February 15, 2014 - Church at Worship

Sermon: “But Their Nobles Would Not . . . Part 3 - Nehemiah: Of Bricks and Prayers” - Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Garrett Speyer

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 3:1–5 - Cornel Balan and Andrea Korgan

Note: Child Dedications and Baptisms are on the extras section of the dvd.

Sermon Notes:

I am challenged by Paul’s words to the Corinthians the first time he wrote to them: “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed…. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4–7, TNIV). I am especially caught by a few words in that last line: Now to each one … for the common good.

In other words, Jesus has given a gift to every single one of us, and that gift is to be used for the common good of the church. That knowledge ought to force us to ask two questions: 1) What is (are) my gift(s)? and, 2) Am I using it/them for the good of the church?

Interestingly, such a theme intersects with today’s passage from Nehemiah, but in a somewhat jarring way. I hope we each take to heart what Nehemiah will tell us today.

God’s best to you.

Randy Roberts
Senior Pastor