Nehemiah 2:18b – Then they said, "Let us arise and build.” (NASB)

• That’s the word of the Lord for us! Keep moving forward in faith! Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”• These were, no doubt, very comforting words to the

Israelites during the Babylonian Captivity. • Through these words God was saying that He would

bring them back to Israel once again.• You do have a future!

TV before ESPN• As a believer, no matter what unexpected turns may

come, you know how it’s going to end. • When the final buzzer blows or the final trumpet

sounds and Jesus returns, we know we win! • Whatever the score is late in the 2nd half, don’t

panic, because the game’s already been won at the cross.

• Jesus paid the price that has to be paid for us to have eternal life, victory and significance.

• That’s why Jeremiah was able to say, I know the plans I have for you . . .

• For the past several weeks, we have been examining the book of Nehemiah.

• And, mining nuggets for our situation. • As you look at the people positioned all around

Jerusalem’s wall, you have to wonder what was taking place on the inside of each of the workers.

• They were all working together to build a dream—to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

• Each part was important and each was making a significant contribution to the whole.

• They felt significance because they were apart of something significant.

• In Matthew, we read about an interesting encounter Jesus had with some children.

Matthew 19:13-15 – One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." 15 And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left.

• In each of us is an innate desire for significance. • We want to be noticed. • We don’t want to be a number or overlooked. • Most of us don’t necessarily want to be famous. • But, we want to know that what we are doing is

counting for something. • And, making a difference in someone’s life.• That is more than likely why you volunteered last

week to help us move to the AMT on Sun mornings.• You want to be apart of something significant.

• The disciples were men who made sacrifices to follow Jesus.

• They wanted to make a difference & be significant. • When Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will

make you fishers of men, they answered because they wanted to make an impact on this world.

• They had no idea how it would unfold. • And, neither do you because it never works out the

way you expect it to in the beginning. • That is why promises like Jeremiah 29:11 are so

comforting.

• Just stay the course.• God is working. • Right now you may not see how it will all end . . . • But remember: I know the plans I have for you! To

give you a future and a hope . . .• But, here the disciples missed a great opportunity

with these children. • They didn’t see the significance of the children they

were dealing with. • In that day, men were the kings and women &

children were not important.

• Children were to be seen and not heard. • They were in the eyes of men quite insignificant. Why bother Jesus with them?

• Their Problem: the disciples were looking for immediate results.

• Because of that, they didn’t see much worth in blessing the children.

• Desiring to see immediate results is a trap we need to avoid.

• This will be a process. • The good we are each called to do is often done in

small increments. • Each step or contribution adds to the overall vision.• In football, every block or tackle, which in itself, is

small, but they each lead to victory. • What you do may seem insignificant, but it is all

contributing to the overall vision.

• Jesus saw the importance in blessing the children. • He stayed and laid hands on them until He had

touched each one. • Each child, no matter how small, is important to

Him. • It was only after He had finished praying for each

one did He leave.• Nothing or no one is too insignificant for Jesus.

• We also want to be significant among our peers. • This was a desire we see in the Sons of Thunder.Matthew 20:20-23 – Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 "What is your request?" He asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to You, one on your right and the other on Your left."• In other words, please give my boys special honor

and significance!

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" 23 Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink from My bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on My right or My left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones He has chosen."

• James was the 1st apostle be martyred and John was the last of the original apostles to die.

Matthew 20:25-28 – But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." • Jesus is saying that in the world, the significant ones

are at the top with all the authority. • They are the ones who get all the attention. • They are the boss or the king.

• But, this is not so in the Kingdom of God. • Significance in the Kingdom comes in a whole

different way. • The truly significant ones in the Kingdom of God are

the ones who serve. • But, most of us wrestle with this thought. • We think if no one sees what we are doing then

God doesn’t see it either. • If we do something that is totally unnoticed, then

God doesn’t notice it either. • That’s not true!

• Jesus said that He would reward anyone who gives a cup of water to a child.

• No one may see you: – lift one of the little kids to the water fountain– see you changing a dirty diaper in the nursery – notice how you set up and tear down at the AMT – your friendly smile and firm handshake as a greeter– going out of your way to help a single mom get her

children to the right places before church– clean the toilet in the restrooms after church

• Jesus sees it, and He said there are rewards for the little seemingly insignificant contributions we make.

• You must understand that it is the Lord Who you work for, and it is He who watches you.

• The things you do don’t always produce immediate fruit, yet they contribute to a major victory later on.

The greatest impact you can make is to serve. • At least that is what Jesus said. • And, nothing, absolutely nothing, escapes His

notice.

• If you think about it, ultimately, our significance is not tied to what we do for Jesus.

• But to what He did for us! • I am significant because the Significant One lives

inside of me. • But, because He does live in me, I freely serve and

lay down my life for His cause. • My significant doing flows from my significant

being. • I am willing to serve because I love Jesus.

• As with the rebuilding of Nehemiah’s walls and with us, we work better when we have a clear focus.

• That’s the only way we get anything done. • That is why we have a plan to divide you into 6

teams to make the transition on Sunday mornings smooth.

• But, remember this is not about a building or a beautiful theater.

• It’s about the people who will be reached in the building.

• It’s never about buildings but people.

Habbakuk 2:2 – Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” (NKJV)

• Pastor Willie George of Church on the Move in Tulsa, OK . . .

• Habbakuk says to make the vision clear, make it plain, so the runner may run with it.

• When the vision is clear, it turns people lose to run. • When a contractor knows exactly what he needs, it

gives him confidence to proceed.

• That is why we have a clear plan and are going to begin implementing it.

• We want to make the greatest impression on the 1st day.

• We have only 1 time to make a 1st impression on people, and we want it to be a good one!

• We desire to bring the greatest glory to Jesus in everything we do.

• And, we desire to do it with excellence. • We want to cut you lose, so you can run with the

vision.

Conclusion• It’s time to focus! • Habbakuk says to write the vision and make it plain. • When it is not plain, you are out of focus, and you

can’t do anything.

• If you are on an interstate highway, and you see the sign that says to exit on Exit 99 at Weston . . .

• With us, we could not move until we came to the right time which is now.

• 2 years ago, I could not have told you what we were going to be doing because I didn’t know it yet.

• But, now we are there. • It’s time for us to focus and begin our 1st phase.

The Axe• This axe represents what we are doing—the vision. • The axe is made up of 3 parts:

1. The Handle2. The Head3. The Edge

The Handle• Leverage• Put hands on the handle: Teams

1. Children’s2. Ushers3. Greeters4. Visitor’s Kiosk5. Set up/Tear Down6. Clean Up

• Mistake of: It doesn’t really matter . . . • We need your involvement!

The Head• The Head represents money.• Let go of the head and hold the handle.• We can’t complete the vision without it.• We have immediate needs, and we need your help.

The HeadImmediate Needs• Vertical Sail Signs – $326.50 x 2 = $653.00• Parking Signs – $100.00 X 3 = $300.00 (est.)• Children’s Play Panels – $582.00 x 3 = $1,746.00• Kin-der-link Stools – $34.20 x 12 = $410.40• Interlocking Play Mats – $21.82 x 2 = $43.64• Box Trailer – $2,000-4,000.00 (est.)Total: $3,153.04 + Box Trailer

The Edge• The staff & leaders• Because you support & stand behind us, we are

able to accomplish what God has called us to do!

Together, we will be able to obtain significance by being apart of something that is significant.