Lesson 23 – Teaching Outline

Scott Neubauer – Teacher

  1. Introduction: God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Purposes
    1. Medal of Honor recipients were ordinary soldiers who became extraordinary through acts of valor
    2. Nehemiah 11-12 contains lists of ordinary people used by God for extraordinary purposes
      1. Local leaders, singers, temple servants, and priests
      2. People who likely never thought their actions were noteworthy
      3. Similar to anonymous biblical figures like the servant girl who helped Naaman (2 Kings 5), the woman at the well (John 4), and the repentant thief on the cross (Luke 23)
    3. Key Truth: God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans
  2. Review of Nehemiah’s Journey So Far
    1. Chapter 1: Nehemiah poured out his heart to God for the people
    2. Chapter 2: Nehemiah pled with the king to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls
    3. Chapter 3: Organization and beginning of construction
    4. Chapter 4: Opposition and response to it
    5. Chapter 5: Internal strife and overcoming it
    6. Chapter 6: Dealing with assassination attempt and completing the wall
    7. Chapter 7: Genealogy and generosity of the people
    8. Chapter 8: Ezra read the law and the people responded in faith
    9. Chapter 9: Confession of sins and repentance
    10. Chapter 10: Written covenant about future living
  3. Who: The People and Their Settlement (Nehemiah 11:1-12:26)
    1. Physical limitations of Jerusalem
      1. Area inside walls was only about 60 acres, shaped like a spatula
      2. Two-thirds of a mile in length, 1200 feet across
      3. Temple located near the top center, surrounded by rebuilt gates
      4. City was still a mess with construction materials and burned rubble
    2. Settlement arrangement
      1. Leaders chose to live in Jerusalem as a sacrifice
      2. One-tenth of remaining people chosen by lots to live in the city
      3. Everyone else lived in surrounding areas and towns
      4. People blessed those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:2)
    3. No recorded arguments or divisive disagreements in the resettlement process
    4. Various roles listed: priests, Levites, musicians, singers, temple servants, praise leaders, gatekeepers
    5. Key Truth: It took everyone to restore the city and the temple
  4. What: The Dedication and Service (Nehemiah 12:27-47)
    1. The dedication of the wall
      1. Purpose: to celebrate with gladness, thanksgiving, singing, cymbals, harps, and lyres (Nehemiah 12:27)
      2. Required logistical planning and spiritual preparation
      3. Priests and Levites purified themselves, the people, the gates, and the wall (Nehemiah 12:30)
      4. Two groups processional around the wall using antiphonal worship style from David and Asaph’s tradition
      5. Great sacrifices offered and great joy that God initiated in their hearts (Nehemiah 12:43)
      6. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away
    2. Service in the temple
      1. Restored traditions from David and Solomon’s time
      2. Provided for Levites, singers, and gatekeepers
      3. Ensured continuity of service to the Lord and purification according to the law
  5. Why: The Foundation of True Worship
    1. Worship is our response to God for what He has done in and through Jesus
      1. God is the initiator, not a reactionary
      2. His plan revealed in the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3)
      3. The return from exile was God’s fulfillment of His 1600-year-old promise
      4. Their great joy was a response to God’s initiative
    2. Worship is grounded in truth, not emotions or circumstances
      1. Based on who God is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
      2. Founded on the Gospel truth of salvation from sin and secure eternal future
      3. When grounded in Gospel truth, hearts respond naturally with great joy and thanksgiving
    3. Unity within the body is essential for worship
      1. No recorded disagreements or dysfunction among the people in Nehemiah’s account
      2. Paul’s emphasis on unity in multiple letters (1 Corinthians 1:10, 12; Philippians 2:2; Romans 12)
      3. Ephesians 4:1-3 pattern for unity: humility, gentleness, patience, bearing one another in love
  6. Application and Reflection
    1. Personal examination questions
      1. How am I doing with humility and gentleness in my relationships with family, coworkers, and neighbors?
      2. How am I bearing with people around me – with criticism and scorn, or with patience and encouragement?
    2. Key Truth: Unity among followers of Jesus is directly tied to our worship of God
    3. When we remember God’s grace toward us and extend that same grace to others, we can worship together with great joy

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