Nehemiah Chapter 10

• Themes
• Responsibility
• Generosity
• Key Words
• "Tithe", "tenth" > 5x
• "House of the Lord", "House of our God" > 9x
• "Contribution", "contribute" > 3x
• "First", "firstbruit" > 5x
• Outline
• Statement of the leaders of this covenant (10:1-27)
• Submission to the authority of God's Word (10:28-29)
• Separation from the compromise by worldly influence (10:30)
• Surrender to the responsibilities of corporate worship (10:31-39)
• Observation #1
• The community (10:1-27) was to be known as people of the Book (10:28-30) and people of the House (10:31-39).  Christians want to open the Bible and live accordingly.  Christians want to be in church.
• Observation #2
• To not tithe, to not bring the first, to not contribute -- this meant neglect and irresponsibility.  Lack of generosity meant failure to accept covenant responsibility.  Before they could accept responsibility, they had to surrender their lives (10:28-30).  If your heart (life) isn't surrendered, your money and goods won't be either.  Maintaining Christian community (church, the family of God) is a costly enterprise.  It will cost you time, effort, money, leisure and energy.  Nonetheless, it is worth it!

Operation Christmas Child

Apollo Assembly of God is committed to 50 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  Only thirty-nine more boxes are needed. We can do this!

 

If you're in the Apollo, Pennsylvania area, why not get your coworkers together and adopt this as an office project?

 

For those who dislike shopping, we will take cash.  Make checks payable to "Apollo Assembly of God."  Mark your donation  "OCC."  We will buy items and fill shoeboxes for you.
 

The Outreach Committee will take the boxes to our dropoff location on Saturday, October 20. Please have your boxes at Apollo Assembly of God by Friday, October 19.  For more information on Operation Christmas Child, visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/.

 



All about God's Faithfulness (Neh. ch. 9)

If you ever needed proof of God's faithfulness, read Nehemiah chapter 9.  Maybe you need that assurance right now.

God is faithful, even when we are faithless toward Him.  He is the God of mercy and compassion, neither of which His people deserve.

2 Tim. 2:13; Lam. 3:22-23.

C'mon, somebody get excited!

Prayer for the Elections



Dear Heavenly Father,

 

You have given us this promise: ”...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

 

So, we pray to you. We turn from evil and look to you, our God. Please:

• Unite us.
• Strengthen us.
• Appoint and anoint our next president.

In the name of Christ we pray,

 

Amen
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Prayer and logo are from http://election.maxlucado.com/.

The Weber-Fechner Law

In his post titled "Overstimulated", Seth Godin referred to the Weber-Fechner Law.  "The more stimulus you're getting (light, sound, pressure, delight, sadness) the less easily you can notice a small change."

I thought about conscience.  The more you participate in something destructive, the less likely your conscience bothers you.  That doesn't make participation acceptable.  It only makes it seem less of a threat.  You fail to recognize one small change after another.  Small changes lead to big change.

Weber-Fechner also teaches about character.  The more you participate in something constructive, the less likely you'll think you're making progress.  Character is developed one step at a time.  Just because you don't see change doesn't mean it's not there.  It means you haven't settled, you haven't arrived, you're not satisfied.

Bottom line.  Every choice matters.  Makes good ones today.  Catch the little foxes (Song of Sol. 2:15).

Godin's post is at http://tinyurl.com/cs8enhv.  For more on the Weber-Fechner Law go to http://tinyurl.com/bt9nqdm. 

Crop Walk

Sunday, October 7, 2012

2:00 P.M.
Roaring Run Trail

Our youth are participating in this year's walk.  Please pledge them.

For more information, visit http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=crop_main.

Two Fires -- No Lives Lost -- God's Mercy

This was the scene in Vandergrift (a neighboring community to Apollo) Saturday night.  The gas station across from the Vandergrift Bridge -- all the locals know where that is -- caught fire.  One of my parishioners lives beside the site of this fire.  Jaret and his son weren't hurt.  There were no lives lost in this fire, and there were no explosions.  God was merciful.

This morning there was a fire three streets from my church. Hearing the sirens and seeing the smoke, I went to see if I could help.  The Life Flight helicopter had landed.  Please pray for Dale, who has burns on his face and hands.  Full recovery is expected for him.  God spared him.

At Hose Company #3 in Apollo, I stayed with my new friend, Jake, as we waited for family to arrive.  Jake lost everything in the fire, yet keeps a great perspective.  No lives were lost in this fire, and the propane tanks didn't explode.  God was merciful.  Please pray for Jake during this difficult time.

What a High View of God's Word (Neh. ch. 8)

• Hunger for God's Word.  Who initiated this reading?
• Reverence for God's Word.  The people stood for a long time and hung on every word.
• Translation of God's Word.  The teachers gave the sense. The people knew what God said and what He meant.
• Obedience to God's Word.  The people determined they would do what God said.

May God cause it to be so today.  Let's be people with a high view of Scripture.

Maximizing God's Word (Neh. ch. 8)

1. You must know what God's Word says (8:1-6).  To know what it says, you must read it.  Do you have a systematic Bible reading plan?
2. You must know what God's Word means (8:7-8,13).  Do you understand what you read?  Have you accurately interpreted the passage?   Do you know what the passage demands from you?  One way to gain better understanding is to take notes of your pastor's sermons.
3. You must know what God's Word requires (8:9-10,14-18).  Where can you put your new insights to work right now?  Meaning without application isn't productive.  Be more than informed.  Be transformed.  Change happens through application. 

Statistics on the Unchurched (Warren Bird)

• According to the latest research, more than 1 out of every 3 adults (33%) in America is unchurched. This means they haven’t attended a religious service of any type during the past year. This represents some 125 million Americans.
• That number alone would be the 10^th largest country in the world!
• That’s more people than live in 230 countries of the world (based on lists that name 242 different countries).

http://leadnet.org/blog/post/more_than_100_million_unchurched_in_the_united_states (Accessed 09.20.12)

LEGO GOD (Part 1) > The Therapist God > 10 Tweets

1. Ex. 20:3-5a. False gods are "Lego gods" -- figments of imagination and products of human creativity. #idolatry
2. Ex. 32:19-24. The creativity (creative excusing) required to build a "Lego god" goes way back. "Out came this calf." #idolatry
3. "If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated." (Voltaire) -- #legogod
4. Jam. 1:21-25. Refusal to act upon good counsel stalls the change process. God is interested in changing people. #legogod #therapistgod
5. Do you keep your visits with God and keep talking until your time is up? #legogod #therapistgod #prayer
6. Telling God EVERYTHING about it DOESN'T mean He wants you to do NOTHING about it. #legogod #therapistgod #change
7. God is more than your therapist; He is a CATALYST. His agenda is CHANGE. #legogod #therapistgod #change
8. Mt. 13:20-21 > "... persecution arises because of the WORD..." Some get offended when God does MORE than listen. #legogod #therapistgod
9. We must do more than "have a little TALK with Jesus." How about a little WALK with Jesus? (Col. 2:6-7) #legogod #therapistgod #discipleship
10. God doesn't want just your problems. He wants ALL of you (Mk. 12:30). #legogod #therapistgod #totalsurrender

"Lego God" -- Introduction to the Series

Series Title:  "Lego God"

Series Text:  Ex. 20:3-5a

From 1958 to 2008, there were 400 billion Lego parts made.  Since 1978 there were 4 billion mini-figures made. A standard Lego block has 8 studs (raised bumps).  Six standard Lego bricks of the same color can be assembled in 915,103,765 combinations.

 

Exodus 32:19-24 contains the "Lego god" mentality.  "Out came this calf."

"If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated." (Voltaire)

To serve a "Lego god" means you redefined the God of the Bible.  God is now who or what you want Him to be.

Do you serve the God of the Bible or a god of your imagination?

Reputation and Responsibility (Neh. 7:2)

Reputation leads to responsibility.  High reputation leads to greater responsibility.  Low reputation leads to lesser.  Your reputation is determined by your record -- faithfulness to God and faithfulness to assigned work.  There is no shortcut to promotion.

More Attacks from the Opposition (Neh. 6:1-14)

When you work for God, it doesn't take much to annoy critics, skeptics and enemies.  We're now in Nehemiah chapter 6.  Three more attacks are launched.  Previous attacks are found in chapters 2, 4, 5.

1. The opposition attacked Nehemiah's momentum by suggesting an unnecessary meeting (6:1-4).  Insight #1:  Activity isn't the same as productivity.  Insight #2:  You can fill your day and get nothing important done.  Insight #3:  Say no to things that divert attention and disturb momentum.
2. The opposition attacked Nehemiah's reputation through verbal and written messages (6:5-9).  Insight #4:  When you do what God called you to do, you WILL be attacked.  Ask God for grace not to respond inappropriately.  Insight #5:  You answer to God first.
3. The opposition attacked Nehemiah's knowledge of Scripture, to see if he would self-incriminate (6:10-14).  Insight #6:  Know what the Bible says and means.  Read it regularly, systematically, throughly. 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17.

These attacks were due to Nehemiah's character and competence.  If you're never attacked, it's probably because you're content with the unimportant.  Only serious threats warrant the enemy's interference and retaliation.  Attacked?  Be encouraged.  You're doing something right!

"Lego God" to Begin 9.16.12

Series Title:  "Lego God"
Series Text:  Exodus 20:3-5a
Series Question:  Do we worship the God of the Bible or the god of our fabrication?
Series Quote:  "If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated." (Voltaire)
This Sunday:  the therapist god
That's all.  I've already told too much.


Three Key Traits for Leaders (Neh. ch. 5)

1. Courage (5:1-13).  Stand for right.  Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
2. Sacrifice (5:14-19).  Settle for less.  Just because something is your due doesn't mean you have to take it. Leadership is selfless.  It exists for the people's benefit, not the leader's preservation.
3. Discipline (5:16).  Stay on task.  Identify the main thing and don't get sidetracked.

Both Hands Occupied (Neh. 4:17)

In one hand was the work (the tool, the load, the contribution).  In the other hand was the weapon (the sword or spear).  Nehemiah's strategy was to build and defend, to construct and deter.  Half-hearted, one-handed builder-warriors needed not apply.  Nehemiah required committed worker-warriors.

Here are three observations from Nehemiah 4:17.

1. The goal was to build the wall, not to win a war.  Keep the main thing the main thing.  What are you "building" in God's kingdom?
2. Willingness to work without readiness to fight is a huge risk.  You must be prepared for attack, even if threats never materialize.  This is true of governments that battle terrorism.  It is also true of the church as it battles Satan (1 Pet. 5:8).
3. Don't just be prepared to fight.  Some Christians are addicted to spiritual warfare.  Satan wins when all the church's energy goes to defense.  It's time for some more offense!

Build the Wall Where You Are (Neh. ch. 3)

Read Nehemiah chapter 3.

Three things were associated with Jerusalem: the mountains, the temple and the city wall. Of course the mountains had remained (Psa 125:2). The temple foundation had been laid during the oversight of Ezra.  Little had been done about the condition of the city walls.

Nehemiah chapter three is about individuals and families who built the wall. Walls provide distinction and defense. Siimply put -- What's on one side of the wall isn't on the other. The Bible talks about our separation, our distinction as believers (2 Cor. 6:17).

Build the wall right where you are.  Build the wall where you live.  Build the wall where you work.  Build the wall wherever you're at.

A "wall" is a strategic, ongoing effort to protect your relationships and environments. Building the wall requires vigilance and diligence. With neglect the wall can collapse on its own, but it will never be built or reinforced accidentally.

What strategies, policies or practices do you use to protect yourself and your relationships?  How do you go about building your "wall"?