This week will introduce the summer series and Nehemiah’s encounter with the news of Jerusalem’s disrepair.
(Nehemiah 1:1-4)
SERMON OUTLINE
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” (Nehemiah 1:4)
Introducing Nehemiah
- The place of Nehemiah in biblical history
- An overview of the book
- The two key words for our series:
- Rebuild
- Repair
The Realities for Nehemiah
- Exile
- Jerusalem in Ruins
- Heartbreak
Responding to Our Broken World
- Options:
- Turn away and ignore
- Try to be the savior of everyone and everything
- Meet God in the brokenness and our limits
- Naming
- Lamenting
- Praying and Opening Oneself to God
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you experienced the reality that the world is broken, either in general or personally? What happened and how did you deal with it?
- This weekend at Eastbrook we begin a new sermon series, “Rebuild and Repair: Engaging the World with Nehemiah,” by looking at Nehemiah 1:1-4. Take some time to pray, asking God to speak to you as you read His word. Then, whether you’re alone or with others, read that portion of Scripture aloud.
- Background: Nehemiah, part of the Hebrew exiled people since Babylon overran Jerusalem in 587 BC, served as a cupbearer (1:11) to King Artaxerxes of Persia, who reigned 464-423 BC. The events of Nehemiah 1-2 take place roughly around 445 BC, likely following the events of the book of Ezra.
- What is the report that Nehemiah hears back from his kinsmen about Jerusalem’s situation?
- What would you feel if you heard this news, and you were in Nehemiah’s position?
- How does he respond to this news in verse 4?
- What is one thing that God has placed on your heart, like with Nehemiah, that you feel burdened by in terms of the brokenness in our world? What would it look like to step forward to do something about it?
- What is one thing God is revealing to you through this study? If you’re on your own, write that down, pray over it, and share it with someone this week. If you are with a small group, share your answers with one another before closing in prayer.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize Nehemiah 1:4
- Take some time to pray about the brokenness of the world, perhaps using a guide such as this to help you.
- Read through all of Ezra and Nehemiah with a study Bible to help you get a sense of the historical background and overall flow of this portion of biblical history
- Watch one or both of these videos by The Bible Project: