Nehemiah : WK 4 - GROUP GUIDE

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with, or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPENING QUESTION(S)
Can you remember a speech, or a favorite quote, that is deeply meaningful and inspiring to you? If so, share and tell the group why?

HEAD

1. Read Nehemiah 2:16-3:3, 4:1-5, Ecclesiastes 4:7-9 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
2. Knowing how important Jerusalem and it’s walls were to the Jews and their identity, how do you think it felt to the community to have a leader finally courageous enough to restore Jerusalem?
3. Immediately, criticism comes. Why do you think these characters, Sanballat, Tobias, and Gesham, are so quick to criticize this plan? 
4. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. How do you think it made Nehemiah feel to have so many people jump on board so quickly?
5. What was Nehemiah’s response to criticism? Why might this practice be important before responding to said criticism?

HEART

1. Where did Nehemiah find the courage to go to Jerusalem and do such a daunting task?  There’s at least more than one answer.
2. When someone criticizes you and/or your community, how do you respond? Quickly? Emotionally? Do you take your time to think and pray first? And are there criticisms you should listen to and one’s you shouldn’t?
3. Community is so important for our journey as a church, for our growth as individuals and community.  How do we go about developing, growing, and keeping strong our communities of faith?
4. There is strength in numbers. It is easier to discourage one, than many. How can you and I go about encouraging one another in the faith and looking out for the lonely, discouraged, and troubled in our communities?
5. So many are lonely. The church can help combat that loneliness as we reach out and keep our eyes on Jesus. Share about your ideal church, what it does and how it functions and who it reaches, then share about what you may be doing now to help that kind of community come into fruition.

HANDS
Leadership can be a lonely position at times, that is bolstered by a supportive community. Who are the leaders in your own faith journey, in your church? Take time this week to specifically offer them encouragement in some tangible way; a text, a card, a prayer that you let them know you’re offering up for them.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25, NLT