week of 2/26

 Unit 18  Session 5

A BURDENED PEOPLE

MALACHI ; JAMES 2

All humans are guilty because of sin, but those who feel the shame of their sin and repent will receive the Lord's compassion.

Ezra and Nehemiah both led groups of exiled Jews back to Jerusalem, recognizing God's hand in putting them under Persian rulers who didn't mind their return to their homeland and worship of their God. But just because God's hand was leading didn't mean the people had turned back to the Lord completely. Just like Moses dealt with the sins of the Israelites who had accompanied him out slavery in Egypt, so Ezra and Nehemiah dealt with sin even in the midst of rebuilding the temple and the walls. Had they fallen so far away from God that they didn't even feel their guilt?  

Points to consider:

✞   The sins of the wicked incur their guilt.

     * How does God use guilt and shame to 

        draw us back to Himself? 

✞   The boasting of the wicked reveals 

     their shamelessness.

     * What are some examples of harsh 

        words we might be guilty of speaking 

        against the Lord?

✞   The fear of the Lord among the righteous 

     prompts His compassion.    

     * What are some ways we should speak to 

        one another as those who fear the Lord?

     * Seeing how spiritual disciplines helped 

        the Israelites in this volume to act with 

        righteousness, how can these disciplines 

        help us to fear and serve the Lord?

week of 2/19

Unit 18  Session 4

A CONFESSING COMMUNITY

NEHEMIAH 9 - 10

We are to confess our sin so that we might be restored with God.

In Nehemiah 8, we saw that God's people had begun to weep as they heard the words of the law, pbviously realizing the gravity of their sins. But Ezra interrupted their time of consideration of sin because it was actually a time of festivity: time to celebrate God! And because God's Word is supreme, they obeyed. But when the festival was over and the booths had been put away, the tug of conviction was still strong. The people still needed to repent of their sin, and they did through a prayer recounting the mighty and gracious works of the Lord in contrast to the sinful works of His people, both past and present. 

Points to consider:

✞   Confession begins with a proper view of God.

     * Who has God shown Himself to be thus far 

        in our study of the storyline of the Bible?

     * Looking back at your own life, in the good 

        and the bad, what are some reasons you 

        can say, "God is faithful"? 

✞   Confession acknowledges the reality of sin.

     * How should we view sin in light of the 

        character and actions of God?

✞   Confession humbly seeks pardon and restoration.    

     * How do humbling circumstances serve the 

        purpose of bringing God's people to confession 

        of sin?

week of 2/12

Unit 18  Session 3

A PROCLAIMING PRIEST

eZRA 7 - 10 ; NEHEMIAH 8

When God's people hear the Word of the Lord, they find joy and seek to obey God's commands.

With Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem, the former cupbearer turned governor of the region began to rebuild their city and their identity (Neh. 5:14). As with most big projects, they had their share of troubles, both inside and out. Enemies threatened, and opportunists took advantage, but through it all, Nehemiah's one-sentence prayers sustained him and his people as they slowly but surely rebuilt the wall (5:19 ; 6:9). Then came the even larger challenge: Who would this people be? Would they be those who despised their God and their people or would they be the people the Lord had called them to be in His Word?

Points to consider:

✞   God's people gather to hear the Word of the Lord.

     * What are some ways we submit to the authority 

        of God's Word?

✞   God's people display the joy of the Lord.

     * Why should conviction of sin result in our joy?

     * How can we live so that our joy as believers in 

        Christ can be seen by others for the glory of God?

✞   God's people unite to obey the commands of the Lord.    

     * What are some reasons we might fail to recognize 

        the privilege we have to read and hear God's Word?

week of 2/5

Unit 18  Session 2

AN INTERCEDING CUPBEARER

NEHEMIAH 1 - 7

God empowers His people to fulfill the mission He gives them.

The books of Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther all contain stories of God's people in exile. After generations neglected God and His instructions, the Lord did exactly what He said He would do, replace the blessings of His covenant with curses through exile in Babylon. But after the Persian Empire took control, the possibility of going home became a reality. Yet the heroes of the exile found themselves in a state of flux: Could they be forgiven of their sin? Was God still with them? In each of these books, God's answer is clear: yes. The Lord's covenant was as faithful as ever because God's faithful love endures forever. 

Points to consider:

✞   Success in the Lord's mission is based on 

     His lasting promises.

     * How might this doctrine change the 

        way you view prayer?

     * What parallels do you see between 

        Nehemiah's situation and Esther's 

        situation?

✞   Success in the Lord's mission is based on 

     His abundant provision.

     * How has God miraculously opened the 

        door to a conversation or situation in 

        your own life?

✞   Success in the Lord's mission is based on

     His unstoppable power.     

     * What are some tasks God may call us 

        to for which we might feel incapable?

     * What are some Scriptures that might 

        help us when we find ourselves facing 

        opposition?

week of 1/29

Unit 18  Session 1

A RESCUING QUEEN

ESTHER

God brings salvation at just the right time in just the right way.

In what is surely remembered as one of the darkest periods of Israelite history, the exile cast a pall over everything that set God's people apart: they were not in the promised land, they couldn't worship in the temple, and their distinct identity was being swallowed up in that of their captors. Worst of all, it was all their fault for turning their backs on God. Yet He hadn't turned His back on them. The Jews were free to return, the temple had been rebuilt, and in the midst of a godless nation's rule, Yahweh was still arranging the situations and paths of His people to prove Himself faithful.

Points to consider:

✞   God's salvation comes through a timely risk.

     * How had Esther's life plan reflected a careful 

        placing by God "for such a time as this"?

✞   God's salvation comes through a timely intercession.

     * How did Esther and Mordecai use their knowledge 

        and authority for God's purposes?

✞   God's salvation comes through a timely victory.     

     * What are some things in your life that happened 

        "in the nick of time"? Looking back, how can you 

        see God's perfect timing in that exact moment?

     * How should our fighting look different from how 

        the rest of the world fights?

week of 1/22

Unit 17  Session 4

A PROMISE INHERITED

PSALM 118 ; HEBREWS 6

Everything that God has said can be trusted because it is impossible for Him to lie.

God had promised to bring His people back into the land of promise, restoring His dwelling place and giving His people hope and a future. But upon their return, the new temple was not as great as Solomon's, the sacrifices offered did not result in the glory of the Lord descending like it had at the dedication of the first temple, and the promises of God seemed to be left unfinished. Yet God had promised that there would be a day when He would bless the world through Abraham and His glory would be revealed to the world. God is trustworthy, and His promises can be relied upon.

Points to consider:

✞   God is trustworthy, demonstrating His greatness.

     * What are some ways God has been trustworthy 

        with His promises?

✞   God is trustworthy, manifesting His character.

     * Since God has committed Himself to His promises,

        what effect should this have on our lives?

     * How does God's unchanging character to keep His 

        word give you assurance in Him?

✞   God is trustworthy, anchoring His salvation.     

     * In what ways is God our refuge?

     * What confidence does Christ's work give you 

        about your future?

week of 1/15

Unit 17  Session 3

A TEMPLE RESTORED

EZRA 2-6

God moves His people to obey Him so that He might be glorified.

The exiles in Babylon were graciously granted permission to return home to Judah with the express purpose of rebuilding the temple of the Lord. Immediately, they set out to lay the foundation, which resulted in cries of joy from the young but tears from the old. But then outside opposition to this work set in with physical and political threats. The result was a delay in the construction and a loss of motivation in the people. They would need a prophetic word and the Lord's intervention to help them complete the house of God.

Points to consider:

✞   The people obey because of divine encouragement.

     * Why is it easy to get distracted from the Lord's work?

     * Why is it important to listen to godly wisdom from

        God's people?

✞   The people succeed because of divine intervention.

     * How should we live knowing that God is infinite?

✞   The people rejoice because of divine sovereignty.     

     * What are some commands for how we are to worship 

        God because of our salvation in Jesus Christ?

     * How should belief in God's power to rescue us bring 

        joy in your life?