Nehemiah 2:9-20

1. Read Nehemiah 2:9-16. Make some observations about Nehemiah's strategy once he gets to Jerusalem. How would you describe his approach to leadership?
2. In view of a need or opportunity, some people are quick to action, jumping in head-first without hesitation. Others move at a slower pace. They proceed with caution, sometimes never moving to action. There are strengths and weaknesses to each approach. What about you? How do you generally engage needs and opportunities? Whydo you think this is your typical response, and what are some of the strengths and weaknesses of your approach?
3. Read Nehemiah 2:17-20. As the work of rebuilding begins, Nehemiah is confronted with opposition (Nehemiah 2:19). How does he respond (Nehemiah 2:20)? Where does Nehemiah's confidence come from?
4. Think about some of the needs in our church, city, and among the nations. You might already be hard at work trying to address some of these needs—keep going! But with so many needs around us, what can keep us from engagement? Discuss. You can answer specifically about things that tend to hold you back personally, or just address the question more broadly.
5. Think about how God may have sovereignly orchestrated your circumstances to uniquely identify or address a specific need in our church, city, or among the nations. You don't have to be ashamed of your lack of engagement, or feel like you need to do more to earn God's favor. Simply go to God in prayer with one another about these things. Pray that, like Nehemiah, He would give you wisdom about and obedience to whatever need or opportunity He sets before you.