Nehemiah: Pray.
Week #1
Opening Reflections.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
"When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven."
Nehemiah 1:4
Read Nehemiah 1.
1. Nehemiah began to pray in earnest when he learned what was happening to his city of Jerusalem. What do you see that is disturbing in your community? (Think of your street, your village, town, city, nation and beyond.) What urges you to pray?
2. As we pray about church buildings for Emmaus Rd, what is the bigger picture that we need to remember?
3. Bob Pierce, the American Baptist minister who, in 1950, founded the charity World Vision International, used to pray, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” A pastor-friend said that he "prayed more earnestly and importunately than anyone else I have ever known. It was as though prayer burned within him… Bob Pierce functioned from a broken heart." Can you think of other examples of earnest broken-hearted prayer in the Bible? Have you ever experienced that kind of prayer?
4. On one occasion Jesus told his disciples, “When you fast…” He seems to assume it would be part of usual rhythm of their lives.Have you ever fasted? Did you find it easy? What, if anything did you find particularly hard? How do you think fasting can make a difference to our prayers?
5. It has been said that God comes ‘to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable’! Have you ever experienced God’s ‘redemptive affliction’ – taking you out of your comfort zone and pushing you into a new challenging adventure?
Closing Reflections.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion?
What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
