Session Six: Fighting for Faithfulness

SHARE YOUR STORY

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. Telling our personal stories builds deeper connections among group members. Begin your time together by using the following questions and activities to get people talking. Sharing our stories requires us to be honest. We can help one another be honest and open by creating a safe place; be sure that your group is one where confidentiality is respected, where there is no such thing as “stupid questions,” where you listen without criticizing one another.

1. What does it mean to be faithful?

2. Who is an outstanding example of faithfulness in your life? 3. Last week you stated a step you would take this past week.

Report your progress to the group.

WATCH VIDEO SESSION 6

HEAR GOD’S STORY

READ NEHEMIAH 4:1-6.

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

1. What was Sanballat’s response to the Jews building the wall?

2. What action did the Jews take?

3. When have you felt opposition to your faithfulness?

4. How does your faithfulness motivate others?

STUDY NOTES

WILL THEY RESTORE IT FOR THEMSELVES?, verse 2, is also translated “Will they commit themselves to God?”

HEAPS OF RUBBISH AND BURNED ONES, verse 2. The walls had been burned, and fire made the limestone disintegrate.

TOBIAH THE AMMONITE, verse 3, is also referred to as “the servant,” (Nehemiah 2:10) and may have been a freed slave.

CREATE A NEW STORY

God wants you to be part of His kingdom—to weave your story into His. That will mean change. It will require you to go His way rather than your own. This won’t happen overnight, but it should happen steadily. By making small, simple choices, we can begin to change our direction. The Holy Spirit helps us along the way— giving us gifts to serve the body, offering us insights into Scripture, and challenging us to love not only those around us but those far from God.

In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned in this lesson.

1. What rewards have you experienced for faithfulness?

2. What have you lost for not being faithful?

3. How do you need to grow in your faithfulness to God, to your spouse, to your family, or to your church?

4. What is one thing you can do this week to demonstrate your faithfulness to someone?

5. Spend some time praying about those you know who might respond to a simple invitation: to come to a church service, to join your small group, or even just to have coffee and talk about spiritual matters. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind people you can pray for.

6. A strong group is made up of people who are all being filled up by God, so that they are empowered to love one another.

What specific steps will you take this week to connect with

God privately, so He can “fill you up?” If you’ve focused on prayer in past weeks, maybe you’ll want to direct your attention to Scripture this week. If you’ve been reading God’s Word consistently, perhaps you’ll want to take it deeper and try memorizing a verse. Tell the group which one you plan to try this week. Then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges.

7. 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 MATTHEW 23: 23-24.

1. What was good about what the religious leaders were doing?

2. According to Jesus’ words here, what was the religious leaders’ offense?

3. When have you “strained a gnat and swallowed a camel” by majoring in the minors in your life?

READ LUKE 16:1-13.

1. According to verse 4, what was the dishonest manager’s motive?

2. What was the dishonest manager commended for?

3. How are the “sons of this world” more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light?

DAILY DEVOTIONS

DAY 1. READ PROVERBS 26:4

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Respond: How are you being foolish?

DAY 2. READ MATTHEW 25:21

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Respond: How are you showing faithfulness in little?

DAY 3. READ LUKE 16:11

If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? Respond: How have you been dishonest or unfaithful with worldly wealth? How might this impact spiritual matters?

DAY 5. READ PROVERBS 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. Respond: In what way has dishonesty crept into your life?

DAY 4. READ GALATIANS 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Respond: What spiritual fruit is reflected in your life?

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.

Session Seven

Fight for Your City

MEMORY VERSE: PROVERBS 11:10 Where the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.

INTRODUCTION

If our cities are ever going to be lifted, it is because the very people who fill our pews also recognize their stewardship to do something significant together both for the house of God and for the city. Where vision often gets stifled and derailed is around resources. But provision and resources are never a problem for God.