The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Series: 10 Bible Stories that Build Outgoing Disciples
Nehemiah & You: Time to Rebuild?

Nehemiah 2:11-20, 6:15-16

TRACKING THE WORD
IN THE SPIRIT OF NEHEMIAH The last weeks of Summer are as good a time as any to do some personal spiritual inventory. Nehemiah's effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore faithful worship of God is our beckon. Here are the "Eight Questions in the Spirit of Nehemiah" that I shared on Sunday…along with a decision each of us can make to begin to rebuild these basic, spiritual foundations in our lives.

1. Do I take worship too lightly? Rebuild: Make worship a priority in your life - each Sunday and EVERY day.

2. Do I take God's Word too casually? Rebuild: Make God's Word central in your daily and weekly reading.

3. Am providing for children a model of godliness worth emulating? Rebuild: Mentor by example, giving them as real an image of Christ as God helps us to bear.

4. Do I make heartless rules or hold unrealistic expectations of others? Rebuild: Guide with wisdom and compassion, not with legalism, authoritarianism, or indifference to unique challenges and opportunities.

5. Do I pray with urgency and expectation? Rebuild: Pray for passion; pray with a hunger for righteousness.

6. Do I give tightfistedly and only when prodded? Rebuild: Exercise stewardship with anticipation and cheer.

7. Is my heart and home currently welcoming of others? Rebuild: Practice hospitality open-heartedly. Plan now for the next opportunity to practice hospitality.

8. Am I serving only minimally? Rebuild: Give yourself in service to others for Christ's sake.

MARKINGS FOR THE JOURNEY

RECLAIMING AN IDENTITY "The Israelites living in the land were fairly passive at this point in history. They had to adapt to the culture around them because they were such a small remnant. Their intermarrying and political ties made this considerably worse. Nehemiah's gifts in administration and perseverance enabled him to mold this people back into the 'people of God' so they could obey God's commands and have a distinction from the people around them. It was not enough to build just the wall-he had to build a people that would once again stand on their own as God led them. Putting some 'backbone' back into the people was a large part of what Nehemiah had to accomplish-even if it required him to be harsh with them at times." - Introduction to Nehemiah, IVP

NEHEMIAH'S CHOICE "The voice we should listen to most as we choose a vocation is the voice that we might think we should listen to least, and that is the voice of our own gladness. What can we do that makes us the gladdest? I believe that if it is a thing that makes us truly glad, then it is a good thing and it is our thing." - Frederick Buechner

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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