Download - Review – Protecting Our Zeal
Review – Protecting Our Zeal
• Ways to Protect Our Fire:–Don’t be fooled by Satan’s lies–Recovering from Burnout
Review – Protecting Our Zeal
• Recovering from Burnout:–Spend time alone with God (Heat)–Speak honestly to God (Heat)–See God working in His ways (Fuel)–Set out for the next act of service
(Fuel)–Understand that we are never
alone (Environment)
Changing the World Where We Are
The Necessity of Letting Our Light Shine•Mt. 5:14-16 – Compare with Jn. 8:12; Jn. 9:4-5– Christians are the light of the world"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Changing the World Where We Are
• Mt. 5:16• Acts 9:36• Rom. 13:3• Eph. 2:10• 1 Tim. 2:10• 1 Tim. 5:10
• 1 Tim. 5:25• 1 Tim. 6:18• Tit. 2:14• Tit. 3:8, 14• Heb. 10:24• 1 Pet. 2:12
Are Good Works Necessary?
Changing the World Where We Are
Are Good Works Necessary?• Jas. 2:14ff – Example in vv. 15-16?– Mt. 25:34ff
Changing the World Where We Are
Praying for Open Doors & Walking Through•Open doors for churches (Rev. 3:8)•Open doors for individuals (1 Cor. 16:8- 9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:2-4)•The results of walking through open doors (Acts 17:6)
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Commitment: Determine to Make a Difference• Problems in Judah? (1:3, 5-7)• Which problem first? (2:3-5)• Focus on areas that tap into
passions/strengths• How was Nehemiah affected?
(2:1-3)
REMEMBER: HOW we use our zeal to address these areas MUST be with God’s authority.
(Zeal fueled by wisdom)
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Communication: Speak with Clarity• Where did Nehemiah go FIRST?
(2:4)• What did he do NEXT (2:11-16)• How did he communicate his plan
to others? (2:17-18)• How did he communicate when
plans were altered? (4:16-23; cf. 4:7-8)
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Cooperation: Involve the Right People• Did Nehemiah enlist
everyone’s help?– Outsiders (2:4)– Un-invested (3:5)– Unable
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Cooperation: Involve the Right People• Not JUST stonemasons– 3:1, 22, 28 – priests– 3:8, 31, 32 – goldsmiths, perfumers,
merchants– 3:9, 12, 15, 17, 19 – gov’t officials,
women– 3:17 – Levites– 3:26 – temple servants
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Cooperation: Involve the Right People• Results of involving the right
people:– Initiative to succeed (2:18)– Efforts coordinated with others (Ch. 3)– Contribute to areas they care about
(3:10)– Zealously go the distance (3:20)
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
• Commitment – Determine to Make a Difference
• Communication – Speak with Clarity
• Cooperation – Involve the Right People
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Conflict Resolution: Rise above Interruptions• Problems from within:– What was the problem? (5:1-5)– How did Nehemiah handle this? (5:7-
19)– When issues are handled calmly,
honestly, and immediately, God’s work can continue more fruitfully (5:12-13)
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Conflict Resolution: Rise above Interruptions• Problems from without:– What were the problems? (2:19;
4:1-3; 4:7-8; 6:1-2; 6:10-13)– What was consistent about the
response? (2:20; 4:4-5; 4:9; 6:9; 6:14)
– What else was consistent?
While outside distractions should be acknowledged
and measures taken to guard against
them, they should never become the FOCUS of what is
being done.
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Community: Address the Project & the People• Celebrating Victories– Neh. 8:9-12; 12:27, 43– Can we celebrate victories?
(Rom. 1:8-9; 1 Cor. 4:-18; Phm 4-7; Acts 5:41; Jn. 4:34-38)
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Community: Address the Project & the People• Group Study– Neh. 8:8-9– Our spiritual fire will only be
stoked to the level that we are invested in the effort.
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Community: Address the Project & the People• Family Leadership– Neh. 8:13– Deut. 6:5-8; 11:18-19– Neh. 8:17– Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 12:9
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
Community: Address the Project & the People• Personal Accountability– Neh. 9:1-3– Neh. 10:32-39
5 Keys: Making a Difference - Nehemiah
• Commitment – Determine to Make a Difference
• Communication – Speak with Clarity• Cooperation – Involve the Right
People• Conflict Resolution – Rise above
Interruptions• Community – Address the Project &
the People