11/23 “함께 감사하는 공동체 - Giving Thanks Together" (느 5)

11/23/2025

[설교노트 / Sermon notes]

“하나님의 일의 방해세력 (2) - “내부의 방해를 이기고, 함께 감사하는 공동체”
본문: 느헤미야 5:1-7

Title: “Faith That Builds the Wall – Overcoming Opposition (2) - Overcoming Internal Enemies and Giving Thanks Together”
📖 Nehemiah 5:1-7
Preacher: Rev. Jeongsub Choi

1.성경본문 읽기 / Read the Bible


- Read it in a language that makes more sense to you

(느 5:1-7, 새번역) [1] 백성 사이에서 유다인 동포를 원망하는 소리가 크게 일고 있다. 부인들이 더 아우성이다.

[2] 더러는 이렇게 울부짖는다. "우리 아들딸들, 거기에다 우리까지, 이렇게 식구가 많으니, 입에 풀칠이라도 하고 살아가려면, 곡식이라도 가져 오자!"

[3] 또 어떤 이들은 이렇게 울부짖는다. "배가 고파서 곡식을 얻느라고, 우리는 밭도 포도원도 집도 다 잡혔다!"

[4] 또 어떤 이들은 이렇게 외친다. "우리는 왕에게 세금을 낼 돈이 없어서, 밭과 포도원을 잡히고 돈을 꾸어야만 했다!"

[5] 또 더러는 이렇게 탄식한다. "우리의 몸이라고 해서, 유다인 동포들의 몸과 무엇이 다르냐? 우리의 자식이라고 해서 그들의 자식과 무엇이 다르단 말이냐? 그런데도 우리가 아들딸을 종으로 팔아야 하다니! 우리의 딸 가운데는 벌써 노예가 된 아이들도 있는데, 밭과 포도원이 다 남의 것이 되어서, 우리는 어떻게 손을 쓸 수도 없다."

[6] 그들의 울부짖음과 탄식을 듣고 보니, 나 또한 치밀어 오르는 분노를 참을 수가 없다.

[7] 나는 그들이 울부짖는 내용을 신중하게 살핀 다음에, 귀족들과 관리들에게, 어찌하여 같은 겨레끼리 돈놀이를 하느냐고 호되게 나무랐다. 이 문제를 다루어야 하겠기에, 나는 대회를 열고서,

(Nehemiah 5:1-7, NIV11) [1] Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.

[2] Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”

[3] Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”

[4] Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.

[5] Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”

[6] When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.

[7] I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them

 

10. gratitude / 감사

Reflect on what you were grateful for during the past week and express your gratitude to the Lord and to others.

지난 한 주간에 자신에게 있었던 감사를 마음에 새겨보고 주님과 사람들에게 감사의 말을 합니다 .

지난 주 설교 / Last Sunday's Sermon

“I love you.” “I will strive to serve.” “I will strive to pray.” “Let us share our prayer requests with one another.” “With hands raised high, we worship the Lord.” “Clapping hands together, we will follow the Lord.”

Love God and love your neighbor.” “Love one another.” “Serve one another.” “Obey one another.” “Forgive one another and become one body.” Worship God in spirit and truth.” “Establish God's kingdom. Practice heaven. Live to create the culture of heaven”

“사랑합니다” “힘써 섬기겠습니다” “힘써 기도하겠습니다” “서로 기도제목을 나눕시다”
”두 손들어 주님을 예배합니다” “서로 손을 마주치며 주님을 따르겠습니다.”

”하나님 사랑하고 이웃을 사랑합니다” “서로 사랑하라” “서로 섬기라” “서로 순종하라” “서로 용서하고 하나되어 한 몸을 이루라” “성령과 진리로 하나님을 예배하라” “하나님 나라를 이루라. 천국을 연습하라”

🌿 Sermon Notes

“Overcoming Internal Enemies and Giving Thanks Together”

Nehemiah 5:1–7
Thanksgiving Sunday

“내부의 방해를 이기고, 함께 감사하는 공동체”

(느헤미야 5:1–7)

🟩 1. Introduction – The Hardest Enemy Is Inside

The greatest danger to God’s work is not always outside opposition, but internal collapse. Nehemiah 5 shows us how deeply the community was wounded—not by enemies outside the walls, but by brothers who hurt and exploited one another.
On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we remember how God has protected us from internal division and allowed us to remain a loving, united community.


🟩 1. 외부의 공격보다 더 위험한 ‘내부의 무너짐’

하나님의 사역을 위협하는 가장 큰 적은 외부의 공격이 아니라 내부의 무너짐입니다. 느헤미야 5장은 공동체가 외부가 아닌 형제의 상처와 착취로 인해 얼마나 흔들렸는지를 보여 줍니다.
추수감사주일을 맞아, 하나님께서 우리 공동체를 갈라짐 없이 지켜 주시고, 서로 사랑하며 한마음 되게 하신 은혜를 감사하며 돌아봅니다.

🟦 2. The Cry of the People — When Brothers Hurt Brothers (Nehemiah 5:1–5)

Four groups of people were crying out:

  1. Families unable to feed their children

  2. People who lost homes and land

  3. People drowning in taxes and debt

  4. Families who had to sell their children as slaves

The tragedy was this: their oppressors were their fellow Jews.
Internal greed destroyed unity and weakened God’s people

🟦 2. 내부의 방해 세력: 울부짖음, 착취, 무너진 형제 사랑

백성들의 울부짖음은 네 부류로 나타납니다.

 — “아들딸이 많아 먹고 살기 어렵습니다.”(1–2절)
— “흉년으로 배고파서 밭과 포도원과 집을 다 잡혔습니다”(3절)
— “세금을 낼 돈이 없어 빚을 졌습니다”(4절)
— “우리 딸들 중에 벌써 종이 된 아이도 있습니다”(5절)

  1. 자녀들을 먹이지 못하는 가정

  2. 포도원과 집(전재산)을 잃은 사람들

  3. 세금 때문에 빚더미에 오른 사람들

  4. 결국 자녀까지 종으로 팔린 가정

더 큰 비극은 이것입니다:  이들을 억압한 자들이 바로 같은 유다 형제들이었다는 점입니다. 내부의 탐욕은 공동체의 영적 힘을 약하게 만들었습니다.
“우리 육체도 형제의 육체와 같고, 우리 자녀도 그들의 자녀와 같거늘…” (5절

🟥 3. Nehemiah’s Response — Holy Anger, Discernment, and Restoration (5:6–13)

“When I heard their cries and their sighs, I was very angry” (v. 6).
“After I had considered this in my heart” (v. 7).
“I rebuked them for the sake of the assembly” (v. 7).

Nehemiah responded in three steps:

  1. Holy anger — He was deeply grieved by injustice.

  2. Reflection and discernment — He paused to think before acting.

  3. Clear action and restoration — He confronted the leaders publicly and restored justice.

Healthy community is not built by avoiding conflict, but by confronting sin with truth and restoring what is broken.


🟥 3. 지도자의 반응: 분노하되, 신중하게 해결하는 지혜

“그들의 울부짖음과 탄식을 듣고 나도 크게 분노하였다”(6절)
“나는 이것을 마음속에 깊이 생각한 후”(7절)
“대회를 열고 그들을 책망하였다”(7절)

느헤미야의 반응은 세 단계였습니다.

  1. 거룩한 분노 — 불의 앞에서 마음 깊이 아파했습니다.

  2. 성찰과 분별 — 감정으로 움직이지 않고 먼저 생각했습니다.

  3. 공개적 책망과 회복 — 공동체(대회) 앞에서 진실을 드러내고 정의를 회복했습니다.

건강한 공동체는 갈등을 피함으로 세워지지 않습니다. 죄를 진리로 다루고, 무너진 것을 바로잡을 때 세워집니다.

🟨 4. Thanksgiving Application — God Has Kept Us Together

True thanksgiving arises not from a year without problems, but from God sustaining us through problems.
This year our church has:

  • wept together,

  • rejoiced together,

  • prayed for one another,

  • welcomed new friends,

  • shared burdens and hopes,

  • and experienced God’s love through community.

Our unity is a gift from God.

🟨 4. 감사절 적용 — 하나님께서 우리를 함께 지켜 주셨나이다

참된 감사는 문제가 없어서가 아니라, 문제 속에서도 하나님께서 우리를 지켜 주셨기 때문에 나옵니다. 올해 우리 교회는

  • 함께 울고,

  • 함께 웃고,

  • 서로를 위해 기도하고, 공동체를 환대하며,

  • 짐을 나누고,

  • 하나님의 사랑을 실제로 경험했습니다.

이 공동체의 하나 됨이 바로 하나님의 선물입니다.

🟫 5. Spiritual Application — Remove Internal Enemies, Restore God’s Heart

Internal obstacles must be removed: comparison, jealousy, complaints, bitterness, indifference
And we must restore God’s heart: compassion, forgiveness, generosity, unity
Thanksgiving is not only a holiday -  it is a spiritual act of restoration.

🟫 5. 영적 적용 — 내부의 방해요소를 제거하고 하나님의 마음을 회복하라

내부의 방해 요소를 제거해야 합니다. : 비교, 질투, 원망, 쓴 뿌리, 무관심
그리고 하나님의 마음을 회복해야 합니다. : 긍휼, 용서, 관대함, 하나 됨
감사는 단순한 절기가 아니라,  영적 회복의 실천입니다.

🟧 6. Conclusion — Give Thanks and Rebuild Together

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we confess:
“Lord, thank You for keeping us together.”
“Thank You for teaching us to love.”
“Thank You for building Your kingdom among us.”

Let us continue rebuilding our families, our church, and our society -  together, with gratitude and faith.

🟧 6. 결론 – 감사가 공동체의 성벽을 다시 세운다

추수감사주일을 맞아 이렇게 고백합니다:
“주님, 우리 공동체를 지켜 주셔서 감사합니다.”
“서로 사랑하게 하신 은혜를 감사합니다.”
“우리 가운데 주의 나라를 세워 주심을 감사합니다.”

감사와 믿음으로,  가정과 교회와 세상을 함께 세워 가는 공동체가 되기를 소망합니다.


 

[Sermon in English]
Click the "+" sign

 

  • 📖 Thanksgiving Sunday Sermon 

    “Overcoming Internal Enemies and Giving Thanks Together”

    Nehemiah 5:1–13

    1. Introduction — The Hardest Battle Is Not Outside, but Inside

    Dear brothers and sisters,
    Today is Thanksgiving Sunday—a day when we stop, remember, and give thanks for how the Lord has carried us through another year.

    For the past several weeks, we have been walking through the book of Nehemiah. We have seen the people of God rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem despite ridicule, threats, fear, and constant pressure from their enemies.

    But today’s passage shows a different kind of enemy.
    Not an enemy outside, but an enemy inside.
    An enemy that destroys relationships, breaks trust, wounds hearts, and weakens community.

    If last week we talked about the external attacks that try to stop God’s work,
    Nehemiah 5 shows us the internal attacks that try to destroy God’s people.

    And as we enter Thanksgiving Sunday, this passage helps us reflect on how precious it is that God has protected our church, carried us, and helped us love one another.

    2. The Cry of the People — When Brothers Hurt Brothers (Nehemiah 5:1–5)

    Nehemiah 5 begins with a painful cry from the people:

    Four groups of people are crying out:

    1) Those struggling to survive

    “We have many sons and daughters, and we cannot even get enough grain to feed our families.” (v.2)

    2) Those who lost their fields and homes because of poverty

    “We had to mortgage our fields and vineyards and homes to get food.” (v.3)

    3) Those drowning under heavy taxes

    “We borrowed money to pay the king’s tax.” (v.4)

    4) Those forced to sell their sons and daughters as slaves

    “We are powerless… some of our daughters have already been enslaved.” (v.5)

    And the heartbreaking truth behind these cries?

    Their oppressors were not foreigners.
    They were their own Jewish brothers.

    Fellow believers.
    People who worshiped the same God.
    People who should have protected each other—but instead exploited each other.

    This was not merely an economic crisis.
    It was a spiritual crisis,
    a relational crisis,
    a community crisis.

    The internal enemy of God’s people was:

    • Greed

    • Self-centeredness

    • Lack of compassion

    • Broken unity

    • A forgotten identity

    And when the inside collapses, the walls cannot stand.

    3. Nehemiah’s Response — Holy Anger, Deep Reflection, Clear Action (5:6–13)

    Nehemiah’s reaction is deeply instructive for us:

    1) He felt righteous anger

    “I was very angry when I heard their outcry.” (v.6)

    There is anger that destroys.
    But there is also holy anger that awakens justice.
    Nehemiah’s anger was not self-centered—it was God-centered.

    2) He paused to think before acting

    “I pondered them in my heart.” (v.7)

    He didn’t react emotionally.
    He didn’t rush.
    He didn’t attack.

    He discerned.
    He reflected.
    He prayed.

    Many conflicts in church and family would never grow if we learned to pause and pray before speaking.

    3) He confronted the problem honestly

    “I accused the nobles and officials.” (v.7)

    He brings the issue into the light.
    He calls sin “sin.”
    He calls injustice “injustice.”

    A community cannot be healed until truth is spoken.

    4) He calls the people back to God’s heart

    “Should you not walk in the fear of our God?” (v.9)

    True unity is not built on agreements or strategies—  but on fear of the Lord.

    5) He leads by example

    Nehemiah refuses to burden the people.
    He refuses to take advantage of his position.
    He practices generosity and self-sacrifice.

    Leadership always requires modeling what we preach.

    6) The people repent and are restored

    “We will give it back… We will require nothing more.” (v.12)

    Repentance leads to restoration.
    Restoration leads to healing.
    Healing leads to thanksgiving.

    4. Thanksgiving Application — God Has Kept Our Community Together

    Today’s message leads us to one simple truth:

    The greatest reason we give thanks today
    is not because everything went well,
    but because God has kept us together.

    This year, we have experienced God’s grace in many ways:

    • We shared tears at funerals and comforted grieving families.

    • We celebrated baptisms, birthdays, new babies, and new beginnings.

    • We prayed for one another’s jobs, studies, and immigration needs.

    • We welcomed newcomers, international students, and visitors.

    • We laughed together at retreats, picnics, and church events.

    • We strengthened our house churches, and small groups.

    • We restored relationships and forgave one another.

    While the world grows colder,
    God has allowed our church to grow warmer.
    This is a miracle.
    This is God’s grace.
    This is something to give thanks for.

    And today’s passage challenges us:

    1) Remove internal enemies

    • comparison

    • jealousy

    • grumbling

    • bitterness

    • indifference

    • selfishness

    These do not belong in the family of God.

    2) Restore the heart of God

    • compassion

    • justice

    • generosity

    • forgiveness

    • sacrifice

    • unity

    These are the stones that build the walls of God’s people.

    3) Become a community that reflects Christ

    Thanksgiving is not just a holiday.
    It is a spiritual practice:
    a decision to remember,  to restore,   and to respond with gratitude.

    5. Conclusion — Give Thanks, and Rebuild the Wall Together

    Nehemiah shows us:

    • God restores nations

    • God restores communities

    • God restores relationships

    • God restores broken places within us

    And He does it through people who fear Him, love Him, and love each other.

    Today, on Thanksgiving Sunday,
    let this be our confession:

    “Lord, thank You for keeping us together.
    Thank You for teaching us to love one another.
    Thank You for building Your kingdom among us.”

    May we continue to rebuild the walls of our families, our church, and our society—
    together, with gratitude, and with the strength that God supplies.

    Amen.


 

🙏 Prayer for Determination and Dedication

(헌신과 결단의 기도)

 I encourage you to tell the Lord what you have decided to commit to in your life as you listen to today's message and pray to Him for help.

오늘 말씀을 듣고 삶에 결단하며 헌신하겠다고 한 것을 주님께 말씀 드리고 주님께 도움을 구하는 기도를 하시길 바랍니다.