Here To Stay: Brick By Brick

February 16th, 2025/Casey Middle School

Introduction: Last week, we launched our series 'Here to Stay' and explored how we’re called to root ourselves deeply, persevere through every season, and trust God’s long-term plan. Today, we’re going deeper. *Share a little more detail about One Fund & Campaign focus areas.

Title: Brick by Brick.

Because let’s be real—nothing great is built overnight.

Lasting legacies aren’t made in one massive moment.
They’re built brick by brick—through faith, through sacrifice, through obedience.

And that’s what we’re talking about today.

What if God placed you in this church, in this city, in this season—because there’s a wall He’s calling you to help build?

What if Here to Stay isn’t just about Pinewood’s future, but about your faith growing in ways you never expected?

Passage: Nehemiah 2:17-18 CSB
17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me.They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened to do this good work.

Pray:

Background:

Jerusalem had been destroyed in 586 B.C., and the Jewish people were taken into exile. By 445 B.C., under the rule of King Artaxerxes of Persia, some had returned to the city—but the walls remained in ruins, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable.

Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the king, heard of their suffering and was deeply burdened—not just for the broken walls, but for the broken people.

Though Nehemiah held a position of trust, he was still an exiled Jew, a servant in a foreign land. Yet he was willing to risk everything to be part of God’s restoration plan. He sought permission to return and rebuild the walls, not as a personal mission, but as a response to God’s call.

Nehemiah asked the king for two things:

• Permission to go
• Provision for the work

Yet God did above and beyond what Nehemiah requested:

• Protection – The king gave him letters of authority for safe passage.
• Provision – Access to timber from the royal forest.
• People – The king sent officers and cavalry to support him.

This moment reminds us: We often ask too small. Either pride keeps us from believing it's possible, or doubt keeps us from believing God will do it. But when God gives a vision, He provides for it… more than enough.

Main Points:

1. Vision Begins With A Burden

   1. “so the king said to me, “Why do you look so sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear 3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” - Nehemiah 2:2-3
   2. A Holy Discontent That Won’t Let You Stay the Same
      1. Every great work of God begins with a burden—a weight on your heart that refuses to settle for the way things are. Nehemiah wasn’t just frustrated about a wall. His heart was broken for a people living in shame, vulnerability, and fear.
      2. A burden isn’t just an emotional reaction; it’s a holy discontent. It’s the kind of fire in your bones that won’t let you sit still.
      3. Illust: It’s what makes a firefighter run toward the flames when everyone else is running away.
      4. Nehemiah felt this weight so deeply that it changed his countenance. The king could see it on his face. This wasn’t a passing frustration—it was something that consumed him.
   3. What About You?

      1. Nehemiah wept over the ruins of his city. What ruins do you see in our city?

         1. Is it families struggling under the weight of brokenness?
         2. Is it a generation that feels lost, searching for meaning in all the wrong places?
         3. Is it the weight of spiritual apathy, where people don’t even realize they need God?
         4. Is it the youth in are city searching for a place to belong? 2. If you’ve ever looked at Boulder and thought, “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be”—that might be the very burden God is placing on your heart. 3. Your burden is the seed of your calling. 4. It’s the spark of something much greater God wants to accomplish in your life.
            4. From Burden to Action
               1. But here’s the thing—a burden alone isn’t enough. Nehemiah didn’t just sit with it. He prayed, he planned, and he gathered people. He knew one person can’t build a wall alone.
               2. The same is true for us. If the walls are going to rise, the people have to rise too.
               3. And today, God is asking you: What is the burden that moves you? And what will you do about it?
            5. Transition: Nehemiah’s vision didn’t stay a burden—it became a movement. And the same is true for us. If we’re going to see change, we have to take our place in what God is building.

2. Everyone Has A Role To Play

   1. “The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it. 2 The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib,and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.” - Nehemiah 3:1-2
   2. The Power of Participation
      1. Nehemiah 3 reads like a construction report—name after name, section after section. At first glance, it doesn’t seem that exciting. But here’s the beauty of it: every person mattered.
      2. It wasn’t just builders and stone masons who worked on the wall. Priests, goldsmiths, merchants, and even perfume-makers picked up bricks. This wasn’t just a construction project—it was a community movement.
      3. And the same is true today. God is building something bigger than us, and He’s calling all of us to take our place.
   3. Spectators vs. Participants
      1. A God-sized vision is always bigger than one person. Imagine a football team where only one player takes the field while everyone else sits in the stands. That’s not how teams win. That’s not how walls get built. A winning team practices, prepares, huddles, and executes the plan! Every position is vital to the success of the team.
      2. But here’s the problem—too many of us are sitting in the stands. We assume someone else will step up, someone else will serve, someone else will give.
      3. But what if God is waiting on you? What if it’s less about what you do, or how much you give, and it’s more about what God wants to do in your heart?
      4. Your role may not seem big to you, but no brick means no wall.
   4. Building Together
      1. I see this every time my kids help me with a project. (Zion, Ryan, Neriah, Corey, Sylah) They may not be the most efficient workers, but that’s not the point. They just want to be part of what their dad is building.
      2. And in the same way, God isn’t asking for your perfection or efficiency—He’s asking for your participation. It’s less about the work itself and it’s more a part of wanting to be a part of what God is doing!
   5. Stepping Into Your Role Will Bring Opposition
      1. Here’s the thing—just because you step into your role doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.
      2. Because the moment you start building, the enemy will try to stop you.
      3. And that’s what we need to understand today:
         Opposition doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path—it’s proof you’re making progress.

3. Opposition Is Part Of The Process

   1. “So we rebuilt the wall until the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had the will to keep working. 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they became furious. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. 9 So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard because of them day and night.” - Nehemiah 4:6-9
   2. The Moment You Start Building, the Enemy Starts Fighting
      1. Every God-given vision will face opposition. It’s not if—it’s when.
      2. The moment Nehemiah and the people started making real progress, resistance showed up. Their enemies—Sanballat, Tobiah, and others—were furious. They mocked them, threatened them, and tried to intimidate them into quitting.
      3. And here’s the reality: when the enemy can’t stop God (which he can’t), he will try to stop you.
   3. Opposition Is Proof You’re Making Progress
      1. We often assume resistance means we’re on the wrong path. But what if it actually means you’re on the right one?
      2. Think of a runner pushing against a strong headwind. The resistance isn’t a sign they should stop—it’s a sign they’re moving forward.

      3. The same is true in your faith.

         1. The moment you decide to step out, doubts start whispering.
         2. The moment you commit to something bigger than yourself, obstacles show up.
         3. The moment you get serious about building, the enemy tries to distract, discourage, and derail you. 4. Why? Because the enemy doesn’t fight what isn’t a threat! 5. If you’re facing resistance, it’s not a sign to quit. It’s confirmation that you’re doing something that matters.
            4. Question: You’ve felt this before, haven’t you? Can I get a witness?!
            5. Three Areas of Opposition
               1. Opposition in the Mind (Doubt and Fear)
         4. “Can I really make a difference?”
         5. “This goes against everything I’ve ever known”
         6. The enemy will try to convince you your role is too small to matter.
         7. Truth: No brick, no wall. If you don’t lay your brick, something is missing. 2. Opposition in Circumstances (Distractions and Delays)
         8. Life gets busy. Unexpected bills. Stress at home.
         9. The thought creeps in: “Maybe I’ll do this later when things settle down.”
         10. Truth: There will never be a perfect time to build. If we wait for ideal conditions, nothing will ever get done. 3. Opposition from Others (Criticism and Discouragement)
         11. “Is this really necessary?”
         12. “Shouldn’t the church be grateful for what it already has?”
         13. Just like in Nehemiah’s time, voices will try to pull you away from the mission.

         14. Truth: When God gives a vision, He has the final word. He says go and build. Our job is to trust Him with the results.

             6. Our Response: Prayer & Persistence
                1. Nehemiah didn’t let opposition stop him. He prayed and kept building.

         15. He didn’t argue with his enemies—he sought God.

         16. He didn’t let threats stop him—he stationed guards and kept working.
         17. He didn’t let fear win—he reminded the people why they were building. 2. So when resistance comes—when doubts, distractions, and discouragement try to take you out—don’t stop building. 3. The wall won’t build itself. Keep laying your brick.

Closing:

This is bigger than us.

One day—years from now—someone’s gonna look back at this season in Pinewood Church and say,

"That was the moment everything changed."

That was the moment a group of people refused to play it safe.
That was the moment a church decided to step out, show up, and build something that would outlive them.

A decade from now, someone’s gonna walk into this church—broken, searching, running from God—

And in this place, they’re gonna hear the Gospel for the very first time.

And in a single moment, their eternity will change.

They won’t know your name.
They won’t know the prayers you prayed.
They won’t know the sacrifices you made.
They won’t know the bricks you laid.

But Heaven will.

And that’s why we do this. Because we’re not just building a church—we’re building a legacy.

So let me ask you one more time—
What’s your brick?

Because today, we pick it up.
We lay it down.
And together, we build the future God has called us to.

What’s Next?

Here’s what’s ahead for Pinewood Church and how you can take your next step:

1. Grab a Commitment Card At Your Seat
   • We’re not asking you to commit today. Take it home, pray, and ask God how He is leading you to be part of this.
2. Grab A Booklet On Your Way Out
   • This resource will provide you with more details on the campaign and how you can be a vital part of the story.
3. Advance Commitment Night – February 26th @ 6:30PM
   • A special night for those who feel led to go first in making their commitment.
   • Everyone is invited. It will be a night of prayer, worship, and expectation for what God is doing.
4. All-Church Commitment Sunday – March 9th
   • This will be a historic moment for our church. A day when we take bold steps together.

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, let me share something Jesus said in Matthew 10:32: “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” So, I’m going to ask: if you prayed that prayer for the first time, would you lift your hand and let us know? This is a moment to celebrate, not just here, but in heaven.