Calvary Albuquerque with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

No Christian ever plans on backsliding, that is, moving away from Christ. Yet it happens. The prophet Jeremiah even admitted, “Our backslidings are many” (Jeremiah 14:7). Sometimes, a city can be in shambles because the lives of its people are in shambles. Nehemiah left Jerusalem for a short time and returned to find the people had gone back to practicing their old ways. Let’s consider four mistakes they made and how to prevent them from happening to us.I. Misplace Your Bible (vv. 1-3)II. Misalign Your Companions (vv. 4-9)III. Misarrange Your Priorities (vv. 10-22)IV. Mismanage Your Family (vv. 23-24)Talk with God: Prayerfully consider the people you turn to for encouragement and advice. Are you surrounding yourself with strong, healthy believers who will sharpen you (see Proverbs 27:17) and urge you to grow in your faith?Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to hold you accountable to pray and spend time in the Word daily as you recommit to a habit or create a new one.Talk with kids: How did Gid

Last week we eavesdropped on the worship service of ancient Israel as they gathered to dedicate their city and their future to God. We noticed four characteristics of their worship: It was biblical, it was vocal, it was musical, and it was joyful. Today we continue with four more.V. Their Worship Was Thankful (vv. 27, 31, 38, 46)VI. Their Worship Was Communal (v. 43)VII. Their Worship Was Powerful (vv. 42b, 43b)VIII. Their Worship Was Physical (v. 43)Talk with God: Meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and thank the Lord for His provision and direction in your life.Talk with others: Encourage a friend or family member who’s recently been struggling to continue faithfully in their walk through a difficult season.Talk with kids: Who received the praise and glory for Israel’s victory over their enemies? Why?

“The whole you needs worship—and the part of you that will live forever needs it most,” wrote Robert McIntyre. Nehemiah chapter 12 describes the worship of God’s people who had gathered to dedicate the newly rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. This week and next week we will eavesdrop on their worship service and discover how we should worship when we assemble together.I. Their Worship Was Biblical (v. 24)II. Their Worship Was Vocal (vv. 27-30, 43)III. Their Worship Was Musical (vv. 27b, 35-36, 41)IV. Their Worship Was Joyful (vv. 27, 43)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your heart that’s holding you back from authentic worship and a deeper relationship with Him.Talk with others: Share your favorite worship album or playlist with your Connect Group or a believing friend or family member this week.Talk with kids: How is Jesus better than the judges in the story?

Jerusalem was not the most popular place to live. Most people preferred to live elsewhere—in outlying towns and villages. It was more expensive to be in the city, and safety was a big concern. In this section there are some vital but often-forgotten principles about God’s city, God’s people, and God’s work. Let’s glean some of these important lessons from the city planners.I. All Places Are Significant; This Place Is Sacred (v. 1)II. Projects Are Important; People Are More Important (vv. 3-36)III. Ability Is Good; Availability Is Better (v. 2)IV. Work Is Practical; Worship Is Vital (vv. 22-24)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to provide opportunities for you to pour into His people this week.Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer if they’ve noticed anything in your life that might hinder the Lord’s desire to work through you.Talk with kids: How has Jesus defeated our enemies: sin and death?

When your values are clear, making decisions becomes easy. After generations of failure, God’s people finally realized what was most important in life, so they made a list of things they were committed to changing. Their heartfelt prayer in chapter nine led to heartfelt priorities in chapter ten. Let’s explore how they committed to change in these four areas of life.I. Scriptural Authority (vv. 28-29)II. Relational Purity (v. 30)III. Spiritual Regularity (v. 31)IV. Financial Responsibility (vv. 32-39)Talk with God: Spend time in prayer as you consider each of these areas in your own life and ask the Lord to reveal areas you need to re-prioritize.Talk with others: Ask your mentor or a trusted fellow believer to provide accountability as you refresh your priorities.Talk with kids: How does Jesus save us from the punishment our sin deserves?

The purpose of prayer is not to inform God of our needs but to invite Him to rule our lives. After a national revival broke out in Jerusalem during a Bible study, the people gathered again for prayer. Let’s notice a few key elements that make for an effective experience of communicating with God.I. They Looked Up: Adoration (vv. 5-6)II. They Looked Back: Reflection (vv. 7-35)III. They Looked Within: Confession (v. 37)IV. They Looked Around: Petition (vv. 32-37)V. They Looked Ahead: Submission (v. 38)

In Philippians 3, Paul reminded believers that real joy isn't found in religious performance, but in knowing Jesus personally. He warned against those who put their confidence in the flesh. True righteousness doesn't come from what we do for God, but from what God has done for us through Jesus.

The nation of Israel was back in its homeland once again after the Babylonian captivity. The walls of the city of Jerusalem had been repaired and rebuilt. But something was missing. The spiritual hunger of the nation now demanded a clear word from the Lord. As they gathered together, we see five clear signs of how this nation was transformed, experiencing a real revival.I. Realization: They Knew They Needed More (vv. 1-2)II. Reading: They Heard the Word of God (vv. 3-8)III. Remorse: They Mourned Over Their Failure (vv. 9-10)IV. Rejoicing: They Felt the Joy of the Lord (vv. 11-12)V. Results: They Obeyed God’s Commands (vv. 13-18)Talk with God: Take an honest look at your daily walk this week and ask the Lord to refresh your heart and revive your passion for His Word.Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to encourage you to spend time in the Word each day and keep you accountable.Talk with kids: Why did God tell Joshua to be strong and courageous?

Pastor Art Reyes stepped out to plant a home Bible study in Rosemead, California in 2014. Soon after, it became known as Alive Christian Fellowship, a vibrant young church that began to grow and meet the needs in San Gabriel Valley. Currently Pastor Art is the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Downey. He has a passion for the exposition of God’s Word and a desire to see lives transformed because of it. He serves the Lord joined by his wife Briana and three kids, Caleb, Micah, and Moriah.I. The Right Attitude (v. 24)II. The Right Motivation (v. 25)III. The Right Commitment (vv. 26-27)

What if the most overlooked chapter in Nehemiah is actually the loudest proof that God keeps His promises? Nehemiah 7 isn’t just a list of names—it’s a receipt of God’s faithfulness and a record that He finishes what He starts. In a world full of broken promises, this chapter invites us to trust the One who never forgets, never fails, and never leaves His people behind.I. God Finishes What He StartsII. God Remembers Every NameIII. God Moves Hearts to RespondTalk with God: Meditate on Philippians 1:6 this week as you praise the God who will complete the work He’s doing in you.Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer to rest in the knowledge that the Lord “will sustain [them] to the end” (1 Corinthians 1:8).Talk with kids: Why is complaining a sin?

I. The Wall Was Finished, but the Work Wasn’t OverII. The Enemy Was Intimidated, but Not RepentantIII. The Victory Was Visible, but the Attacks Became SubtleTalk with God: Meditate on Romans 8:31-39 and spend time in worship as you are reminded that “God is for [you].”Talk with others: Ask your Connect Group or believing friends and family members how you can support them in their walk this week.Talk with kids: Why can we always trust God?