Nehemiah_Rebuilding the City

Nehemiah: Processing Grief

July 9, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah

This week is an introduction to Nehemiah and how we've gotten to the place where we are. Who was Nehemiah? How did Israel end up oppressed and exiled under Artaxerxes? What was the root cause of their suffering? Micah highlights the importance of beginning a process of renewal with grief/lament.

Nehemiah: Starting With Prayer

July 16, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 1:5–11

Nehemiah 1:5-11 - A plea for God's ear to be open and listening to the prayer of Nehemiah. Nehemiah personally asks forgiveness for the sins of his countryman, his family, and himself. They are tasked with remembering the promise that God made to gather the people and bring them home because they are God’s people.

Nehemiah: Bold Requests

July 23, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2:1-20, The king asks Nehemiah what he wants and Nehemiah names his desires, then asks for what's needed to accomplish it. He faces opposition when he decides to champion the cause of the oppressed and marginalized which is to be expected and normal when you confront systems of power.

Nehemiah: No One Left Out

July 30, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 3:1–5, Nehemiah 4:6–16

Nehemiah 3:1-5 & 4:6-16, Lessons in leadership from Nehemiah. Chapter 3 is all about the myriad of people who are involved in the rebuilding of the wall. The list is so long that it appears no one is left out.

Nehemiah: Lessons in Leadership

August 6, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5:1-19 - Lessons in leadership from Nehemiah. The nobles and the rich were lending to their own countrymen and charging them interest just like non-Israelites would do. Nehemiah speaks against it and aligns himself with the people by living, working, and suffering WITH them.

Nehemiah: Experiencing Opposition

August 16, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 6:1–16

Nehemiah 6:1-16 - Opposition to the work you've been called to comes in very predictable fashion. Distraction - 5 times Nehemiah was invited to a meeting of great import and invited to take his eye off the ball. Opposition begins to sow seeds of falsehood and rumors about what is going on inside the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah confronts this head on with what is true.

Nehemiah: Feasting and Celebrating

August 20, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 7:1–18

Nehemiah 7:1-6, 8-18 - After the wall is done, the Israelites prepared for worship as a community, which began by remembering the names of the people, their lineage and their story/history. There is feasting and celebration in the temple. There will be days for weeping and mourning but today is not one of them…today we turn our attention to the grace, provision and wonder of God.

Nehemiah: How Did We Get Here?

August 27, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 9

In chapter 9, the Israelites remember those who have come before while asking, “How did we get here?” Awaken honors Melody Olson as she performs How Great Thou Art on her last Sunday as Worship Director.

Nehemiah: Old Ways

September 10, 2023 • Micah Witham • Nehemiah 13:29–31

Chapter 13:29-31, Nehemiah ends with a very honest and sobering reality. They kick out the foreigners and Nehemiah reforms the practices of the sabbath, marriage and what happens in the temple. Why do we keep returning to this pattern? How might our interpretations change when considering this from a marginalized perspective?

Awaken Community

Summer 2023