Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

Stand up! Speak up! Lift up!

One simply cannot overestimate the value of the Word of God. Its importance necessitates a front-and-center spot in our lives. It should be declared faithfully, respected sincerely, and received worshipfully. And you might be surprised by what worship looks like! Listen in.

Building lives

The important work—the long-game work—of ministry is the building of lives. Although the work is strenuous, wall-building is relatively straightforward. People-building? Not so much. But when the Word of God is laid stone by stone, and the mortar of a willing spirit is applied, lives can become strong!

What is this wall for?

For Nehemiah, it was never about the wall. The wall was only significant in that it provided safe environs for what would happen inside of it. How many churches have become sidetracked with the inanimate—buildings, programs, websites, etc.—and have lost the central purpose? Let’s worship God and love/serve/protect the people He has given us!

Success is one of your loudest defenders

Nehemiah learned this! Let them talk. Let them criticize. Let them spread the deception. But 52 days after beginning the project, the wall was completed! But don’t assume the criticism ended. It didn’t. But success turned criticism’s volume way down!

Dirty religious politics

Shady politicians have an endgame: power and popularity. And they have a method: control and deception. Adding religion to the game doesn’t change it; it simply raises the stakes. Learn how Nehemiah sees right through the political “man of God.”

Social media assassination

Long before Facebook or Twitter, Sanballat figured out how to go “public” with inaccurate information. “If I can’t get Nehemiah to bend, I’ll use media to pervert public opinion.” And it worked! Kind of…

Sidetracked = Off track

One of the easiest ways to become sidetracked is to spend all of your time and energy justifying your work to people who won’t support you anyway. Their repeated efforts can be erosive, so it’s helpful to have a preset answer and to stick with it!

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should

Leadership has its perks. Nehemiah knew this. And no one could have legitimately blamed him for enjoying them. But his motivation was higher! What ruled his decision making? What dominated his thinking process?

Breaking up a fight

Whether it’s a playground fight or a “Christian” disagreement, leaders need to confront disunity among the brethren. Consider the six-step process Nehemiah used to do just that. He was pretty worked up about it too!

Brethren vs. Brethren

Christians have real enemies, but those enemies often don’t need to work at all. We do a pretty good job of destroying ourselves without them! Desperate times should promote unity among the brethren; instead they frequently demonstrate our carnal tendency to profit from the hurts of others.