Sermon Passage: Nehemiah 7:4-73 (1 Cor. 12:1-29)

Celebration Preparation–Passage To Ponder:  “ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10 NIV84) “

Celebration Invitation–Scripture Reading: Adapted from: Ps 8:3–5; Col 2:13; Ro 5:8; Eph 2:8–10 NIV84

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place,

what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,

God made [us] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

For it is by grace [we] have been saved, through faith—and this not from [ourselves,] it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.