In this week’s message, we discover through Nehemiah’s call to confession that the Christian life begins and continues with repentance—not simply admitting individual sins, but surrendering our desire to be in control and acknowledging that God alone is Lord. As we wrestle honestly with the parts of Scripture that challenge us most, we’re reminded that Christ faithfully transforms us by His grace, one step at a time.

Primary Texts

• Nehemiah — The sermon centers on Nehemiah and the return from exile, emphasizing the people's confession, repentance, and recommitment to God after rebuilding Jerusalem's walls.
• Ezra — Referenced alongside Nehemiah as the account of Israel's return from Babylon, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the spiritual renewal of God's people.

Specific Scripture Passages

• The Gospel According to Luke 18:9–14 — The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
  • The Pharisee's self-righteous prayer.
  • The tax collector's humble confession.
• Pastor Scott uses this as the model of true repentance: acknowledging that God is God and we are not.
• Deuteronomy 6:4–9 — The Shema:
• "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."
• This passage illustrates that confession begins with placing God—not ourselves—at the center of life.
• The Gospel According to Matthew 4:17 (alluded to) — Jesus' call to "Repent," which Martin Luther cites in the opening of the Ninety-five Theses to argue that the entire Christian life is one of repentance.
• Genesis 32:22–32 — Jacob wrestling with God.
• Used as an image for how believers wrestle with difficult passages of Scripture and are transformed through that struggle.