1. IMPACT!
Get Ready!
Get Set!
Go!

2. Remember when you were young and you had a race....

3. Get Ready!
Get Set!
Go!

4. Became a way of sending Yourself off on a Great Challenge!

5. Get Ready! The Challenge of Nehemiah!
In the middle of the 5th century BC, the Bible tells of such a moment!

6. 4 “Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request
4 “Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.’” Nehemiah 2:4-5

7. “So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days
“So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. 13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate…

8. …to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night…

9. …by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. 17 Then I said to them…

10. ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.’ 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of…

11. …the king’s words that he had spoken to me
…the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work.” Nehemiah 2:11-18

12. The Opportunity to Purchase the Parking Lot!
Get Ready!
Our Challenge!
The Opportunity to Purchase the Parking Lot!

13. The Loss of One of Our Most Beloved and Supportive Benefactors!
Get Ready!
Our Challenge!
The Loss of One of Our Most Beloved and Supportive Benefactors!

14. Get Set!
How Do We Proceed?
Together!

15. Together!
“So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work’” Nehemiah 2:18b

16. Go!
IMPACT!
Every Person Matters!
Every Person Counts!

17. Go!
1 “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it…

18. …and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 Next to Eliashib the men of…

19. …Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built
…Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. 3 Also the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars...” Nehemiah 3:1-3

20. Will You “Set Your Hands” Along with Your FirstSarasota family…
Go!
Will You “Set Your Hands” Along with Your FirstSarasota family…

21. Go!
…Its Pastors, & Staff, Deacons, Trustees, Members and Friends to meet this challenge?

22. “...I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.”
Nehemiah 2:12b

23. Over the Next few Sundays I Will Be Sharing How You Can…
Go!
Over the Next few Sundays I Will Be Sharing How You Can…

24. How You can make an IMPACT for Christ!
Discover
How You can make an IMPACT for Christ!

25. Discover
How You MATTER
to Christ!

26. How You Can COUNT for Christ!
Discover
How You Can COUNT for Christ!

27. IMPACT!
Get Ready!
Get Set!
Go!