Monday, February 20, 2012

Taking Costly Responsibility [Nehemiah 2:1-10]


Sermon Discussion Questions
  • Have you ever thought of leadership as "taking costly responsibility for the flourishing of others?"  Why is this all too often foreign to us?
  • What does "Ordinary Faithfulness" look like for you within the context which God has intentionally placed you?  With regards to "Ordinary Faithfulness" what can we learn from Nehemiah?
  • Nehemiah worked faithfully as a Jew in a position that was probably (at times, anyway) a fairly morally compromising place.  Likewise, Jeremiah encouraged the exiles in Babylon to seek the welfare of a Babylonian (i.e. pagan) city (see Jeremiah 29:7).  What would this look like in our present day context?  Why is this kind of work and faithful living difficult for us as Christians?
  • Tactful and honest.  How do we see this with Nehemiah in this passage?  Why is a proper balance of both so important?
  • Think of a time where you lacked being thoughtful in you planning or of being prayerful in your planning.  What happened?  Why do you suppose Nehemiah is so passionate about planning AND prayer?
  • Ryan noted that God wants and delights to use you to be a compelling witness of God to the world.  Do you believe this?  Why or why not?

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