God and man. We discovered that favor from God requires compliance to His will and His ways, while favor from man comes from our genuine care for our neighbor’s needs as well as an overflow from the favor of God in our own lives. Amidst all this, we learned that favor is also garnered by our integrity and our desire to not compromise on the things of God. As a community called out by God, we are to live lives that garner favour from both God and man, and it is on this favor that allows us to stand united.
A Community of Perseverance
By: Joshua Mathew
As Christ’s treasured people, there will be opposition when we do the work of God. In this sermon, we saw how Nehemiah and those with him stood in resistance against the opposition, and persevered in rebuilding Jerusalem’s temple walls (Nehemiah 2:9-20 ESV). We learned through Nehemiah’s account how necessary it is for us, the Church, to be strategic and united in our fight against the work of the enemy that aims to destroy God’s powerful work, through the Gospel.
A Community of His Mission
By: Ian Opiniano
As we continued our study on community in the book of Nehemiah, we saw how the Israelites came together to accomplish the mission given to them by God. In the same way, in order for us to accomplish the mission that God has given to His Church, we too must approach the task the same way the Israelites did in the past. Like them we must recognize the necessity of humility, family, responsibility, and a holy expectancy in order to complete the task at hand. Only under these circumstances can a community become united and stand for the mission of God.
A Community of Fighters
By: Joshua Mathew
While doing the work of God, it is expected to be engaged in spiritual warfare. In this sermon, we saw how Nehemiah and those with him stood to fight against the opposition they faced concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 4:1-14 ESV). We saw how necessary it is for us to pray against the spiritual forces that aim against God’s work. We learned that we must have a discerning spirit that is aware of the schemes of the enemy; and is bold to proclaim the truth of God so that His work will be established.
A Community of Vigilance
By: Ian Opiniano
In our last service, we continued our study in Nehemiah and looked at how to be a Community of Vigilance. We learned that in order for us to be a community that stands watch, we must be a community that is prepared at all time, persistent through every difficulty, and focused on Jesus with proper perspective. There is a lot at stake if the people of God do not keep watch. But thankfully, the battle is the Lord’s and “…Our God will fight for us.” (Nehemiah 4:20b)
A Community of Justice
By: Joshua Mathew
As Christ’s redeemed people, we are called to walk justly before our God and stand against injustice. In this sermon, we learned how Nehemiah confronted and stopped the oppression of the poor (Nehemiah 5:1-13 ESV). By his example, we are encouraged to have a righteous anger towards injustice, nurtured by a reverential fear of God that fuels a religious determination to act against the injustices our church, community, and the world at large, face today.
A Community of Determination
By: Ian Opiniano
In our last sermon, we looked at Nehemiah 6 and how we are to be a Community of Determination. We examined Nehemiah and his determination when opposition to the work of God came again. We discussed how in order to stay the course, our resolve must be selfless, fearless, and timeless against the opposition that is relentless. Just like Nehemiah, let us recognize the great work that God is doing and resolve to stand united in His work.
A Community of Ownership
By: Joshua Mathew
As Christ’s chosen people, we are called to take ownership of God’s mission. In this sermon, we learned about Nehemiah empowering the people of God, skilled and gifted in various areas, to take ownership and charge of the well-being of Jerusalem after the wall had been built. In Nehemiah 6:15 – 7:4 we are encouraged to know that God desires all those who are called by Him, to take ownership of His work, revere Him and be faithful stewards of His mission.
A Community of Generosity
By: Joshua Mathew
We serve a generous God who chose us in Christ to be a generous people. In this sermon, we learned about Nehemiah’s selfless generosity (Nehemiah 5:14 – 19 ESV). When it comes to generosity, Nehemiah shows a selfless attitude in blessing others by considering God and others more important than himself. This passage challenges us to be a generous people that will be a blessing to God and others in our giving; to give not when we have enough, but to give even if we do not have enough.
A Community of the Word
By: Ian Opiniano
What does it mean to be a community of the Word? As we continued our “United we Stand” series, we looked at Nehemiah chapter 8 and examined the people’s relationship with the Word of God. We observed how the people of Israel showed a reverence, an understanding, and a passion for God’s word. These characteristics are what separates God’s community of believers from the rest of the world. As we look to define the community of Pluslife, we remember to regard the Word of God with much love and highest honor.
A Community of Remembrance
By: Ian Opiniano
As we closed off our United We Stand series, we looked at Nehemiah chapter 9 and what it means to be a Community of Remembrance. As individuals and collectively, as the body of Christ, it is important to recollect both our failures and our victories. We remember our failures so we don’t relive them, and we remember our victories to recall God’s faithfulness. It is in the act of remembering that we also recall to mind the bond between the members of the family of God. We remember that we have a community that will share in our sorrows and our successes. As we remember God’s faithfulness in our community, it propels us forward with hope, believing that God who was faithful to us in the past will also be faithful to us in the future.