More Than a Memory Foundations: Preparing for More Pastor Kile Baker September 21st, 2025 Spiritual Discipline: Engaging with Scripture Nehemiah 1:7-9 We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell. History Recap - Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah 605 BC — First deportation to Babylon (Daniel and others taken). 597 BC — Second deportation to Babylon (Ezekiel taken). 586 BC — Jerusalem destroyed, temple burned, final deportation under Nebuchadnezzar. 539 BC — Babylon falls to Persia (Cyrus the Great). 538 BC — Cyrus allows Jews to return (Ezra 1:1–4; 2 Chron. 36:22–23). 538/537 BC — Zerubbabel leads the first group back into Jerusalem, and begins rebuilding the temple. Completed in 516 BC (Ezra 6). 458BC — Ezra, during the reign of Artaxerxes, reintroduces God’s scripture. 445 BC — Nehemiah serves Artaxerxes and returns to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah 2:1-8 During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 2 so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear 3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire? ” 4 Then the king asked me, “What is your request?” So I prayed to the God of the heavens 5 and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” 6 The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return? ” So I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me. 7 I also said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let me have letters written to the governors of the region west of the Euphrates River, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. 8 And let me have a letter written to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to rebuild the gates of the temple’s fortress, the city wall, and the home where I will live.” The king granted my requests, for the gracious hand of my God was on me. Three reasons to drink deeply from scripture: Scripture reminds us of God’s promises. Scripture reframes our purpose in life. Scripture renews our faithfulness to God. Additional Scripture: Philippians 4:13, Psalm 118:1 Next Steps: Join us in reading, studying, and meditating on Nehemiah. Join a group and discuss Nehemiah with others. Join in on celebrating baptisms today.