SESSION 5 WHEN WERE YOU FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE BIBLE? PRIORITIZE THE POINT GOD S WORD MUST BE CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES TO TRULY SERVE HIM. NEHEMIAH 6:1-3,15-16; 8:1-3,5-8 1 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono. But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their selfconfidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. 1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. 5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, Amen! Amen! Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. 92 SESSION 5
ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) LEAD OPTION 1 Ask students to form groups of three, and then list distractions that keep their focus away from God. Encourage students to come up with ways to keep their focus on God. Say, Life has plenty of distractions that make it difficult to stay focused, but we must prioritize God s Word in our lives. LEAD OPTION 2 Place objects around the room representing aspects of life that keep us distracted from God (sports, phones, video games, etc.). Say, It can be challenging to prioritize one thing in life, but God s Word must be central to our lives so we can grow closer to Him. 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 LEAD OPTION 3 Search the Internet for It Is Written Bumper - video. Play the video as you begin the session. Say, The Bible is God s Word, and it must be the foundation for our lives if we expect God to work through us. NOTE: Always make sure you preview any video clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry. LEADER PACK ELEMENTS If you have the optional Leader Pack, consider one of the following: DVD: Play the Unit 2 Session 5 DVD opener to begin the session and get everyone on the same page. ITEM 12: Introduce students to the session by displaying the Bible poster. Open with discussion on how the Bible teaches us many things not only about God, but also about who we are and how we are to love one another. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Have you ever come home from school to see your mom standing there waiting for you? You know you ve messed up the second you walk in the door. She asks, Why didn t you clean your room this morning before you left for school? You quickly run through a long list of answers, but nothing seems believable. What comes out is a timid, I forgot. At least you told the truth. This is probably the most common excuse in history used by teenagers, but it illustrates an important point. We d get in a lot less trouble if we d just pay attention. THE SETTING Nehemiah demonstrated wise leadership by resolving the quarrel within the Jewish community, and by refusing to follow the pattern of former governors who abused their authority. This allowed the people to focus on completing the wall and securing themselves against outside enemies. With the huge task done, more people could return to the city, and the leaders could turn their attention to the next challenge restoring a spiritual culture that honored God. God has placed people in positions of authority in our lives to help us learn, grow, and live well together. As long as we pay attention to the things they say, the rules they write, and the laws they bring into effect, we ll stay out of trouble and perhaps even thrive. More importantly, God has spoken to us, and He expects us to live by what He has said. But time after time we fail to obey, and it s often due to the same reason we don t clean our rooms we don t pay attention. As the Jews rebuilt Jerusalem s walls, Nehemiah and the Jewish people learned the importance of focusing on God s Word. As long as they paid attention to what He said, they d know how to live, and God would bless them. FACT: IN CASE YOU NEED EXCUSES FOR NOT DOING YOUR WORK, SCIENCE SUPPORTS BEING LAZY. BILL GATES HIRES LAZY PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS FIND THE EASIEST WAYS TO DO DIFFICULT JOBS. 1 94 SESSION 5
IMPART NEHEMIAH 6:1-3,15-16 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono. But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. NEHEMIAH 6:1-3,15-16 A celebration was close at hand for Nehemiah and the Jewish workers. They had finished rebuilding Jerusalem s walls, and all that remained was to install the gates. To make the feat even more impressive (in addition to the physical construction), they had endured threats from outside enemies and had overcome their own internal problems. The finish line was within sight, and they simply needed to finish strong. Leader: Ask a couple students to share their most memorable accomplishments. But their enemies weren t ready to quit and made one final attempt to sabotage the completion of the wall. Sanballat and Geshem sent Nehemiah an official letter requesting a meeting. Some might have viewed it as a concession, like when a losing politician congratulates the winner after a hard-fought campaign. But Nehemiah knew better they had evil intent. They planned to harm Nehemiah, because the Jews viewed Nehemiah as more than a project manager. He was their spiritual leader, and without Nehemiah, the people would be demoralized and work would stop. VERSE 2: The Ono Valley, where Nehemiah was invited to attend the meeting, was a day away from Jerusalem, so the trip would remove him from Jerusalem for at least three days. Nehemiah was wise to the enemy s scheme and shrewdly declined their invitation. He was focused on the task of leading the final push to complete the wall, and he wasn t about to be deterred. Only 52 days after beginning, the wall was complete! When the Jews enemies heard the news, they were intimidated and lost their confidence. They knew that only God could accomplish such a great feat, and He was with His people. VERSES 15-16: From the time Nehemiah first spoke with the king, he secured permission, left Persia, arrived in Jerusalem, obtained resources, organized the people, and completed the wall in six months. This truly is a God-sized accomplishment. It s important that when facing distractions, we stay focused because God s name and His work are at stake. What God starts, He finishes (Phil. 1:6). God does not do things halfway. DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE (P. 96) 1 2 3 What distractions keep you from following God? What can you learn from Nehemiah about staying focused? What is something you ve accomplished only with God s help? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 95
IMPART NEHEMIAH 8:1-3 All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. NEHEMIAH 8:1-3 When I was in elementary school, my church had a program called Bible Drill. The teacher would call out a Bible verse, then say, Charge! All the kids would race to find the passage first. The drills were fun, but most importantly, they taught us that God s Word deserves our attention. Nehemiah knew the people also needed to give God s Word their attention. Nehemiah s goal was not only to rebuild a wall he wanted to rebuild the people spiritually. The people gathered at the square in front of the Water Gate, an area on the east side of Jerusalem and at the center of city life. As the crowd gathered, they called for Ezra the priest to bring out God s Word and read it. It wasn t the leaders that commanded the people to stand from daybreak until noon while the law was read they saw the value for themselves in hearing God s Word. Leader: Feel free to share your own story. Invite students to share how they ve become familiar with God s Word and learned its value. Today, there s still immeasurable value in God s Word: The Bible shows us God. Today, many people are desperately searching for God, but far too few know that God can be found in Scripture. He has clearly revealed Himself, and His Word is sufficient to tell us all we need to know about Him. The Bible shows us who we are. The Bible doesn t just reveal God; it also reveals who we are and what He requires of us. Life experience, good advice, and learning from others are all important, but God s Word is far more important than all these. The Bible shows us how to love one another. When we come to Christ, we come to His body, the church. Growing in our relationship with Jesus is something we do together. Churches that are the most focused on God s Word will be the most unified. DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE (P. 97) Nehemiah and the people knew where to find God. Ezra the priest brought out God s Word before the whole assembly of people, and they listened with understanding. They saw the value of listening and learning together. Giving attention to God s Word and obeying it helps us stay unified on the work He has given us. 4 5 Who has been instrumental in teaching you the importance of God s Word? How did they do this? What habits have you cultivated that help you stay continually in the Bible? 96 SESSION 5
IMPART NEHEMIAH 8:5-8 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, Amen! Amen! Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. NEHEMIAH 8:5-8 Ezra stood on a large wooden platform, opened the book, and read the law in the presence of the people. After this, Levites, who were among the people, explained to those around them what the law meant. It s one thing to hear God s Word, but it s another to understand it what it means and how it s meant to be applied to our lives. VERSES 4-8: The men standing on the platform with Ezra were likely influential city leaders who led in terms of direction and values. Ezra was wise to have them by his side. Ezra and the Levites went beyond just making sure the people heard God s Word they wanted to make sure the people understood God s Word. We do not know exactly how this happened, but it appears the people may have gathered in small groups to study together. The principle is the same today. We need to hear God s Word preached in large corporate gatherings, and we also need to study God s Word in smaller group settings. When we are humble and teachable, we can understand and apply God s Word in our lives. The people s response to hearing the Word of God was to worship. They shouted, Amen, Amen! an expression of agreement with God s Word. They lifted their hands, and then knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Hearing God s Word, they began to understand who God Himself is, and they were moved to worship as a natural response of hearing and accepting God s truth. Reading and understanding the Bible affects our worship. The more we know the Bible, the better we know Jesus, and what we learn will inevitably move us to worship. Nehemiah and his people prioritized the law, and when God s Word became central in their lives, they worshiped Him. We worship best when God s Word saturates every area of our lives. Giving attention to God s Word and obeying it helps us stay unified on the work He has given us. #BSFLNehemiah DAILY DISCIPLESHIP GUIDE (P. 97) 6 7 8 What helps you better understand God s Word? Why do you think it s important for us to study the Bible as a group and not just by ourselves? What have you recently learned about Jesus that s moved you to worship Him? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 97
LIVE IT OUT (10 MINUTES) CHRIST Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15), the fullness of God in bodily form (Col. 2:9), and the exact representation of God s character (Heb. 1:3). When Jesus walked the earth, people could see God by seeing Jesus. He has now ascended into heaven and no longer walks among us. However, God has given us His Word, and we can know Him through understanding His truth. God is a person, and through Scripture, we can have a personal relationship with Him. 9 In what ways is interacting with God s Word like having a relationship with a person? 10 If you invested in other relationships the ways you invest in studying Scripture, how healthy would those relationships be? 11 What Bible study habits will you cultivate for the purposes of loving and worshiping Jesus? 98 SESSION 5
LIVE IT OUT COMMUNITY Because they grew in God s Word together, the Jews were more closely united and better able to accomplish God s will for them. 12 How would you characterize the collective pursuit of God s Word in your church or student ministry? 13 What would you like to accomplish together as a result of better unity? CULTURE The culture tells us that there are many ways to God It s really just about being a good person or All religions essentially teach about the same God. 14 What have you heard about how we can know God? We know that there is one God and one way to know Him through His Word! We are called to share His truth with others that they may know God as well. 15 What will you do this week so others would know God s truth and, like the Jews, worship Him? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 99