Nehemiah seems to end on a downer as we see once more the rebuilding community failing to keep themselves unstained from the world. In a chapter prefaced by the subtle seduction of the world and placing on full display the fundamental reality of compromise, do we yet find a word of hope? Are we able with Nehemiah to look beyond the sin and disappointment of the present to final victory and blessed reward? Join us as we wrap up Nehemiah pondering both failures and a future.

As we approach the end of Ezra-Nehemiah yet another list of names heads a chapter filled with rejoicing. How might we foster the kind of joy in God’s faithfulness this chapter displays? Join us as we consider their joy in a record of God’s faithfulness, joy in a celebration of God’s faithfulness, and joy in preparation for God’s continued and future faithfulness!

What do we gain from another long list of difficult names? How does it answer the problems faced by the community of returned exiles trying to rebuild under Ezra and Nehemiah? Join us as we see the way the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1–9) shapes this record of names and places, pointing to both the past and the future to remind them of God’s faithful keeping of his promises. And consider how we do the same week by week in the Apostles’ Creed!

What does repentance look like in the life of a community? What will happen among the returned exiles after they have heard and understood God’s word (ch. 8) and prayed a penitential prayer (ch. 9)? Here in chapter 10 the community gathers once more to renew their covenant commitment. We see in the chapter that 1) a renewed community is the aggregate of individuals waking in repentance; 2) true repentance manifests in a sincere resolve to new obedience; and 3) new obedience, as a fruit of repentance, targets specific areas of struggle.

How does the history of God’s mercy free us to confess our sin and give us hope for the future? Join us as we walk through the next chapter of Nehemiah and see a people poised to hear God’s word, worship for a wondrous creator and redeemer, sweeping cycles of sin and salvation, and a penitential prayer that is finally resolved in salvation in Christ.

What might our community look like if we have ourselves over to reading God’s word? In Nehemiah 8 we see a community do just this. The Lord’s people eagerly pursue his word. The Lord’s people take comfort in his word. The Lord’s people seek to obey his word. And the Lord’s people rejoice in his word. May these things be true of us!

The wall is built, the doors are set, the surrounding peoples have fallen in their own esteem as they detect the Lord’s hand at work. And yet danger remains. Join us as we consider the next chapter and see the necessity of guarding the church, of building up the church, and of leaning on the Lord as he manifests this protection and growth in his church across generations.

What does it look like to take up the whole armor of God in the face of determined opposition? This morning we consider (1) the death throes of a defeated enemy, (2) the strategies of a prepared warrior, and (3) wearing the armor of God today. As we consider Nehemiah in light of Ephesians 6:10–20 we see a living example of what it looks like to put on the whole armor of God.

We’ve heard much of external threats to the community in Ezra-Nehemiah, but here Nehemiah turns to confront internal struggles, as brothers and sisters suffer oppression—even from oppressors in their community! Yet see how, through Nehemiah, the Lord meets the needs of those who need provision and of those who need forgiveness and accountability. And let us see how Nehemiah points us to Jesus, who meets our deepest needs.