Nehemiah

This session we continue through the book of Nehemiah with Eric Mason with RightNowMedia, Specifically covering Nehemiah 7:1–8:18.

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

  • Main Idea: If we want to know and follow God, we must commit to hearing, knowing, and obeying his Word.
  • Head Change: To know that the more we understand God’s Word, the more we can reflect his light to the world.
  • Heart Change: To feel joy when we learn more about God and his salvation through his Word.
  • Life Change: To commit to worshipping God with others through following his Word together.

OPEN
Describe a time you experienced joy when you were surrounded by other people (maybe at a family gathering, a church service, or an event). What made it joyful?

We can experience joy alone but being with others causes our happiness to multiply. Parties become more vibrant, mutual experiences more memorable, and worship more powerful. God has called us into community so that, as we gather, we can experience the joy of knowing him.

In Nehemiah 7–8, we will see God’s people gather to hear from God through Scripture. After they hear the Scriptures read aloud—some of them for the first time—they collectively celebrate, rejoicing in learning more about God and his ways. We can experience that same joy today when we give our attention to God’s Word.

READ
Read Nehemiah 7:73–8:18.

WATCH
Session 7: Nehemiah 7–8 (14 minutes).

DISCUSS

By the end of Nehemiah 7, the wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the people were settling in their homes. For the first time in a long time, there was peace in God’s city. But, as Dr. Mason said, the wall was just a tool—the people needed something more, something greater, to establish their relationship with God.

Eric said the completed wall provided God’s people an opportunity to live in peace and be a light to surrounding nations. But the wall was not their source of peace and light—only God could truly protect and provide for them. What tools or blessings are we tempted to trust for peace and provision instead of God?

When our lives are going well, we may not feel like we need God—at least not as strongly as we do in times of suffering. But despite how we feel, we always need God. What could we do to remind ourselves of our constant need for God’s guidance, provision, and protection?

In verse 1, the people ask Ezra to bring the Word of God to them. Eric emphasized the crowd’s desire to hear the Torah spoken over them. In what ways do you think our churches would be different today if the people longed to hear God’s Word? In what ways is your life different when you desire to hear God’s Word?

Ezra spent the entire morning, from sunrise to noon, reading the books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy) out loud. As he read, the people attentively listened so that they could learn about God and his requirements for them.

The crowd stood, attentively listening to Ezra for hours. It can be incredible to imagine that many people quietly listening to the Bible, especially with our shortened attention spans and busy lives. For some of us, it can be difficult to listen to a full sermon without feeling a desire to look at our phones. Even so, it is worthwhile to discipline ourselves to pay attention to the public reading and teaching of the Bible. What could you do to minimize distractions so that you might be more attentive to what God wants to teach you in his Word?

As Eric said, it is not enough to just read God’s Word. We must respond to it.

Eric shared, “Worship isn’t just when you lift your hands in worship. It’s also your disposition.” We are called to honor God through our attitudes and actions while participating in worship services. It is possible to sing worship songs or even feel encouraged by a Sunday service without a posture of reverence toward God. What do you hope to get out of worship services? What attitude, engagement, and posture do you try to give to God during worship?

When the people heard the Law, they were overwhelmed with sorrow. The Law describes sin in detail and God’s requirements for his people. Those who were listening to Ezra, who understood all that was being read to them, clearly saw their sin and failure to live up to God’s standard. Like the Israelites, we grieve when we recognize our sin. In what ways was the sorrow of the Israelites the correct response to their sin? What should our response be toward our sin when we recognize it?

Ezra and the Levites instructed the people to not grieve because “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Their conviction under the Law was meant to drive them to God. As with Israel, we also do not have the strength to save ourselves—our sin is proof of that. But we do know the one who can and has saved us. Conviction should always push us toward our loving God. How do you typically respond to conviction? Why do you respond that way?

The joy of God welcoming his people despite their sinfulness led the people of Jerusalem to break out in celebration. God has also made a way for us to be his people. Because of what Jesus has done, we can be forgiven and welcomed into a relationship with God. That is good news worth celebrating. Is celebration a part of your regular worship? What would it look like for you and your community to celebrate the salvation we have in Jesus together?

After the public reading of the Word, the people committed themselves to understanding and obeying the Law.

When the family leaders investigated the Law, they discovered a festival the Law commanded them to celebrate called Succoth or the Festival of Booths. When we think of God’s Law, we tend to think of a list of boring rules to follow. But God’s Law leads us into full, abundant life, which includes feasts and celebrations. When you think of God’s Laws and commands, what do you think of? In what ways does the Law’s inclusion of festivals change the way you think about obedience to God?

What would it look like for you to commit to knowing the fullness of God’s Word so you might obey it?

In verse 8:17, we see that obedience brought Israel tremendous joy. We don’t always connect obedience with joy, but God will give us joy when we follow him. He is our good Father. When has obedience given you joy?

The joy Israel experienced began when they gathered to hear the Scriptures. Like Israel, the joy of our relationship with God starts with our desire to hear from him. His Word teaches us who he is and the right way to live, and it leads us into joy. When do you read the Bible? When do you read it with others?

What would it look like for you and your community to give more attention to reading, understanding, and obeying the Bible together?

LAST WORD

Following God is not about living a boring, sad life. When we investigate God’s Word, we find the path to tremendous joy. And when we obey God’s Word, we find a life of communal celebration and peace.

It will take focus and discipline for us to commit ourselves to the Scriptures. But every ounce of effort we give to knowing and obeying God will be worth the joy of knowing him.