Nehemiah: Memoirs of an Ordinary Man
Overview
Although he would never have volunteered for model status, Nehemiah’s life was just that. He probably would have argued that the spotlight should shine on some other more deserving saint, but he would have been wrong.
As you dust off the memoirs of this ordinary man, you will be inspired to serve the faithful God that Nehemiah served so faithfully. You will be in awe of the God who led Nehemiah to attempt extraordinary things for His power and glory, and in deep appreciation for the man who led the people of God, humbly, yet so courageously.
Logos Bible Software dramatically improves the value of any resource by enabling you to find what you are looking for instantly and with unbelievable precision. As you are reading the Nehemiah: Memoirs of an Ordinary Man, you can easily search and access topics or Scripture references you come across, for example, "restoration" or "Susa."
- Studies the character and works of Nehemiah
- Illustrates how God produces transformational leaders
Top Highlights
“So the church of our generation promises that the consumer will be satisfied rather than that God will be satisfied. If this is true, then God is no longer the audience of our worship, the audience has become ‘god.’ And the church is feverishly trying to make this new god happy, comfortable, and satisfied.” (Page 141)
“Worship seeks the pleasure of God above all else. Selfish people want to be noticed by people. Nehemiah wanted to be noticed only by God.” (Page 111)
“we find him approaching his finest hour. So far, the battle has been invisible” (Page 50)
This biography revives the hopes of the C student, the ordinary Christian who can redress wrongs, overcome foes, and become an influence for God.
—Dr. Eugene J. Peterson, Retired Professor, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
Stephen Davey has one eye on the text of Scripture, and the other on us as he brings the story of Nehemiah across the centuries into our lives and hearts.
—Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Senior Pastor, Moody Church
He reminds us that God is the real hero in the book of Nehemiah as He uses garden variety people to produce transformational leaders.
—Dr. James E. Jeffery, President, Baptist Bible College and Seminary
Thoroughly biblical and relevant to a 21st century context, this book will be a great encouragement to all who turn its pages.
—Dr. Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Title: Nehemiah: Memoirs of an Ordinary Man
- Author: Stephen Davey
- Publisher: Ambassador
- Publication Date: 2005
- Pages: vi, 192
Reviews
3 ratings
Jim L
8/7/2013
Phil Niebergall
7/30/2013
Russ White
2/16/2012
Have you ever wondered whether or not you're making an impact in the world? Whether or not just one person, like you, can ever make a real difference? If so, Pastor Davey has a message for you from Nehemiah: <em>you matter.</em> Dr. Davey lays his book out in the order of the text itself, introducing Nehemiah within his historical context in the first chapter. Within this chapter, he also lays out the value of studying the book of Nehemiah, an often overlooked piece of the Scriptures. Once past the introduction, he moves into Nehemiah's discovery of the state of Jerusalem. Here he emphasizes not just the humiliation to Israel, but also to God, and his witness on the face of the Earth. Prayer is the topic of the third chapter —how did Nehemiah pray, and how can this guide us in our prayers today? This section will be extremely helpful for anyone who wonders about the point of prayer, and what the focus of prayer should be. In chapter four, Dr. Davey spends time talking about the combination of prayer and preparation in Nehemiah's life. When the king sent Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem, he didn't just rush out to get to the work —he presented a well laid out plan he had obviously put thought in to. Chapter five and six deal with the construction process, and the challenges Nehemiah faced in starting the building. Chapter eight is my personal favorite in the book. Here Dr. Davey talks about the power of words. He contrasts the worldly saying, "Stick and Stones.." with the reality of the hurt the words of those opposing Nehemiah caused. Dealing with the hurt and setbacks of words is often more painful than we want to admit; Nehemiah provides help for those who are dealing with this problem. Chapter eight deals with the temptation to rest easy when we feel like we're making good progress, and chapter nine with the attacks against Nehemiah as a person. This little tome cuts the line between commentary and devotional, spending considerable time in leading the reader to understand the text, and then applying what the text says to everyday life. While it's not to the depth of a "real" theology book, the application sections make you slow down and think about how Nehemiah's life really applies to your own. "Today we have lost sight of what it takes to qualify a man or woman for the role of restorer and re-builder. Popularity, connections, personality, experience—these have all replaced the necessary quality that shines in the life of this ordinary man. The missing qualification that makes an ordinary person extraordinary is character. -Page 4" Character, indeed. Recommended.
