Weekly Sermon Reflection Questions

READ | SERMON NOTES (Sermon notes and recording available after 26 Nov 2024.) PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Pastor Ben, a parent, faces trials like childhood illnesses and caregiving exhaustion. Trials vary, including health, grief, mental health, family issues, finances and work demands. James, Jesus’ brother, offers five lessons from chapter 1 on facing trials.

Disciples live with repentance and integrity, choosing salvation over wealth. All sinners matter to God. Jesus’ strategy involves blessing, belonging, and believing. Disciples are missional, seeking the lost and choosing salvation opportunities over comfort, transforming through obedience.

Life’s challenges can drain our joy, but Apostle Paul teaches that true joy and contentment are possible in all circumstances by focusing on Christ, not our situations. Philippians 4:4 encourages us to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

Rev Alvin Chan discusses discipleship in the marketplace, emphasising spiritual transformation and the Prophet Isaiah’s call. He highlights that representing God requires more than willpower; it needs God’s holiness to empower us for ministry.

We are all spiritually hungry, with a deep longing for identity, purpose and significance. The word of God addresses such a hunger. Jesus speaks of never being hungry– because He was referring to the spiritual food He gives. He declared to the crowds, following Him, that “I am the bread of life, those who come to me will never hunger and never thirst”.

God’s people should have an excellent work ethic as did Daniel! Naturally, the world values excellence too. But it was not the core value that Daniel and his friends had. It came second to their identities as exiles. All Christians should be ‘exiles before excellence’ to avoid becoming just like everyone else and caught in the values of the world.

A recent study done in Singapore shows that only five in 10 Singaporeans are prepared to talk about death. People plan for birth and marriage much more than they plan for death. People put off planning for death till they are ill or retired, most begin to think about end of life matters after 50.

King David wrote Psalm 4 while he was in one of his deepest emotional valleys. He was experiencing deep anguish at his son Absalom’s betrayal and was hiding in desperation and fear for his own life.

The gifts of the spirit come together to provide different kinds of service for the church of Christ. These gifts are required for the different activities and ways of delivering the service.

The Church is the body of Christ, and every believer is a part of it. Diversely gifted by God, every member must unite as one body to love and care for each other.

Nehemiah returned after 12 years to find the people had strayed from God, despite his dedicated leadership. Heartbroken by the changes, he realised things don’t always go as planned. God placed three important tasks in his heart.

In the final chapter of Nehemiah, we face the brutal reality that we can fall from commitment to the covenant into careless compromise.

The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in 52 days, showing that God works miracles. For without God, the people could not have done it. Restoring the walls represented the restoration of security in the city. However, the ultimate goal was to restore its people to worship and glorifying God.

Stories shape our lives and choices. Sacrificial love in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ contrasts with Nietzsche’s Übermensch in ‘Breaking Bad’, advocating self-actualisation and rejecting tradition. Contemporary culture values self-expression, fulfillment, and the belief that might makes right.

In Nehemiah 9, the Israelites offer one of the Bible’s longest prayers after rebuilding the walls. Following the Feast of Tabernacles, they engage in communal worship and deep repentance, reflecting on God’s faithfulness.

True repentance involves recognizing and mending broken relationships with God after disobedience. In Nehemiah 9, Israel renews its commitment to God, acknowledging His faithfulness despite their past sins, which is essential for genuine discipleship and spiritual growth.

Nehemiah 8-13 focuses on Israel’s renewal of their commitment to the Lord, by addressing their inward spiritual issues and renewing the covenant. We learn that true renewal begins in the heart, as the Word of God renews, revives, and restores us.

Nehemiah 8 highlights the centrality of God’s Word, which is essential for the renewal of hearts.

The wall was finished in 52 days (Neh. 6:16). This statement may appear as an anticlimax. Announced without fanfare, it indicates that problems remained, as seen in Chapter 6.

We often begin projects with enthusiasm and precision but struggle to finish due to energy depletion. This leads to fatigue, frustration, and the temptation to quit, a phenomenon known as “hitting the wall,” causing a sudden loss of momentum.

How can Christians make a difference in society today?
Let us look at Nehemiah 5 by breaking it down into three parts.

Interspersed between two chapters on building, Nehemiah 5 deals with internal conflict and frustration and centres on Nehemiah’s work on justice.

Meeting opposition is a basic part of living out our faith every day. We should accept it and not be surprised by it. Jesus never faltered in his mission, despite strong opposition and even in the face of death.

In this sermon series on Nehemiah, it’s crucial to remember that we are designed to work from a place of rest. Neglecting regular Sabbath observance means rejecting God’s intended rhythm of work and rest.

God is in the business of working through people to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

The people of Jerusalem came together to rebuild the city walls. Though God’s name isn’t mentioned, He was deeply involved, using different people in the rebuilding efforts.

Nehemiah’s plans worked from conviction to commission through contemplation.

In Nehemiah 1, we read about how Nehemiah received a compelling burden after hearing Hanani’s report of Jerusalem in ruin. Nehemiah was so moved that he mourned, fasted, and prayed. This week, we look at how Nehemiah acted.