Every session has a point—what each participant should walk away from the discussion knowing, feeling, and doing.

• Main Idea: We can exercise our trust in God by working to bring restoration to our broken world and believing in his sovereignty.
• Head Change: To know that God holds ultimate power over every circumstance.
• Heart Change: To feel emboldened by God’s sovereignty and purpose for his people.
• Life Change: To exercise trust in God by taking courageous steps toward accomplishing God’s mission.

OPEN
Have you ever been dared to do something but didn’t do it? What was the dare, and why didn’t you go through with it?

There are several reasons we wouldn’t go through with a dare, but the core reason is that we don’t trust something or someone. Life presents us with opportunities to take risks, and if the risks outweigh our trust, we won’t go through with them.

In session 2, Eric will share how Nehemiah responded to the risks he faced in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We will observe how Nehemiah’s trust in God’s power prompted him to boldly move forward with the assignment God had given him.

READ
Read Nehemiah 2:1–20.

Watch Session 2: Nehemiah 2:1–20 (11 minutes).

DISCUSS
Nehemiah 2 emphasizes God’s sovereignty and how Nehemiah took the initiative to bring restoration to Jerusalem. We will walk through the chapter to observe how Nehemiah displayed his trust in God through his bold actions.

Eric shared that God’s sovereignty is “God’s control and rule over all creation.” God holds authority over all our circumstances that he either allows or causes to happen. Is it hard for you to grasp God’s sovereignty? Why, or why not?

What are some ways you notice God’s sovereignty at work in your life?

Eric pointed out that God’s sovereignty is on display because God put Nehemiah in a strategic position as cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah was uniquely positioned to help his people. Has God ever placed you in a strategic position to help others? If so, what were the circumstances?

No matter where God has placed us, we can sometimes fail to acknowledge his power even though we know he is sovereign. While God is uniquely sovereign over everything, why do we sometimes fail to trust him to lead us? 

God is trustworthy, and we can follow him even when we’re afraid, in pain, or worried about the future. While Nehemiah trembled at the thought of the king harming him or preventing him from the work he felt convicted to do, he still acted. Have you ever had a moment when you pushed past your fear and acted? What motivated you to take initiative even though you were afraid?

Nehemiah’s trust in God’s guidance and sovereign power propelled him to take bold steps to accomplish the mission God gave him. Like Nehemiah, our level of trust in God is often revealed through our obedient words, actions, and attitudes. In what areas of your life might you need to trust in God’s sovereignty?

Even though God was sovereign over Nehemiah’s situation, Nehemiah knew he would still face opposition and would need to gather supplies. So, he was proactive. In verses 7–8, he asked the king for letters to provide safe passage and resources to rebuild the wall. What has it looked like for you to be proactive in your faith? In what ways did God’s sovereignty play a role in how and why you acted?

God reigns over our circumstances, but he doesn’t make obstacles go away. Instead, he empowers us to face them. How might your faith in God, who is sovereign, influence your mindset toward obstacles you face?

Nehemiah not only had a clear direction from God, but he also had confidence that God was with him. Nehemiah says in verses 8 and 18 that “the hand of God was on [him]” to show that God guided him, even in the face of obstacles. Have you ever felt God’s guidance amid opposition? If so, what was that like?

To summarize Nehemiah’s interaction with the king, Eric said that Nehemiah’s character, competence, commitment, and courage all helped him leverage his relationship with the king so he could build the wall. God put Nehemiah in a position to grow in each of those characteristics so that, at the right time, Nehemiah could get everything he needed to rebuild the wall. Have you noticed God using something you learned—maybe while at a job, during a time of difficulty, or through a relationship—to prepare you for something else later? If so, what did you learn? How did God use what you learned?

Out of the four characteristics that Eric mentioned (character, competence, commitment, and courage), which one do you think God is calling you to strengthen? Why?

Nehemiah took responsibility for rebuilding the wall by inspecting the damage, but he also acknowledged that God sovereignly prompted him to do it in verse 12. Nehemiah viewed the mission as a partnership with God. What is helpful about seeing a God-ordained mission as a partnership with God rather than our singular responsibility? In what areas of your life could you remind yourself that you’re partnered with God and not doing it all on your own?

Nehemiah also took the initiative to restore the wall in verse 17 by gathering people to accomplish the mission. He knew the mission God called him to could not be accomplished by himself. The people responded favorably, and God strengthened their hands for the work. What are the benefits of a group of people joining each other to work on a common mission together?

How might you be able to contribute to a group of people in a restoration effort in your community, at work, or through your church?

While a group of Israelites came together for the restoration project, it all started with an individual’s pain. God sovereignly used Nehemiah’s grief over Jerusalem’s destruction to propel him to restore it. We will all, like Nehemiah, experience suffering. When we do, we can choose to respond in faith. When have you experienced suffering? What was your response to those difficult circumstances? How was your faith impacted?

We see in Nehemiah’s story that God is sovereign—he’s always at work according to his plan. We can trust him, even in difficulty. What does it look like for you to trust that God is sovereign when you suffer? In what ways might viewing our pain through the lens of God’s sovereignty influence our response to suffering?

What sorrow, grief, or trouble are you experiencing now? How could this group care for you?

This session showed us what a faithful response to God’s sovereignty can look like. Nehemiah acted boldly, he trusted in God, and he knew God was with him. When we believe God is sovereign, we can respond as Nehemiah did. What could it look like for you to respond to God’s sovereignty this week? What bold step could God be calling you to take?

LAST WORD

At times it may be difficult to trust that God is sovereign. But God is at work even in the midst of our pain and encourages us to bring restoration where others are experiencing brokenness. He is above all things and will strengthen our hands as we join others in the mission he has given us to work on. He can be trusted. He will never fail us, and his faithfulness enables us to be bold even when we experience fear in the face of challenges.