Nehemiah Series Resources

Welcome!

Welcome to Nehemiah: Rise and Rebuild!
The Old Testament book of Nehemiah is a story about God's faithfulness and mercy to bring his people, Israel, home. Two leaders, Ezra and Nehemiah, are called to join God in rebuilding a holy people—a covenant community that remembers who they are and whose they are, as well as their vocation to be a light to the nations. We are called to join God's work of building for the kingdom (we don't build the kingdom; we build "for" it), assuming a posture of openness to God's transformational work of building us into a kingdom people for his glory and the sake of the world.

How might we join the Lord in his work to rebuild and restore our cities, the region, our neighborhoods, the world, and our church, homes, and relationships? You are invited to engage the weekly Scriptures, the questions and the Rise and Rebuild practices. Choose as much or as little that fits into your week, but do make time! Friends, we have the agency to put ourselves in a place and posture where God’s Spirit has space to transform and conform us into the likeness of Jesus, and to become followers of Jesus’ way. Our prayer is that these resources would help you create a space where God’s Spirit is invited and free to transform your heart and mind.

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Bible Reading Tools

S - SCRIPTURE: Take your time reading. Allow God to speak to you. Don’t rush. Look and listen for ONE idea, word, phrase, or verse that particularly stands out. Underline it or write it out.

O - OBSERVATION: What do you think God is saying in this scripture? In your own words, record the context of the passage. What jumps out to you in the passage? Who is it written by? Who is it written to? What’s one thing you didn’t notice before? What seems interesting or unusual? What comes before and after the text? Is there repetition, comparison, or contrast?

A - APPLICATION: Personalize it by asking yourself how this applies to your life. In what ways is God showing you this scripture applies to you? Is there a similar situation in your life right now? How can you respond to the Lord? How will you be different because of what you have read? Is there a specific action you need to take or confession to make?

P - PRAYER: Thank God for His Word and care. Pray that God’s Word falls on good soil, takes root and produces fruit. You may even want to write out a prayer of response to what God has shown you in His Word. Remember, God always listens and already knows your needs. This a personal message from you to the Lord so don’t worry about praying the perfect words – make it honest and heartfelt.

Week 1 | September 12-18

As you read through Nehemiah, we invite you begin the week with the Psalm. Read it and pray through it. Praying Scripture gives shape and meaning to our prayers. It enables us to get God’s word in us and transform us. Each day, pray the Psalm alongside the Nehemiah reading for the day.

Day 1 - Psalm 51
Day 2 - Nehemiah 1:1-11
Day 3 - Nehemiah 2:1-10
Day 4 - Nehemiah 2:11-20
Day 5 - Nehemiah 2:1-20

What does Nehemiah’s question to the men from Judah and his response tell us about Nehemiah?
How does Nehemiah’s first response of weeping, lament, fasting and prayer to the condition of the city impact and/or challenge us?
How goes it in the city, the region, the church, our homes, our relationships?
What needs attended to in our city, region, church, homes, and relationships? Where are things “broken down” or “destroyed by fire”?
In what ways are we practicing the kind of attitude and prayer that Nehemiah models for us?
How and for what reasons might we find ourselves resistant to prayers of confession and intercession?

What is your typical response upon hearing the sometimes-sobering reality of the condition of “the city”?
How have you seen and experienced God’s ear be attentive and his eyes open to your prayers and/or the prayers of his servant/s?
In what ways is God inviting you to enter in the same kind of spirit and prayer as Nehemiah?
For what do you need to weep, lament, fast and pray?
What is God bringing to mind that you need to name and confess before the Lord?
Where are you resistant to the practice of confession?

Ask and see how it goes around you. Take a lunch hour or two this week to fast and pray for those things that are not as they should be, and for the ways and places that are broken down and destroyed.
Each day pray through the weekly reading plan’s Psalm 51.
Pick a day and practice confession throughout the day. Ask God to bring to mind those things that need to be confessed. When you become aware, name those things before the Lord, seeking His grace and mercy. To the best of your capacity then, with the help of the Spirit, turn from those things.

Week 2 | September 19-25

Day 6 - Psalm 85
Day 7 - Nehemiah 3:1-17
Day 8 - Nehemiah 3:18-24
Day 9 - Nehemiah 3:25-32
Day 10 - Nehemiah 3:1-32

Nehemiah 2:1-20

Nehemiah was vulnerable and honest when he showed the King his sadness. What might the benefits be of a vulnerable and honest posture in a season or prayer, preparation, and planning?
Nehemiah’s constant and ongoing response was prayer. How might a posture of prayer impact the “city”, the circumstances, and situations around us? What might the possibilities be?
As you observe yourself and those around, which tendency or bent is more apparent, faith in God’s provision or planning, organization, and hard work? What evidence leads to this observation? What steps could be taken to implement a more balanced approach?
What might it look like to trust God’s provision AND take personal responsibility for the things and ways in which God is inviting a rebuilding?
In what ways do we see and give witness to the faithfulness of God’s people in our context and in this current season?

In what ways and places is God inviting you to trust that He will provide? What threatens your trust in His provision?
Have you asked for what you needed? What empowers or prevents you from asking for what you need, whether from someone or from the Lord?
How is God calling you to do the hard and prayerful work of making plans and preparations in your own life right now?
Where do you see God’s preparation of your heart and character during this season of life? Where do you see Him at work?
In what way/s are you naming and acknowledging “the good of God” (Nehemiah 2:8) upon your life and work? What causes you to forget or fail to acknowledge the Lord’s good hand?

Maybe God has called you to something. This might be a season of planning and preparation. Maybe you have been procrastinating. If so, do the thing this week! Take one step toward the call in the process of planning, organizing and preparation. Set aside a few hours of time to make progress. and physically do the next thing.
Each day this week acknowledge “the good hand of God” (Nehemiah 2:8) upon you by practicing gratitude. Name and thank God for five ways His good hand has been upon you each day.
Practice a constant posture of prayer with the Lord this week or as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray without ceasing”. Be present and see how the Lord responds and answers. Remember and document what you hear and experience. What is the Lord doing? How are you seeing Him move?

Week 3 | September 26-October 2

Day 11 - Psalm 62
Day 12 - Nehemiah 4:1-6
Day 13 - Nehemiah 4:7-15
Day 14 - Nehemiah 4:16-23
Day 15 - Nehemiah 4:1-23

Nehemiah 2:17-3:12, 22-32

How does acknowledging or not acknowledging God’s good hand impact people’s willingness and commitment to “rise up and build”?
How does a diversity of perspective and skill contribute to the building and rebuilding process?
In what ways does “ownership” change the way we perceive and invest in God’s work in the world?
“In building together, they were being built together.” What does this mean? How does building together contribute to being built?
In what ways might God be calling you, us, Trinity to “rise up and build”?
What kinds of new building might God want to do based on the historical foundations of Trinity Church?
What is the impact of our refusal or others who refuse to “rise up and rebuild”?

What prevents you from joining the ranks of those “rising and rebuilding”?
In what ways do you see or not see yourself as an “owner” in rebuilding and restoring? How do you see your role and position on the wall? What contributes to the way you see yourself as an “owner”?
Of what part of God’s world, Kingdom do you consider yourself an owner? How did you come to that conclusion?
How might God be inviting you to do some repairing, caring, and rebuilding in your neighborhood, school district, community, family? What are the repairs that need to be done?
With whom might God be calling you to stand “side by side”? For what purpose, for what reparation?

Consider what you might do this week to “rise and rebuild”. What is God saying? What is He inviting you to? Choose one thing you can do to rebuild and repair this week and do it!
Write a note of encouragement to someone you see who has risen and is rebuilding. Be specific, tell them what you see and how they are doing their part.
Pray daily that each one (including yourself) who calls Trinity home would see their ownership and work as critical to the rebuilding that God is inviting us to. Ask the Holy Spirit to move and work in the hearts and lives of each one.

Week 4 | October 3-9

Day 16 - Psalm 49
Day 17 - Nehemiah 5:1-5
Day 18 - Nehemiah 5:6-11
Day 19 - Nehemiah 5:12-19
Day 20 - Nehemiah 5:1-19

Nehemiah 4:1-23

In what ways do we typically, as the church and individuals in the church, respond to opposition?
What is the impact of fear amidst the opposition and in the task of rebuilding?
What sorts of things cause strength to fail in the “burden bearing” work? (vs. 10)
In the face of opposition, how might we remind ourselves who we are and what we called to do?
What does it look like to “remember the Lord” or how do we “remember the Lord”? (vs. 14)
How might we be “loaded” in a way that looks like working with one hand and holding a “sword” in the other? (vs. 17)
What does it mean to say, “Our God will fight for us”?

What is your typical response, autopilot/modus operandi when opposition comes to you?
When have you experienced victory in dealing with opposition? What about how you handled the opposition was victorious?
In what ways does the “burden bearing” work feel too heavy and cause you to falter?
How are you building resilience and capacity for “burden bearing”?
What rubbish needs to be cleared away to continue to rise and rebuild?
For what reasons does it feel difficult to “remember the Lord” and entrust the opposition or our “enemy” to the Lord?

Strap on the Sword of the Word - Write out some truth cards, carry them with you, read and rehearse them throughout the days this week. (Psalm 121, Romans 12:14; Romans 12:16-21; James 4:6-8; Jeremiah 31:3; Zephaniah 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 2:10; John 15:9)
Stand guard each day over yourself, your home, your relationships, your neighborhood, the community, and the church by praying protection and remembering the Lord, the one who fights for us. (Exodus 14:14) Pray the armor of God as you pray over these. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Submit, pray, and entrust to the Lord, each day, someone/s in your life through whom there has come opposition, derision, or great anger.

Week 5 | October 10-16

Day 21 - Psalm 29
Day 22 - Nehemiah 6:1-19
Day 23 - Nehemiah 7:1-45
Day 24 - Nehemiah 7:46-73
Day 25 - Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 5:1-19

For what reasons do we turn a blind eye to the poverty and oppression around us?
How are the effects of the oppression in Nehemiah 5 different from the effects of the oppression by Sanballat and Tobiah in Nehemiah 4?
Tangibly involving ourselves for the sake of justice is a biblical command. What part is God asking you to play? What part is God asking Trinity play?
What might God be asking us to lay down for the sake of our struggling brothers and sisters?
Why do you think Nehemiah’s compulsion to complete the wall was more important to him than securing a huge salary along with wine and food allotment?
How goes it with our witness as God’s people to the community, region and broader world concerning the poor and oppressed?

In what ways have you exercised a greedy spirit and misused or mistreated others for personal gain?
How has the wound from a brother or sister (loved one or trusted friend) uniquely hurt you?
How might you be contributing to the oppression of brothers and sisters around you and/or around the world?
In likeness with Nehemiah, is God asking you to lay down an entitlement in a situation where you are justified to hold into it? What do you see as the greater purpose of relinquishing this right?
What prevents you from using your power, influence, and resources (whatever that may look like) to stand up for and stand in the gap for brothers and sisters?
As God put it in Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild, what has God put in your heart concerning His people? What most distracts you from doing the things God has put in your heart?

Week 6 | October 17-23

Day 26 - Psalm 40
Day 27 - Nehemiah 9:1-25
Day 28 - Nehemiah 9:26-37
Day 29 - Nehemiah 9:38-10:29
Day 30 - Nehemiah 10:30-39

Nehemiah 7:73-8:18

How would you describe the way we typically engage God’s word? As the Church, as God’s people, as individuals in this current moment and season?
What does the people’s response to God’s word in Nehemiah 8:5-6 reveal? How might it challenge or encourage us?
As you hear and see God’s people request, read, receive, rejoice, and respond to His Word, which of these do we as a whole, and as individuals, most readily engage in? Which ones seem most difficult?
In what ways does the joy of the Lord bring strength?
What is the impact of regular and sustained engagement with God’s word?
What might God be inviting or asking us collectively and individually to do because of His word to us in Nehemiah 8?

In what ways have you intentionally put yourself before God’s word on regular basis? What is/was the impact?
In what ways have you treated God’s word casually? What can you do to remedy this?
When have you wept or been grieved by God’s word? For what reason?
When have you experienced great joy and rejoicing at God’s word?
What commands or instructions have you forgotten, lacked opportunity to practice or disregarded?
In what ways has God recreated, redefined, or re-storied you through His word?
What is one of the most meaningful Bible verses to you? Why?

As you read God’s word this week, pray and ask the Lord to restore in you a wonder and awe for His Word. Watch how He might delight you and bring joy and rejoicing in His Word. Thank Him for it or continue praying if you find it difficult.
Choose one of the following words to get into action around God’s word – request, read, receive, rejoice, and respond. Decide which action you will do. Each day do the thing – request God’s word, read God’s Word, receive God’s word, rejoice in God’s word, respond to God’s word. What do you notice? How has God shown up in and through His word?
As you engage the daily Psalm and Nehemiah reading, how are you responding? Record or journal what you are present to? What is God saying to you? What is He inviting you to?

Week 7 | October 24-30

Day 31 - Psalm 126
Day 32 - Nehemiah 11
Day 33 - Nehemiah 12
Day 34 - Nehemiah 13:1-14
Day 35 - Nehemiah 13:15-30

Nehemiah 9:1-3, 6-21

How does confession fit as a part of worship in the gathering of God’s people?
What sorts of things would we prefer to keep silent about and skip the confession?
What prevents honesty in the Church?
What are the benefits of remembering God’s past works in His peoples’ lives?
Why would the summary of God’s faithfulness to his people have been beneficial to the returned exiles in Nehemiah’s day?
How might God’s people enter into covenant today? What does that look like?
To what extent does the church look and live differently than the world? What impacts the Church’s capacity to look and live differently?

In what ways have you “gone your own way”, forgetting God’s favor and His faithfulness?
What do you need to get into agreement with God about?
How has God met you with His love, faithfulness, and patience? What was the impact to you?
What happens when you ignore or forget what God has done in the past?
How do you respond to knowing that God will love you and remain faithful to you, despite how often you fail him?
What do you want to give your word to this week?

Spend time in confession around the ways in which you and God’s people have spurned God’s favor and faithfulness and acted contrary to your identity as one of God’s own children.
Recount God’s faithfulness. Make a list of the ways God has faithfully shown up in your life and in the life of His people known as Trinity Church.
Give your word to something that God has shown you. Make a covenant this week with God or with someone. Write it out. Type it up. Sign it. Both sign it. Remember it and do it.

Week 8 | October 31-November 6

Hebrews 10:1-25

Nehemiah 13

What does it look like to be set apart as God’s people?
In what ways does our distinctness as God’s people become compromised?
How might there be tension in the call to be set apart from the world and holy as God’s people?
What is the difference in being set apart and being set apart on mission with God? What is the impact of being set apart on mission and simply being set apart?
What is our personal role and what is the role of Jesus Christ in living a life as God’s holy, set apart people?
What might need to shift or change as we think about being a church of God’s people called to be holy and on mission with God?

In what ways are you distinct and set apart as God’s own? What in your life would identify you as one of God’s holy and special person/people?
What causes you to be less than God’s holy child, set apart for His purposes?
Have you ever taken radical measures to live more fully into the man or woman God has called you to be or as Paul says, “to walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called”? What were those measures? How did it turn out for you?
When have you experienced the futility of striving to be holy, set apart?
How are you utilizing your “set apartness” to engage in mission with God?
Who in your world might need you to be holy and on mission with God? What is God saying to you about this person/s?

Reflect and choose one thing you can fast from or give up to more look like God’s child, set apart on mission with God.
In whose life do you have influence? Do something tangible this week for that person as a holy, set apart child of God on mission. Invite that person to lunch or dinner and have a conversation? Practically serve that person in some way this week. Be salt and light. Reflect God.
Pray each day for God to reveal, more fully, His specific mission for you in this world, and then listen. What does God suggest? How is He prompting?