The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:              In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.    They said to me, "Those who survived the They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." and its gates have been burned with fire."    When I heard these things, I sat down and When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. prayed before the God of heaven.

~Nehemiah 1:1-4~Nehemiah 1:1-4

Nehemiah means “the Lord consoles”Nehemiah means “the Lord consoles”

““Cupbearer to the King”Cupbearer to the King”

Artaxerxes (465- 424 BC)Artaxerxes (465- 424 BC)

Twentieth Year – 445 BCTwentieth Year – 445 BC

Chislev – November/December Chislev – November/December

Susa – Winter palace of the Persian KingsSusa – Winter palace of the Persian Kings

Persian EmpirePersian Empire

I.I. Nehemiah’s Concern for the Things of God Nehemiah’s Concern for the Things of God (1:1-3)(1:1-3)

II.II. Nehemiah’s Compassion for the Things of God Nehemiah’s Compassion for the Things of God (1:4)(1:4)

The ProblemThe Problem

The People of God The People of God In In exileexile

The Land of PromiseThe Land of Promise Occupied byOccupied by

strangersstrangersThe Place of WorshipThe Place of Worship DestroyedDestroyed

The City of GodThe City of God RubbleRubble

BabyloniansBabylonians

NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar586 BC586 BC

PersiansPersians

Cyrus Cyrus 536 BC536 BC

Artaxerxes Artaxerxes 445 BC445 BC

GreeksGreeks

Alexander Alexander the Greatthe Great 335 BC335 BC

RomansRomans

Republic ->Republic ->EmpireEmpire

Julius CaesarJulius Caesar44 BC44 BC

DestructionDestructionDeportationDeportation ReturnReturn

RebuildingRebuilding ExpansiveExpansiveLanguageLanguageCultureCulture

ExpansiveExpansivePeacePeace

StabilityStability

The ProblemThe Problem

The People of God The People of God In In exileexile

The Land of PromiseThe Land of Promise Occupied byOccupied by

strangersstrangersThe Place of WorshipThe Place of Worship DestroyedDestroyed

The City of GodThe City of God RubbleRubble

The ProblemThe Problem

The People of God The People of God

The Land of PromiseThe Land of Promise

The Place of WorshipThe Place of Worship

The City of GodThe City of God RubbleRubble

The ProblemThe Problem

The People of God The People of God

The Land of PromiseThe Land of Promise

The Place of WorshipThe Place of Worship

The City of GodThe City of God

I.I. Nehemiah’s Concern for the Things Nehemiah’s Concern for the Things of God of God (1:1-3)(1:1-3)

He asked about the He asked about the City of God City of God andand the the People People of Godof God

Our Concerns . . . ?Our Concerns . . . ?

We are more concerned about material We are more concerned about material blessingsblessings than spiritual than spiritual blessingsblessings

We are more concerned about having a We are more concerned about having a good reputation good reputation than a godly characterthan a godly character

We are more concerned about what we We are more concerned about what we DO DO than what we AREthan what we ARE

We are more concerned about personal We are more concerned about personal desires desires than God’s willthan God’s will

>>Determine: What concerns Determine: What concerns reallyreally dominate my dominate my life?life?

>>Decide: I want make it my top Decide: I want make it my top priority to care priority to care about what God about what God cares aboutcares about

>>Find out: Where God is at work in Find out: Where God is at work in the worldthe world

Principles for Principles for Leadership and ServiceLeadership and Service