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

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)