The Story Chapter 21 (Nehemiah/Malachi)

Text: Nehemiah 1(1:1-4), 2 (2:11)  and entire book
         Malachi 1:6-14

Link: The Story Pt. 21

Main Point: Christians are to be agents of change

Lessons from Nehemiah:

- Broken hearts lead to action (Neh. 1:4)

- Prayer is key (Neh. 1:4)
   - Nehemiah provides an example of someone living in tune with the Spirit

- Take Account (Neh. 1:3, 2:11)

- Develop a Plan of Action
  - When the king asked he was ready
  - Neh. 3 (Community is key...the wall was rebuilt through the efforts of community)
  - Role with the changes
  - Adjust as needed (When opposition arose he adjusted his plan)
  - Don't let your enemy distract you
  - Pray

- Transformation (Malachi 1:6-14)

Application:

- Are our hearts broken?

- Who are you praying for?
  - Write down 2-3 people who your heart breaks for....that live in a world with no walls...who you do not want to enter into eternity without and cry out for them

- What is the culture/world we live in? (Note: I am indebted to Ravi Zacharias for this portion)
   - 50 years ago the world seemed large
   - now there are no walls
   - secularization, pluralization, privatization has given us a world that has no shame, no reason, and no meaning
   - To be agents of transformation we need to show where the walls are

- Plan of Action?
   - How do you connect the dots to the tough questions of life? (e.g. Problem of evil? Purpose of life?)
   - Need to show the boundaries/walls were:
         - Shame must be felt
         - Reasonableness of belief in God
         - The meaning it brings when all the dots are connected

- Does your private and public life add up?
    - Your private life finds value and meaning lived out publicly (e.g. my marriage vows are of little value if I do not live them out publicly)

- Are you an agent of transformation?

Take a look at the following picture and ask the application questions about these individuals...you could probably answer yes to most of them, but I am not convinced that they are agents of transformation...I am not asking us to do this, but rather that we live our lives in such a way that our lives are the sign that draws people into a relationship with Jesus...