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We’ve spent a long time re-living Ezra and Nehemiah’s stories. You would think it would end in success. Surely, all those efforts must end well.

Except they don’t. Good intentions need to be undergirded with law.

Does it always need to be like that? Jesus suggested otherwise. He gives a new imagination to see things differently and his Spirit so that we can live in these ways.

It’s a common cycle. We have a profound experience with God and we make big promises. And then it all goes wrong.

Why does that happen and how can we break out of that familiar pattern?

Is there a better way?

There’s more to church than buildings.

There’s more to a city than security.

There is joy.

And if a church or city is going to build for the future, they need to build on the joy that God gives generously.

Keeping going is hard. There are so many things that are likely to distract us and tempt us to give up.

Nehemiah knew that experience all those years ago. And the way he dealt with it is still helpful to us today.

How can reminding ourselves of our covenant relationships help us to see the bigger picture when we face opposition from within?