Main Point: Confident faith in God’s calling drives out fear.

Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 4:1-23. The tension in this passage is palpable. Opposition from the outside and the weariness of the people threaten to derail the work on the wall. What do you notice the people opposing the builders? What do they say and do? What do you notice about the people building? How does Nehemiah respond? What actions does he take? 2. Are there situations where you have encountered opposition while trying to serve God? What did you experience in that situation? 3. Read Nehemiah 4:1-6. Sanballat and Tobiah insult and belittle the Jews as they work on the wall. What do they say? 4. How does Nehemiah respond to their insults? Does Nehemiah’s prayer make you uncomfortable? How does Nehemiah’s prayer compare to Jesus’ command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)? 5. Read Nehemiah 4:7-15. Nehemiah’s enemies are determined to stop work on the wall. They represent groups from every direction around Jerusalem. What is Nehemiah’s response to this threat? 6. How are the workers on the wall feeling? How does the presence of the enemy and the weariness of the workers contribute to fear? 7. Has weariness or fear prevented you from doing something? How did you handle the situation? 8. Read Nehemiah 4:14-15. What is Nehemiah’s response to the situation? What leadership qualities is he displaying? How can his example be an encouragement to you in times of weariness or fear? 9. Read Nehemiah 4:16-23. Nehemiah and the workers on the wall were under constant threat of attack. What was Nehemiah’s solution? What specific things did Nehemiah do to make sure the work could continue, and the people were protected? What leadership lessons can be gained from Nehemiah’s example? 10. What did you learn about God in these verses? What did you learn about yourself? What is God asking you to understand or to do as a result of what you have learned? 11. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?