3 Thoughts from Nehemiah

A little over a year ago Greg Stier did a chapel series for the Dare 2 Share staff on Nehemiah, specifically the leadership principles we can learn from Nehemiah. The book has been in the back of my mind since then to read and “marinate” on so I recently took time to dive in and soak it all in.  While I’m wrestling through the text and applying it to my life and ministry let me share 3 quick thoughts I’ve learned from Nehemiah over the past week or so:

1) You have to have a vision and burden for what God is calling you to do (Nehemiah 1). Nehemiah was burdened for Jerusalem and rebuilding the wall (Neh 1:4). Nehemiah was moved emotionally for the task he was called to do.

2) Interestingly enough, even though Nehemiah had a heavy heart and clearly had seen what he was called to do, he was patient as he approached the task. He didn’t dive right in to rebuilding the wall when he got to Jerusalem, he walked the city and observed (Neh 2:11-15).

3) Even though he alone had received the vision and calling, Nehemiah knew he couldn’t go it alone (Neh 3). At first, as I read this chapter, I was bored with laundry list of people and tasks and was quickly reminded of those geneology passages of scripture where someone begat someone who begat someone…But then it hit me, in this case, the list of names and specific tasks was critical. Nehemiah needed a team significantly bigger than himself to accomplish the task at hand.

I’m grateful to God for His Word, what He chooses to reveal to us, and when He chooses to do so. There is great power and wisdom in the book of Nehemiah.

The Non-Negotiables of the Gospel

You can hear the entire meta-narrative: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation, explained in this video.  Assuming you have a biblical understanding of the word “repent” (he slipped it in near the end of the video) then it seems to be a pretty sound explanation of what the entire Gospel message is and what we need to communicate to those who don’t know Christ.

Central Message of the Bible

I’ve been enjoying looking through the video archives from the Gospel Coalition.  I loved the simplicity of this video and truth in what Colin Smith is saying!

the gospel prayer

I have read some amazing books in the past few years that have all earned places of “honor” on my bookshelf.  Last night, I added a book to that collection and it may have taken the #1 spot on my book list. Gospel: recovering the power that made Christianity revolutionary, by J.D. Greear is the most affirming and encouraging book I have read in regards to the centrality of the Gospel in life.  It’s an amazing framework of the Gospel and the depth of its theology. As I read the book I was overwhelmed, as if what J.D. Greear penned in his book was transcribed from the cry of my own heart!

The book, more accurately the theology unfolded through its pages, is framed in what Greear calls, “the gospel prayer.” A daily reminder to ourselves of the power of gospel and the way we should view it, thus impacting the way we view the world.  I’ve started praying these powerful words as part of accepting the challenge of “the Gospel Project,” (explained in the book).

In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make You love me more, and nothing I have done that makes You love me less.

Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy.

As You have been to me, so I will be to others.

As I pray, I’ll measure Your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection.

The book is amazing.

Check it out for yourself.

Get yourself a copy and begin the journey of recovering the power that made Christianity revolutionary!