Tabor Baptist Church

• Do we want to see a glorified Church?
• Nehemiah had a tremendous burden for the people of God
• Hudson Taylor: God's work in God's way
• An example of this in the passage
• Picture of walls of Jerusalem

Coordination

• Coordinnated by Nehemiah
• Broken down into sections
• Other leaders (v13, 17, 18) responsible for other workers
• Church lessons
• A one man ministry will always fail
• It must be a coordinated effort
• Must be done decently and in order
• Must make sure every member has pastoral care
• Different departments: youth, elderly, men, women, etc
• Repairs in front of their house (v10, 23, 28)
• Efficiency of time
• Motivating to build a good wall
• Psychological reassurance against attack
• Lessons
• Maybe we have needs in our own families or neighbours to attend to
• We build by prayer, kindness and in sharing the gospel

Cooperation

• Worked alongside another, "next to ..."
• All different types of people worked alongside each other
• The Church of Jesus Christ is for all different types of people
• The high priest took a lead in the work (along with the other priests)
• Having completed the first part of the wall they consecrated it to God
• It is important that leaders lead
• We hear of lots of different families working on the walls (daughters, perfumers, gold smiths)
• God's work is not just done by special people
• We all need to be involved and contribute to the work
• Today's leaders are yesterdays novices
• People from outside of the city came to help: Jericho, Tekoites (v5), Gideon (v7)
• Perhaps we can help others from other churches
• We part of the Evangelical Movement of Wales
• Different jobs: some repaired, some built, some hung doors
• Sometimes God's work is revitalising or restarting
• There are people with specific skills that can get involved in the work of God
• Daughters get involved in what might be seen as a man's job
• Women should get involved in church
• The contribution of women should be valued

Criticism

• The Nobles did not put their shoulders in (v5)
• People will object
• God's work is always greater than the objectors

Contribution

• Not everyone is listed in the rebuilding of the walls (what about those who cooked or delivered materials)
• So it is with the Church of God
• Not everybody will have formal positions but this doesn't matter
• 1 Cor 12:12-14, Eph 4:15-16
• We can support, nurture and pray with others

Commendation

• The list of those who worked is reproduced for all to read
• Certain people are highlighted
• The Tekoites (v5, 27) - repaired two sections
• Goldsmiths (v8, 22)
• Barak - careful and zealous work
• Honour should be given where honour is due
• Do we under appreciate people?
• A people who are encouraged go forward with strength

Completion

• The work was completed in 52 days
• Complete God's work that He has given you
• Complete the spiritual race