REFLECTION SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 27:1-6 (Memory: Mark 10:45) CLOSING: 1 Corinthians 15:58 SUMMARY: Nehemiah and those with him got to work. Folks from all walks of life all worked together for something and someone greater than themselves or their identities. If we are going to live for something more than our trivial agendas to make our own names great, we must be convinced of the truth, goodness, and beauty of God on display in the gospel of Jesus Christ and advanced in the work of the church. How does the work of God get done? It gets done by a person with a concern for the glory of God and the well-being of his people, a prayerful heart that engages in persistent prayer with others, claiming God’s promises, a dedicated and involved person who is ready and willing to be used by God. CHAPTER 3 - REAL PEOPLE DOING WORK Lessons from the people & pattern of work: God can use from any station in life. Everyone is responsible; some do than others. Important work doesn't always mean work. (See Nehemiah 3:14, 5; John 13) There was a clear plan for the work CHAPTER 4 - FROM THE OUTSIDE Wisdom and weapons for the battle: TAUNTS had been met by prayer and concentrated work (1–6); PLOTS by prayer and guard-duty (7–9); STRONG THREATS by a general call to arms and the charge to ‘keep your minds on the Lord … and fight’ (10–14, cf. jb). BATTLE PLANS met by constant state of readiness / everyone armed and working together APPLICATION: Philippians 1:27-28