In Nehemiah 1:11, he ends his prayer with a very specific request, notice what it is,
"11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
(Nehemiah 1:11, NIV)
“The man” Nehemiah is talking about is the King of Persia, Artaxerxes, the most powerful person in the whole world at that time. And here Nehemiah is asking for God to grant him favor and we’ll see in the coming chapters that Nehemiah will ask him for permission to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
And this is why chapter 1 ends this way, "I was cupbearer to the king." Nehemiah begins to see there’s an opportunity for him, and he is willing to put himself on the line. He is willing to leave the comforts of the palace and go to the ruins and work on this problem himself. He was willing to sacrifice the security of Persia and move to the dangerous territory of Jerusalem, a city with no protection.
Why does Nehemiah do that? The answer is because he was a man with a dislocated heart. Which leads us to point and important aspect of Nehemiah which is the position of Nehemiah
You see, Nehemiah’s not just asking God to solve the problem, He’s asking God to allow Him to be part of the solution. And so after this prayer, he stands up with confidence and he begins to see, this was the opportunity God placed before him, and here he is going to do something about it and here he realizes that this was his life’s calling.
Nehemiah cared enough to volunteer. Nehemiah didn’t just care enough to ask, weep, pray, he also cared enough to volunteer. And the rest of Nehemiah tells that story and it’s amazing. After decades of the city being in ruins, he completes this entire project in 52 days! 52 days! Incredible. We will get there in the coming chapters.
MBC's Bible Engagement Plan
MBC’s Bible Engagement Plan: Isaiah – From Ruin to Redemption
As a church community, our desire is to move from hearing God’s Word to living it out daily. This Bible Engagement Plan is designed to help us walk through Isaiah together in a weekly rhythm that deepens our understanding while also cultivating habits of daily reading and reflection.
- LISTEN TO THE SUNDAY SERMON
Each week begins with the Pastor’s Sunday sermon on a passage from Isaiah and includes
- Pastor’s Outline: A guide to follow along and take notes. We also suggest picking up the Isaiah scripture journal from the Welcome Center.
- Discussion Questions: Provided to encourage reflection and conversation in small groups, families, or personal study. If you are not already part of a small group, consider joining one this Fall: Click here to explore one of MBC’s small groups
- READ AND REFLECT ON THE WEEKLY PLAN
Monday through Saturday, follow the suggested reading plan outlined in the Saturday eNews Bulletin. As you read and reflect on your passage each day, ask these two guiding questions and jot down your thoughts in your Isaiah journal.
- What does this passage reveal about God—His character, His purposes, or His promises?
- How should I respond in light of what I’ve read—through trust, obedience, repentance, or worship?
- MEMORIZE THE WEEKLY KEY VERSE
Every week, one key verse from the sermon will be highlighted for memory. You are invited to use the free Bible Memory app and join the “Millington Baptist Church” Bible memorization group: Click here to join
- READ AND REFLECT ON THE PASTOR’S DEVOTIONAL BLOG
Each Wednesday, one of our pastors will share a devotional expanding on the sermon theme helping to connect Isaiah’s message to everyday life.
Why This Rhythm Matters
- Immersion: This plan helps you engage learning in multiple ways—hearing, reading, memorizing, and reflecting—so you gain a richer understanding of Isaiah’s message.
- Transformation in Community: Discussion questions and shared readings create space for us to learn together and nurture application of the biblical principles into our daily lives.
Questions or comments?
Contact Amy Huber, Director of Discipleship and Connections: ahuber@millingtonbaptist.org
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Pastor Bob Erbig and Pastor Dave Hentschel
