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Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
God is establishing his kingdom on earth through everyday people who possess an uncommon courage to do the correct thing, and to do the compassionate thing and be willing to make sacrifices for a greater cause.  As Pastor Terry said over the weekend, “An ordinary hero is an ordinary person who demonstrates an uncommon courage when the situation demands it.”

Summary:
In Nehemiah’s day, the city of Jerusalem was rebuilt and inhabited by ordinary people, aligning themselves with an extraordinary vision, and then having the courage to take action to see that vision realized.  God is applying the same principle in establishing his kingdom on earth through his followers today.  Jesus has made the way.  The Holy Spirit has been sent to empower and equip.  All that remains necessary is courageous people who are willing to carry out the mission that Jesus began.  The heroes God is using to establish his kingdom on earth are every day people who are rising to the vision that God has established in Christ and are receptive to the Holy Spirit to empower them to carry it out. 

Discussion Points: (read the scriptures & discuss)

Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Discuss why this passage should bring hope, humility and courage to us as believers.

Read the passage below and talk about the confidence we can have as we seek to serve the Lord’s purpose in the earth.
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Read the comments below, from Pastor Terry’s second point, and discuss how you and / or your LifeGroup could be “moved with compassion” to serve the needs of others.

POINT TWO: A hero is someone with an uncommon courage to do the compassionate thing.

The Bible speaks five times in the Gospels of Jesus saying He was “moved with compassion…” MOVED with compassion. Some people LIVE with compassion but never MOVE with compassion.  The word compassion comes from two Latin words, com and pati, and literally means to “suffer with” others.

Compassion, however, is more than mere sympathy, it is the combination of sympathy and action.  Compassion is a driving force that empowers us to enter into suffering with others for the purpose of leading them into victory.
Taking Action:  Take time to prayerfully consider what you feel compassionate about and then develop a strategy to act upon the strategy you feel.  Tell someone your thoughts and ask them to hold you accountable to follow through with it.

Ministry Time

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Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
God has a vision that he has called all believers to align with and defend.  His vision is to reveal himself to the world through the Spirit of God living in and through his Church.  The Bride of Christ stands, in the face of fierce opposition, as the Lord’s representative of grace, love and truth to a lost and perishing humanity.  The same question before the Israelites in Nehemiah’s day is being asked of the heart, mind and soul of every believer today: “am I going to chose to align myself with God’s vision to build up the Church, or am I going to be intimidated by and/or participate in the cynical voices of doubt and opposition?” 

Summary:
Last week our discussion focused our own lives as the living stones of God’s spiritual house.  We paralleled that with the “stones” Nehemiah used to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  This week our study focuses on the laborers who are working together under a united vision to put the stones in place, and all the while, in the face of acute opposition to the vision of building God’s “house.”  God initiates his vision in the earth through leaders that he appoints.  Just as God gave Nehemiah the vision to rebuild the wall, and Moses the vision to lead the people out of bondage, and David the vision to take possession of the promised land, he speaks to leaders today.  He spoke to Bill Hybels about establishing Willow Creek Church in Illinois, and Rick Warren about establishing Saddleback Church in California, and Tommy Barnett about the vision for Phx. First Assembly in Phoenix. 

Like these examples, God is speaking to our Senior Pastors, Terry and Judith Crist, about the kingdom call upon our church family (for reference to what is being built, go to cityofgrace.com website, use links “about” and “values”).  As a “resident” of this City of Grace, you and I are charged with the same responsibility as the inhabitants of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day.  That responsibility is to be both a warrior and a builder.  The one’s under Nehemiah’s leadership held a weapon against the opposition in one hand while doing their work with the other (Nehemiah 4:17-18).  We are simultaneously defenders and laborers, for the purpose that we might build the “city on a hill” which Jesus spoke of, so that we, as City of Grace, might offer light and hope to those God entrusts to us.    

Discussion Points: (read the scriptures & discuss)

Read all of Nehemiah Chapter 4
Discuss how the people rallied under the vision and direction of Nehemiah’s leadership.  Talk about how they defended themselves and each other against the attack of the opposition and against the naysayers, while simultaneously doing the work.  Relate this scenario with the challenges faced in building the local church to be a refuge and a vibrant representation of Christ’s love in the earth.

Read John 17:11 and discuss what Jesus is asking protection from.

Read John 17:20-23 and discuss what “fruit” Jesus identifies as being produced from a church family that is in unity.

Taking Action:  One of ways to build the church is by praying for the church: for the leaders, for co-laborers, for the various ministries, and for the congregation.  Take time this week to specifically pray for City of Grace.  Ask the Spirit of God to reveal to you what to pray for. 

Ministry Time

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Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
God is rebuilding his representation upon the earth through the establishment of his Church, through which he bears witness of his manifold wisdom to powers in heaven and on the earth (Ephesians 3:10-12).  He is not building his Church with people who are first perfect, but rather people who are redeemed.  “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  From Nehemiah’s example in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, we can catch a glimpse of how God takes burned and charred lives from the rubbish pile of life and cleans them off and repositions them to take their place in the establishment of his “City on a hill” here on earth.  Have you been through a fiery trial, or are you going through one now, or are you walking with someone who is in the midst of one?  If so, do not be discouraged.  Press through, for God has a redemptive plan for you and a strategic place for you in the “spiritual house” he is building in the earth.  

Summary:
Let’s begin our study and discussion this week by reading 1 Peter 2:4-10 (add vs 11-12 if you are feeling adventurous).  Notice in this passage what God is doing.  He is building a “spiritual house,” and he is using believers as his building blocks, his “spiritual stones.”  As we lay this idea over the real life example we see in the book of Nehemiah, there is insight to be gained as we see that Nehemiah did not rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with brand new stones, he did it with “burned and charred” stones that were scavenged from the rubbish pile, and all the while, his enemies were ridiculing and taunting the workers and calling the stones worthless building material (read: Nehemiah 4:1-6).  As a living stone in God’s spiritual house, have you at times felt spiritual burnout, and had the enemy dislodge you from the place of holding your position of witness in your home, your church, or in the workplace?  Is anyone in your group feeling spiritual burnout now?  What are some ways we can strengthen ourselves from collapsing under the relentless pressures of life and avoid getting burned out spiritually?
 
Discussion Points: (read the scriptures & discuss)

Read Ephesians 6:10-18
Discuss how beneficial it is to recognize that we are in a spiritual battle, and how taking appropriate action can guard us against spiritual burnout.  Take a few moments of open discussion to talk about the different “body parts” mentioned in Eph. 6 (especially the mind and heart) and what armor is protecting them. 

Proverbs 29:18 says—  “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”
                –The Message
Discuss how drifting from alignment with God’s purpose can cause spiritual burnout.

Read Zachariah 4:6 and Proverbs 3:5-6
 Discuss the importance of living in God’s strength and not our own, as a key component to avoiding spiritual burnout. 

Taking Action:  One very practical means by which we can be proactive in avoiding spiritual burnout is by taking care of our health.  As a positive action this week, consider AND commit yourself to enhance at least one physical discipline in your life, such as exercising regularly, making a permanent adjustment to some area of eating habits, or committing to getting adequate rest.

Ministry Time

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 Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
When Nehemiah approached King Artaxerxes with his request for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the text says in Nehemiah 2:8 that “because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.”  Nehemiah had the favor of God upon him.  What is the favor of God?  How do we get it?  What do we do with it?

Summary:
In our 21st century world, where people are striving for affluence, influence and personal gratification, there is no end to what methods people will use to attain them.  However, the person seeking to be used by God to “see his kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven” must tap into something transcendent in order to participate in seeing Jesus’ prayer answered in this world.  It takes the “favor” of God upon our lives to fulfill the purposes of God for our lives.  In our discussion this week, lets explore this topic and ask for God’s “hand to be upon us” as we seek to understand these truths, and appropriate them in our lives.
 

Discussion Questions: (read the scriptures & discuss)

WHAT IS THE FAVOR OF THE LORD?
Read Nehemiah 2:1-8 and discuss how Nehemiah describes the favor of the Lord in order to accomplish God’s purposes.
Read 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 and discuss how King Manasseh sought the “favor” of the Lord for a different reason than Nehemiah. 

HOW DO WE GET THE FAVOR OF THE LORD?
Many answers and examples could be given.  Here are a few to consider for our discussion:
Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-4 and consider the ways Jehoshaphat sought God’s favor through inquiry, fasting and seeking earnestly.
Read down to versus 13-17 to see the answer the Spirit of God gave through the prophet.
Read Matthew 6:33 and discuss how what Jesus is telling us about aligning ourselves up with God’s purpose in order to receive the hand of God upon our lives.   How does this apply to us today in a practical sense?

WHAT DO WE DO WITH GOD’S FAVOR?
Applying God’s favor to make a difference in the world around us, involves seeing ourselves as God sees us and understanding that God’s story is continuing in and through us.  Consider the reality that in God eyes, where you are and what your profession is does not determine who you are and the impact you can make in advancing the purposes of God… if his favor rests upon you.  Consider that Nehemiah was a cupbearer serving in captivity before his great assignment, David was a shepherd of sheep before being King of Isreal, Ester was a peasant foreigner before becoming Queen… and Jesus was a carpenter before he saved the world from sin. 
Taking Action:  During the week, meditate on Romans chapter 12 in the context of asking for God to pour out his favor upon your life so that you can pursue his “good and pleasing and perfect will for your life.”

Ministry Time

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 Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
The vision that Nehemiah received from God was bigger than the man  to whom the Lord gave it.  The first challenge we usually encounter when contemplating a God ordained vision is that it is always too big to accomplish in the power of our own strength.  It takes faith to achieve it.  Faith for courage.  Faith to sustain  the vision.  Faith for the necessary resources.

 Summary:
Throughout the scriptures we see God calling men and women to a vision that was far grander than their capacity to achieve it on their own.  Abraham’s promise of a son.  Moses’ promise of God delivering his people from the Egyptians.  David’s promise of a kingship.  And then there is the example of Noah.  Think about the resources he had to believe for in order to build that immense floating zoo.  Aren’t we glad it didn’t leak, for if Noah and his family didn’t succeed in the vision God had given them, where would that have put us today.  Sobering thought when we consider the lives that may be in the balance depending on our willingness to seek and fulfill the assignment God desires to accomplish through us today.  For our discussion this week, let us focus on the Priority, Purpose, Problems with, and Processes involved with “Building a Blessed Life” for the glory of God.

Discussion Questions: (read and discuss)

1. The Priority (take time to discuss these thoughts from this weekend’s message)
As far as God is concerned, your prosperity is His priority. But He is more concerned with the condition of your heart than the condition of your bank account. That’s why prosperity of soul always precedes prosperity of substance. A prosperous soul develops healthy business practices. A prosperous soul empowers us to live generously. A prosperous soul puts the needs of others first.   While God is not opposed to us living in comfort (and that means different things to different people),  ultimately, He wants to prosper you because of the assignment he has for you. He wants to bless you for one primary reason, and that is to make a difference in the world.

2. The Purpose (read Deut. 8:18, and discuss the purpose given in that verse for establishing prosperity)

3. The Problem (read 1 Timothy 6:10, and discuss it along with the following comments from Pastor Terry’s message this weekend)
“The problem is NOT in having riches, the problem is when riches have us. Money is not good nor is it evil. Money is neutral. It is a tool that becomes good/evil depending on the heart of the person seeking/using it.”

4. The Process (Read John 5:13-15 and discuss the key element.  Relate to Deut. 8:18 which was read earlier)

Taking Action: How do we apply this message in building a blessed life? In your prayer time this week, commit yourself to submit the following before the Lord, and have your journal ready… 1) Lord reveal your Word to me 2) Renew my mind to accept it 3) Release my faith to act upon it 4) Lord show me your assignment, I surrender my time, talent and treasure to your kingdom purpose…

Ministry Time