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Home Group Notes - Nehemiah

Nehemiah 4:1-14 - Working together

This is the first of a series of four studies on Nehemiah. In addition, I have included some of the questions from the Crossway Bible Guide on Nehemiah and some extra questions in case you want to use them. The Bible Guide has helpful notes, including a section at the beginning on leading groups studying Nehemiah, so I have not added to these.

What problems faced the Jews in this chapter?

How did they deal with these difficulties?

Have we experienced opposition when we have been doing God’s work?

How do we cope with opposition?

What did Jesus mean when he said, ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted’?

Why did Nehemiah pray in the way he did (v4-5)?

How can we love our enemies?

Do we pray about people who make us angry or upset or whom we do not like?

What kind of attacks do we have to guard against as a church?

Who do we think are the enemies of the church?

Does anything in this passage particularly encourage us?

Nehemiah 8:1-18 – The household of faith

How did the people respond to the reading of God’s word?

What place does reading the Bible have in our lives?

Does your Christian life go up and down according to how you feel? How do you deal with this?

What do you think is the difference between joy and happiness?

The church often grows significantly in times of persecution and hardship? Why?

If you could have three things on a desert island, what would you choose?

Is it right for Christians to have plenty of everything?

How important to Christian faith is the church building?

In chapter 9, the people confessed their sins and repented. They understood only too clearly that their situation was the result of their sin and things had not turned out the way God had originally planned for them. They then recommitted themselves to following God’s law and obeying His commands.

Are there times in our lives when we want to recommit ourselves to following God’s way?

The people of Nehemiah’s time felt that it was necessary to separate themselves from the surrounding nations. Have their actions anything to teach us?

In what practical areas did the people make promises about their behaviour?

Should Sunday be different from other days?

Which is easiest to remember, what I owe someone or what they owe me?

Why is finance often a problem for the church?

Are there opportunities for Christians to take up their responsibilities to God in practical ways in your community, and if so, how?

Is God showing us areas where we need to make new resolutions, perhaps as individuals or as a church?

Nehemiah 12:27-31,38-47

How do you prepare for coming into the presence of God?

What do we expect when we come to church on a Sunday?

Is our experience of God so exciting that we want to invite everyone we know to come and join in thanksgiving with us?

Has God done something in your life that you want to shout about?

Why do you think Christians often appear to prefer to stay in when Jesus tells us to ‘Go out and make disciples?’

What have we learned from the sermons and studies in Nehemiah?