Small Group
Contagious Belief
If you don't believe you can make a difference, you never will.
Opening Prayer & Icebreaker
Share about a time when you were really excited about an idea but had to hold back from sharing it right away. What happened?
Sermon Overview
This week we continued our series on Nehemiah, focusing on his strategic approach to rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah demonstrated wisdom in exercising discretion, courage in calling out problems honestly, and leadership in empowering others to join him in making a difference.
Scripture Passage: Nehemiah 2:11-20 (NIV)
Neh. 2:11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
Discussion Questions
Part 1: The Power of Discretion (Nehemiah 2:11-16)
1. Why do you think Nehemiah kept his plans secret initially, even from those traveling with him? What can we learn from his approach?
2. When have you shared something too soon and regretted it? How did that experience shape how you handle sensitive information now?
3. In our social media age, why is discretion more challenging than ever? How can we practice wisdom about what we share and when?
4. Discuss the difference between being secretive/deceptive and exercising godly discretion. Where's the line?
Part 2: Facing Reality (Nehemiah 2:17)
1. Nehemiah didn't sugarcoat the problem—he said, "You see the trouble we are in." Why is it important for leaders (and all of us) to accurately name problems?
2. The sermon mentioned that "nothing prevents you from making a difference than believing that you can't." What problems in your life or community have you given up on because you stopped believing change was possible?
3. Share about a time when you were "burying your head in the sand" about a problem. What finally made you face it?
4. How can we balance being realistic about problems without becoming cynical or hopeless?
Part 3: The Comparison Trap
1. In the sermon, Pastor Lucas asked, "Why is it that we are so quick to pit our happiness against the happiness of other people?" Why do you think we struggle with this?
2. How have you seen comparison steal your joy? In what areas of life are you most tempted to compare yourself to others?
3. Pastor Lucas used the metaphor that "happiness is like water—the more you try to grasp it, the more it slips through your fingers." What does this mean practically? How do we find joy without making it our primary goal?
Part 4: Opposition & Courage (Nehemiah 2:19-20)
1. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem immediately mocked and opposed Nehemiah's work. When you try to make a positive difference, who are the "mockers" in your life? How do you typically respond to them?
2. Why do some people feel threatened when others try to do the right thing or make improvements? Have you ever been on either side of this dynamic?
3. Nehemiah's response was simple and confident: "The God of heaven will give us success." How can we develop this kind of faith-filled confidence when facing opposition?
Part 5: Going First (Nehemiah 2:17-18)
1. Nehemiah said "Come, let us rebuild" not "Go and rebuild." What's the significance of this approach to leadership?
2. Pastor Lucas said, "One of the most basic yet most powerful examples of leadership is when you simply go first." Where is God calling you to "go first" and show someone else that change is possible?
3. The people responded, "Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work." What enabled them to move from apathy to action? What does this teach us about motivating others?
Key Takeaways
Practical Applications
Prayer
Pray for:
Looking Ahead
Read Nehemiah 3
Share about a time when you were really excited about an idea but had to hold back from sharing it right away. What happened?
Sermon Overview
This week we continued our series on Nehemiah, focusing on his strategic approach to rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah demonstrated wisdom in exercising discretion, courage in calling out problems honestly, and leadership in empowering others to join him in making a difference.
Scripture Passage: Nehemiah 2:11-20 (NIV)
Neh. 2:11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.
They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”
20 I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”
Discussion Questions
Part 1: The Power of Discretion (Nehemiah 2:11-16)
1. Why do you think Nehemiah kept his plans secret initially, even from those traveling with him? What can we learn from his approach?
2. When have you shared something too soon and regretted it? How did that experience shape how you handle sensitive information now?
3. In our social media age, why is discretion more challenging than ever? How can we practice wisdom about what we share and when?
4. Discuss the difference between being secretive/deceptive and exercising godly discretion. Where's the line?
Part 2: Facing Reality (Nehemiah 2:17)
1. Nehemiah didn't sugarcoat the problem—he said, "You see the trouble we are in." Why is it important for leaders (and all of us) to accurately name problems?
2. The sermon mentioned that "nothing prevents you from making a difference than believing that you can't." What problems in your life or community have you given up on because you stopped believing change was possible?
3. Share about a time when you were "burying your head in the sand" about a problem. What finally made you face it?
4. How can we balance being realistic about problems without becoming cynical or hopeless?
Part 3: The Comparison Trap
1. In the sermon, Pastor Lucas asked, "Why is it that we are so quick to pit our happiness against the happiness of other people?" Why do you think we struggle with this?
2. How have you seen comparison steal your joy? In what areas of life are you most tempted to compare yourself to others?
3. Pastor Lucas used the metaphor that "happiness is like water—the more you try to grasp it, the more it slips through your fingers." What does this mean practically? How do we find joy without making it our primary goal?
Part 4: Opposition & Courage (Nehemiah 2:19-20)
1. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem immediately mocked and opposed Nehemiah's work. When you try to make a positive difference, who are the "mockers" in your life? How do you typically respond to them?
2. Why do some people feel threatened when others try to do the right thing or make improvements? Have you ever been on either side of this dynamic?
3. Nehemiah's response was simple and confident: "The God of heaven will give us success." How can we develop this kind of faith-filled confidence when facing opposition?
Part 5: Going First (Nehemiah 2:17-18)
1. Nehemiah said "Come, let us rebuild" not "Go and rebuild." What's the significance of this approach to leadership?
2. Pastor Lucas said, "One of the most basic yet most powerful examples of leadership is when you simply go first." Where is God calling you to "go first" and show someone else that change is possible?
3. The people responded, "Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work." What enabled them to move from apathy to action? What does this teach us about motivating others?
Key Takeaways
- Exercise discretion - Not everyone needs to know everything right away. Be strategic and wise about what you share and when.
- Name the problem - Great leaders have the courage to accurately assess and call out problems rather than pretending they don't exist.
- Stop comparing - Your happiness isn't based on being better off than others. True joy comes from serving others, not competing with them.
- Expect opposition - When you try to make a difference, not everyone will cheer you on. Some will mock, ridicule, or try to protect the status quo.
- Believe it's possible - If you don't believe you can make a difference, you never will. Faith is essential for action.
- Go first - Lead by example. Show others that change is possible by taking the first step yourself.
Practical Applications
- Use the "Difference Makers" link on the EBC App to find different opportunities to serve in the community.
- Discuss whether there's an opportunity for you to serve together as a group.
- Make a plan, get it on the calendar, and make a difference!
- Bonus: Share your experience with the church. Just sent your pictures and/or videos with a brief description to thogan@ebc.org.
Prayer
Pray for:
- Share one specific area where you need courage to make a difference.
- Pray for the courage and ability to see where you can make a difference for someone else.
- Ask God to give you a contagious faith that moves others to take steps of faith.
Looking Ahead
Read Nehemiah 3