SESSION 2 WHEN HAVE YOU ENJOYED A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY? PLAN THE POINT SERVING GOD REQUIRES BEING INTENTIONAL. NEHEMIAH 2:1-8,17-18 1 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart. I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire? 4 The king said to me, What is it you want? Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it. 6 Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, How long will your journey take, and when will you get back? It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. 7 I also said to him, If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8 And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy? And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 17 Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work. 68 SESSION 2
ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) LEAD OPTION 1 Choose three students to come up front and share one of their biggest regrets. Then have them share how they plan to live intentionally moving forward. (Speak with the students before the session and ask them to prepare an answer.) Say, No matter what our past looks like, God can accomplish amazing things through us if we live intentionally for Him. LEAD OPTION 2 Print out different types of plans and place them around the room (e.g., building plans, sports strategies, business proposals, etc.). Say, Every big accomplishment started out with a plan. If we want God to work through us, we should plan to intentionally live according to His will. LEAD OPTION 3 Search the Internet for What s Your Biggest Regret video. Play the video as you begin the session. Say, Many people live with regrets of their decisions, but we have the opportunity to intentionally follow God. NOTE: Always make sure you preview any video clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry. For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/ web/biblestudiesforlife For free Midweek Options for your group, visit lifeway.com/bsflsum18neh LEADER PACK ELEMENTS If you have the optional Leader Pack, consider one of the following: DVD: Play the Unit 2 Session 2 DVD opener to draw everyone to the main point of the session. ITEM 9: Consider using the Success poster to get students thinking about the session. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 69
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE There s no going back now. We ve all made choices, and when it was all said and done, wished we would have done things differently like before your big math test when you stayed up binging Netflix, or when you got so nervous you couldn t think straight when trying to ask a girl to the dance. But no matter how desperately we wish we could change things, there really is no going back. Nehemiah had a one-time opportunity with King Artaxerxes. Once Nehemiah learned of the situation in Jerusalem, he knew he had to do something about it. First, Nehemiah prayed. Now it was important that he carefully plan how he would approach the king, because the only way he could return to Jerusalem was if the king allowed it. THE SETTING If Nehemiah messed up, there was no going back. But if he found favor with the king, maybe he would be allowed to help resolve the issues plaguing God s people. In the middle of the fifth century BC, a Jew named Nehemiah, who was the cupbearer to the king of Persia, heard distressing news about the ruins in his homeland of Jerusalem. He spent many days mourning, praying, fasting, and seeking God s guidance for how he should respond to the run down condition of the city s walls and gates. After that time, he stepped out in faith as his prayers led to plans and then to action. FACT: REGRET IS THE SECOND MOST COMMON EMOTION (SECOND ONLY TO LOVE), AND THE BIGGEST REGRETS HAVE TO DO WITH RELATIONSHIPS. 1 BE NICE TO PEOPLE! 70 SESSION 2
IMPART NEHEMIAH 2:1-4 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, so the king asked me, Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart. I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire? The king said to me, What is it you want? Then I prayed to the God of heaven, NEHEMIAH 2:1-4 People today can be pretty impatient. And when it comes to communication, if we send a message and don t get a response right away, we immediately think the worst She s ignoring me or he just doesn t care. When Nehemiah first heard the news of the grim situation in Jerusalem, he immediately started praying. But Nehemiah didn t operate the same way we do today, and when he didn t receive an immediate answer, he kept praying for four months straight! Nehemiah asked God to grant him compassion in the presence of King Artaxerxes, so he prayed until God answered. When something is important to us, we don t let it go. Nehemiah wouldn t let go of this great need in Jerusalem, so he prayed. VERSE 1: Nehemiah learned of the state of Jerusalem during the month of Chislev (Neh. 1:1), which is November/ December today. He continued to pray, asking God for favor with his master, into the month of Nisan (March/April), when the king asked about his sadness. Nisan was the beginning of the calendar year in Persia, which included festivities and events marking the new year. During some special feasts, Persian kings were especially generous; this may have been one of those occasions, and thus the motivation behind the timing of Nehemiah s bold move. While Nehemiah was serving the king, Artaxerxes asked him, Why are you sad? For servants, it was very dangerous to express unhappiness in a king s presence this was seen as a reflection on the king s rule and was an offense punishable by death. Therefore, Nehemiah was overwhelmed with fear. The king s heart was moved by Nehemiah s reply, and he responded in a way that many wouldn t have expected What is your request? This was the opportunity Nehemiah had prayed for and God had delivered. We can learn from the ways Nehemiah served: Rely on God: Every day, Nehemiah s life was on the line. A cupbearer s job was a dangerous one. One slip of the tongue could mean losing his job (or his life), and in this case, his one-time opportunity. Nehemiah faced fear, and he handled it in a healthy way, relying on God in all things. Take advantage of opportunities: Nehemiah waited on God for months. Waiting on God is not wasting our time, but when the moment arrives, we must be prepared to act. Nehemiah responded to the king with wisdom, loyalty, and honesty. He did not hide his motives but shared honestly his concern about the destruction of his homeland. Keep praying: Nehemiah prayed for months. Now that he had the king s attention, He prayed one more time before answering. DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE (P. 72) 1 2 How can we tell an opportunity is from the Lord? What steps can we take to be ready to act when an opportunity arises? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 71
IMPART NEHEMIAH 2:5-8 and I answered the king, If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it. Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, How long will your journey take, and when will you get back? It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. I also said to him, If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy? And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. NEHEMIAH 2:5-8 Nehemiah not only prayed, but he had planned. When King Artaxerxes asked him, What is your request? he was prepared to act in wisdom. In the same situation, many of us would have been hesitant and timid, but Nehemiah was bold and honest with the king. He didn t ask for some general time away, but shared specifically of his desire to return to Judah, the land of his ancestors, so that he could rebuild the walls. VERSE 5: Nehemiah was humble and respectful in his response. He did not assume anything, but began with the first element of a conditional if-then statement. If it pleases the king, then send me to my homeland. Without a specific plan, he wouldn t have gained the king s confidence. But Nehemiah was ready to share the particulars: Time, documentation, and resources. Nehemiah gave the king a definitive timeline of how long the work would take. He requested letters from the king to ensure safe passage. And He requested timber and raw materials to complete the project. Serving the Lord well requires investing ourselves in planning, and freeing ourselves from distractions. Many times we allow ourselves to be distracted by good things. Students may be doing homework when a friend calls and needs help working through a tough situation, or when mom asks for help with the dishes. Life isn t about working through a list of tasks it s about loving and serving people. We re continually distracted by things such as video games, smartphones, and cat videos. However, too many distractions mean missing out on the ways God would shape and mature us, and when the opportunity arises to accomplish something meaningful, we re unprepared. Nehemiah recognized that God granted his requests because God s hand was upon Him. God was with Nehemiah as he prayed. God was with him as he planned. Even as Nehemiah spoke to the king, God was at work. Ultimately, it was God at work in all these things, but He worked through Nehemiah s efforts. We should follow Nehemiah s example be wise, work hard, and pray that God would bless. DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE (P. 73) 3 4 5 Leader: Share about a time you ve shown up unprepared. For instance, I studied voice in college, and for one of my final exams, my accompanist forgot how to play one of the pieces. I was prepared, but he wasn t, and the results were pretty terrible. Invite students to share their own stories about being unprepared. When has a God-given task required you to plan and prepare? How can you tell that Nehemiah thought about his plan before presenting it to the king? What are the consequences of being unprepared for important opportunities? 72 SESSION 2
IMPART NEHEMIAH 2:17-18 Then I said to them, You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work. NEHEMIAH 2:17-18 Nehemiah had heard the news about the realities in Jerusalem, but walking into the city and seeing the destruction first-hand must have been shocking. For three days, he took in the scope of the destruction and worked to formulate an intentional approach before sharing his plan with anyone else. After assessing the situation, Nehemiah called the local officials and religious leaders together and shared his perspectives: Bad news: The physical ruins were a sign of disgrace it indicated they were defenseless. For outsiders, collapsed walls signified their God had abandoned the city. Good news: God had not abandoned them! His hand was on Nehemiah, and He was ready to restore the people and the city. Their task was more than simply rebuilding a city. The rebuilt walls would be a testimony that God was with them, and God would be glorified. God had promised to bless His people. He had been with Nehemiah up to this point, and He would continue to work among those who surrendered to Him. They began to work, and God s grace strengthened them. VERSE 17-18: Like any good leader, Nehemiah knew that this project would require the support and assistance of other people. After surveying the city to know what was needed, he called the local officials together to share his vision. Nehemiah shared a testimony of the key events that had brought him to Jerusalem. He assured those gathered of God s involvement in the mission, giving them confidence that God would continue to bless their efforts. We see something remarkable. These were normal people with ordinary leaders, yet God accomplished something great through them. I m sure your church is full of ordinary folks, those whose days are filled with eating cereal for breakfast, walking the halls of their schools, doing homework, and chatting with friends. The beauty is that God s plans are found in the everyday. Nehemiah s opportunity came as he was serving the king according to his typical routines, and the rebuilding of the walls started with ordinary people. When God s people come together to accomplish His calling in our lives, God s grace overshadows our disgrace and the ordinary is made extraordinary. DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE (P. 73) Serving the Lord well requires investing ourselves in planning, and freeing ourselves from distractions. #BSFLNehemiah 6 7 8 What keeps us from asking others for help? What are some ways God uses average people to carry out His plans? What makes some leaders easy to follow? How could you grow in influencing others? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 73
LIVE IT OUT (10 MINUTES) CHRIST An essential part of our relationship with Jesus is prayer. Scripture calls us to pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17), which is an expression of our dependence upon God for wisdom and strength, and connects us to God relationally. 9 How have you seen continual prayer affect these three areas? WISDOM LIVING WELL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 10 How have you seen a lack of prayer affect these areas? 11 Write down three things you ll commit to in order to grow in your prayer life: 74 SESSION 2
LIVE IT OUT COMMUNITY Nehemiah needed many others to help him accomplish the vision God had given him. 12 What do you desire to see happen for the sake of God s glory that would involve the combined efforts of multiple people? Take time this week to formulate a plan, then make it happen. CULTURE The fact that the walls were down and the gates burned was a sign of shame to the surrounding people. 13 Today, are there things in the church that the surrounding culture perceives as shameful? What are they? 14 Is there any truth to these things? 15 What can you do to let God work through you and allow His grace to overshadow perceived disgrace? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 75