Main Point: Rebuilding a wall to rebuild a community.

Questions: 1. Read Nehemiah 3:1-32. As you are reading, try to pronounce the names out loud. What do you notice about the people mentioned in this record? List the occupations of the people who are working on the wall. What questions do you have after reading this passage? 2. In this section Nehemiah records the various groups and people who are working on the wall. Why do you think that he takes the time to record their names and work? Why is recognizing people an important part of leadership? What does this reveal about God? 3. Read Nehemiah 3:1. The High Priest and fellow priests are working on a section of wall near the temple. Why is it significant that they are working on the wall? Why is it significant the priests would be working on the Sheep Gate near the Temple? 4. Read Nehemiah 3:5. Not everyone participated in rebuilding the wall. Who is singled out in this verse? 5. To “put their shoulders to the work” is a reference to an ox putting on a yoke. Why do think these men refused to do work? 6. Read Nehemiah 3:10-11. It was common that people would repair sections of the wall close to their houses and with their families. Why would this strategy be important for the people working on the wall? How would this increase the people’s motivation? 7. Nehemiah involved people from many different backgrounds to rebuild the wall. Even under the best of circumstances this would have been a huge leadership challenge. What do we learn about Nehemiah’s leadership ability? What leadership principles can we gather from this text? 8. 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? 9. By God’s grace what is one thing you can do to apply what you have learned this week?