SERIES: Jesus Story: Nehemiah                             WEEK: #5       

MESSAGE: Determined to Persevere

COMMUNICATOR: Pastor Kevin Geer

CENTRAL TEXT/S: Nehemiah 4

CHECKING IN: How was your week? What was one of the highlights? Share wins (things God did that moved his mission forward and you closer to Jesus). What did you put into practice from last week’s discussion? 

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS: Choose questions that will work best for your group. Feel free to add to or ask a question in a different way than is written. 

1. What is one thing you enjoy doing that energizes or gives life to you? Why is it so life giving? 
2. Share a time when you felt like giving up, but someone wisely talked you out of it. What was the result of you sticking to whatever it was?
3. From Nehemiah 4:6-8, where does the confusion come from? Is it internally or externally or both? Now read 1 Corinthians 14:33. What truth do you see in these verse? How can this truth bring clarity to your life or prepare you for a later decision to be made? Please explain.  
4. It can be discouraging to keep doing right and not receive words of thanks or see any tangible results for your good deeds.  Describe a time when you were challenged to keep doing good, you trusted in God, and as a result, you reaped a harvest of blessings. 
5. Read Nehemiah 4:10. How would you define “rubble” and what is possibly an area of “rubble” in your life? As a group, pray for those who are either experiencing a life with “rubble” or need to look past the “rubble” they hold on to.
6. Read Nehemiah 4:14. What person, life situation or circumstance do you struggle with and need the encouragement this truth brings? How can you keep this truth in front of you? Who will help you?  
7. In Hebrews 12:1-2 we are told to “keep our eyes on Jesus”. Discuss what you think this means. What does it look like to “run with endurance” in the things of God? Discuss three specific examples.
8. How do you define a “spiritual wuss”? What is its opposite? How would you encourage/challenge someone to move from being a spiritual “wuss”?   
9. Read Ephesians 6:10-18.  As Christians we are constantly dealing with Satan’s attacks.  In what ways do you “arm your body” to battle Satan?  
10. We are challenged in Galatians 6:9 to not get tired or give up in doing what is good. What ministry or person are you currently serving, but are feeling weary and want to give up? What will help you to keep going? 

TRUTH DEMANDS A RESPONSE! What is one action step you will take this week in response to our discussion? Be specific. Try attaching a name and date to your action step.

1. ___________________________________________________________________.

WANT TO GROW DEEPER? We have created some resources to help you grow. Check out and explore the Experience God page. Go to canvas.church/experience-god or Experience God on the App. 

GROUP PRAYER OPTIONS: 

• • Prayer Question: “What’s going on in our lives that we can involve Jesus?”
  • Ask:  What was one praise and one challenge you experienced this week? Celebrate the praises and pray for the challenges. 
  • Ask if anyone has a need or knows of a need, you can also offer “unspoken” prayer requests. 

• Pray for the person on your right, it can be out loud or in silence, if in silence nudge the person next to you letting them know you are done. 
• Prayer Clusters: Groups of two or three (by gender) and share your week together. Pray together and for each other. Send them a text, or leave a message letting them know you have prayed for them this week. 
• Have someone in your group keep an active list of the requests and the answers for both the updates and to celebrate the answers. 
  
  

Are you interested in the Bible and in helping Life Groups benefit from the weekend message? We have a team for you! Canvas members like you create these discussion guides each week. If you are interested in joining the team, please email rickz@canvas.church