Sermon Tone Analysis

Most organizations and nations fall apart because of opposition and deterioration from within rather than from outside.

An idea is conceived, gains adherence and grows to fruition.

Then after it has served its purpose for a period of time, the work it took to get to that point is taken for granted and often personal aggrandizement corrupts the intended purpose.

At the beginning there is sacrifice by the people, but someone usually figures out how to make money from the idea, and it is not long before that which helped people hurts people.

That is what happens in .

How can economic and social differences cause problems within a church or between believers?

Why do you think many Christians are in such a deep debt that it puts strain on themselves, family, and the church?

How do you react when people within your church or fellowship group fail to live out the character of your group's shared vision—when they start to use the group for personal reasons and not for the shared vision?

How do you react when people within your church or fellowship group fail to live out the character of your group's shared vision—when they start to use the group for personal reasons and not for the shared vision?

How do you feel when your church leaders exhort you to give?

Or when parachurch organizations send requests for financial support?

How do you feel when church leaders or a Christian organization ask you to give?

I’d give more if I had more.

But why is it that when raises or other income comes in there is no increase in giving.

The first four chapters of Nehemiah remind us that any significant work for God can expect opposition.

The devil will not sit idly by and watch God’s people do great works to the glory of God.

But attacks do not only come from without.

Sometimes the enemy also seeks to work mischief from within.

Enemy opposition and difficult times in general had precipitated dire economic conditions.

Specifically, the people were fatigued with hard labor, drained by the relentless harassment of enemies, poor and lacking the necessities of life, lacking tax money and borrowing for it, and working on the wall in the city rather than getting food from the country.

Enemy opposition and difficult times in general had precipitated dire economic conditions.

Specifically, the people were fatigued with hard labor, drained by the relentless harassment of enemies, poor and lacking the necessities of life, lacking tax money and borrowing for it, and working on the wall in the city rather than getting food from the country.

On top of these hardships came the complaint that certain wealthy Jews were exploiting their unfortunate countrymen.

Rather than show compassion, these opportunists forced people to sell their homes and children, while giving them no opportunity to redeem them back.

Under normal conditions, the Mosiac law offered the hope of releasing these young people through the remission of debts every seven years or in the fiftieth year of Jubilee ().

This custom of redemption made it possible to “buy back” the enslaved individual at almost any time, but the desperate financial situation of Nehemiah’s times made that appear impossible.

On top of these hardships came the complaint that certain wealthy Jews were exploiting their unfortunate countrymen.

Rather than show compassion, these opportunists forced people to sell their homes and children, while giving them no opportunity to redeem them back.

Under normal conditions, the Mosiac law offered the hope of releasing these young people through the remission of debts every seven years or in the fiftieth year of Jubilee ().

This custom of redemption made it possible to “buy back” the enslaved individual at almost any time, but the desperate financial situation of Nehemiah’s times made that appear impossible.

The effect of this extortion on the morale of the returnees was worse than the enemy opposition.

demonstrates the dangers of greed and selfishness.

It also shows how godly leaders guide their people through explosive situations and potentially divisive times.

The effect of this extortion on the morale of the returnees was worse than the enemy opposition.

demonstrates the dangers of greed and selfishness.

It also shows how godly leaders guide their people through explosive situations and potentially divisive times.

List the three forms of internal opposition in that are developing against the vision of building the wall.

Read .

List the three forms of internal opposition in that are developing against the vision of building the wall.

Food

Money

People being sold into slavery

People in power becoming a burden to the people

How was exacting interest a problem for the wall building effort?

consider these verses

leviticus 25.36

deut.23

prov.28.8

Jer

How would you define the kind of leadership that Nehemiah exercises in dealing with this internal opposition to the wall?

How would you define the kind of leadership that Nehemiah exercises in dealing with this internal opposition to the wall?

How did Nehemiah respond upon hearing this news?

He got righteously angry

He exercised self-control

He exercised self-control

before he dealt with the guilty people; he stopped, cooled off, thought and prayed things through, and only then took action.

before he dealt with the guilty people; he stopped, cooled off, thought and prayed things through, and only then took action.

He followed the principles of biblical confrontation

He set a personal example of godliness

In what ways are leaders (spiritual or secular) today likely to assume privileges as these nobles and officials did?

In what ways are leaders (spiritual or secular) today likely to assume privileges as these nobles and officials did?

In what ways are leaders (spiritual or secular) today likely to assume privileges as these nobles and officials did?

Have you ever seen a leader sacrifice a privilege to live according to God’s values?

How do you determine what is culturally acceptable and what God's kingdom values are?

How well do you think Nehemiah did in fitting kingdom values and world values together?

How well do you think Nehemiah did in fitting kingdom values and world values together?

In what ways does show Nehemiah doing all he can to not be part of this internal opposition?

How do you determine what is culturally acceptable and what God's kingdom values are?

What did Jesus say about Leadership in Luke 22:25-27?

What evidence do you see in that Nehemiah lived out the principles of these verses?

He laid aside his rights and did not take advantage of his position and power.

He feared God and cared about people who were hurting.

He laid aside his rights and did not take advantage of his position and power.

 He feared God and cared about people who were hurting.

He was generous and ready to share.

 He was generous and ready to share.

He was committed to the work.

 He was committed to the work.

He worked for God’s approval.

 He worked for God’s approval.

He required accountability.

 He required accountability.

What kind of internal opposition could likely come up within your church or Christian group to divert you from your real objectives?

9.

In what ways does show Nehemiah doing all he can to not be part of this internal opposition?

What kind of response or correction would be needed?

What kind of internal opposition could likely come up within your church or Christian group to divert you from your real objectives?

* What kind of response or correction would be needed?

“Our society replaces people with things, conversation with entertainment.

By so doing, we have lost the simple joys of life, which center on relationships, the essence of Christian fellowship.

Material things can pull believers away from those vital relationships with God and others.”—John

MacArthur

John MacArthur, Nehemiah: Experiencing the Good Hand of God, MacArthur Bible Studies (Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2001), 53.

“Our society replaces people with things, conversation with entertainment.

By so doing, we have lost the simple joys of life, which center on relationships, the essence of Christian fellowship.

Material things can pull believers away from those vital relationships with God and others.”—John

MacArthur

Thomas Merton has written, “To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect upon myself is to live on the doorstep of hell.”

Consider your own track record of dealing with people.

Are you (like the rich Jews of Nehemiah’s day) an opportunist who mainly thinks about material things—how you can get ahead, get more stuff, and prosper?

Or (like Nehemiah) are you a servant who uses your gifts, resources, time, and treasure to bless others and build them up?