1. { U-TURN I want to change for the better

2.  Can you think of someone who has changed and become a better person?  Can you tell me about someone in today’s Gospel who has changed? I WANT TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

3.  Is book of Nehemiah in Old Testament or New Testament?  Which book in the Bible do you find the story of Nehemiah? Nehemiah, the Tirshatha

4.  Nehemiah = God’s compassion  Tirshatha = governor (a Persian word) Nehemiah, the Tirshatha

5. Northern Kingdom: The Kingdom of Israel Capital: Samaria Southern Kingdom: The Kingdom of Judah Capital: Jerusalem Nehemiah was from Southern Kingdom

6.  Both kingdoms went into captivity. The Northern Kingdom was taken captive first under the Assyrian empire  and soon after, the Southern Kingdom was taken captive by the Babylonians.  After a period of a Babylonian captivity, the Persian Empire arose, which was more powerful.

7. Sheshbazzar & Zerubabbel Rebuilding the Temple

8. Ezra, the priest Religious Reforms

9. Nehemiah, the Tirshatha................

10. What do you think you would need when you need to make change?

11. The means (intension) and the resources FROM GOD knowing that without God’s help and grace, nothing can be achieved. (example: Psalm 2)

12. Strong Will from Within

13. What Would You Do First?

14. When You Pray: 1. Praise 2. Thanksgiving 3. Repentance 4. Request

15. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (Nehemiah 1:11) MEMORY VERSE

16. After many days of fasting and prayer, Nehemiah went to the king... (To Be Continued... NEXT WEEK!)

17. Preview: 1.How Nehemiah talks to the king, and the king’s reaction 2.How Nehemiah faces the various objection in Jerusalem 3.How Nehemiah faces his enemies and overcomes the enemy 4.And we will learn how to change other people from Nehemiah!

18. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (Nehemiah 1:11) MEMORY VERSE