The Birth of a Ministry

Nehemiah 1-6

Where are ministries born?  How do they begin?  Who starts ministries?  The most successful ministries often are not started by hired ministers but by the congregation members.  God gives special tasks to special people at special times.  What has to happen for God to birth a ministry?

  I.     Ministries are Birthed by Awareness  Nehemiah 1:1-3

You will seldom care deeply about something you don’t see.

 II.     Ministries are Birthed by Prayer - Nehemiah 1:4-11

A. Prayer that is intense v.4

B. Prayer that is informed v.5-7

·  It Is Informed About Who God Is v.5

·  It Is Informed About Who Man Is v.6b-7

·  It Is Informed About God’s Promises v.8-11

III.     Ministries are Birthed by a Burden - Nehemiah 2:1-8

·     Received through contact with God 

·     Reflected in the course of his life

IV.     Ministries are Birthed by a Vision- Nehemiah 2:11-20

A. A Realistic Vision of the Work v.11-15

B. A Godly Vision of the Accomplishment v.17-18

C. A Confirmed Vision Accepted by Others v.18b

V.     Ministries are Implemented by Cooperative Labor -
Nehemiah 3:4-6

A. There is Fellowship with One Another in Labor.

B. There is Expectation of One Another in Labor.

VI.     Ministries are Implemented by Sacrifice - Nehemiah 5

A. Unequal Sacrifice Created Problems v.1-11

B. A Shared Sacrifice v.12-13

C. Leadership Sets the Example v.14-16

VII.     Ministries Require Conquering Spirits - Nehemiah 6:1-14

The Attacks

·     Maintaining Priorities  v.1-4

·     Ignoring Rumors v.5-8

·     Supporting Leaders v. 9-14

VIII.     Ministries are Accomplished - Nehemiah 6:15-16

A. In God's Time v.15

B. To God's Glory v.16