October 4

Memphis

Pastor Wil Franco

Discussion Questions

1. Read Nehemiah 1:4-2:8. Nehemiah prayed for months, but when the king asked, he had a plan ready. We learned that it's not 50% prayer and 50% planning. It's 100% of both, with prayer going first. Where do you tend to plan first and pray later? Have you ever used prayer to get God to "co-sign" a plan you already made?

2. Read Nehemiah 4:1-12. The opposition grew from ridicule to conspiracy, to discouragement from inside the camp. It hit right when the wall was halfway done. Why do you think discouragement often shows up in the middle of a work? Which kind of opposition hits you the hardest?

3. Read Nehemiah 6:10-13 and 1 John 4:1. Shemaiah's advice sounded spiritual, but God had not sent him. Why is the most dangerous counsel often the counsel that sounds the most spiritual? What tools has God given us to test the voices we listen to?

4. Read Matthew 27:40-42 and Hebrews 12:2-3. Like with Nehemiah, the crowd is telling Jesus to come down from doing the great work, but Jesus stayed until it was finished. How does "considering Him" give us the strength that our weary souls need? Where are you tempted right now to come down from something God called you to?

5. In Nehemiah 3, we learn that each family built the part of the wall in front of them. Different people, different parts, same work. We learned that many times the biggest distraction from the great work is a good work. What is the "section of wall" in front of you? What good thing might be pulling you away from it?

Reading Plan

Day 1 : Esther 1-2

Day 2 : Esther 3-4

Day 3 : Esther 5-6

Day 4 : Esther 7-8

Day 5 : Esther 9-10

Day 6 : Catch up day

Day 7 : Catch up/Rest day