What Is Your Wall?
What is your wall?
Our LifeGroup had such a fun discussion last night about what our walls are and how those are both threatened and protected. Most of the walls expressed are our families. We each expressed how rampant the threats are, specifically with current media and social media, and different ways we're actively protecting our marriages and children. Have you or your group identified your wall/ walls?
Last Sunday, Pastor Nate led us through Nehemiah 4 as opposition comes to him and those working on the wall. We are shown that the aggression escalates from insults to legitimate, life-threatening warnings but they stand firm with one another. Some years back here at Sierra Bible Church, there was a man named Rick Larson who was on our pastoral team. He would often teach to the vertical- if we have our relationship first and right with God, then we can lead and serve well in those horizontal relationships with friends, co-workers, or family. But God comes first. I was reminded of Rick when reading through Nehemiah because he, too, went to God first. Nehemiah's leadership is admirable still, generations later, because he led with confidence in where God had them and what God had called them to. He was a visionary and faithful follower of our same God.
If you haven't read through the book of Nehemiah, I'd encourage you to do so. There is so much goodness in what God restores and how He moves. You'll see God stir in the hearts of the nobles as they begin to work to register those who come back. You'll see God's favor as He reveals Himself to the people by the building of this wall. You'll see reconciliation and hope. As we come to an end of the Built To Belong series this coming Sunday, I pray that these would all be true for you and for us as a church and a community. Where there is opposition and threat, I pray that God would bring about hope and peace. What lacks, I pray that God would fulfill. What is broken in your heart, I pray that God restores. Because we know He is able! As for the building campaign, we pray that God would continue to bless it as we are faithful that He has led us here.
Our LifeGroup had such a fun discussion last night about what our walls are and how those are both threatened and protected. Most of the walls expressed are our families. We each expressed how rampant the threats are, specifically with current media and social media, and different ways we're actively protecting our marriages and children. Have you or your group identified your wall/ walls?
Last Sunday, Pastor Nate led us through Nehemiah 4 as opposition comes to him and those working on the wall. We are shown that the aggression escalates from insults to legitimate, life-threatening warnings but they stand firm with one another. Some years back here at Sierra Bible Church, there was a man named Rick Larson who was on our pastoral team. He would often teach to the vertical- if we have our relationship first and right with God, then we can lead and serve well in those horizontal relationships with friends, co-workers, or family. But God comes first. I was reminded of Rick when reading through Nehemiah because he, too, went to God first. Nehemiah's leadership is admirable still, generations later, because he led with confidence in where God had them and what God had called them to. He was a visionary and faithful follower of our same God.
If you haven't read through the book of Nehemiah, I'd encourage you to do so. There is so much goodness in what God restores and how He moves. You'll see God stir in the hearts of the nobles as they begin to work to register those who come back. You'll see God's favor as He reveals Himself to the people by the building of this wall. You'll see reconciliation and hope. As we come to an end of the Built To Belong series this coming Sunday, I pray that these would all be true for you and for us as a church and a community. Where there is opposition and threat, I pray that God would bring about hope and peace. What lacks, I pray that God would fulfill. What is broken in your heart, I pray that God restores. Because we know He is able! As for the building campaign, we pray that God would continue to bless it as we are faithful that He has led us here.
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