I. Unity in Christ’s Body
II. Unity in Extraordinary Offices

I. The Meaning
II. The Basis
III. The Importance

Scripture reading: Nehemiah 5
Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church (CERC) of Singapore, 2023 Church Camp in Pulai Springs, Johor, Malaysia (Wednesday morning, 21 June, 2023)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS after Speech 4: Opposition From Within
1. Which is worse, opposition from without or opposition from within? Why? Discuss.
2. Why was Nehemiah especially targeted by the ungodly in Judah?
3. People in which Old Testament church office opposed the governor of Judah and his completion of the wall in Nehemiah 6:10-14?
4. Did opposition stop when the walls of Jerusalem were completed? What verses in Nehemiah 1-6 especially prove your answer?

Look up Nehemiah 13 in your Bibles.
5. In this chapter, which sections or verses deal with the sins of
a. false ecumenism or syncretism?
b. Sabbath breaking?
c. marrying unbelievers?
6. Against which of these sins did Nehemiah use the walls of Jerusalem in chapter 13?

7. Read the “Form for Public Confession of Faith” (www.cprc.co.uk/articles/confessionoffaithform). How does this minor confession expose opposition from within a Reformed church?
8. Which of our forms or minor confessions is eventually used regarding those who are guilty of opposition from within and who do not repent, even after frequent brotherly admonition?
9. What are some of the forms of opposition from within that have been faced in your church?
10. How has this camp, which has dealt with building the church’s walls, helped you resolve to play your part in making your church united, cohesive and strong?
11. How has this camp given you a better understanding of Nehemiah 1-6 and its relevance for the 21st century church?

Scripture reading: Nehemiah 4 Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church (CERC) of Singapore, 2023 Church Camp in Pulai Springs, Johor, Malaysia (Tuesday evening, 20 June, 2023)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS after Speech 3: Opposition From Without
1. Do you have “a mind [or heart] to work” on building the church’s walls (Neh. 4:6)? Why or why not? How is this camp helping you in this regard?
2. At what point did external opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls first appear? What verse in Nehemiah refers to this?

“The reproaches of enemies should rather quicken us to our duty than drive us from it.” (Matthew Henry)
3. Is this statement true or false?
4. Did the enemies’ reproaches have this good effect in Nehemiah 4:1-6?
5. Do the enemies’ reproaches have this good effect on you? Why or why not?

6. Which four peoples together surrounded the Jews on all four sides in Nehemiah 4?
7. List other specific external enemies that are mentioned in the Old Testament Scriptures.
8. List specific external enemies that are mentioned in the New Testament Scriptures.
9. In ancient or modern church history, what are some of the false doctrines that entered formerly sound churches from without and led to their apostasy? Name specific churches and the respective heresies that breached their walls.
10. What are the false doctrines and wicked practices that the church today must especially guard against?
11. What opposition has your church faced from without?
12. Has this external opposition been more from the false (or apostatizing) churches or the world? Discuss.
13. How is the prayer “build thou the walls of Jerusalem” in Psalm 51:18 related to the rest of this famous potential psalm, in which David confesses his sins of adultery and murder?

Scripture reading: Nehemiah 3
Maps or diagrams referred to in this speech: 1) https://visualunit.files.wordpress.co… 2) https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/8131…
Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church (CERC) of Singapore, 2023 Church Camp in Pulai Springs, Johor, Malaysia (Tuesday morning, 20 June, 2023)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS after Speech 2: Building the Walls Together
1. Nehemiah 3 is the number 1 chapter in the Bible for what two things?
2. What marked Baruch the son of Zabbai as particularly blessed in Nehemiah 3?
3. Which of the features of the “work teams” in Nehemiah 3 did you most appreciate or find most helpful? Why?
4. What are some of the ways believers in our day help to build the church’s defensive walls?
5. What are some of the ways church members in our day dismantle the church’s walls?
6. What role do our ecumenical and Reformed creeds play in the church’s walls?
7. How is a worldly view of “love” used to weaken the church’s walls?
8. What is the meaning of the famous Latin phrase ora et labora?
9. What verse in Nehemiah 1 especially indicates that God’s people were praying regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls long before the work itself began?

“Mutual encouragement is very important. It is a significant factor in getting work done [Neh. 2:18].” (John G. Butler)
10. What encouragement do you give in the work of the church?
11. How have other people encouraged you in the work of the church?
12. What things discourage people in the work of the church?

Hypothetical scenario: A guy who used to be a member of your church announces on Facebook that he now has a boyfriend. Because you belong to Jesus Christ, and so fear God rather than man, you do not put a “Like” beneath his post.
13. What Lord’s Day of our Heidelberg Catechism most speaks to human sexuality?
14. Which of our forms or minor confessions has most to say on this area?
15. List relevant Scriptures that deal with the sin of homosexuality.
16. How are churches’ defensive walls being dismantled and breached regarding this issue?

Come, Let Us Build the Walls! (1): The Idea of the Church’s Walls by Rev. Angus Stewart
Scripture reading: Nehemiah 1:1-3; 2:11-18
Maps or diagrams referred to in this speech: 1) https://visualunit.files.wordpress.co… 2) https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/8131…
Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church (CERC) of Singapore, 2023 Church Camp in Pulai Springs, Johor, Malaysia (Monday evening, 19 June, 2023)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS after Speech 1: The Idea of the Church’s Walls
1. What are the three most important constructions in Ezra-Nehemiah?
2. What is the idea of the church’s walls?
3. What do we mean when we say that our covenant God has not put a fence or a bridge at the perimeter of His church?
Read Revelation 21:12-27 which includes details regarding the walls of the New Jerusalem. Regarding the gates on the walls,
4. How many are there (12)?
5. How are they distributed (13)?
6. What is their material (21)?
7. What names are written on the gates (12)?
8. Who are stationed at the gates (12)?
9. Why are these gates never shut (25)?
10. How do your answers to the previous six questions compare with the gates on the walls of Nehemiah’s Jerusalem?
Regarding the walls in Revelation 21:12-27,
11. What is their shape (16)?
12. What is their material (18)?
13. What are their foundations (14)?
14. How are their foundations garnished (19-20)?
15. What height are they (17)?
16. How do your answers to the previous five questions compare with the walls of Nehemiah’s Jerusalem?
17. Why are the walls so high, if there is no enemy to keep out?
18. What building is missing within the walls and why (22)?

I. A Place for the Ten Commandments
II. A Place for the Mercy Seat
III. A Place for Divine Revelation
 

I. In His Christ
II. In His Saints
III. In His Church

I. In Himself
II. In Its Manifestation
III. In Its Operation

I. In Himself
II. In His Decree
III. In His Creation