Nehemiah 3:1-32, “Ordinary People”

Intro: What does a long list of Hebrew names have to do with us today? More than we think. This message from Nehemiah 3 illustrates how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Nehemiah 3:1-32

1. History is important. We should honor those who have labored before us.

• Psalm 145:4
• How did I come to know Christ? God used some regular / imperfect people to build a wall that stretched to me.
• The arrogance of younger Christians and younger churches is really staggering.
• We should strive for “Generational generosity.”
• We are not reacting against tradition here. We are responding to Jesus.

2. It takes all different types of people.

• The Goldsmith and Perfumer (two very different types probably) work right next to each other on the wall! (Nehemiah 3:8).

3. Some people just consume they don’t contribute.

• Certain nobles would not stoop to serve the Lord (Nehemiah 3:5). Although that specific problem of snobby rich people is not a problem for us at CrossPointe, we do need to guard against creating a culture in which people consume but are never pushed to contribute.

4. Doing inglorious work faithfully brings great glory to God.

• Malchijah prepared the Dung Gate. That was the place that all the refuse and garbage was taken. It was an undesirable job, but somebody had to do it. (Nehemiah 3:14).
• The NIV says in Nehemiah 3:20 that Baruch worked “zealously” on his part of the wall. 
• Colossians 3:23 

5. Finish what you start.

• They started at the Sheep Gate and finished at the Sheep Gate. 
• Philippians 1:6 & Philippians 2:12-13. 

6. God uses ordinary people!

• Ephesians 2:8-10.