Nehemiah #3 - The Problem with Happily Ever After // Chris Holm

Sermon Summary:
In this final installment of our Nehemiah series, we explore what happens after the seemingly perfect ending of Jerusalem's wall being rebuilt. After 12 years of successful leadership, Nehemiah returns to his position in Susa, only to discover years later that everything he built is falling apart. The temple is compromised, worship is neglected, and the people have broken their covenants. Rather than accepting defeat, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and takes dramatic action - including throwing out temple squatters and confronting those who broke their vows. Through this unusual ending, we learn that spiritual progress requires constant vigilance and intentional maintenance. The sermon connects this ancient story to our modern struggle of maintaining spiritual victories and the importance of persevering in intentionality. We explore Paul's teachings in Ephesians about walking wisely and understanding that while no one plans to fail, many fail to plan not to. The message concludes with various New Testament exhortations to perseverance, reminding us that spiritual growth is a daily journey requiring consistent, intentional effort.

Discussion Questions:

1. What areas of your life have you seen "deteriorate" after periods of victory? How do you typically respond?
2. How do you balance between being patient with progress and being forceful against regression?
3. What's your reaction to Nehemiah's intense response to finding the temple compromised? Was his anger justified? 
   
4. In what ways do you find yourself "drifting from intentional holiness"?
5. What specific practices help you maintain spiritual victories in your life?How can we apply the principle of "persevering in intentionality" to our daily lives?​