THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. Who are you going to bring to CHRISTMAS SERVICES? Christmas is the perfect
opportunity to invite the people you care about to church. We’ve designed these services to be
welcoming and accessible for everyone, whether they’re familiar with church or visiting for the first
time. You can look forward to heartfelt worship, engaging teaching and a warm atmosphere that
points to Jesus. We cannot wait to celebrate his birth together! To learn more about service times
and dates, click HERE.
GROUP VALUES. Groups that share life together SERVE TOGETHER. Our Christmas services offer a
fantastic, low-pressure opportunity for you to serve alongside your small group as you serve your
church. We desire every person who walks through our doors this Christmas to get a glimpse of what
makes Ada Bible Church special, its people. Help us create a warm, welcoming environment by
partnering with the hospitality team this year. To see what opportunities are available, click HERE.
GROW AS A LEADER. This week, Pastor Jeff Manion explores the story of Nehemiah and the
importance of first assessing our circumstances when we find ourselves in the process of rebuilding. Because we live in a broken world, we are guaranteed to face seasons that require us to rebuild something. This is part of living in a sinful, broken world. When we find ourselves in this season, it is important to properly assess reality to know how to move forward. Find time this week to meet with someone who knows you well and ask them to help you assess your circumstances. Look to see if there are any places in your life that could use a rebuild. Healthy leadership requires being proactive in maintaining the weak places in our lives.
PLEASE NOTE: No Sermon Discussion Guide will be available for December 21/22 and 28/29. It will resume for our weekend of January 4/5. We hope you find creative ways to celebrate with, encourage and pray for each other. Please also note that services on December 28 and 29 will be online only.
SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the penultimate week of the sermon series, EPIC. This week, we explore the story of Nehemiah and discover how God helps us to persevere in seasons of rebuilding.
ICEBREAKER
What is something you’ve built or rebuilt – a LEGO set, a piece of furniture, a garden, a home project? What made it satisfying or frustrating?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Nehemiah 4:6-18 aloud.
What stands out to you most about Nehemiah’s actions in this passage?
How did Israel’s enemies respond to Nehemiah and the people’s attempts to rebuild the wall?
What is important about Nehemiah’s encouragement in verse 14, after he had fortified the wall?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Jeff continued the EPIC series by examining how Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and what it teaches us about our own seasons of rebuilding. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
It is important to know where you are before you can get to where you want to be. When do people typically avoid honest assessment?
Many people avoid rebuilding what’s most important – a marriage, a friendship, life after loss or recovery from past mistakes. Why do you think rebuilding is often harder than building something new from scratch?
How does discouragement try to stop us from completing the rebuilding work God has for us?
Both trusting God and working hard are essential to rebuilding. How have you seen this balance play out in your own life?
The people of Israel found courage when they fought for each other. How does having other people in mind give us courage we wouldn’t have if we were only thinking of ourselves?
Through Nehemiah’s story, we are challenged to persevere with things we shouldn’t give up on. Is there something you’ve been tempted to quit when deep down you know you should persevere?
Where is your most vulnerable place right now? What would it look like to fortify that vulnerable place with God’s help, rather than pretending that it doesn’t exist?
WRAP UP
This week, we talked about how rebuilding God’s way requires an honest assessment, perseverance and a focused attention towards others. What encouraged or challenged you the most from the sermon or conversation? Why?