"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 9 (Nehemiah 4:1-12)

SCRIPTURE: Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, "What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they are doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a day if they offer enough sacrifices? Look at those charred stones they are pulling out of the rubbish and using again!" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!" 4 Then I prayed, "Hear us, O our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in the presence of the builders." 6 At last the wall was completed to half its original height around the entire city, for the people had worked very hard. 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall were being repaired, they became furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and to bring about confusion there. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. 10 Then the people of Judah began to complain that the workers were becoming tired. There was so much rubble to be moved that we could never get it done by ourselves. 11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, "Before they know what's happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work." 12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, "They will come from all directions and attack us!" - Nehemiah 4:1-12 (NLT)

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1)   What did Sanballat do when he learned that the Jews were rebuilding the wall? (v.1)
2)   What did Sanballat say to mock the Jews? (v.2)
3)   What did Tobiah say about the wall? (v.3)
4)   How did Nehemiah respond to their mockings? (v.4-5)
5)   What were the Jews able to do despite the taunts of the opposition? (v.6)
6)   How did the opposition react when the Jews continued to build, despite their taunts? (v.7)
7)   What did the opposition decide to do against the Jews? Why? (v.8)
8)   How did the Jews respond to their enemies plans? (v.9)
9)   Why did the Jews begin to complain? (v.10)
10) What were their enemies saying they would do to end the Jews work? (v.11)
11) How did the Jews respond to the enemies threats? (v. 12)


APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Have you ever faced opposition at the workplace or in your ministry?
2)   If so, describe what happened?
3)   What, if anything, did you pray about those who opposed you?


LIFE LESSONS:
1)   Great work for the Lord will always be opposed by the enemy!
2)   The best recourse that we have against our foes is prayer!
3)   The enemy will attempt to intimidate us through threats or actual attacks, but we must continue to do what the Lord has given us to do!

To read today's devotional, go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 8 (Nehemiah 3)

SCRIPTURE:  Nehemiah 3

OBSERVATION QUESTONS:

1) Who rebuilt the Sheep Gate? (v.1)
2) Who rebuilt the Fish Gate? (v.3)
3) Who rebuilt the Jeshanah (or Old) Gate? (v.6)
4) Who rebuilt the Valley Gate? (v.13)
5) Who rebuilt the Dung Gate? (v.14)
6) Who rebuilt the Fountain Gate? (v.15)
7) Who completed the repairs above the Horse Gate? (v.28)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1) Who might you prayerfully consider asking to assist you as you rebuild your life, if it has been broken?

LIFE LESSONS:

1) There is strength in numbers!
2) The larger the task the more people are necessary to complete it!
3) Our Lord is the God of order!
4) Wherever there is disorder and confusion, God is not a part of that effort!

To read today's devotional, please go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 7 (Nehemiah 2:11-20)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:11-20

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1)  What were the first two things that Nehemiah did after arriving in Jerusalem? (v.12)
2)  Who did Nehemiah tell about his plans? (v.12)
3)  How many pack animals did Nehemiah take with him? (v.12)
4)  What did Nehemiah do at the Dung gate? (v.13)
5)  What did Nehemiah do at the Fountain gate and the King's Pool? Why? (v.14)
6)  What did Nehemiah do at the Kidron Valley? (v.15)
7)  What did Nehemiah propose to the city officials and religious & political leaders? (v.16-17)
8)  What had Nehemiah revealed to the officials and leaders that convinced them to rebuild the walls? (v.18)
9)  After hearing about Nehemiah's plans, how did his opponents react? (v.19)
10) How did Nehemiah respond to his Sanballat,Tobiah and Gesham? (v.20)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1) Recall a time when you had to make a life altering decision. Who did you tell about your plans initially?
2) What did you do to confirm that your decision was the best decision that you could make?
3) When did you make your plans known to everyone involved?
4) What, if any, opposition did you face after revealing your plans?

LIFE LESSONS:

1)  Our plans are futile if they have been made apart from the wisdom and direction of the Lord!
2)  It is never wise to tell everyone about your plans until one receives the Lord's confirmation!
3)  We can expect opposition whenever we make a decision that honors God!

To read today's devotional, please go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 6 (Nehemiah 2:1-10)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:1-10

OBSERVATION QUESTONS:

1)  Why was Nehemiah "deeply frightened"? (v.1-2)
2)  What did Nehemiah tell the king? (v3)
3)  How did the king respond? (v.4)
4)  What was Nehemiah's petition to the king? (v.5)
5)  What did Nehemiah let the king know next? (v. 6)
6)  What did Nehemiah need from the governors? (v.7)
7)  What did Nehemiah need from the manager of the forest? (v.8)
8)  What three things was Nehemiah going to construct with what the manager of the forest gave him? (v.8)
9)  Why did the king agree to Nehemiah's requests? (v.8)
10) In addition to writing the letters, what did the king do to protect Nehemiah? (v.9)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1) Have you ever allowed an unbeliever to see you distressed or troubled? If so, why?
2) Have you ever shared your troubles with unbelievers? If so, why?
3) Has the Lord ever given you favor to receive what you needed from an unbeliever? If so, what happened?

 LIFE LESSONS:

1) Because we are children of God, we are entitled to all that the Father controls!
2) There are times when the Lord will bless us through the people of the world!
3) The favor of God can open doors for us that no man can shut!

To read today's devotional, please go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 5 (Nehemiah 1:5-11)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:5-11

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1) How does Nehemiah describe the Lord, in his prayer? (v.5)
2) What does Nehemiah tell the Lord about how He treats those who love and obey him? (v.5)
3) What does Nehemiah ask the Lord to listen to and see him doing? (v.6) 

4) Whose sins does Nehemiah confess? (v.6)
5) How had the people of God sinned against Him, according to Nehemiah? (v.7)
6) What had the Lord told Moses He would do if His people sinned against Him? (v.8)
7) What had the Lord told Moses He would do if His people repented of their sin? (v.9)
8) What two things did Nehemiah remind God of concerning His people? (v.10)
9) What did Nehemiah ask the Lord to do for him, as the king's cup-bearer? (v.11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

In your prayers:
1) Do you praise God for who He is?
2) Do you remind God of His promises (His Word)?
3) Do you "stand in the gap" for others who have sinned against the Lord?
4) Do you ask the Lord to grant you favor with specific people?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The best way to begin a prayer of petition to the Lord is to acknowledge His greatness!
2) Be specific when confessing your sins, as well as the sins of others that you intercede for.
3) The word of God is God's promise to His people.
4) Don't hesitate to pray God's word (promises) back to Him!

To read the devotional on today's Scripture go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 4 (Nehemiah 1)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:1-4

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Who came to visit Nehemiah in Susa? (v. 2)
2)   What two things did Nehemiah ask? (v. 2)
3)   What four things did Nehemiah hear? (v. 3)
4)   How did Nehemiah respond? (v. 4)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Have you received distressing news recently?
2)   If so, how did you respond?


LIFE LESSONS:
1)   It is human nature to want what is best for those we love!
2)   The Lord allows us to face troubling circumstances so that we will recognize our need for Him!
3)   The wisest thing that we can do after receiving distressing news is to pray and wait upon God for direction.

To read the devotional for this Scripture please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

Begin Again: "Forgiveness - Pt 3" (2 Samuel 21:1-14)

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Samuel 21:1-14

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1. Why was there a famine in Israel (v. 1)?
2. Why did King David talk with the Gibeonites (v. 2-5)?
3. What did the Gibeonites want from Israel (v.6)?
4. Whose life was spared and why (v. 7)?
5. Whose sons did the king hand over to be executed (v. 8-9)
6. What did Rizpah do after hearing about the executions (v.10)?
7. What did King David do after hearing about Rizpah (v.11-14)?
8. When did the famine end (v. 14)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Is there anyone in your life whom you have offended?
2. If so, what, if anything, have you done to be reconciled with them?
3. Has anyone ever made a decision, without seeking your consent, that had adverse affects on your life?
4. If so, please describe what happened and how you made amends with the offending person(s).

LIFE LESSONS:
1. The Lord often allows prolonged difficulties in our lives to reveal unconfessed sin in our lives.
2. The unconfessed sins of those with whom we associate may affect us indirectly.
3. Unforgiveness is a sin that may have lasting affects until the sin is confessed and repented of.


For a devotional reading on 2 Samuel 21:10-14, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' Blog.