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Sermon

Nehemiah's Bane

by Rev. Kirby Williams

The crucial importance of continual biblical reformation within the church.

Text: Nehemiah 13:15-31
Date: 01/15/2017, the Evening service.
Series: "Ezra-Nehemiah" Part 27

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Description:

In this final lesson of our study of Ezra and Nehemiah, we will continue to analyze the unusual narrative of the 13th chapter. We will ask ourselves once again why a book so full of positive examples of biblical leadership would end with a record of how much of that work was quickly unraveled. As we seek the answers to this and other questions in the text, we will find that Nehemiah has left us perhaps his most valuable lesson concerning discipleship and the overall health of the Christian community. That one leader cannot on his own sway the course of the covenant community if that community is not just as dedicated to absolute obedience to biblical principles as he is. For lurking in the shadows of every church not actively involved with self-reformation is the spectre of Nehemiah's bane!


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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Nehemiah 13:15-31.
A. Context
B. Threats to the covenant relationship.
1. A threat to the Sabbath, vs. 15-22.
a. Defiling God's Sabbath, vs. 15-16.
i. Harvesting and bearing burdens.
ii. Conducting "business as usual".
b. Confronting the nobles, vs. 17-18, Neh. 10:31.
c. Excursus: Why the Sabbath?
d. Handling the situation, cs. 19-22a.
i. Blocking the gates, vs. 19.
ii. Threatening the vendors, vs. 20-21.
iii. Mobilizing the Levites, vs. 22a.
e. Another prayer of remembrance, vs. 22b, Heb. 13:14.
2. A threat to solidarity, vs. 23-27.
a. The return of a pernicious enemy, vs. 23, Neh. 10:30, 13:1-3, Ezra 9:2.
b. Growing pagan communities, vs. 24.
c. A violent confrontation, vs. 25, Ezra 9:3.
d. The example of Solomon, vs. 26.
e. Considering the consequences, vs. 27.
3. A threat to the priesthood, vs. 28-29.
4. The shadow on the horizon, vs. 30-31.
III. Application
IV. Conclusion

The Preaching Ministry of Kirby Williams
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