July 26: When God Breaks Your Heart

In this sermon, titled "When God Breaks Your Heart," Dr. Richard Price explores the biblical narrative of Nehemiah (specifically Nehemiah 1:2-4) to illustrate how God often prepares his servants for great work by first giving them a holy burden for what is broken.

Key Takeaways from the Sermon:

God's Pattern for Calling: Dr. Price posits that God rarely shows a servant what to build before first revealing what is broken. He highlights that noticing a problem is different from carrying a divine burden; while many see issues, few are moved by them to take action.

The Process of Response: The sermon outlines six movements in Nehemiah's response to hearing about the broken walls of Jerusalem, emphasizing that each is essential for spiritual alignment:

1. Hearing: Truly listening to the truth of the situation.

2. Sitting Down: Stopping one's normal routine to acknowledge the weight of the situation.

3. Weeping: Expressing raw, godly emotion.

4. Mourning: Allowing grief to drive the individual closer to God rather than away from him.

5. Fasting: A method of seeking God's guidance and focus.

6. Praying: Dr. Price emphasizes that for the servant, prayer is the work itself, as it clarifies vision, purifies motives, and births courage.

Points to Christ: The sermon concludes by connecting Nehemiah's story to the ministry of Jesus Christ. Just as Nehemiah left his place of comfort in the palace to address the ruins of Jerusalem, Jesus left the glory of heaven to address a world broken by sin, serving as the ultimate example of restoration.