Benjamin Murphy
Small Group Questions
Benjamin Murphy
Sermon Series Highlights
Sermon Series Highlights

Nehemiah

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Harvest DNA – Part 1: Unapologetic Preaching.

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Review / Introduction:



Four Reasons We Are Committed to Expository Preaching:

  1. It determines the Sermons.
  2. It lets the Word Speak for itself.
  3. It gives us Confidence to read the Bible ourselves.
  4. It supernaturally Confidence to read the Bible ourselves.

Isaiah 55:10-11 - For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty; but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Romans 10:17 | 2 Corinthians 3:18 | Nehemiah 8:1-8


For God's Word to Be Effective:

  1. You have to Want it! (Neh 8:1-2)
  2. You have to be Attentive to it! (Neh 8:3)
  3. You have to Revere it! (Neh 8:4-6)
  4. You have to Understand it! (Neh 8:7-8)

    5. John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

    Ephesians 3:10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Nehemiah 8:1-8

  1. How has the Word of God changed you? Be specific - and beyond salvation - how has the Bible changed your life?

  2. How would you rate your hunger for God's Word? How can you increase this appetite?

  3. Why do you think people aren’t as attentive to the Word (Nehemiah 8:3)?

  4. How has your Small Group been doing in helping you (and the others) in understanding God's Word (Nehemiah 8:7-8)?

Breakout Questions:

Did you abide through prayer and Bible reading this week? What specifically are you moved to change or apply this week, and how are you going to apply it?

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength!

Hearing and understanding the Word of God leads to genuine JOY!

The Progression of the Involvement of the Hearers:

The people were INTERESTED in the Word of God. (Neh 8:1)

The people were ATTENTIVE to the Word of God. (Neh 8:2-3)

The people were RESPECTFUL towards the Word of God. (Neh 8:4-6)

The people UNDERSTOOD the Word of God. (Neh 8:7-8)


A proper understanding of the Word of God leads to:

  1. CONVICTION of SIN. (Neh 8:9)


  2. CELEBRATION of SALVATION. (Neh 8:10-12)

Mark Ort - HBCPN Elder

This is a photo of what archaeologists believe is the Water Gate, from where Ezra read from the Law in Nehemiah 8.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above with your cursor for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Nehemiah 8:1-12

  1. When you come to a passage of scripture that is dry or tedious (genealogies, measurements of the temple, etc), what can you do to maintain interest and focus?
     
  2. When someone is explaining the Word to you (preaching, commentaries, etc), how do you know if what they are saying is right and true?
     
  3. Does weeping and mourning over your sin increase or decrease your capacity to experience true joy? Why? Or how so?


Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another!