The city's walls had been rebuilt but the population was still small, with only around 50,000 people present. Similarly, while the gospel has spread worldwide, true believers make up a small portion of the global population. It is important that Christians continue preaching the gospel message to more people, just as Ezra read from the book of God's law to instruct the people who had returned to Jerusalem.

1. The city large & great, but
the people were few therein
Sunday PM February 24, 2013

2. A few cities have shrunk
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
•Location of the
Manhattan Project
•Population swelled to
75,000 during WWII
•Today’s population is
approximately 28,000.

3. Read Nehemiah 7:1-4

4. When the Wall was Built
Neh 7:1 NKJV Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung
the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had
been appointed,
The wall was re-built at a tremendous cost, however, the work
was not finished just because the wall was complete.

5. Parallels with the church
Matthew 16:16-19 NASB Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God." (17) And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are
you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you,
but My Father who is in heaven. (18) "I also say to you that you are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades
will not overpower it. (19) "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in
heaven.”

6. Parallels with the church
Eph 2:19-22 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God, (20) having been built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being
built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

7. City Large but the People are Few
Neh 7:4 NKJV Now the city
was large and spacious, but
the people in it were few,
and the houses were not
rebuilt.
The walled city of Jerusalem
was large.
Only about 50,000 were
present.

8. City Large but the People are Few
Mat 7:13-14 NKJV "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the
gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and
there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the
gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are
few who find it.

9. The World is Large
Act 1:15 NKJV And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the
disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and
twenty), and said,
Col 1:23 NKJV if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and
steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which
you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of
which I, Paul, became a minister.

10. We must preach the Gospel
Mar 16:15-16 NKJV And He said to them, "Go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned.

11. How Do we Reach the World?
Read Nehemiah 8:1-8

12. Standing up for the Word
Rom 1:16 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is
the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew
first and also for the Greek.
Rom 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.
2Ti 2:15 NKJV Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.

13. Standing up for the Word
2Ti 3:15-17 NKJV and that from childhood you have known the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Th 2:14-15 NKJV to which He called you by our gospel, for the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (15) Therefore,
brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught,
whether by word or our epistle.