Session Two: Fighting for Yourself

SHARE YOUR STORY

As we said last week, when we share our stories with others, we give them the opportunity to see God at work. Your story is being shaped, even in this moment, by being part of this group. In fact, few things can shape us more than community. When we share our stories, we can encourage someone else, and learn. We experience the presence of God as He helps us be brave enough to reveal our thoughts and feelings.

Open your group with prayer.

This should be a brief, simple prayer in which you invite God to be with you as you meet. You can pray for specific requests at the end of the meeting, or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion.

Begin your time together by using the following questions and activities to get people talking: 1. In the last session we asked you to write some names in the

Circles of Life diagram. Who did you identify as the people in your life who need to meet Jesus? Go back to the Circles of Life diagram on page 27 to help you think of various people you come in contact with on a regular basis; people who need to know Jesus more deeply. Consider ideas for action and make a plan to follow through on one of them this week.

WATCH VIDEO SESSION 2

HEAR GOD’S STORY

READ NEHEMIAH 4:10-14

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

1. What caused Nehemiah to feel overwhelmed?

2. How does Nehemiah acknowledge God at the beginning of his prayer?

3. How does Nehemiah take responsibility for Israel’s sin?

4. At the end of this account, Nehemiah states he is the king’s cupbearer. As a cupbearer, what could he do about the condition of Jerusalem’s walls and gates?

STUDY NOTES

HACALIAH, verse 1, There is no other mention of Hacaliah in the Bible except as the father of Nehemiah (1:1; 10:1)

MONTH OF CHISLEV, verse 1, Chislev (or Kislev) is the ninth month on the Jewish calendar and occurs in November-December.

WEEPING, MOURNING, FASTING, PRAYING, verse 4, fasting and praying often accompanies weeping and mourning in the Bible. For example: “But I, when they were sick--I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.” Psalm 35:13

CREATE A NEW STORY

In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from the teaching and Bible study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

1. What has caused you to weep and mourn?

2. Why is it important to remind ourselves of God’s goodness when we are overwhelmed?

3. How has God answered your prayers about a seemingly impossible situation in the past?

4. What is one thing you need to start doing regarding your situation? What is one thing you need to stop doing regarding your situation?

5. Here are some simple ways to connect with God. Tell the group which ones you plan to try this week, and talk about your progress and challenges when you meet next time.

• Prayer. Commit to personal prayer and daily connection with God. You may find it helpful to write your prayers in a journal. • Daily Devotions. The Daily Devotions provided in each session offers an opportunity to read a short Bible passage five days a week during the course of our study. In our hurry-up world, we often move too quickly through everything—even reading God’s Word! Slow down. Don’t just skim, but take time to carefully read and reflect on the passage. Write down your insights on what you read each day. Copy a portion of Scripture on a card and tape it somewhere in your line of sight, such as your car’s dashboard or the bathroom mirror. Or text it to yourself! Think about it when you sit at red lights or while you’re eating a meal. Reflect on what God is saying to you through these words. On the sixth day summarize what God has shown you throughout the week. 6. Ask, “How can we pray for you this week?” Invite everyone to share, but don’t force the issue. Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page 140 .

Close your meeting with prayer.

FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY

If you feel God nudging you to go deeper, take some time before the next meeting to dig into His Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own and jot your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. A great way to gain insight on a passage is to read it in several different translations. You may want to use a Bible app or website to compare translations.

READ PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9.

1. What does Paul instruct you to do when you are anxious?

2. What is the result of prayer and petition according to this passage?

3. What are you anxious about right now? How can verses 8-9 help you embrace God’s truth for what you are anxious over?

READ PSALM 30:1-12 .

1. When have you felt how the psalmist feels in this passage?

2. What is the psalmist solution for feeling overwhelmed?

3. How has God turned your “mourning into dancing” in the past?

DAILY DEVOTIONS

DAY 1. READ PROVERBS 19:21

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Respond: How could your plans be getting in the way of God’s purpose in your life?

DAY 2. READ HEBREWS 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Respond: In what area of your life do you need God’s mercy and grace today?

DAY 3. READ PSALM 24:1-2

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Respond: How do you find comfort and confidence in this passage?

DAY 5. READ PSALM 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Respond: How is the Lord delivering you out of your afflictions?

DAY 6

Reflect on the verses from this past week, and use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Devotions time this week.

DAY 4. READ JONAH 4:3

Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.

Respond: When have you felt this kind of despair? How did God intervene?

Session Three

Fighting for Your Home Part 1

MEMORY VERSE: JOSHUA 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

INTRODUCTION

The messy middle is where life really happens. It’s where our greatest character is formed. It’s where we learn to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities. It’s where we learn to resolve conflict or not. It’s where we will press ahead or where we learn to quit.