The book of Nehemiah doesn’t end the way we might expect. After the victory of rebuilding the wall and a national spiritual renewal, chapter 13 brings us into deeply uncomfortable territory: everything falls apart.

In Pulling Our Hair Out, Pastor Kelly Kinder unpacks the closing chapter of Nehemiah and what it reveals about the fragility of human faithfulness. It’s not a fairytale ending—it’s a real-world snapshot of what happens when we stop tending to our spiritual lives.

While Nehemiah was away, spiritual compromise crept back in. The temple was misused. Ministry was neglected. The Sabbath was disregarded. Marriages were defiled. Nehemiah didn’t ignore it—he confronted it with courage and clarity.

Kelly walks us through the four areas Nehemiah had to clean house:
1. Compromise in Purity
An enemy of God, Tobiah, had been given residence in the temple. Nehemiah threw him out—literally. It’s a powerful image of what it means to cleanse our lives from subtle spiritual compromises.

2. Neglect in Giving
The Levites and temple servants weren’t being supported, so they left their ministry posts. Nehemiah restores order and calls the people to recommit their resources. It challenges us to consider whether we’re faithfully supporting God’s work.

3. Disregard of the Sabbath
The people had returned to doing business on the day God had set apart for rest and worship. Nehemiah shuts the city gates and calls the people to honor what God designed for their good.

4. Defilement of Marriage
Intermarriage with foreign nations had diluted their spiritual identity. Nehemiah’s response is intense—but so is the danger of spiritual compromise through unaligned relationships.

Kelly doesn’t sugarcoat it: spiritual decline is rarely sudden—it’s usually subtle. Like a tire with a slow leak, you don’t notice the danger until you’re stuck. That’s why vigilance matters.

The final words of the book—“Remember me, O my God, for good”—are a humble reminder that even the most faithful leaders need grace. And that grace is found not in our performance, but in Christ, the perfect covenant-keeper.

If you’ve noticed a spiritual leak in your life, this message invites you not to shame, but to restoration. God is ready to meet you where you are—and rebuild what’s been compromised.

We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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What if your joy could be heard far away? That’s exactly what happened in Nehemiah 12, where the people of God celebrated with such exuberance that their joy echoed beyond the city walls. In this message, Joy Filled Living, Pastor Tyler Lynde walks us through what true, contagious joy looks like—and how we can live it out today.

Tyler begins by unpacking the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial; it fades as quickly as it comes. But joy is enduring—it takes root in our relationship with God and grows through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In Nehemiah 12, we don’t just see a community celebrating a successful construction project—we see a people restored by God, rejoicing with a depth that external circumstances can’t touch.

Tyler identifies three essential elements that shaped this joy-filled celebration: an attitude of gratitude, a heart of worship, and a firm understanding that joy comes from God.

The first is gratitude. The Israelites gave thanks not just because the walls were finished, but because their hearts were full. Tyler reminded us how easy it is to slip into negativity, but how Scripture calls us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18). Gratitude transforms our perspective and aligns us with the joy God wants to give.

Next is worship. Nehemiah 12 describes music, singing, and processions around the city. Worship wasn’t a side note—it was the center of the celebration. Tyler emphasized that when we choose worship—even in hard seasons—God meets us there. Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”

Finally, Tyler reminds us that joy is a gift. Nehemiah 12:43 says, “God had made them rejoice with great joy.” This wasn’t manufactured; it was God-given. And it wasn’t limited to leaders or men—it included women and children, showing us God’s joy is for everyone.

Jesus Himself endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). That joy? Us. Through Him, we’re offered not just salvation, but joy that strengthens us, sustains us, and overflows to others.

Whether you’re celebrating or struggling, this message is a call to reclaim the joy that’s already yours in Christ.

We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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What if the world could see your faith lived out—unfiltered and unhidden? In Living in Glass Houses, Pastor Tyler Lynde explores Nehemiah 11 and the powerful call for believers to live lives of visible holiness.

As Jerusalem’s walls were rebuilt, the city still needed to be filled with people willing to live there. While the leaders led the way, others had to be chosen by lot to repopulate the holy city. Tyler unpacks why so many hesitated: living in Jerusalem meant living under constant watch. It was a city set apart, and living there came with heightened expectations. The parallels to modern Christian life are striking—we too are called to live as a “city on a hill,” with our lives pointing others to God.

Holiness is not optional for the believer—it’s our identity. But it doesn’t begin with behavior; it begins with God. Tyler points to Isaiah’s vision in chapter 6, where the prophet encounters God’s holiness and is immediately undone. That same holiness still transforms today. As Scripture teaches, everything God is and does is utterly holy—and those who belong to Him are called to reflect that.

Drawing from 1 Timothy 4:12, Tyler breaks down five areas where holiness shows up: speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Holiness isn’t just about avoiding sin—it’s about becoming like Christ in every aspect of our lives.

But here’s the freedom: we don’t have to manufacture holiness ourselves. Tyler reminds us that Jesus, the only one to live a perfectly holy life, offers His holiness to us through the cross. And through the Holy Spirit, we’re empowered to live in a way that’s not just outwardly different, but inwardly transformed. Romans 8 says the same Spirit that raised Christ now lives in us—that’s the power we rely on.

Living transparently, with nothing to hide, isn’t about performance—it’s about reflection. When we live holy lives, others get a glimpse of Jesus. And in a world filled with pretense, that kind of authenticity is deeply compelling.

The question is: will we embrace our “glass house”? Will we accept the call to holiness, not as a burden but as an opportunity to shine with the light of Christ?

We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more!
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