Intro:

As we begin this morning, I want to ask you a question…

If you could pass on something to the next generation—what would it be?

It’s a big question, isn’t it?

Would you pass on a skill? A family name? Financial security? A strong work ethic?

Those are all good things. But what if we looked beyond the physical—beyond money, talent, or even reputation?

What if the most valuable thing we could pass on wasn’t something we owned… … but something we built?

Not something stored in a bank account… … but something rooted in faith?

Imagine your children, or their children, or even Pierson Bible church 50 years down the road saying:

“I’m standing here today, worshiping God, because someone before me stayed faithful. Because someone built something that lasted.”

That’s legacy…

And here’s the thing about legacy… It doesn’t just fall into your lap… You have to build it intentionally—with your words, your character, your choices, your leadership.

That’s exactly what Nehemiah did… He didn’t just rebuild a wall—he rebuilt a future… He laid spiritual bricks for a generation he may never meet.

As we look at Nehemiah 12 today, we will see a celebration and the dedication of the wall that was built… … but more importantly, we will see a leader preparing people for what’s next. Nehemiah isn’t only thinking about the present. He’s thinking generation-ally.… He’s building for tomorrow.

Building For Tomorrow

As godly leaders, this is what we need to be doing…

We need to be preparing the people of God to continue in faithfulness long after we are gone.

Here in Nehemiah 12, we can see…

How to Build for Tomorrow:

Meat:

And the first thing that we need to do is…

1. Look Back

“Now Pastor, you just said that we are supposed to be building for tomorrow, we are supposed to be getting things ready and prepped for the future… and now you are saying that we need to look back?… make up your mind!”

Think of it this way… Let’s say you’re looking to buy a house.

You find a beautiful old home—charming character, big porch, maybe even some vintage stained glass. It’s got history. You can already picture the future renovations, the fresh paint, the new flooring.

But before you do anything else, what’s the first thing a wise buyer checks? … … The foundation.

We need to look back and…

1.1 Honor the Faithful Foundation

Because it doesn’t matter how beautiful the kitchen is, how new the roof is, or how cool the windows are… … if the foundation is cracked, the whole structure is at risk. The most critical part of the building is the part you can’t always see. It’s not flashy, but it’s what everything else depends on.

In the first 26 verses, of Nehemiah 12, we have yet another list of names, but this list is different from the rest…

In chapter -

3 - we have a list that names the builders of the wall

7 - lists the names of those who returned from exile.

10 - lists the names of those who sealed the renewed covenant with God

11 - Lists those families who were willing to live in Jerusalem

But here in chapter 12… we have the names of priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and leaders who came before before all of the others. Some of whom, had been dead for centuries.

Why would he take the time to honor these forefathers?… Because the foundation matters.

Those past leaders may not have built the wall, but they laid the spiritual foundation. They preserved worship. They returned from exile. They kept the flame of faith burning.… They weren’t perfect… but they were faithful.

Now, once again, I will seek your forgiveness, as I do not plan to read all of these names… But I will say that each person recorded in these verses was very special and influential to the ones who were hearing them read at this wall dedication.

However, this morning, I would like to take a couple of minutes and honor the past leaders, more specifically the past Pastors of Pierson Bible Church…

I found a book in the church library that was put together to commemorate the ministry of PBC at its 60 year anniversary.

A little side note… Next August, August of 2026 PBC will have been established for 75 years. I am hoping to put together some sort of celebration when that time comes.

But anyway… as soon as you open the book, it gives a summary of the history of PBC…

August 19, 1951 - Pierson Bible Church began at the Pierson Town Hall. The first Pastor was a man named, Ray Knoll.

Ray Knoll served as Pastor for about a year until his health started to fade and the ministry was turned over to a man named, Ed Rozelle.

It looks like Ed Rozelle Pastor-ed here for a little over a decade and then came Kenneth Hettinger.

and then Pastor Larry Pike

Pastor William Baker

Pastor David Williams

Pastor Richard Denig (den-ig)

Pastor Charles Jones

Pastor Steve Swanson

Interim Pastor Ray Luke

Pastor Kim Gee

Interim Pastor Darwyn Hassert

Pastor Tom Sluys

Pastor Jeff Wallace

Like the faithful leaders listed in Nehemiah 12…

These are the men who laid the spiritual foundation of Pierson Bible Church—through preaching, prayer, and perseverance, these are the men who laid the foundation for worship, community, and gospel witness—so that we could continue to build on their faithfulness today.

We need to look back and honor the faithful foundation that this ministry was built on…

We also need to look back…

1.2 Because Leadership is Generational

The people of Israel don’t just celebrate the completion of the wall—they trace their spiritual leadership all the way back to Zerubbabel and Jeshua.

v.1 says… “Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua… ”

and then verse after verse lists those who led worship, who guarded the gates, who kept the people close to the heart of God.

What does that tell us?… … Well it tells me that

Faithful leadership echoes beyond its moment.

Nehemiah Knew He Wasn’t the First… … and he also knew that he Wouldn’t Be the Last… All throughout Scripture we have example after example of Generational leadership…

Someone investing in the younger generation to make sure that the principles given by God will continue to be obeyed throughout the generations to come.

After Moses led the people out of Egypt, through the wilderness and finally to the shores of the Jordan river, where they could cross into the Promised Land… He didn’t just say “there it is… I got you this far and now you are on your own”… … No… He had been investing time and training into Joshua… Moses prepared him, empowered him, and handed off the baton.

David, the man after God’s own heart, had a strong desire to build the first Temple, so that God could dwell in it as opposed to the tent of the Tabernacle. However… God did not permit David to build the Temple because he was a warrior who had shed a lot of blood.

Though David wasn't allowed to construct the Temple himself, he didn't respond with bitterness or disappointment. Instead, he poured his heart into preparing for it: gathering materials, organizing Levites, and even drawing up plans. His devotion laid the foundation, quite literally, for someone else to build a house worthy of God's presence.

That someone else, was his son, Solomon. And Solomon, following his Dad’s passion and Legacy, built a beautiful Temple for the Lord.

In the New Testament, we have the Apostle Paul… who invests in a young man by the name of, Timothy. Paul calls Timothy “my son in the faith.” He tells him…

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB95

2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

That's at least four generations in one verse!

Paul Teaches Timothy

Timothy Teaches other faithful men

These other faithful men will then teach it to others.

As godly leaders - we have to build today what someone else may finish tomorrow.… … We need to be investing our time into others today, who will continue to carry the truths of Scripture tomorrow.

And it starts by looking back at the foundation on which our faith is built—the unchanging truth of God's Word and the faithful examples of those who came before us—so that we can build wisely and intentionally into the next generation.

Secondly… We…

2. Dedicate the Work to God

And this is where we will pick up the reading of our passage today…

(Read Nehemiah 12:27-47)

v.27 is the one that tells us what is happening here… as it specifically states that they are “at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem...”

We find several dedication services throughout Scripture…

Hannah dedicating her son Samuel to the Lord

Solomon dedicating the Temple to the Lord

Ezra dedicating the Rebuilt Temple to the Lord

Basically, whenever God had blessed the people with an amazing gift, they turned around and gave it right back to Him.

Dedicating the work to God starts with…

2.1 An Attitude of Gratitude

Still in v.27…

Nehemiah 12:27 “Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps.”

This dedication began with acknowledging God as the source of the success and expressing their gratitude to Him. They were giving credit where credit was due… They were saying “We did the work—but God made it possible”

This attitude of gratitude is also seen in v.43…

Nehemiah 12:43 “Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy… ”

After all the labor, sacrifice, opposition, and setbacks—what do the people do? They don’t throw a victory parade for themselves. They don’t hand out awards. Instead, they stop and celebrate with thanksgiving, pointing everything back to God.

They see God’s hand in their human efforts… They recognize that every stone they laid, every gate they hung, every enemy they overcame—was all sustained by grace.

And I am not sure if you caught this or not, but look at how v.43 is worded… “… God had made them rejoice with great joy...”

It wasn’t a man-made celebration—it was Spirit-fueled gladness.

We live in a culture today that celebrates self… Social media thrives on the idea of "look at me," measuring success by how many likes, views, or followers one can accumulate.

Achievements, milestones, and even acts of kindness are often broadcast not to glorify God, but to elevate one's own image.

Unlike the self-promoting culture we see today, Nehemiah and the people of Israel gathered to celebrate God's faithfulness, not their own accomplishments.

As godly leaders guiding the next generation, we are called to model a different kind of celebration—one that shifts the focus from ourselves and places it fully on God.

We are to have an attitude of gratitude, not just when things are going well, but at all times…

Once you have that attitude of gratitude and you acknowledge that God is the One who has made everything possible, then you will also come to the realization that Dedicating anything to Him…

2.2 Requires Purity

When we recognize that every blessing, every success, every open door is a result of God's grace and not our own strength, our response should not only be thanksgiving—it should also be a desire to honor Him properly. That’s where purity comes in.

v.30…

Nehemiah 12:30 “Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.”

Before the celebration could begin, before the songs of praise were lifted up and the walls dedicated to the Lord, there was a cleansing process.

The leaders—the priests and Levites—understood that they were approaching a holy moment, and they couldn't do that casually. They had to prepare themselves spiritually and ceremonially… Their personal purity was essential because they were about to dedicate something sacred to God.

But it didn’t stop with them.

They then purified the people, the gates, and the wall—the very structure they were celebrating. This act was a symbolic and spiritual declaration that everything about this work belonged to God—and because it was being offered back to Him, it had to be set apart, cleansed, and holy.

As godly leaders, and as followers of Christ, this principle still applies. It’s easy to give God a “shout out” for our success, but true dedication means going deeper. It means surrendering not just the outcome, but also ourselves—our motives, our hearts, and our lives.

This is evident from Paul’s message in...

Romans 12:1 NASB95

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Paul is saying that in light of all that God has done—His mercy, grace, and faithfulness—our response should be full surrender.

But notice that Paul doesn’t just say to offer praise or thanksgiving; he says to offer our bodies—our very lives—as living sacrifices.

And what kind of offering does God desire? One that is holy and pleasing—in other words, one that is pure.

Just like the priests and Levites, in v.30 of Nehemiah 12, purified themselves and the people before dedicating the wall, Paul is calling us to approach God with the same mindset. We are the offering now. And if we want our lives, our work, our leadership, and our dedication to truly honor God, we must pursue purity—not just in appearance, but in heart, mind, and motive.

So we must ask ourselves:

Am I giving God more than words—am I offering Him my whole self?

Is my life aligned with what is holy and pleasing to Him?

Am I living in a way that reflects the mercy and grace that I’ve received?

When we combine thankfulness with a pure heart and a surrendered life, our dedication becomes more than a ceremony—it becomes worship that pleases God and glorifies Him fully.

And then… as we talk about Building for Tomorrow… we need to…

3. Build a Legacy that Lasts

If you remember from Chapter 2… when Nehemiah asked King Artaxerxes for permission to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls… this was the Kings response…

Nehemiah 2:6 NASB95

6 Then the king said to me… “How long will your journey be, and when will you return?”…

Very legitimate questions to ask of your cupbearer and your friend… and the verse goes on to say…

Nehemiah 2:6 NASB95

6 … So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time.

Before Nehemiah left his position as the King’s cupbearer, he gave Artaxerxes a definite time that he would return.

Nehemiah knew that at some point he would have to return to Persia and continue his service to King Artaxerxes. And so he planned and established systems that would continue honoring God even after he was gone.

v.44 Starts with “And at the same time...” or as the NASB translates it… “On that day...”… as soon as the dedication was completed, Nehemiah started implementing his lasting legacy…

First of all… By…

3.1 Appointing Faithful Stewards

v.44…

Nehemiah 12:44 “And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.”

This system of appointing faithful stewards was grounded in biblical principles that had already been established through the Law of Moses.

This is proof that Nehemiah wasn’t just building for the moment… … he was building for the future.

When I say that we need to build a legacy that lasts, I am not talking about making sure that our names are remembered… … I am saying that we need to make sure that the acknowledgement of God and His faithfulness continue... long after we are gone.

It’s about reproducing godly leaders and entrusting them with the great responsibility of honoring God and continuing the cycle…

Not only did Nehemiah appoint faithful stewards, he also…

3.2 Taught Proper Worship and Giving

Again, this entire project wasn’t just about rebuilding the walls, or rebuilding the city… it was about rebuilding a culture that honored God.

Nehemiah 12:45–47 “45 Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.”

Nehemiah, in accordance to the Law given to Moses, set up systems to ensure that worship, service, and support for the Levites, priests, and singers continued regularly, and that the people were committed to giving their portions faithfully to support them.

As godly leaders, we need to teach proper worship in our families. Teaching our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, what it means to worship and honor God with our lives.

And Just as Nehemiah made sure that the singers, gatekeepers, and priests were supported, we need to ensure that those who serve in the ministry of the Word and in leadership are supported—whether that’s financially, emotionally, or through the giving our time and service.

Teach and lead by example when it comes to giving, whether it’s giving your time, resources, or talents to support the work of God. Encourage those you lead to view giving not as a burden, but as an act of worship that reflects their gratitude and trust in God’s provision.

Just like Nehemiah appointed men to oversee the offerings and temple service, we should be looking for faithful people to entrust with responsibility—people who understand the vision, walk in integrity, and are committed to honoring God. When we do this, we’re not just leading for today—we’re building a legacy that lasts.

Closing:

This would be a great place to end the entire book of Nehemiah…

The Walls are built

The people are united and purified

The spiritual leaders are serving and ministering as they should

And it seems that all of the people are dedicated to honoring God…

… …

BUT!!!..… We have one more chapter to go… and we probably won’t get there until after Resurrection Sunday.

However, I will say this…

As godly leaders, we must always be alert… Because Satan is always looking to attack us… especially when it seems like everything is going well and smooth.

The scene in chapter 12 is about to drastically change when we get to chapter 13.

But for now, let me ask you this…

What are you building today that will outlast your possessions and achievements?

As a leader in your family, church, and community, are you thinking beyond today?

Are you actively taking steps to build something that lasts, something that honors God and influences future generations?

And lastly… How are you preparing spiritually and mentally for the challenges that may come in the future?

Start by looking at your foundation…

“The Church's one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord;”

Is He your foundation today?

“On Christ the solid rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand”

Prayer: