Archive: ‘Education’

Sermon, 3.1.09
“The Sword and the Trowel”
Rev. Erik Bonkovsky
Nehemiah 4:15-23
Famous preacher Charles Spurgeon had a magazine called The Sword and the Trowel, and that phrase sums up the passage we’re studying today.
Trowel work
We need to engage in real work.  It’s good, and God has called us to it.   It’s hard and painstaking sometimes.  Often we think [...]

Sermon, 2.22.09
“Fighting Without.  Fears Within.”
Rev. Erik Bonkovsky
Nehemiah 4:1-14
Our story this week opens with Sanballat jeering at the Jews for attempting to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.  Not only were Sanballat’s attacks demoralizing to the workers, but they were also attacks on God.  God’s instructions were to rebuild the city, and this man was questioning both the plan, [...]

Sermon, 1.25.2009
“The Reason Why”
Rev. Steve Constable
Titus 2:11-15
God’s desire to be a part of our lives and to offer us his grace is what sets us apart.  Contrary to the billboard that says “Don’t make me come down there. — God,” he has already come down here.  In an unfathomable act of grace, God reached out [...]

Sermon, 1.18.2009.
“Nehemiah’s Calling”
Rev. Erik Bonkovsky
Nehemiah 1:8-11
What are the characteristics of Nehemiah’s calling?  Nehemiah’s calling:

Is dependent on his circumstances.
Nehemiah is among the Jews that have been scattered away from their homeland.  What skills does he have; what is he able to do for Israel?  His role as an Israelite is to return to Jerusalem and pour [...]

Sermon, 1.11.2009
“Nehemiah’s Prayer”
Rev. Erik Bonkovsky
Nehemiah 1:4-11
When we last left him, Nehemiah had just heard about the brokendown state that Israel was in.  What is Nehemiah’s immediate and sustained response to trouble?  Prayer.  Instead of trying to “fix” things (as we often do), he “sat down and wept and mourned for days,” and “continued fasting and [...]