Grow Group Questions • Nehemiah 9 & 13 • Rise. Rebuild. Restore.

Conversation Starter/Questions (10 minutes)

As we end our Nehemiah series, what has stood out to you the most or what have you felt most challenged about?

Sermon Based Questions (15-20 minutes)

Read Nehemiah 9:16-17, 28-30 and Nehemiah 13:6, 10, 15, 23-24. The Old Testament was a series of try and fail attempts to keep the commandments of God. Here we read of the disappointment of Nehemiah in the reforms that he and Ezra were trying to put in place.

• Have you ever struggled to keep the commands of God by your own efforts?
• When did you realize that this option doesn't work?
• What did you do to change how you pursued holiness?

Here are some specific areas where Nehemiah found Israel to be disobedient to God’s law.

Nehemiah 13:10  Israel neglected the house of the Lord and giving to the needs of God’s house.

Nehemiah 13:15  Israel neglecting to set apart time to worship and celebrate God together at the expense of how they wanted to spend their time.

Nehemiah 13:23-24 Israel neglecting God’s command about relationships, sexual purity and marriage.

• How do we see each of these areas neglected by God’s people today and resisting God’s call to pursue holiness?
• Do you struggle with any of these personally? Either in your life or believing that they apply today.

Digging Deeper (20-25 minutes)

Read Nehemiah 9:16-17. This Scripture recognizes that as humans, we have a  tendency to desire to "run back to slavery" in our lives.

• What is so attractive to our old life of slavery versus our freedom in Christ?
• Why do we sometimes run to it?
• What should we do or what can we do to not have this desire as strongly?

Read Psalm 51:10-12. In this Psalm, David speaks of his struggle with sin, his fears of losing a connection with God and comes to God with repentance.

• How do these verses resonate in you?
• How are your fears similar or different from David’s?
• What is at stake?

Challenge and Prayer (10-15 minutes)

Share an area of your life where you are struggling not to run back to ‘slavery’. How can the group support you during the week to help you walk in freedom, and pray for you tonight. After people have shared, spend time praying about these issues.